tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post3771393336015703412..comments2023-07-22T06:42:24.121-04:00Comments on One foot in front of the other: Health updateMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15133620064728357184noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-43804733806565669502007-07-02T01:15:00.000-04:002007-07-02T01:15:00.000-04:00Thank you for such kind and powerful thoughts! I i...Thank you for such kind and powerful thoughts! I in turn wish you good luck in overcoming the problems facing you and yours.<BR/><BR/>Solidarity can move mountains.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133620064728357184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-33464010908453580612007-07-02T00:59:00.000-04:002007-07-02T00:59:00.000-04:00Michael,Just wanted to chime in (finally) after lu...Michael,<BR/><BR/>Just wanted to chime in (finally) after lurking on and off to say hi and thank you for your inspiration, through your words and through your photos. The advice about the insurance companies is especially helpful, as we all know what a pain they can be. Keep that positive attitude going. From one who is also dealing with both personal and family health issues, your brother in solidarity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-3238549085838362592007-07-01T23:08:00.000-04:002007-07-01T23:08:00.000-04:00Hmmm ... the fact is, I'm not so wise. I just got ...Hmmm ... the fact is, I'm not so wise. I just got tired of beating my head against a wall.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133620064728357184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-42787723599320350852007-07-01T22:47:00.000-04:002007-07-01T22:47:00.000-04:00You are wise and you have saved all of us by remin...You are wise and you have saved all of us by reminding us how to deal w the bureaucracy.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-7362834607280854832007-06-30T21:29:00.000-04:002007-06-30T21:29:00.000-04:00Thanks, EdaMommy! I appreciate your good wishes, a...Thanks, EdaMommy! I appreciate your good wishes, and also the time you take to convey them.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133620064728357184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-88731930725581978412007-06-30T20:36:00.000-04:002007-06-30T20:36:00.000-04:00Best of luck to you.Best of luck to you.EdaMommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02434718030198151632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-5226371624052501632007-06-30T07:38:00.000-04:002007-06-30T07:38:00.000-04:00Hi Mike,No, it's not "Be Buddha." It's more like, ...Hi Mike,<BR/><BR/>No, it's not "Be Buddha." It's more like, "Don't be an asshole." It's about treating someone the same way as I want to be treated. Some call it the Golden Rule. I call it reaping as one sows.<BR/><BR/>As you imply, people can detect insincerity quite easily. And thus far, I haven't elicited such doubts because I say what I mean. Am I sometimes insincere? Of course. And nine times out of 10, I'm found out. I'm not a very good liar.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, it is good to have all the paperwork preliminaries out of the way. It makes getting past through and past the surgery so much easier.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133620064728357184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-21997912689969863132007-06-30T02:43:00.000-04:002007-06-30T02:43:00.000-04:00"Wise old owl"? "Completely right"? I somehow doub..."Wise old owl"? "Completely right"? I somehow doubt it!<BR/><BR/>You might as well skip numbers 1) to 5) and just write: Be Buddha.<BR/><BR/>But in that case, are you advising us to be Buddha for the sake of being Buddha, or are you advising us who are not Buddha to pretend to be Buddha for the sake of getting something that we want? <BR/><BR/>In the latter case, I am afraid that the person on the other end of the phone is liable to catch a whiff of insincerity. <BR/><BR/>I'm not doubting your own kindness, humility, et cetera, Michael. Just wishing to express what i have found from years of personal failure: that precepts, even a buddha's precepts, on their own aren't much use.<BR/><BR/>I think this is why Master Dogen recommended us so keenly to practice sitting-zen. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, all the very best to you, old owl.Mike Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-92413674626416202007-06-29T10:31:00.000-04:002007-06-29T10:31:00.000-04:00Hello Jean,Yes, the way our health-care system is ...Hello Jean,<BR/><BR/>Yes, the way our health-care system is structured, we really have to jump through hoops to get things done. The system has numerous faults, and things will get worse before they get better.<BR/><BR/>In the past, I would've taken a hard-line approach with the insurance companies in looking after my interests, and would have accomplished little or nothing in the process. <BR/><BR/>Dealing with these companies has been a learning experience for me.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133620064728357184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19108210.post-72084960690456029612007-06-29T07:39:00.000-04:002007-06-29T07:39:00.000-04:00Although it makes me very angry and bitter that yo...Although it makes me very angry and bitter that you should have to *negotiate* for your health insurance to cover this, I think you are completely right and will try to always remember your advice here.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08690685768980280402noreply@blogger.com