The Island

I came across "The Island" the other day, written by Dr. Peter Selwyn of Montefiore Medical Center. It touched me profoundly, as I was struck by the similarities in our constant interactions with strangers whose paths we cross. The following sums it up perfectly:

"Each time I sit with a patient, it is as if everything in both of our lives has brought us to this exact moment, which can be an opportunity for the mundane or, at times, the almost sacred. Sometimes we connect only briefly, or perhaps miss each other’s meaning, and continue superficially through our daily routine. But sometimes, when a certain question, phrase, or gesture opens a door, we may have a glimpse into a whole new room that is suddenly open to light and understanding. Like a glance in a crowd between strangers, sometimes everything aligns, the extraneous is stripped away, and we can look deeply into someone’s soul. Random yet precise, a series of interactions, of fleeting moments that occasionally verge on timelessness. These moments can’t be forced or created; the best we can do is to learn to witness, patiently, with humility, and not let ourselves or our judgments get in the way of the process—to learn to be present, attentive, and open to the story that is waiting to be told."