A doctor, a professor, a writer, Dr. Sacks described himself as "agonizingly shy" but he developed a strong bond with Williams who much admired Sacks' gentle genius approach to neurology, informed by science but rooted in human connection. Williams loved that Sacks saw people, not patients and it's clear Williams infused this character trait in his film performance.
Dr. Sacks wrote about his own struggle as a patient in his book, A Leg to Stand On. After a serious hiking injury, Sacks felt "legless" and disconnected from his body. Unable to walk for months, Sacks ruminated on his lost identity. Many years later, no doubt Williams ruminated in a similar manner as he secretly battled a form of dementia and its inevitable impacts to his quality of life and his legacy. Sadly, we all know what happened next.
I miss these men in the world.
Dr. Sacks' legacy is in his writings. He describes methods whereby a patient might cease to feel "the presence of illness and the absence of the world, and come to feel the absence of illness and the full presence of the world.” But how? The film Awakenings explores this, but Dr. Sacks promoted a more everyday method to achieve the full presence of the world: he prescribed garden visits.
Is there a better place to at least temporarily forget what bothers? Dear friends, just wondering: have you been outside today?
Oh, yes, being out 'in the green' is wonderful for mind and body.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is.
DeleteNature provides healing
ReplyDeleteBingo.
DeleteI've often said, if ever I can't go outside anymore, please park me or my bed by a window so I can see out, and put bird seed near.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been out yet today - still on my second cup of coffee and it looks cold out there - but OUT I will go, to be IN nature. The most healing place there is, and the most friendly and accepting.
"friendly and accepting...hadn't thought of it that way...love that.
DeleteCodex: A liitle science: The medical community dismissed Sacks due to his empathetic approach. Why treat the cause when treating the symptoms through psychopharma is more lucrative??? (Grrr). I never read him and was mentioning to a friend that I wish I had.
ReplyDeleteWilliams (life can be so vicious) ironically destroyed his brain with his early cocaine abuse.
I love this quote. Illness becomes all consuming and I wish we would get to a point where we try harder to reintegrate into life.
Severe autistics calm down in nature walks as a treatment option. It's calming for everyone.
Yes I miss these type of men too.
As always, thank you for the science and more.
DeleteCodex: Darwin had a thinking path(love the idea) that he walked every day. Here's a dumb article because I'm too lazy to find the one I read. psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-to-think-about-exercise/201501/charles-darwins-daily-walks/amp
ReplyDeleteLoved this, yes indeed, the "thinking path" can keep us from losing the plot. If you decide to read Sacks you'll see lots of parallels with this; he was a hiker and swimmer. You might also love his reflections on the periodic table.
DeleteCodex: losing the plot and our minds? I wish I'd read him when I started to get disenchanted with the medical system. Which one of his books is that in? Which book do you recommend?
DeleteYes, I've been ordered to. LOL I cut my hydregeas back and watered my other flowers and feed my hummingbirds. It removes me from my mind.
ReplyDeleteIt does the same for me.
DeleteYes I sat by the pond with my sketchbook and my watercolours. It was sunny, a gentle breeze was blowing and it felt good.
ReplyDeleteSounds perfect.
DeleteYes. We've just been outside. It's warm and gorgeous, and there is still some colour.
ReplyDeleteYour daily posts underline your appreciation for the paths and the trees and the places. Keep it up, sir.
Delete..for 50 years I was in the landscape/nursery business. I would often say that enjoyed plants better than many people!
ReplyDeleteI love "Awakenings." Great use of The Zombies' classic "Time of the Season." And yes, I was outside today. It was damn hot. 'Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that reminder - it's easy to forget when too much time is spent in one's head!
ReplyDeleteI miss these men in the world, too.
ReplyDeleteBeing in nature is a calming and soothing exercise that can bring benefits to our health.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed that film, but it was haunting, wasn't it? I read a couple of Sack's books, the mind is fascinating. I always marvel at how well we function, on the whole, considering what could go wrong in our minds.
ReplyDelete