Commercialism in hand therapy: Spirit and method

Abstract

Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible, before handing it to future generations. George Bernard Shaw gets credit for this remark. I like it because the words reflect a kind of spirit to which we all may aspire, and at times, we do feel. Those are the most brilliant moments in life. Identifying high-spiritedness as a goal and having the means of spot-checking our spirit are bound to contribute to the quality of our work. And to our lives. There was never a question in my mind as to the subject matter of this address. The fear of commercialism and the problems stemming from the reality of commercialism appear to be a most profound concern of this group. The ramifications are abundant. Webster defines commercialism as the principles, practices, and spirit of commerce; the inappropriate or excessive emphasis on profit, success, or immediate results. Doing what we do, and the spirit and method with which we do it, defines our individual commercial styles. Commercialism in Hand Therapy does not thrust a capitalistic spirit upon us. But the purely capitalistic spirit is easier to catch than it is to shake. It is the desire to acquire. The balance can be struck by first acknowledging