“ other,” and that his life would be markedly improved if their existence was hidden or erased.
That conversation was five years after our paths first crossed. The principles that I formed as a young adult were heavily influenced by this man who now was acting directly opposed to them. The man who showed me the world is bigger than myself was failing to honor the existence of a whole group of people. The man who taught me to greet trials and tribulations with a smile and goodwill, now was greeting other peoples’ struggles with hate.
Maybe Myint’ s well had run dry. Maybe his trauma was manifested in ways not obvious to me at the time. Maybe I was fooled. Whatever the reasons for his apparent sea change, I struggled with accepting the flaws of someone I had placed on a pedestal. I think that was his final and most profound lesson for me: a sort of radical acceptance, to accept people for their entire selves, not just the things I see as admirable. That lesson had far-reaching implications in my life. I needed to accept myself while appreciating my flaws and idiosyncrasies, to accept that I am a small fish in the sea of others’ lives, and that my smile might be the only positive aspect of a stranger’ s day. I must accept that, because my patients will be complex and unique, the care I give must be catered to the individual. me. My oldest brother has recently accepted the“ teachings” of RFK Jr. He argued for the effectiveness of raw milk and against the efficacy of vaccines. It felt like a personal affront. How could a family member have beliefs that are the antithesis of what I am dedicating my life to?
Radical acceptance.
I articulated how I was struggling to understand the minutiae of vaccinations as a medical student. We found common ground in that the idea that vaccines are scary. A killed virus or bacterial toxin injected into our body? Hard to sell that to the average person nowadays. He agreed to read some of the resources I would send him. We have since texted a number of times about the subject in a respectful and inquisitive manner. The raw milk discussion did not pan out, but we kept it civil, and he thanked me for trying to understand him. As our society changes, as information access ebbs and flows, as I progress further into my career, Myint’ s teachings will help me learn and grow from my interactions. Most importantly, I will do so with a smile, humor and acceptance.
This essay was a submission to the 2025 Richard Spear, MD, Memorial Essay Contest.
Brett Schmieder is a third-year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
A recent experience tested the influences that Myint instilled in
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