Tip: Elective surgery is better than emergency surgery!
The month of October is insurance renewal month for my company. Each year I meet with our representative to discuss our current package and other possible options. It is a lengthy process, but a necessary one. My personal desire is to provide each person with whom I work the best insurance possible.
As we were going through the process, I learned something I did not know. We were talking about the difference between “elective surgery” and “emergency surgery”. It was explained to me that elective surgery is a procedure that you may choose to have but might not be absolutely necessary. Perhaps with other methodologies, such as diet and exercise, the need for the surgery could be diminished. It is usually a surgery that can be scheduled when a person is in optimal health. Often, elective surgery can be done as an out-patient procedure. At any rate, all of that creates a certain category of insurance service.
On the other hand, there is emergency surgery. That happens in a crisis situation when there is no choice and your options are limited. In many cases, it is a “do-or-die situation.” And, of course, with an in-patient hospital stay, the cost can become exorbitant very quickly.
As I thought about the two aspects of surgery, I realized that those same two scenarios can be true in our daily lives as well. We may elect to work on certain circumstances, situations and habits. We can “face the music” in advance and realize that some things must change in order to make our lives better. Some of our old, bad habits need to be broken and new, better habits need to be established. There comes a time when a person should get “sick and tired of being sick and tired”, and make necessary changes in his or her personal life. This could be in the area of physical health, financial well-being, spiritual life or family relationships. I have found that most things do not change very easily. Change requires focus and self-discipline if we truly want to learn, grow and do better in life. In a word, change is hard work!
But, then there are also emergency situations. These are the ones that come up and catch us off guard. Have you ever been fired from a job? Have you ever gone through a broken relationship with a spouse or a child? Have you experienced bankruptcy? Have you had your car stolen or lost everything you own in a fire? I know people who have faced all of those situations. Perhaps you do, as well. An emergency situation really gets our attention in a hurry. It is much more difficult to deal with because there is so much emotional trauma and stress involved in the situation.
I believe all of us should have some elective surgery from time to time. I am not talking about physical surgery that needs to be done by a physician with a scalpel. I am talking about personal surgery that we elect to do on ourselves by making some hard choices. I know that every difficult change that has come in my life, and which has helped me to become a better person, has come at a great price. However, it has all been worth it. Some of it came because I chose to make the changes, and yes, some came in the form of emergency surgery that was pushed upon me. I hope and pray that I do not have a lot of that remaining in front of me. I would rather see change happen because I seek to make changes rather than wake up one morning and have to face some crisis!
What surgery needs to be performed in your own personal life? Why not decide to go ahead and deal with whatever issues are “nagging” at you while you are in good health and a good frame of mind? It may be painful, but in the long run you will be glad you did not wait until it became an emergency situation and you were forced to deal with it in a weakened condition or a poor frame of mind.
Let’s all be as healthy as possible: physically, mentally, spiritually, financially and emotionally. It is absolutely the best way to go through life! I guarantee it!
Tip: Elective surgery is better than emergency surgery!
Have a great week! God bless you!
Dr. Robert A. Rohm
