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 9: “We need to teach our youth to become men and women of great character and how not to simply grow up to be characters.”
Recognizing that these life transitions would eventually happen to my children, I decided to forewarn them of this inevitability in a somewhat novel way. I don’t know where I came up with the idea, but while my two daughters were still less than 10 years old, I decided to begin having character building conversations with each of them as they reached certain milestone ages.
At age 13, I took each of my daughters on their first official date. We both dressed up in nice outfits. I selected a fashionable restaurant for dinner. From the very beginning of the dinner date, I explained how a real gentleman, one who truly cared about them, should treat them on a date.
Enjoy reading Chapter 9.
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