釣熱灱釣樶灑釣氠瀭釣会瀻 (Saum Arkoun) 鈥� Khmer
Merci 鈥� French
喔傕腑喔傕腑喔氞竸喔膏笓 (Khob Khun) 鈥� Thai
C岷 啤n b岷 – Vietnamese, or the easy way we understand 鈥渢hank you鈥�.
It doesn鈥檛 matter how many languages my parents spoke to me, or how many I have learned to speak: Khmer (Cambodian), French, Thai, Vietnamese, English or the universal signs of non-verbal language. Since childhood, I was taught (as all well-mannered little people) to say please and thank you. In some cultures, saying please is a sign of begging, but some can also say鈥� a sign of weakness.
We discover many things about ourselves in medical school. Finding our strengths and weaknesses is essential for the journey. What does it mean to be weak? 鈥淟acking; not strong; liable to yield, break, or collapse under pressure or strain; fragile; frail.鈥� They are just words put together to form more words鈥hrases鈥entences, but in the end understanding. Yes, we may have to go through many ups and downs in stages that can define us as weak. But, if there weren鈥檛 those stages, how would we know where our strengths are? Where there is strength, there first has to be weakness.
As babies take their first few steps, they are never steady at the beginning. It鈥檚 like watching little drunk people trying to find a balance. A few stumbles, crying, crawling and bumps on the noggin or a safe landing with their padded caboose. Touching objects and holding onto things for support. Some need a lot of support and motivation to continue, but some are better especially when no one is watching. As we all have to stand up or fall during the course of our own journeys, perhaps the most important realization is just to get back up. Through the course of life, we find travel companions. There are those who are meant to be with us through different stages of life; if they are meant to be, they will be. The journey may seem far and at times hard, but it depends on your perspective. Effort, time, patience, stamina, and endurance will be the steppingstones you find to help you bridge life鈥檚 crossings.
The most universal language for 鈥渢hank you鈥� is non-verbal. One simple thing can make it great, but when everything comes together, it is very powerful. Look at your one hand. Which finger is the strongest? Now, which is the weakest? Some say the thumb is the strongest and the pinky is the weakest. But look again鈥hen placing your hands in prayer, which finger faces out? The saying from the Bible is: 鈥淭he least shall be the greatest among you.鈥�聽 What appears to be weak actually has great strength, and what appears to be strong may actually be weak.
Gratitude is such a beautiful place to be; be present and enjoy your journey!
鈥淎cknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.鈥� – Eckhart Tolle.
