Day in, day out I listen to other people’s problems, analyzing for them… guiding them… and presenting their ideas back to them in such a manner that will make them realize that there is a solution and they can do it.
At the end of therapy, my clients solve their problems and talk about how God has touched their lives. I am humbled to have played a role.
Perhaps, in the field of Medicine, Psychiatry is the only specialization that is as much about the patients’ lives as it is about the doctor’s. But as I go into their reality… I need to take care of ME.
Awareness that my profession and I are two different entities, make me seek self-actualization. Every day, I deal with my own flaws and idiosyncrasies that need to be identified and addressed. To do this effectively, I sometimes have to walk alone and leave my profession behind.
Experience is the best teacher. I am thankful that I am able to walk hand-in-hand with my daughter Julia towards self-discovery and self-actualization. These concepts are evasive and hard to comprehend. TalkShop is the answer.
Our first encounter with Ms. Sheila was amazing. PLEASANT is what I felt. And the journey towards self-discovery for Julia and me started. There was endless crying whenever she wrote on her journal and I know it is good for her. The accent of Mrs. Pilar that gives us the assurance we will learn how to speak English and our grammar will be corrected. Our first session with Robert, a man of calmness, made me realize, during at the “looking at the mirror exercise,” that I was running almost empty of self-esteem. Whew! Robert, Thank you. The session with Martin was draining because it made me ponder. He quipped with witty answers, “At least I made you think.” Then I realized I was overanalyzing whether in answering according to my expectation or using my own opinion. During our creative writing sessions with Ms. Cecile, I struggled. I wanted to learn but hated to write because of grammar uncertainties. Then, she corrected me in a soft voice like a motherly manner.
Yesterday, as I listened to Juliana’s speech, my tears were endless. My heart melted when she read the lines “It’s green with beautiful creatures in the world, the nature we see that God Almighty made.” She’s learning to put into writing how much she appreciates God’s blessing.
My journey towards realizing my potentials for creative writing has just started. It’s a lifelong process and with TalkShop, I know I made the right gift to myself.
– by Dr. Nahda Ahmad Abutazil
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