Last weekend was the “May Two-Four” weekend in Canada—our unofficial start of summer and usually a big celebration. But mine began with a 13-hour wait in the Emergency Department. (Don’t worry—I’m fine, and my husband, as of this morning, while still in the hospital, is recovering well.)   Sure, I grumbled about wasting my precious time. My backside protested from all those uncomfortable waiting room chairs. And I couldn’t help wondering how my husband’s family doctor could have missed something so obvious a week earlier.   But then it hit me.  

What We Don’t Know About Medicine… Or Climate Change

Those of us outside the medical field understand almost nothing about what happens in an emergency department—or inside our own bodies. We only know: What we want When we want it (now!) That we not get forgotten, overlooked or disbelieved. And we believe TV medical dramas are somehow realistic.  

The reality?

We have absolutely no idea what medical professionals are doing behind the scenes or why things can’t be resolved in 20 minutes. So many of us decide THEY are the problem—they have bad attitudes or they’re incompetent. We rarely consider that our expectations might be the issue.   During those 13 hours, my husband received over ten diagnostic tests, was admitted, and finally saw two specialists. My biggest frustration wasn’t the care—it was that no one person could give us the complete picture or timeline. Frankly, that’s not how hospital systems work, nor can they ever work that way.  

A Better Approach

Here’s what we CAN do when facing complex systems we don’t fully understand: Take a deep breath Recognize that countless processes are happening simultaneously Understand that what seems slow is actually a methodical process with many interconnected points TRUST that our needs are being attended to in the appropriate order by qualified people Keep our complaints to ourselves

The Climate Parallel

Why share this story? Because after three years studying climate change, sustainability, and environmental issues, I’ve realized something important:

I will never fully understand it all. NOBODY will.

No single government, politician, academic, NGO, business, or institution has managed to completely summarize these complex issues. The best we have are groups of knowledgeable experts testing and diagnosing based on their specialized knowledge.   Unlike medicine, planetary health hasn’t received comparable funding from governments or foundations. Unlike our personal health, most of us rank Earth’s wellbeing somewhere around number 1,000 on our top 100 priorities. And just like with our medical system, we blame “Mother Nature” or “the weather” for extreme events, disappearing wildlife, and emerging viruses.

What If We’re Wrong?

What if we have zero understanding of anything beyond our personal experiences? What if the real issue is our PERCEPTION—our inability to see the complete picture?   If that’s true, perhaps we should: Take a deep breath Acknowledge the millions of interconnected factors Recognize that what seems annoying or overstated is actually part of a complex, functioning system TRUST that we’re moving in the right direction with the right people Keep our negativity to ourselves

Finding Hope Through Connection

This is why I’m so proud of my podcast. I’ve met incredible people with valuable experiences who are WILLING to share their knowledge, not for fame or money, but to enlighten those who are interested.   This week, we’re starting a new series featuring a guest with three valuable perspectives. He’s a Stern NYU professor, runs his family’s nonprofit, and has written a primer on creating sustainable business environments. He’s practical, down-to-earth, AND optimistic about our future.

I hope you’ll tune in.