A reflection from Paulina Szylin, Floating Doctors Dental Lead

How do I write about those experiences that can’t even be put to words? How do I tell people what I’ve seen without being misunderstood or judged, is it even possible?

And yet I feel such pull to writing and sharing the stories that I have accumulated throughout the years, and hopefully many to come. It feels like such a waste and almost selfish to just keep them to myself.

Who knows who it can inspire or touch or even wake up to what’s going on with the world?

I usually get two responses from people when I talk about my hunger to do NGO/ volunteering work: I’m either treated as an angel or a complete weirdo, both of which lead to further separation. Both of which don’t include digging into oneself and saying: ‘oh, I have a part of me that gets it’. Which would be the reaction I’d love to receive. And which I would love for the person who I’m sharing with to receive as well, because I know how healing it can be. Rarely does it happen. 

And I get it to some degree. Why would we give back if our experience of this human life has been filled with cruelty and having to fight for everything that we want? I don’t hear too many people talking about being blessed (outside of the superficial layer of social media, fanatics or in case of big life events like weddings or birth of a child). The everyday often lacks the vibrancy and excitement. Why would we give the most precious thing that we have in this life (time) and lose something on top of it or at least not gain (money), for someone we don’t even know? 

I’ll say something which maybe isn’t considered proper. For me, the time when I was providing in such a way, was selfish. I got way more than I gave. Fair enough, I was open to it. When I got outside of the ego construct of saving the world and being the hero, the true magic happened. The connection was able to be formed and both me and everyone around me were just…human. Experiencing life in a different way. Not better or worse, different. Some more comfortable, some less. Some lost the connection to nature (me), some didn’t get the opportunity to gain knowledge. And we could exchange the gifts. And we could learn from each other. 

There’s no money in this world to buy what you get from such experiences. There’s no course or training that you can attend on being a better human (which has to lead to being a better provider, I can’t see it any other way). On healing the relationship with your profession (which happened to me). On seeing the world through a different set of eyes. On learning gratitude. 

Or maybe there is such training. Maybe what Floating Doctors are giving the opportunity to do, is such an intense course on being human. And don’t be fooled, the volunteers and providers are giving, but they’re also getting so, so much. Such a beautiful space was created to give and take, share and inspire. 

Life is short, why not live it to the fullest? If this has been your dream, you can take my words as a call to action or a sign if you will. The dearest to my heart is the dental program, but if you’re a medical doctor, you’re still cool ;) and you can join. 

Let 2025 be the year that you stop waiting for things to happen. Make them happen instead. 

Wishing everyone abundance of love and prosperity for this New Year, 

Paulina