I've worked for over 25 years as a professional Industrial Hygienist. The formal definition of Industrial Hygiene is "that science and art that deals with the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards in the workplace and the community."
Science and Art. That's actually one of the first things that attracted me to the profession when I realized there was a name for the work I was already doing. A balanced duality. For those who know anything about Astrology, I am a classic Pisces. Go to any good Astrology website and read the description for Pisces and it will come pretty close to describing me. While you're there take a look at the symbol for Pisces. Two fish, swimming in opposite directions. We fish are often considered to be indecisive. The truth is we have a hard time coming down solidly on one side or the other because in most cases we can see - and consider - both sides. So, it really comes as no surprise that I would be attracted to the duality in the above definition. Nor is it a surprise that I would be attracted to the concept of two opposites, or extremes being brought together at the point where they complement and find harmony. Recognizing two sides of the same coin and getting the coin to stand on edge. A balancing act to be sure.
In the early 1500's there lived a man by the name of Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim. He later came to be known simply as Paracelsus. He was among other things a botanist, alchemist, astrologer, and general occultist. He was also a physician. He challenged authority, challenged the status quo, and challenged the established and revered medical practices of the day. His work with remedies involving plants, minerals, and elements changed medicine forever. He pioneered not only the use of "medicines" as remedies but also the concept of dosage. His efforts lead to the modern sciences of pharmacology and toxicology which are indeed two sides of the same coin. He is credited with saying “All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; only the dose permits something not to be poisonous." Frequently that concept is summarized by the Latin phrase:
Dosis sola facit venenum. The dose alone makes the poison.
Dose. How much is too little? How much is too much? How much is just right? Dose. Adjusting the amount to find the point where the substance complements and finds harmony. Where it produces a positive result. The term dose is generally applied to medicines, chemicals, substances.
I believe another word to describe the concept of dose is BALANCE, and I believe it applies to every aspect of our lives. Our physical lives. Our mental lives. Our spiritual lives.
How much coffee, tea, alcohol, sleep, exercise, is the right amount? These days we all have far too much internet, email, television, video games, cell phones, pagers, multitasking, consumerism, self-indulgence, intolerance, credit debt, religious extremism, super-sizing, and pop culture. And we all have far too little down time, quiet, thought, reflection, personal interaction, physical activity, compassion, reading, spirituality, understanding, modesty, courtesy, humility, reason, laughter, and healthy diets. Too much stress keeps you in a heightened, constant state of fight or flight without ever coming down and leads to all sorts of physical and mental problems. Too little stress, well, I read an article once that defined the complete and total absence of stress as...death.
Finding that point where it all complements and finds harmony. Where it produces a positive result, or at least a neutral rather than a negative one. We can all use some balance in our lives.
Welcome to Dosis Sola Pro Lance. Only a dose of balance.
The union of "science and art" still appeals to me. I'm still drawn to balanced dualities. I'm still interested in helping people to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control hazards. I've just expanded the scope.
As for marriage, I believe the same applies. It is the union two, not necessarily opposite but certainly different energies. It is a union that frequently compliments and seeks harmony. It is a relationship that requires balance to be healthy and positive.
I have been happily and successfully married to my wife for over 25 years. Some, rightly or wrongly, point to us as a model to emulate. It's not that we're perfect or don't have problems. It's that we have dealt and continue to deal with them. Together. We don't stop working on it. Even when things are great. ESPECIALLY when things are great. You never stop working on it.
I'm a fan of marriage. I believe in it and believe it should be the equal right of all to enter into it. I also believe it to be something taken very seriously and not to be entered into lightly. There needs to love, of course. That's the foundation. But there also needs to be respect, mutual understanding and support, communication, and courtesy. Yes, courtesy. There needs to be a realistic dialog about all things that can, and will come up and how it will be dealt with - together. There needs to be a plan and commitment for finding and maintaining a sometimes delicate...balance.
I have been happily and successfully married to my wife for over 25 years. Some, rightly or wrongly, point to us as a model to emulate. It's not that we're perfect or don't have problems. It's that we have dealt and continue to deal with them. Together. We don't stop working on it. Even when things are great. ESPECIALLY when things are great. You never stop working on it.
I'm a fan of marriage. I believe in it and believe it should be the equal right of all to enter into it. I also believe it to be something taken very seriously and not to be entered into lightly. There needs to love, of course. That's the foundation. But there also needs to be respect, mutual understanding and support, communication, and courtesy. Yes, courtesy. There needs to be a realistic dialog about all things that can, and will come up and how it will be dealt with - together. There needs to be a plan and commitment for finding and maintaining a sometimes delicate...balance.
I hope you enjoy visiting this site. If I may ever be of service to you please contact me.
240.457.9933
