It
has been an amazing week for learning. I had the supreme pleasure of
listening to Patch Adams talk about
what makes him tick and he basically boiled it down to two words -- Love and
Care.
I
had been fortunate enough to hear him speak once before at the Art for Health
conference in Manchester, UK. That was about 10 years ago when his fame was
gathering momentum fresh from the movie debut and he had just started on the
speaking circuit. He was full of energy and he spoke about doing what he does
and why he did it. The stories were filled with sadness yet tinged with hope.
That was the thing with Patch.
 |
| Patch Adams - doctor, clown, healer, carer |
A decade ago he left me in awe of the indomitable spirit of
one man and the feeling that that if he were around, then there would always be hope no matter
how bleak the situation. Last week, the same man, albeit less energetic than
before and perhaps due to the long flight, again left a mark of hope sprinkled
with a liberal dose of love and care.
If you can’t stop the genocide, alleviate the poverty or cure the sickness, the least you can do is spread laughter, fun, joy and hope through the single act of caring.
If you can’t stop the genocide, alleviate the poverty or cure the sickness, the least you can do is spread laughter, fun, joy and hope through the single act of caring.
Newer and developing brands should take a leaf from the Patch
Adams’ brand. I must apologise to Mr Adams for calling him a brand as he
spoke vehemently against advertising but a brand he is. And the best
kind of brand – the kind that inspires, empowers and makes you want to be a
better person. What makes Patch Adams stand out is that he cares
