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"Welcome the needle..."
Hello
Perhaps the most famous inoculation – and certainly the one most referred to
when
the subject comes around – is the inoculation of the 8 years old James Phipps -
by
Edward Jenner on the 14th May 1796.
It seems...
Jenner’s theory about cowpox pus preventing the catching of smallpox really
worked. Certainly after he’d inoculated the young boy with pus from the cowpox
blisters on the hands of Sarah Nelmes, a milkmaid – James didn’t catch smallpox
despite Jenner injecting him with variolous material.
And so...
When we are exposed to the attenuated form we become immune to the more
virulent version.
And you know...
One of the comments made by Jenner about the inoculation of James Phipps
really got my attention.
He said:
The inoculation produced a fever and some uneasiness but no great illness!
The great news is...
This is exactly the same as life and all our experiences in it.
Just think for a moment of a time when you stood to speak in public. Perhaps
the knees were knocking; perhaps the palms were a wee bit sweaty; perhaps the
throat – the opposite - in need of moisture to ‘wet the whistle’
(Note: whet [with an ‘h’] means to sharpen)
And yet...
Every time you stood – you inoculated yourself against the fear.
Isn’t it just the same...
With most experiences in life – each one a small inoculation against a more
virulent and potentially hurtful or harmful happening?
Ok so maybe:
Just as Jenner noted
“The inoculation produced a fever and some uneasiness
BUT no great illness!”
And there’s the key isn’t it? Some uneasiness but no great illness!!
And so...
As you're experiencing the frisson of uneasiness in - asking for the order,
standing
and expressing your views – daring to do what needs to be done – perhaps you’ll
recall Edward Jenner and view each happening as just another inoculation from
the pages of life.
Each one preparing you for even better, faster, more enjoyable results!
Maybe – it would be worth a moment to reflect on previous inoculations to
realise
just how immune you are.
Go on then...
Peter Thomson
Editor and
Inoculated
Publisher
tgiMondays
PS:
Feedback and comments to:
peter@tgimondays.com |
