Skip to main content

Given, Not Loaned

 It's funny, the times I felt compelled to help someone in my therapy business. I didn't concern myself with a payback. I barely thought that they would take advantage of me or lie to me. I saw my business as the need for some selflessness, thinking altruistically. 

That being said, about six or seven years ago I had a wicked week in my office. Business was down. Yet, people needed me. So I was busy. I was giving discounts for a variety of reasons. Any excuse i could find to give them to reduce the cost to them I figured. And then the six people of that week who I knew I wouldn't take money from.

 I ran my business, like usual as I had for nearly three decades. I knew who couldn't afford me. Or rather my full price. I knew the very elderly may have money, especially those living in my county. However, they also would need finances for living, medications, proper medical care, perhaps a live-in caregiver for a better quality of life versus a riskier lonely one.

Too, it mattered that they would be able to still live and enjoy life. Maybe going out to eat or treating a child or grandchild. Perhaps any extra monies they may appear to have could be put into a future college fund for their offspring, niece, grandchild, etc... These are the things I considered.  

Then I considered those people who truly were either already taking state and or federal aid. And those who were doing everything to keep a home, young children in a suburban living situation and not upend their family due to medical conditions. 

So, that wicked week? I had six people enter, accepted into my office who I knew could not afford me. But yet were willing to pay whatever I asked of them after session. I actually had a woman who was going to hand me twenty dollars. I stopped her and said, "No. You've got young children. That's all you got. And if anything, your kids need to see you less stressed. Bad enough they understand something is wrong with you. So, buy them ice cream with that instead. Or save it for something else needed. You don't give away the last twenty bucks when you don't know what's coming by the end of the week. Hec. It's only Wednesday." She stunned, stood there holding the twenty. "I'll pay you back." I replied, "No sweat. You don't have to. Next three months are going to be rough for you and your family. Don't think about the money. Your health is most important."

During that week, I had long time, and new clients who were my charity cases. I knew who lied to me for years. I acted in front of them as if I didn't know they were able to afford better vacations that I'd never touch the coattails of in my life. But I ignored their lies. I didn't get angry. I remained peaceful, realizing when people had to lie to me for years that showed me that they were most in trouble and most in loss. They were desperate and would perhaps never find peace. Yet in my office they found kindness and forgiveness. And sometimes in life that's all you can give to a stranger. 

Out of about 4,000 clients I'd had, only three did I fire. Twenty I could do without. 

Now if clients of mine are reading this, some will be angry. Like 'why didn't they get free treatment'? Or the converse positive thoughts of helping instead of hindering. 

At the end of the day, life can be a crap shoot for most of us. And in that, we go with our gut. It's probably the most positive place to be. Our gut is not always monetarily directed it comes from a higher source. The only difference is making the choices we are moved to make.---Jody-Lynn Reicher 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Completion of Humanness

Completion of Humanness As we arrive to the completion of the first year without Norman, I had decided long before he'd passed that I would continue to do things certain things he liked yet could no longer do. I decided I would not take a day off of fitness.  I would run at least for 500 days in a row. I began that in early 2020.  I'd not be concerned with the distance I'd run. It was the very thing I convinced Norman and the thing that mattered to him, from the very first discussion we had August 11th, 1981, was fitness. I loved that he was a College Boy. He loved that I was a Marine. We tickled each other's soul with such admirations. Later fitness continued as an old discussion from 1994 ...getting outside and to run no matter what. I would say to him, "Run 200 meters, then 400 meters. If it doesn't feel good, stop. Turn around and walk back home and know you did your best. That is all you can ask of yourself." I said this,  knowing he would get dow
2 comments
Read more

In My World

As I finish putting away the week's groceries, I contemplate other's lives. Aside from my two daughters,  I consider what may be other's lives.  How they have conducted their lives over the past two years.  This is a thought not unusual for me to have. Yet, it occurs more often than not. Especially  now, as the population is probably feeling ever more irked. Regarding perhaps. their illusion of any lack of their freedom. But isn't that what life is about? The illusion of who we are. What we are about. Where we stand on the planet. Who we love. And who loves us. Our significance. Couldn't we imagine if this were all just an illusion? Sounds like a "Twighlight Zone" episode, perhaps. My aim here, are the thoughts of reckoning. I'll explain why I'm claiming such a thing. For about twenty-eight years of a career in dealing with injured athletes,  pain patients, chronically ill and the terminally ill. I found that there were many people who lied to
Post a Comment
Read more

Reicher's 2021 Holiday Letter

  11/23/2021... The Reicher Holiday Letter... Yes, finally I'm on time...LOL. As the late November wind whips and the delayed leaves fall to the ground in our neighborhood, I await the first sign of snow. I stand outside, begin a run, do outside chores, bring in the mail and sniff the air for the smell of snow. Yes, humans can smell snow. Just like a spring rain approaching. It is awaiting to provide a cleansing of the dreams that need to be refreshed or re-routed. It’s all how you look at it. Really. Oh, the word ‘really’.   Per a few grammar writing geeks. A good writer is not supposed to use the word, ‘really’. I’ll say it again. Really? There is another word I discovered this year, not supposed to be used in writing by writers. I cannot at this moment remember what word that may be.   But I’m sure, it’ll arrive in my mind as I write this Holiday letter to you all. A reading audience. Where to begin this 2021 Reicher Holiday Letter? I’ll start with our smallest resident. T
Post a Comment
Read more