The Busy PT's Guide to Finding Balance : Patient Care

Thanksgiving ‘tude

Janey Goude — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:36:00 GMT

The devil's in the details. Not always. Sometimes the devil is in your attitude. If you find yourself saddled with a negative outlook, there's no better time for an attitude adjustment than Thanksgiving. Below are some opposing viewpoints to common circumstances...(read more)

My Baby Wants to be Adopted

Janey Goude — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:00 GMT

Be careful what you wish for. It is so easy to see greener grass on the other side. Often we don't take time to think through the ramifications of our decisions. My seven-year old, Abigail, announced, "I wish our family only had five people." We currently...(read more)

Your Life is an Occasion – Rise to It!

Janey Goude — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:39:00 GMT

Your Life is an Occasion – Rise to It! --Dustin Hoffman as Mr. Edward Magorium in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium If you haven't seen "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," you are missing a gem. I love this movie. In so many ways, it embodies what this blog...(read more)

When to Let it Die

Janey Goude — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:41:00 GMT

We lived in West Palm Beach, Florida. You'd think we would have been in heaven. The sun, the sand, the glitz. But our experience was far from heavenly. While I finished out the remaining six weeks of a contract assignment, my husband moved down to get...(read more)

Saying your Peace or Holding Your Tongue?

Janey Goude — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:44:00 GMT

I went for a routine radiological test - the dreaded annual mammogram. Because the procedure and the equipment are so specialized - and because "emergency" appointments are unusual - the wait is typically minimal, nothing like going to see your family...(read more)

They Don’t Make a Pill for That…I Asked!

Janey Goude — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:14:00 GMT

Our five year old son received the diagnosis of mono. The doctor said other viruses could give false positives, but suggested we follow mono restrictions to be on the safe side. Our task was to keep him calm for a ten days: no riding anything that moved,...(read more)

Old Wives’ Tales

Janey Goude — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:49:00 GMT

"Don't believe that. It's just an old wives' tale." Live long enough and you'll see those old wives weren't just spinning tales, some stories contain at least a scintilla of truth. Arthur Itis is an excellent meteorologist. I never used to believe this...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Janey Goude — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:23:00 GMT

I recently dreamt about someone close to me being in danger - danger too unspeakable to recount here. The danger had warning signs. Warning signs that - after having served in the medical field for over a decade - I should have picked up on. But my first...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Weaknesses

Janey Goude — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:44:00 GMT

"I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago." -Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan R. Jessep in A Few Good Men Know what you know and know what you don't know. Successful people don't do everything...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Time

Janey Goude — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:41:00 GMT

I struggled with "T." I had already written the piece about turning tragedy into triumph when I received a poignant email. I felt strongly about the tragedy piece because it is something therapists deal with almost daily. But I can't get away from the...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Tragedy

Janey Goude — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:55:00 GMT

As therapists we often see patients and families who have experienced devastating circumstances. Many of us have had to walk through our own personal tragedies. Tragedy requires grieving. Grieving is healthy. But what comes after grief? Whatever the tragedy,...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Stressful Schedules

Janey Goude — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:15:00 GMT

Stress - noun (from dictionary.com) 1. the physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on one thing by another. 2. a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Responses

Janey Goude — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:10:00 GMT

It is easy to respond well when someone gives us a compliment or encourages us. Constructive criticism can even be easy to swallow. But thoughtless, hurtful words can bring thoughtless, harmful responses that make the situation worse. When was the last...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our Quality and Quantity

Janey Goude — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:17:00 GMT

As much as we'd like to justify that quality and quantity can each stand on their own, we all know that isn't true. Every relationship - work, spouse, children, family and friends - needs both quality and quantity to survive. Relationships need lots of...(read more)

Bringing Balance to our People-Pleasing

Janey Goude — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:02:00 GMT

"It's important to have a little guilt in life. And feeling bad can accomplish a heap of good." --Dr. Kevin Leman, Have a New Kid by Friday In this excerpt Dr. Leman is speaking to parents who prevent children from suffering the consequences of their...(read more)