Dooley Noted: The Blogs

Dooley Noted: 8/13/2014 According to most studies, we are largely visual learners. This always disconcerted me as a student, doctor and a teacher. What we see is what we believe. But what we hear may be harder to understand. This became very true in the last few days, when one of my favorite comedians took his own life. All the photos showed a smiling, beaming Robin Williams. But he was so desperately sad that he … Read more

Dooley Noted: 8/12/2014 I have my share of patients that have received predictions of their outcomes, based on nothing but crystal ball theories. These theories read something like these: “It will take 6 months for your back to feel better.” “You’ll never be able to squat again after knee surgery.” “You’ll need muscle relaxers forever for that tight neck you have.” You probably know what I think. If you’re new to reading DN, then I … Read more

Dooley Noted: 8/9/2014 I was late to the airport, cutting it closer than is comfortable. I caught a taxi, and I told the driver I was a bit behind. He said he would get me there on time. As he drove, he took roads unfamiliar to me. I became a tad nervous. At first I thought he was turned around, not knowing what he was doing. Instead of getting lippy, I gave him the benefit … Read more

Dooley Noted: 8/9/2014 I am currently boarded for a flight that experienced 30 total hours of delays. I saw some interesting things in that time. From bloated truths, to exhaustion and frustration, the rainbow of human emotions ran their courses. It was 4 AM in LA when we found we were going nowhere. We were stuck. We had no control. As my co-passengers slept in airport chairs, I took off my shoes and started scooting … Read more

Dooley Noted: 8/7/2014 Many patients come to my office because they have constant muscle tightness. The conversation happens like this: Patient: “I don’t understand why I am always tight.” Dooley; “Do you stretch?” Patient: “Yes, all the time.” Dooley: “Does it help?” Patient; “For a moment, and then it comes back again.” Dooley: “What if that tightness is functional?” Stretching when something is tight may not be the answer. If tightness is not resolved by … Read more

Dooley Noted: 8/6/2014 Tonight, I start my flights to a different continent on a different hemisphere – for the second time in five months. I am heading to Melbourne and Sydney to teach NKT I and the very first NKT II in Australia. The trip to Oz in March saw me with no jetlag on the way over. But in all honesty, I literally slept the entire way there. The trip home saw me awake … Read more

Dooley Noted: 8/5/2014 While flying, I read People magazine. One might consider this fluff reading, or even reading that distracts from one’s own life. I found it educational! The magazine featured two different reality television stars. They had one thing in common. They each gave their dutiful watchers the appearance of a perfect marriage, perfect family, and, naturally, a perfect life. They were each devastated by cheating husbands. They were beyond angry. The perfect image … Read more

Dooley Noted: 8/4/2014 Some of my colleagues are regarded as experts. When you talk to them, they will assure you that they aren’t. But they might not let students in on that secret, for fear they’d lose their captive audiences. And it’s a viable fear. Leaders are leaders for a reason. They have a thought process admired by others. But I guarantee you this: Any “expert” worth his or her salt is still learning and … Read more