I missed an appointment for a medical test this morning. But that's a good thing, because a flurry of phone calls later, I discovered it was the wrong test anyway. I was to have a bone DENSITY test done. A bone SCAN was inadvertently scheduled. Actually, no one can figure out what test was REALLY scheduled--what was up with that barium swallow instruction sheet??
While trying to straighten out the mix-up, other questions I'd had came up.
During my doctor's visit, when the tests were scheduled, a nurse had brushed aside my health concerns. Her attitude implied I was wasting the doctor's valuable time with unnecessary concerns.
It turns out she was just filling in for his regular nurse. His regular nurse assured me I was being proactive about my health. (My doctor thought so, too!)
Before this phone conversation, as I worked at home unaware I was missing the unnecessary test, I got another phone call from another health care professional. I had been fuming about feeling brushed-off yesterday when I'd called with a concern. Turns out the person who'd done the brushing-off was just helping out with the phones and delivered the message wrong. Their office IS concerned, and scheduled me to come in.
Maybe I should have titled today's entry "BRUSHED OFF"?
I'm trying to keep this simple, so my point is, there were three separate incidents this morning that I was fuming about, with huge consequences—do I need to switch doctors? Dentists? Find a new clinic?
Turns out I'd been acting on assumptions.
I didn't have the whole story.
The people who were doing the brushing-off to were NOT the people truly responsible for my health care.
And THEY didn't have MY whole story.
They may have meant well, they may have been out of their depths, whatever. Mistakes were made—pretty small ones, actually.
I could have gone off in a snit. Taken my ball and gone home. I'm glad I didn't.
It turns out my anger and disappointment was based on my assumptions, and my assumptions were not true. And that their mistakes were based on THEIR assumptions, and THEIR assumptions were not true.
The only way I found out my assumptions were wrong was to keep asking questions and to be persistent about getting the answers. Until I found the person who had the real answers.
It occurred to me this also happens all the time as an artist. Something happens to us professionally. We don't get into that show we think is perfect for us. A store doesn't buy our work. We make assumptions about why that is. But often, the assumption is based on a misconception or a misPERCEPTION.
On countless occasions, asking questions has gotten me the real story. Sometimes we're lucky and find it right away. Sometimes it takes a LONG time. Sometimes we never find out what's really going on.
My lesson? Stay focused on what my goals are, and to get the information I need to make the best decisions I can. Don't take things personally. Don't assume I know the whole story until all the facts are in.
And when I'm faced with new information, be ready to accept a new story.
