Business Insight Kindness for Christmas It seems like we continue being as divided as possible. About anything and everything. Even the things that do not matter. A parking spot, masks, vaccines, hospitals, doctors, post office, social media, you name it. Even celebrities, with seemingly little to worry about, get weird with their opinions. And all opinions are 'my way or the highway. What happened to our society? I will disappoint you: I do not know. But, as a doctor, I look at things from science point of view rather than opinions. I also look at facts rather than gossips and conspiracies. 'Do not harm'is what I follow in my medical practice, my research, and my life. Not to harm means a lot, physically and psychologically. Words can harm, sometimes more than deeds. Each of us is of a different soul and body. Some respond to medications exactly according to the books and some develop allergic reactions. Same with words, some of them matter nothing to many and then, it takes just one individual to be harmed by words to fail my motto of life. presented by Arlington Dermatology Remember that I do not like extremes? Whenever we say or behave in an extremal way, our chance to harm someone grows. Moderation in everything is always the best way to go. It does not mean! compromising your beliefs or ideology. Not at all. Simply, you can present it in a not harmful, not imposing way. There are always choices and options in life, exactly like in medicine. And, in order to make a good, educated choice or pick the optimal option, you need to step back from your rapid reactions and think about it twice. This is really simple and works for everyone. Just try. I agree it is not easy to pick moderation and second thoughts when the world around us considers email to be too slow and outdated. Our phones became controlling machines of our lives. People's opinions from social media upset us and cause children to commit suicide. I just recently learned that people who are on META-verse developed virtual real estate businesses and sell and buy homes, with virtual money. What? Virtual homes? The bottom line is that our choice is not to be a part of nonsense. We can reject it and just move on. And, if we buy into it, it will cause problems. It will harm. Perhaps someone we know, or it will harm us. Problems and nonsenses created by people can only be resolved by people. You cannot blame someone who developed a make-believe environment that does not exist in reality for making you upset or stressed. It is sort of like picking between a cake or an apple for a dessert. Your choice. The problem is that all these novelties of the 21st century, as much as they can help and improve our lives, they also damage our relationships. They damage workplaces and homes, they injure families. So, coming to this Holiday season, let's make a choice of reality world with kindness towards each other. For a change, let's pick up a phone and call your friends with kind wishes rather than send them Facebook pictures. For a change, let's say something nice to everyone you meet on your way to work. And at work. Life would be so much better with any act of kindness. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight Kindness for Christmas It seems like we continue being as divided as possible . About anything and everything . Even the things that do not matter . A parking spot , masks , vaccines , hospitals , doctors , post office , social media , you name it . Even celebrities , with seemingly little to worry about , get weird with their opinions . And all opinions are ' my way or the highway . What happened to our society ? I will disappoint you : I do not know . But , as a doctor , I look at things from science point of view rather than opinions . I also look at facts rather than gossips and conspiracies . ' Do not harm'is what I follow in my medical practice , my research , and my life . Not to harm means a lot , physically and psychologically . Words can harm , sometimes more than deeds . Each of us is of a different soul and body . Some respond to medications exactly according to the books and some develop allergic reactions . Same with words , some of them matter nothing to many and then , it takes just one individual to be harmed by words to fail my motto of life . presented by Arlington Dermatology Remember that I do not like extremes ? Whenever we say or behave in an extremal way , our chance to harm someone grows . Moderation in everything is always the best way to go . It does not mean ! compromising your beliefs or ideology . Not at all . Simply , you can present it in a not harmful , not imposing way . There are always choices and options in life , exactly like in medicine . And , in order to make a good , educated choice or pick the optimal option , you need to step back from your rapid reactions and think about it twice . This is really simple and works for everyone . Just try . I agree it is not easy to pick moderation and second thoughts when the world around us considers email to be too slow and outdated . Our phones became controlling machines of our lives . People's opinions from social media upset us and cause children to commit suicide . I just recently learned that people who are on META - verse developed virtual real estate businesses and sell and buy homes , with virtual money . What ? Virtual homes ? The bottom line is that our choice is not to be a part of nonsense . We can reject it and just move on . And , if we buy into it , it will cause problems . It will harm . Perhaps someone we know , or it will harm us . Problems and nonsenses created by people can only be resolved by people . You cannot blame someone who developed a make - believe environment that does not exist in reality for making you upset or stressed . It is sort of like picking between a cake or an apple for a dessert . Your choice . The problem is that all these novelties of the 21st century , as much as they can help and improve our lives , they also damage our relationships . They damage workplaces and homes , they injure families . So , coming to this Holiday season , let's make a choice of reality world with kindness towards each other . For a change , let's pick up a phone and call your friends with kind wishes rather than send them Facebook pictures . For a change , let's say something nice to everyone you meet on your way to work . And at work . Life would be so much better with any act of kindness . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net