Several years ago, fate intervened to inspired Gary LeRoy, MD, FAAFP to write a book. With the editing assistance of Ohio Academy of Family Physicians Executive Vice President Ann Spicer, he submitted the manuscript for “Quotes from the Edge of Nowhere – The Art of Noticing Unnoticed Life Wisdom” for publication later this year. Rather than wait for its fall release, he asked the OAFP staff to give Academy members something to fill up about 30 minutes of their quiet time.
It is his hope that a chapter or two will provide some element of hope or ignite an amber of inspiration during the moments of solitude of this unprecedented global crisis, COVID-19. If nothing else, it will give those who take the time to read each little chapter something to mentally reflect upon.
Until the COVID-19 crisis officially ends, the OAFP will publish one chapter each week in the Weekly Family Medicine Update and then archive that chapter on its website. The book has 10 chapters. It is Dr. LeRoy’s sincere hope that we, as a nation, emerge from this crisis long before the OAFP can publish the 10th and final chapter.
Chapter 3: “A seed of doubt once planted in a field of obvious truth will grow so rapidly that it obscures reality.”
But what happens to our view of the world when our expectations of social reality are disrupted by a seed of doubt. Uncertainty can sprout from many sources. Remember how our parents would amuse us with fairytales when we were children? We did not question whether the stories were tales of fact or fiction because as toddlers the only frame of reference available to us was the world as provided by our parent(s) or guardian(s).
It wasn’t until a summer afternoon when I was asked by a neighborhood friend to go to the swimming pool at a local park that the first seed of doubt was planted deeply into my young soul.
Enjoy reading Chapter 3.
Financial support for this program is provided by the AAFP Foundation Philanthropic Consortium (FMPC) which is funded by members like you! Help programs like this continue to support family medicine by giving to the FMPC. Select “Chapter Grants” when making your gift online. Thank you!