1815 S. Clinton Ave Suite 405
Rochester, NY 14618
NOTICE:
Our Practice has MOVED
Our new location is:
Suite 405
1815 South Clinton Ave
Rochester, NY, 14618.
The NEW phone number is 585-565-3500
Our Practice has MOVED
Our new location is:
Suite 405
1815 South Clinton Ave
Rochester, NY, 14618.
The NEW phone number is 585-565-3500
For appointments call
585.565.3500
Fax Number:
585.434.4081
585.565.3500
Fax Number:
585.434.4081
The Hand and the Heart
July 5th, 2009
I hope everyone enjoyed a festive Independence Day yesterday! While flipping through radio station channels on my way to run an errand yesterday, I briefly listened to a stand in host on the Glen Beck Show on WHAM, during which he announced that he was not celebrating the 4th of July this year because of his perception that we have fewer liberties today than we did last year. Notwithstanding the impact of political correctness and the economic downturn on our perceived liberties, there can be no question, if you really think about it, regarding how vast our freedom is in this nation and in our lives in 2009. While we are indeed challenged by unacceptable unemployment, decreased purchasing power, and diminishing ability to save for the future, we still live in a society replete with “rights” and unparalleled opportunity to enjoy a high standard of living compared to many parts of our world---which each and every day becomes smaller and smaller. Our satisfaction or dissatisfaction revolves to a large extent, I think, around our expectations.
I recently spoke to a friend who had just returned from a trip through Italy. He marveled at the age and agelessness of many churches and other buildings. He witnessed the tomb of one Saint who allegedly lived some 2000 years ago. Void of technologies that we’ve become accustomed to, life not only existed, but flourished. And, many of its legacies remain today.
Dial forward to this century--to fast food, internet access, texting while one drives their car, the expectation that we should be able to purchase things with credit, the normalcy of drinking a beverage other than water, Ipods, flat screen tvs, satellite radio, cell phones, the desire for immediate gratification and money back guarantees--and the list goes on--and it’s easy to understand, I think, why it’s easier today, despite our standard of living, to feel discontent.
This month marks the 1 year anniversary of Tomaino Orthopaedic Care. For those of you who have visited our office, you may recall a painting on the far wall of our waiting room. Leonard Urso, a famed local artist, calls it “The Hand and the Heart.” In the painting lie images of hands and hearts, which appear almost indistinguishable.
But, they are not. They are similar, but they are distinct.
The imagery is powerful, and particularly meaningful to me as a Shoulder, Hand and Elbow Surgeon. Though I strive for a “perfect result,” “complete satisfaction” is at times outside of my circle of influence. At times, I am reminded how devastating injury can be, and yet am astounded by an individual’s ability and fortitude as they live fully with residual impairment. This painting symbolizes, for me, the potential conflict between how we feel and what we feel, between how we feel and what we have, and between who we are despite how we feel.
Wow—all that in a painting? Now that is art!
Our Heart (our essence)—and our Hand (our physical being, or what we have) may indeed be conflicted. After an ailment is treated, whether life-threatening or activity-threatening, we may feel cheated. Yet, the latter hardly has the same consequence. We strive for wellness, absence of pain and functional return, BUT wellness may not mean COMPLETE absence of pain and COMPLETE functional return. Though our life may be blessed by any number of standards, we might reflect more on what we lack than on what we have. Some do quite well with little while others are challenged by little. Even though my objective as an Orthopaedic Surgeon is to restore function and eradicate pain, the outcome is not always black and white.
Enter in the conflict between our Heart and our Hand.
Being content often seems to be an elusive task. To whatever extent possible, however, separating how we feel spiritually and emotionally (our Heart) from how we feel physically (our Hand) may be illuminating. Better to accept, at times, what we have than to obsess on what we lack. And, always remain hopefully optimistic, because “Never” is beyond anyone’s horizon. We may Feel Better once we can get our arms around what matters most. We may not feel great, but we should Feel Blessed.
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