Life can hit us when we least expect it. A punch to the gut. Who knows what’s coming around the corner. There is an expression “live every day as if it’s your last”. Sometimes those words can ring more true than we know.     I was recently visiting a loved one in the hospital when a critical trauma patient came in to the ER. When that happens, given my own personal history of medical traumas, I always say a little prayer for that person and hope for the best. Who knows the circumstances surrounding what might have accompanied that particular patient. Were they, like me, in a car accident? Did they suffer a bad fall? Was some act of violence committed against them?? In the end it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that their life has been drastically changed and so have the lives of so many people around them. The tentacles of trauma are far reaching and there doesn’t seem to be one inch they don’t touch in some way or another. In that same spirit the power of prayer is a miraculous thing and also, incredibly far reaching. I used to say, “if you could plug in all the prayers people were sending me at one point, you could surely power a Tesla”. But you don’t have to be religious & just “send prayers”. You can send other things too. Well wishes, love, light, positive energy and good thoughts amongst other things. They all work and promote healing and better outcomes for those in need of the healing & strength. They also just mean a whole lot to the person receiving them. 

    I also find, by channeling all that positive power (of prayer, of light, of good will), whatever you want to call it, you only strengthen your own inner being. It’s two fold. You give what get, and you get what you give. Sometimes it takes something like a tragedy to remind us just how lucky we are to have the blessings we are given on a daily basis. And sometimes, we are lucky enough to just know that we are loved and feel that love surrounding us from the far corners of the world. 

       A dear friend of mine, used to say, “Miranda, nothing is for certain, I’m a tumor surgeon. My job is save people’s lives, but folks get hit by buses every day and there’s not a damn thing we can do about it.” So just hold on tight. Say “I love you” every chance you get, give that extra hug and remember to compliment someone on their shoes just because you can. It’s just a nice thing to do. And it makes a difference. And the prayers, love & light….well they truly are what that “Good Stuff” I’m always talking about is. No day is a given but what we are given is the capacity to love one another. And spend our time on this Earth being good people. And that is “just good stuff”.