“Waking up, I smile …” Thich Nhat Hanh

The last few months have been a time of personal and professional awakening.

Waking up to the physical reality of being human. Of having to accept I am not immune to the impact of the relentless pressure of the pandemic on my Emergency Department, nor to the devastation of the HSE cyber attack. And that even if I pretend otherwise, my body knows and sooner or later illness is inevitable.

It’s also been a time of pragmatic awakening. To the reality of life as a coloured doctor in Ireland. Acknowledging the presence of a systemic discrimination that is so deeply embedded it is practically invisible to those who perpetuate it. And more importantly, adapting to what is and isn’t deliverable to patients when their care is provided for by someone of colour.

Awakening is true when accompanied by action. And actions are true, when they come from a place of love, rather than from one of fear or hate.

For me, a first step is coming back to the core practice of loving kindness (“metta”). To hold in love and understanding the pain and suffering I see in and around me. And from this place of compassion, to explore how I can best use this precious life energy to alleviate suffering and discrimination.