Futile hoping

As residents are we really so different from our patients, who hope against hope that their diseases might be miraculously cured?

On Mondays, we say, "It's too early in the week for people to get sick."
On Tuesdays, we say, "Stranger things have happened than a quiet Tuesday."
On Wednesdays, we say, "In the heart of the week, people are too busy to seek medical attention.”
On Thursdays, we say, "Last Thursday wasn't bad, maybe this one won’t be either."
On Fridays, we say, "The excitement of the coming weekend should make any illness more tolerable.”
On Saturdays, we say, "Thank goodness the clinics are closed and won’t be sending us any patients; it should be a light day."
On Sundays, we say, "Very few problems can’t wait until Monday."
On wet, rainy days we say, "No patient is going to brave this miserable weather to come to the hospital."
On beautiful, sunny days, we say, "Who would ruin such a gorgeous day by coming in?”
In the spring we say, "People in bright spirits rarely become ill."
In the summer we say, "Good thing it’s the slow season for hospital admissions!"
In the fall we say, "The fresh air should keep people healthy.”
In the winter we say, "Maybe the cold will keep the patients at bay."

Actually, we don't say any of these things, we only think them, because uttering them would be to invite disaster; we’re a superstitious lot.

Oh, the power of positive thought!

posted by Wyatt @ 5:25 AM Comments: 1