At the end of our text conversation she thanked me and said that the "medical professionals" in her life had been unwilling to discuss it with her. My response was that I am a medical professional. I am licensed (#1944 if you want to look it up), and the licensing board has requirements. I can diagnose and prescribe in the state of Oregon. I have a tremendous debt from my medical education. My practice as a naturopath is unlikely to pay enough to even dent it, much less pay it off.
I know that I am somewhat casual in my manners and speech. Some of the supervising physicians during my education thought me unprofessional and told me so. I remain the same person with a somewhat raunchy sense of humor and a direct way of speaking. My intention is to connect and communicate, not to show off my years of training and fancy medical vocabulary. Even in these blogposts I work hard to explain things in language that most people can understand. This is my goal.
After I told this friend that I am a medical professional, the lengthy text conversation abruptly ended. It was as if she didn't think I was a professional. Or perhaps she wants my advice as a naturopath but doesn't think it's worth paying for. I don't really understand her reasons, but I can tell you my reaction.
I'm steamed. I'm mad. I'm tired of people wanting all that I know for free. I invested years of my life in an exasperating educational setting and continue to study so that I know my shit. I carry a burden of debt. I try to help people by working around the for-profit medical system that has cut me out of the profits. I teach them how to get what they need out of the for-profit system, and how to avoid needing things from it. My heartfelt goal is to help people. I especially want to help people that connect to my personal life. Even this desire can be described as unprofessional. Apparently to be professional you need to be cold, calculating, and profit-driven. Screw that.
The most gratifying thing in the world is when a person pays me cash for my services, and then says "your time must be worth more than this". Well, yes and no. I will do it for free. I will stay in the conversation. If my patients who are often my friends are able to pay me, I ask that they do. When they do, I know that they truly value what I have to offer, and that is a gift. THANK YOU.