Jack Thornton
Lessons learned
Published on Wed, Sep 29, 2010 by Jack ThorntonRead More Thornton
Lessons learned
So what have I learned from over 30 years of veterinary practice? From my stories you may know that the joy from being up close and personal with the critters has to top the list.
I've learned how to run a business. No, that's not true. I've learned how to let the business run me.
I'm pleasantly surprised to have found how basically honest the vast majority of people are. On several occasions people came in voluntarily to pay a bill that I had failed to record and send them. Given time to pay, almost everyone balanced their accounts.
Dealing with pain, suffering and death, though generally unpleasant, often proved inspirational because of how well our animal friends usually cope. Perhaps we so identify with the horse because its emotional apparatus more closely approximates our own in its capacity to consistently overreact to just about everything.
Heal thyself
One fascinating aspect of surgery is the opportunity to appreciate the many different tissues and their respective abilities to repair. Physicians really cure nothing. A surgeon can suture opposing tissue margins together but real healing takes place at the cellular level. Injuries often repair with no assistance whatsoever.
The animal body contains billions of cells of highly variable form and function; from skin to bone, from brain to muscle, all connected by unfathomable networks of nerves and vessels. It is beyond mind-boggling to attempt to comprehend the complexity of any individual, not to mention all the various life forms. Someone appropriately pointed out that looking at evolution in terms of competition sadly ignores the reality that biological progress is so much more about cooperation. Maybe that's a clue to what ails us politically and economically; too much competition, not enough cooperation.
'Stimulating' screw-ups
Over the years I've made a ton of mistakes (oh really!?). It has been my preference to hold on to my failures and forget the victories. Screw-ups are, for me, more positively stimulating unless, of course, you are crushed by a really big one. This brings me to my final practice anecdote.
On one very busy morning few years ago, an older gentleman with gray hair and beard showed up for an appointment just oozing joy and goodwill, which, due to my own stress level, proved very annoying. I thought that I would quickly dispatch this happy camper so that I could wallow in my own self-imposed frustration.
As we entered the exam room he exclaimed, "I've lived now for over 80 years and I've had a card printed to emphasize what I've learned about success."
"Oh, brother!" I thought. "Let's just get this over with."
From his right shirt pocket he plucked a small white card and handed it to me. It succinctly read: REMEMBER TO BE GENTLE WITH THYSELF.
Sequim veterinarian
Jack Thorton retired in August after 30 years in practice. This is his last column for the Gazette.
So what have I learned from over 30 years of veterinary practice? From my stories you may know that the joy from being up close and personal with the critters has to top the list.
I've learned how to run a business. No, that's not true. I've learned how to let the business run me.
I'm pleasantly surprised to have found how basically honest the vast majority of people are. On several occasions people came in voluntarily to pay a bill that I had failed to record and send them. Given time to pay, almost everyone balanced their accounts.
Dealing with pain, suffering and death, though generally unpleasant, often proved inspirational because of how well our animal friends usually cope. Perhaps we so identify with the horse because its emotional apparatus more closely approximates our own in its capacity to consistently overreact to just about everything.
Heal thyself
One fascinating aspect of surgery is the opportunity to appreciate the many different tissues and their respective abilities to repair. Physicians really cure nothing. A surgeon can suture opposing tissue margins together but real healing takes place at the cellular level. Injuries often repair with no assistance whatsoever.
The animal body contains billions of cells of highly variable form and function; from skin to bone, from brain to muscle, all connected by unfathomable networks of nerves and vessels. It is beyond mind-boggling to attempt to comprehend the complexity of any individual, not to mention all the various life forms. Someone appropriately pointed out that looking at evolution in terms of competition sadly ignores the reality that biological progress is so much more about cooperation. Maybe that's a clue to what ails us politically and economically; too much competition, not enough cooperation.
'Stimulating' screw-ups
Over the years I've made a ton of mistakes (oh really!?). It has been my preference to hold on to my failures and forget the victories. Screw-ups are, for me, more positively stimulating unless, of course, you are crushed by a really big one. This brings me to my final practice anecdote.
On one very busy morning few years ago, an older gentleman with gray hair and beard showed up for an appointment just oozing joy and goodwill, which, due to my own stress level, proved very annoying. I thought that I would quickly dispatch this happy camper so that I could wallow in my own self-imposed frustration.
As we entered the exam room he exclaimed, "I've lived now for over 80 years and I've had a card printed to emphasize what I've learned about success."
"Oh, brother!" I thought. "Let's just get this over with."
From his right shirt pocket he plucked a small white card and handed it to me. It succinctly read: REMEMBER TO BE GENTLE WITH THYSELF.
Sequim veterinarian
Jack Thorton retired in August after 30 years in practice. This is his last column for the Gazette.
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster