Dr. Yves Sugunaraj Christopher MB.BS., FRANZCP., MRC. PSYCH, DPM., DCH. Consultant Psychiatrist, Emeritus Assistant Professor – By Suvendrini H. C. Christopher-Schuhmann
Recently my husband of 27 years, my friend of 35, and I were discussing our ascent into the quinquagenarian years. We were both in shock with the number. We clearly do not feel much older than when we first met. Each year we would discuss various concerns etc. with each other. Usually we were reaching, planning, striving for something just out of our reach as most young adults do.
In our 50s we remind ourselves and come to terms with the limited years we might have left, the developmental goals of our age group, and garnered the wisdom necessary to continue with some modicum of serenity. All the striving, excelling, reaching for success has to stop at some point, and we get to put down roots where we are in life and glean contentment and satisfaction with what we have before us. That is the ideal anyway. Frequently, the 40s led me to the mid-life crisis full of regrets and the review of lost opportunity, rather than the gratitude of accomplishment.
As always on reflection I look to my various role models. The one that insistently, instantly, consistently, formatively, and experientially comes to mind is my father, Dr. Yves, Sugunaraj, Christopher. His path through life is the gold standard I reach for to explain and understand most aspects of my own. Each year I looked to his various achievements, decisions, and techniques with life as guides to my own decision making and choices.
The 50s were impressive and dynamic years for my father as I recall. He chose to fly into action to cover the ground he wanted too with the years left for him. My father divorced his first wife, my mother, obtained custody of their only child, me, passed several medical examinations and qualified with yet another batch of medical professional achievements. He continued on to collect those shining letters in stars after his name, demonstrating these achievements.
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But wait there was more. My father dropped me off at college in Hesston, Kansas, the USA, returned to Singapore where he had settled for a decade or so, applied for immigration to Australia for himself and me, where he was instantly accepted because of his professional stardom, and me too consequently. He began his life in Australia in the position of Clinical Director and Administrator of a Psychiatric Hospital in a small coastal town in Victoria named Warnambool. This is where I came for summer holidays after my freshman year of College in the U. S. I could tell that he was going through an adjustment period. He was figuring out that he was not so keen on the administrative tasks, and he enjoyed his clinical work immensely. I was finally introduced to his community of Sri Lankan friends and peers who were mostly in Melbourne and quite numerous.
This too is where he met a young widow in the community who his friends had wanted him to meet. The door was open for a possible 2nd marriage. He has always been very proud of the eight-year difference in their ages. Their relationship flourished and blossomed. He seemed to add a youthfulness and decades to his own life as they progressed together. When I returned for the summer holidays after my sophomore year and graduation from Junior College with Hesston College in Kansas, I found the pair had decided to marry. My father’s agency was instrumental in the changes that were rapidly ensconced in his life, and consequently, so was mine. He would continue to make professional and personal changes for a few more years and finally settled into a rhythm. He managed to flourish in private practice and added the position of assistant professor in teaching to his portfolio. He did not retire till he was in his octogenary years. He is now 87 years old and 88 in January of 2024. Retirement has been good for him as has his much younger wife.
I draw this moment of reflection to a close with love, gratitude, and ever flourishing adoration for the very human and yet dynamic man that is my father, Dr. Yves Sugunaraj Christopher. I thank God for him and place him as always back in His tender and loving care.
Suvendrini H. C. Christopher-Schuhmann
Doctor of Education in Counselling Psychology
Licensed Professional Counsellor (Inactive)
Master of Science in Counselling Psychology
541-331-7697
suveni_schuhmann@yahoo.com
suvendrini@yahoo.com
suvendrini@gmail.com
