I won an award! And honestly, at first I thought I was being pranked.
I am so honored to have been voted the acupuncturist with the Best Bedside Manner in the New River Valley.
I have the best job in the world, and I take it pretty danged seriously. One of the parts I love the most is getting to know each of you. I learn about your families, your food, your sleep, and even . . . your time in the bathroom! I ask so many questions. These questions give me the big, messy view of your health, and this wide lens is part of the power of East Asian Medicine: to hold the whole experience of your health and illness. East Asian Medicine, and you, have taught me that health is complicated and multi-faceted. And it’s with these questions and this lens that we can sort out a path back to wellness. I think this view and curiosity is what inspires the connection I feel with all of you and the trust you place in me with the most personal of details.
I really do celebrate our successes—a night of great sleep, a week free of migraines, or getting back to that activity that you love—and I grieve when things don’t go to plan. Most of all, I believe (in) you. I believe your symptoms and the patterns you’ve discovered, and I believe in you and your body’s ability to heal again.
Those of you who come regularly know that we will have a few chickadee’s, tater-tot’s, and even some marshmallow fluff’s, some good laughs, lots of honest conversations. And I’ll hold you accountable when you need a little tough love.
So I need to thank all y’all. You can’t be an acupuncturist without someone to puncture (and to set boundaries about cheese consumption), and it’s just absolutely astounding to me that you went out of your way to vote for me. I’m taking this as a mandate to keep working hard for you, expanding my knowledge, and always holding your benefit as my motivation for showing up in the morning.
With lots of love!
-Alex