For What It’s Worth

There are two things you might want to know about me. e rst is that I’m sensitive. at doesn’t mean I don’t have a backbone, a er all I am originally a Jersey Girl, but spending more than half my life in Florida has so ened me, and DNA is the rest of it. I am blessed with an optimistic outlook, much to the chagrin of many people I have met along the way. I’ve been told that no one wants to hang out with a pollyanna day in and day out, so I try to temper my happy demeanor as much as possible. e reason I bring this up, is because it has come to my attention that my three latest columns about Cleveland Clinic, beginning with a negative attitude about the untimely medical service, then morphing into another column of those of you who agreed with me, with horror stories of your own in getting appointments, which nally turned into being invited to meet the president of Cleveland Clinic for a sit-down and let it all hang out in his o ce. Anyway, my last column has invoked angry words in someone. I have been accused of selling out so to speak, or being less than forthright, and perhaps even getting a long-awaited appointment with my doctor traded for a positive column about my hope that Cleveland Clinic will become the “patient- rst” hospital that we all want. I gave Dr. Singh a thumbs up, with cautious optimism, and I still do.

I have to say it. My feelings were hurt on several levels. First, I am not a paid employee of this magazine, and as such, I have no reason to write anything except what I personally think about topics in a truthful manner, hence, the title, For What It’s Worth. For some of you, it may be worth something. For others, it may be worth nothing at all. I am all about disagreement, a er all, that’s what makes the world go round, but we can disagree kindly. I am not

by Dr. Mel , Ph.D.

apologizing for my hopeful attitude. Most of my columns try to include, wonder, happiness, positivity and optimism. Sometimes, if something rubs me the wrong way, I may vent, but even then, I am always hopeful. If we don’t have hope, what do we have, a er all? I understand that I cannot please everyone all the time, and that is not my reason for writing this column, but it saddens me that it seems we can no longer have any optimism in an open forum, without hostility and anger toward the writer. To set the record straight, I am not a journalist, I am a nurse. I also did not major in English grammar in school, and at times there have been typos for which I apologize. ere is an editor at the magazine who I count on to save me from myself, but sometimes she gets busy and lets me go under. My topics are varied. I am not trying to uncover hidden agendas or cast shade on people or places for the general public. I am just sharing a piece of myself and my thoughts through my column. If you like what I have to say, please keep reading. I am humbled by your positive messages and the time you have taken to email me. If you don’t like what I have to say, that’s ne too, but please skip over my column rather than wasting your time reading it, and making unkind and personal comments. We’re all just trying to do the best we can. Commenting on Cleveland Clinic was gutsy on my part. I thought long and hard about it, but I hoped it might lead to change. I think it may open up some positive avenues for all of us. It was never meant to be the explosion that it caused, but I hope that all of your emails will help to change the situation there, (no, I never disclosed your names) and I appreciate your input, as does Dr. Singh, President of Cleveland Clinic. To be clear, I am not and have never been, paid for my columns, I was not given any incentive to write a positive third column a er my meeting with him, I was not given an earlier appointment with my physician, (still waiting until August!) and I am not an investigative reporter. I can’t do anything more than share my stories, and hope you will still share yours. e second thing you should know about me is that I am writing under a pen name. is column was started six years ago as kind of a lark, to be short-lived and I thought anonymity would be best, since I still had an o ce practice. I am now retired, but the column continues, lol. I have written a novel, soon to be out on Amazon, ngers crossed, and at that time, I will have to let you know who I am, in the hopes that you might want to read it. For now, thank you for all your encouragement and support over the years. I will try not to let you down. I love writing, and I love that many of you have given me your kindest words over the years. It is the reason I keep going. I am sorry that I wasn’t able to personally write you back, but I couldn’t reveal my personal email without letting the cat out of the bag.

For what it’s worth, if you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.