Wander & Wonder

I was asked to evaluate a man in his early twenties who had been brought to the hospital by police after being found swimming naked in the river at midnight. He barely spoke and avoided eye contact for most of our encounter. After my assessment, he was cleared for discharge from the hospital. As he gathered his things and headed to the door, he suddenly turned, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “You should smile more.” Then he walked out, leaving me standing there, half amused and half bewildered. Of all people, he was the last one I expected to give me life advice. It was a perfect reminder not to take myself too seriously, especially from someone who had just spent the night swimming naked in the river. And in the end, his advice actually did make me smile.