5 life lessons from the ICU

It feels so necessary to be witnessed, as though the desire for a bystander is baked into human DNA. We want to be seen, heard, felt, smelled, tasted, touched, and we find all sorts of ways to do that: to force our pasta upon guests, to extend our hands in welcome, to douse ourselves in perfume, all with the hope to be held in thought by others.

Those who had a caring network of friends were SIGNIFICANTLY (like, 50 billion times) more cheerful, accepting, thankful, and at peace than those who didn’t have connections outside of family.

The line from  It’s a Wonderful Life  rang in my ears whenever I’d find more evidence for this theory: “Remember no man is a failure who has fr