Rachel Naomi Remen
Rachel Naomi Remen
Full Name and Common Aliases
Rachel Naomi Remen is a renowned American author, physician, and teacher who has made significant contributions to the fields of medicine, spirituality, and personal growth.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on July 16, 1938, in New York City, Rachel Remen passed away on October 22, 2017, at the age of 79.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Remen was an American physician, author, and speaker who spent most of her life exploring the intersection of medicine, spirituality, and personal growth. She held a medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and later became a licensed physician in New York State.
Early Life and Background
Rachel Remen's early life was marked by both academic success and personal struggles. As a child, she demonstrated exceptional intelligence and curiosity, attending the Dalton School in Manhattan before enrolling at Cornell University at just 16 years old. However, her academic achievements were accompanied by feelings of alienation and disconnection from others.
Major Accomplishments
Remen's career was characterized by several notable milestones:
She became a licensed physician in New York State after completing her medical degree at Cornell University Medical College.
Remen began exploring the connection between spirituality and healthcare, which ultimately led to her writing the groundbreaking book "Kitchen Table Wisdom" in 1996. This book has since become a classic in the field of integrative medicine and spiritual growth.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Remen's most notable works include:
"Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal" (1996): A collection of stories about her patients, which explores the intersection of spirituality and healthcare.
"My Grandfather's Blessings" (2000)*: A memoir that weaves together stories from Remen's family history with spiritual insights and medical wisdom.Impact and Legacy
Rachel Naomi Remen's impact on modern thought is multifaceted:
Her pioneering work in integrative medicine has inspired a new generation of healthcare professionals to explore the intersection of spirituality and healthcare.
Through her writing, Remen has created a safe space for people from all walks of life to explore their own stories, struggles, and spiritual journeys.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Rachel Naomi Remen is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
Her groundbreaking work in integrative medicine has opened up new avenues for healthcare professionals to explore the connection between spirituality and physical health.
* Her writing has provided comfort, guidance, and inspiration to countless individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Quotes by Rachel Naomi Remen
Rachel Naomi Remen's insights on:
Wounding and healing are not opposites. They’re part of the same thing. It is our wounds that enable us to be compassionate with the wounds of others. It is our limitations that make us kind to the limitations of other people. It is our loneliness that helps us to to find other people or to even know they’re alone with an illness. I think I have served people perfectly with parts of myself I used to be ashamed of.
Freedom may come not from being in control of life but rather from a willingness to move with the events of life, to hold on to our memories but let go of the past, to choose, when necessary, the inevitable. We can become free at any time.
Often times of crisis are times of discovery, periods when we cannot maintain our old ways of doing things and enter into a steep learning curve. Sometimes it takes a crisis to initiate growth.
I spent the first forty years of my life making major interventions into other people’s lives, and I have an idea of the limitations of that method. I see a major event as rather like major surgery. It is a moment, but whether people use it, whether people go with it, needs to be seen.
The way in which we go to the grocery store may tell us everything about the way in which we live a life. The way we tend the life force in a plant may be the way we tend our own life force. We are exquisitely coherent.
Few perfectionists can tell the difference between love and approval. Perfectionism is so widespread in this culture that we actually have had to invent another word for love. ‘Unconditional love,’ we say. Yet, all love is unconditional. Anything else is just approval.
One of the reasons many physicians feel drained by their work is that they do not know how to make an opening to receive anything from their patients. The way we were trained, receiving is considered unprofessional. The way most of us were raised, receiving is considered a weakness.
The way towards freedom from a situation often lies in acceptance of the situation.
I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect with another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it’s from the heart. When people are talking, there’s no need to do anything but receive them. Just take them in. Listen to what they’re saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it.