736 entries.
Maija Soderholm
from Oakland, CA
Dear Dr Sacks,
My Filipino sword fighting teacher realized, after some years of teaching, that the best way to learn how to cope with the chaos of a duel was to play in that chaos. The goal was never to find certainty within the chaos, in other words, 'answers' to all the possible 'questions' posed, but to become comfortable with uncertainty itself.
He died 9 years ago, and now that it is my turn to teach, I have become completely fascinated by what motivates people to change, to learn. Our very survival depends on adaptation, but in some way so does it on laziness, comfort, and staying 'safe'. All conditions dependent on certainty, the very opposite!
I have found that most of my job as a teacher is to find ways to motivate people to adapt within the 'random flow' chaos I learned as a training paradigm from my teacher. The human body does this naturally (proprioception seems key here), and it is often the mind that I am convincing more than the physical body of the student. This has to be tailored very much to the individual.
I believe my teacher was a remarkable reader (and 'writer') or people which made him a formidable sword player, but also an incredible teacher. This of course spills over into any human to human interaction in life, anywhere where there is 'conversation'.
I read your autobiography this last weekend and struck by the idea of 'contingency' and was hoping that you might write more about this most interesting idea in relation to the individual?
Thanks!
Maija Soderholm
Gillian
from Venice, Italy
Thank you so much for everything. All your wonderful books have been an inspiration to me over the years. What I've always appreciated in your patient reports is that everyone comes out sounding so unique and special - just as we all are, but it needs to be said.
And I'm so so happy that you've fallen in love.
Big hug.
Sam Gerrits
from Utrecht
Dear Dr. Sacks,
I was reading the words your mother wrote to you in 1960 and was moved beyond words. The preceding words on geology had already lit my mind, as I am a geochemist. They kind of acted like a soccer cross for your mother's words, to hit me with a visceral, beautiful understanding of mortality. Our time on this strange planet really is exceedingly short and we are precious as and fall like leaves. Thank you for living at least a dozen normal lives, and sharing your riches with all of us.
Bon Voyage,
Sam
Elizabeth Christian
from Weybridge
Dear Dr. Sacks,
Thank you for giving so much to the world. Your love of life and desire to keep learning is a wonderful gift.
With much love,
Beth
Nicole Stein
from Stuttgart, Germany
Dear Dr. Sacks,
Here is my favourite quote by you:
"We make worlds with whatever we have – and they are complete.“
(taken from a 1997 talk with Robert Krulwich)
I work with students who acquire German as a second language (mostly as soon as they enter nursery school at the age of three) and also give courses for teachers on GSL. What my colleagues often fail to realize is that their bilingual students – even if they cannot yet speak one of their languages in a way school expects it from them – are not in some way "deficient", but have acquired a complete linguistic system which has worked so far and which in most cases has not yet been felt by themselves to be insufficient. Only we, the teachers, very often qualify it as such, and thus very likely upset our students’ self-esteem and self-assuredness if we do not proceed with the necessary sensitivity and appreciation of what they already feel they have – a complete world.
Thank you for that quote which I often – and successfully – use as food for thought at the beginning of my courses. And thank you for widening your readership's scope by telling us in so many examples that human (and plant) life is more diverse, more resilient to whatever odds and more astounding than we would usually accept.
All the best to you!
Nicole
annie degen
from questa
over the years I love and appreciate you more and more
beautiful man, exciting, educational, thrilling person.
reading awakenings, again,
seeing voices
just finished on the move
i know i repeat myself
i love you
i love you
i love you
grannieannie
Carol Siegel Kravitz
from Scarsdale NY
I enjoyed reading On The Move. I am a first cousin of Ralph Siegel and was delighted to read your kind words about him and to see the photos of him with you. Ralph was my favorite cousin and his early death was heartbreaking. We are proud of his accomplishments. He thought very highly of you and was privileged to work with you.
Sincerely, Carol Siegel Kravitz
Liz Richardson
from Canterbury, Kent
Just this moment finished 'on the move' I'm not a scientist or writer, but enjoy both, and love the clarity with which this book was written. I had several 'of course' moments, especially towards the end.
I've shared it on Facebook and hope lots of others buy and enjoy it - it'll be hard to improve on its range.
Thanks so much for the pleasure and education.
Namaste,
Liz
Alicia Mercurio
from Tappen. British Columbia
I have loved your work over the years. Like you I am 81, have had ocular melonoma eight years ago and now have terminal and untreatable metasticized liver cancer. I appreciated your comments on the end approaching, and hope to stay as positive as possible. "Vivacious and positively cheerful to the end" is my motto. Thank you for your public statements. Love, Alicia
Jeff Dershin
from Newtown, PA
All polite letters begin with the word "Dear..." but in this case (and I know this is true of the rest of your devoted readers) the word is accurate, meaning: Precious.
Dear Dr. Sacks, I just finished "On the Move," and I found it such a moving account of your life. I'm also glad you used the motorcycle picture on the front of the book jacket. It's as if you're saying, "Chronologically I may be a white-bearded old geezer, but inside I'm still this cool, confident, powerful young guy." And to us, you very much are! I am a professional musician (piano/vocals) and have recently been doing more and more shows at retirement and nursing homes. Until recently, I considered this work a bit of an embarrassment ("I should be in Carnegie Hall!") but last fall I saw the documentary "Alive Inside," (with a cameo appearance by yourself) and that totally altered my attitude. I now consider doing this work a privilege and even a "calling" of sorts, and the deeply moving experiences I've had as a "musical healer" have become almost a daily event. Recently, a friend suggested I write down some of my experiences, and that has also become a source of great satisfaction. Thanks you for your continual inspiration, Jeff Dershin
Bill Schaefer
from Pocatello
Dr. Sacks, I once had an Earles fork BMW like the one you once had, and I only want to say good choice of bike and thank you for being here.
Samantha Polinik
from Baltimore
Dear Dr. Sacks,
Greetings. I was introduced to you and your work years ago through Radio Lab. I have so very much enjoyed every episode you've been a part of, especially the last one. I wanted to say thank you. Your stories were always the best, always the ones that touched deeply and brought a tear to my eye. They revealed the most about what it means to understand and live fully the human experience.
I am an architect by trade, so our fields don't exactly intersect, except perhaps in the holistic way that we all connect as humans. Still, you are a hero to me. Your warmth, kindness and willingness to be exposed are models for my own life map.
Thank you. And here's to you, Dr. Sacks.
Isaac
from Brooklyn
I want to thank you for being your authentic self. I'm early in my journey, but your resilience and focus on the struggles of others is endlessly inspiring. I only hope that I give an ounce of what you have brought to the world. Your steadfast love of humanity and courage for self discovery is truly humbling. I'd love to offer a hug if you've got a moment for me.
Isaac
Blanche Nelson
from Stephentown, New York
Hello Dr. Sacks-I met you many years ago at a Fern Society meeting at the NYBG. You gave me a lovely little fern which is still thriving in my garden here in the Berkshires. All the best to you!!!
Tina
from Antioch
"The mind is a terrible thing to waste."...Your work has allowed me to exercise my mind. I pick up your books and cannot put them down. I'm so intrigued. Thank you, bless you, Dr Oliver Sacks. You have made a lasting inprint on my soul.
Mark Norris
from Phoenix, AZ
Dr. Sacks, Don't know how I missed your books to date but purchased On The Move after the Wall Street Journal article. Your life story is a wonderful adventure, and I will revisit and reread this again. I am working my way through your other books. As a student of the piano, Musicophilia will be my next. As a gay man who didn't come out until his mid twenties, I appreciate the candor of all you faced. Have just married my parter of 39 years in Boston (my OSU grad school discover!). We've come a long way since the 50's. My VERY BEST to you and thank you! Mark
Paloma
Dear Dr. Sacks,
Before reading your books I disliked science as a whole. I thought it was empty and lacking warmth. I thought that because I was dedicated to being an artist, a poet, I had to reject the logical side of things. When I heard you were called the "poet laureate of medicine" I scrambled to read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and it changed my life. I saw that it was possible to be a great scientist, a great doctor, and still have empathy and passion. Because of you I've decided to study neurology and infuse my poetry with this newfound love of medicine. You showed me it was possible to be a poet and a doctor, and do it beautifully.
Thank you so much, and happy birthday.
All my love,
Paloma
erik
from Gent Belgium
Thank you for sharing your passion and your beauty!
Ray pugh
from St. Paul minnesota
I have followed your interests in chemistry, cycads, and your travels to Oaxaca in search of ferns and scientific fellowship. Like you, I have tried to pass on the wonders of these things to others. I write this after a slog through the Univ of British Columbia arboretum......slog is not the right word as the summer is very dry and the soil and humus is friable and very thirsty. Earlier this week I visited Botanical Beach in Port Renfrew, BC, where I tried to wrap my small brain around the diversity of algae that the site has to offer. Oh my, time for a field trip with you!
William Carleton
from Distrito Federal
Dr. Sacks,
I came upon your TED presentation on hallucinations yesterday, which inspired me to write you. At the very end of the presentation you mention the word "hexagon" regarding your personal experiences with hallucinations. You also mentioned in the video that you have monitored brain activity of individuals while they are experiencing hallucinations.
I have strong reason to believe that during hallucinations there is also a significant secretion of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) occurring from the pineal gland.
I have been living as an ex-pat in Distrito Federal for the past three years (I just started reading your book on Oaxaca as a side note :), and I never experimented with psychedelic compounds in my life until I was motivated for spiritual reasons to drink ayahuasca on one occasion -- during which my DMT hallucinations focused specifically on the hexagon forms that you mentioned. They were embedded in everything during my experience. What's interesting is that DMT is released naturally in the body via the pineal gland -- and is known to be released during moments of deep meditation with conscious breathing, during near death experiences, when the five senses and ego are nearly "switched off" for a short duration. I am currently trying to determine if the ego dies for a short period of time during REM sleep, where a trained mind can act without limitations. Literally, anything can be possible while in a lucid dream state.
I'm convinced that DMT and the pineal gland are the keys to unlocking the mysteries of hallucinations, or at the very least, it can help us to better understand consciousness, i.e. the miraculous program that gives us our sense of reality.
I understand my comments aren't for everyone. With humility, I am just trying to learn more about the mysteries of the mind, and thought my experiences may inspire you.
Best regards,
William
