Blake's Blog
Crisis? What Crisis?
History is a ruthless yet sagacious teacher. In 1975 the British rock group Supertramp released their 4th studio album. (Youth alert- yes, we’ve covered this subject before- an album is an analog pressed recording on a 10” vinyl disk, packaged in a similarly sized square package with text and pictures you could actually ponder). The band’s cover picture was a satirical commentary of life in the mid 1970’s; Smog and acid rain had reached unhealthy levels. Then president Richard Nixon had just resigned after the controversy of Watergate. Though in short supply, oil was $13.00/barrel. A new home cost about $35,000. Our nations inflation rate was 11.3%. The North Vietnamese had just re-taken Saigon, ending the Vietnam War. Two unknown math nerds named Paul Allen and Bill Gates founded Microsoft. And, take note of these last two factoids: our national unemployment rate was 9.2% and president Gerald Ford signed a 2.3 Billion dollar bailout loan to New York City to help them avoid bankruptcy. These were truly times of economic crisis. For those with selective memories, history does indeed repeat itself.
If we reach a bit further back to the early 1960’s, our nation teetered perilously on the verge of nuclear war- recall the Cuban Missile “Crisis”. Though a strong military and a dose of diplomacy, we averted a radiant outcome. Across the pond in the U.K., a local dentist named John Riley allegedly provided LSD to emerging Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds anyone? Traumatic and stressful times are managed in a variety of ways. How well do you manage and react to a crisis?
Those of us blessed with a husband/wife know all about crisis escalation, prevention and management. “Does this outfit make me look fat”? Is easily defused by a response of “No, but it does make you look sexy”.
As dentists we are initially trained to respond to potential patient emergencies: a myocardial infarction, an anaphylactic reaction, an aspirated crown, to name a few. Many of us have had to handle one or more of these and/or many other crises in and out of our dental offices. Did we see it coming? Typically not. Were we adequately prepared and did we respond appropriately? Did we think about “being in the middle of a crisis” while we were trying to deal with it? Probably not, we were too busy managing issues and solving problems. It is often only in hindsight that we realize the full breadth of the emergency and the complex scenario that led us there.
So the talking heads are full of nightly evidence that we have some serious economic and political challenges that need immediate attention. Are we in crisis? I guess the answer depends on whom you talk to. Our state and nation certainly have some tough issues to work through. Most of us have certainly seen some non-productive changes in our practices.
A little perspective often illuminates the urgency of our situation. How was your day? Woke up (this is always a positive experience), car/motorcycle started, helped my patients, talked to an old friend, laughed, hugged, prevented a misunderstanding, had an enjoyable meal with fine company. Crisis? What Crisis? Indeed. We should count our blessings, or, as John F. Kennedy once said: “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray for stronger men”.