Not Indestructible. Just Human.

“Oh, you’re human.”

A patient said that to me once, at EastWest Acupuncture in Excelsior. Then another patient said it again. At first, I didn’t know what to do with those words.

Somewhere along the way in my career as a healthcare professional, I adopted the belief that I was supposed to be indestructible. That when I walked into a patient’s room, whether at EastWest Acupuncture or in any clinical setting, nothing in my personal world should show. No stress. No emotion. No cracks. Just competence, composure, and clinical excellence.

We’re trained that way.

Especially if you’re 35 or older, you likely came up in a culture that emphasized professionalism as separation. We take an oath. We agree to leave our ego, and in many ways ourselves, at the door so that we can treat every patient with equality, compassion, and expertise. And that’s a beautiful, necessary standard.

But somewhere in honoring that oath, I unknowingly built armor.

Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely connect with my patients at EastWest Acupuncture. I laugh with them. I listen deeply. I care. Many of those connections are beautiful and real. But what I didn’t realize was that there was still a subtle persona I was putting on. A quiet layer of emotional invincibility. A belief that to be steady for them, I had to appear unaffected.

Until the day I heard it again:“Oh, it’s nice to know you’re human.”

That stopped me.

Because I thought I was showing up authentically. But authenticity isn’t just about being kind or professional. It’s about being real. And real includes humanity.

It includes appropriate vulnerability.

It includes presence without pretense.

It includes allowing someone to see that you are a person, not just a provider.

That moment became a lesson far bigger than my work.

It made me ask: Do I armor up in my personal life too?

Do I show up as polished instead of present?

Strong instead of sincere?

Composed instead of connected?

Sometimes the feedback we resist, or don’t fully understand, is actually a gift. My patient didn’t criticize me. They didn’t accuse me of being cold. They simply reflected something back that I needed to see during a moment of care, healing, and acupuncture treatment.

And I am so grateful.

To that patient who said, “Oh, it’s nice to know you’re human,” thank you. You gave me insight I didn’t know I needed. You held up a mirror with gentleness during my work in integrative medicine and holistic health.

This next chapter of my journey is about learning how to connect more deeply with myself so I can show up fully as a human being at work and at home. Not armored. Not indestructible. Just grounded and real.

I’m eternally grateful for the people in my life, patients, friends, and family, who continue to teach me, reflect me, and support me. Growth doesn’t always come from formal education or clinical training. Sometimes it comes from a simple sentence spoken at the right time.

So when someone says something to you, before you take offense or hear criticism, pause.

There may be duality in their words.

There may be truth wrapped in simplicity.

There may be an invitation to grow.

Take what you can from a space of love.

And remember, being human is not a weakness.

It might just be the greatest strength we have.

Call or book online to schedule a visit with me and explore how Traditional Chinese Medicine can support you.