Dr. Daniel A. Shaye

06/05/2026

I enjoy open water swimming -- particularly in the James River, since that's our back yard.

Apparently I'm not swimming alone.

This appeared on the beach yesterday. I've used my men's size 11 1/2 shoe for scale. According to ChatGPT, this was a James River blue catfish:

Length alive: ~50–53 inches
Most likely weight: 45–60 pounds
Single-number estimate: ~52 pounds

05/24/2026

Walking towards my office the other day, I waved at a woman who was driving into the office complex. Her face’s reaction wasn’t “confused” or an attempt at recognition, it was more... struggling to comprehend.

Perhaps many of us have waved at someone (or been waved at), and the recipient wondered, “Do I know you?” And sometimes we get it wrong — whoops, I thought you were Susie/Bob! But this woman’s expression suggested not that she was offended that I’d waved, but almost a recognition that I did NOT know here, and waved anyway — and she couldn’t for the life of her understand why someone would do such a thing with enthusiasm.

In rural areas, waving at passers-by is fairly normal. In suburbia, it’s not. Me, I’ll continue to wave at strangers (and friends-not-yet-met) wherever I may roam. We’re ALL strangers, foreigners, outsiders to someone. At one point, we’d never met our own parents, or spouses, or pets who now show us their bellies. Now, they are blood, our inner circle, our trusted companions. That shift from “other” to “us” can take time, but it starts somewhere. It starts with me. It starts with you.

A better world begins one smile, one wave, one kindness at a time. Let’s build that better world using the strongest, best quality material: LOVE.

05/10/2026

Here's to mothers everywhere. You who give so much of yourselves, in every way. Your love is special.

Here's to those of you who are mothers, who may at times be exhausted or overwhelmed. For all that others or "society" may expect of you, you're only human. Love yourself, forgive yourself for being human... or better yet, embrace yourself as you are.

Also, here's to those whose mothers have passed on; as well as those whose mothers are or were less-than-perfect. Today is a good day for love -- of others, and self. In fact, all days are.

Enjoy this day.

04/30/2026

What a humble, centered person.

This pharmacist-to-be embodies something I love about the running (and triathlon, and OW swim) community -- that it's COMMUNAL. We might line up against each other, compete against each other... but really we line up WITH and FOR each other.

Maybe we can spread this spirit. Lord knows, the world needs it. I'd like that, very much.

2.3K likes, 1.2K comments. "Marathon runner who lost race after celebrating early says winner "deserves everything he's getting""

03/13/2026

The reason many people give up is that they look at how far they still have to go, instead of how far they’ve already come.

Change that perspective, and suddenly the journey feels possible again.

📷 Photo: Kevin Trautman

03/13/2026

Recently, I was truly inspired by a medical professional. He called to check on how a member of my family was doing. It was more than a medical follow-up, it was a heartfelt, sincere reaching out. But that's not what ultimately impressed me.

I asked this doctor, "What can I do for you or your family to repay the kindness you've shown to my family?" His response: "You can pray that I will possess the knowledge to help more people."

I am truly humbled by this doctor's selfless and sincere desire to serve others. May his example be a light to other health care providers, and to you. He sure is an inspiration and a role model for me.

02/22/2026

Key quotes from this article:

"The new study also found that the risk for more common conditions like depression and anxiety was also higher among (young) cannabis users. 'Depression alone went up by about a third,' says Silver, 'and anxiety went up by about a quarter.' "

"... the link between cannabis use and depression and anxiety got weaker for teens who were older when they used cannabis. 'Which really shows the sensitivity of the younger child's brain to the effects of cannabis.' "

Parents, please don't condone or worse yet actively encourage drug use as harmless. Encourage teens to exercise, talk (including talk therapy), communicate, develop empathy (for other and future-self) as alternatives to cannabis for managing stress and anxiety. And yes, acupuncture can also be a useful tool.

Researchers followed more than 400,000 teens until they were adults. It found that those who used ma*****na were more likely to develop serious mental illness, as well as depression and anxiety.

02/13/2026

Sora Vigorito is one of only 89 pairs of identical twins who were subjected to the cruel medical experiments conducted by Dr. Joseph Mengele in Auschwitz. As a young child, she endured unimaginable loss, trauma, and separation, yet emerged with extraordinary strength and determination. Her life stor...

01/26/2026

I made the mistake of trying to drive on ice this morning, in an attempt to go serve patients (Dr. Panick made it to the office, I did not). Despite 4-wheel drive, I ended up stuck on a sheet of ice, on an embankment (OK, let's call it what it is: I ended up in a ditch). The main roads are pretty good, but back roads and untended areas (especially hills) are unsafe. In retrospect, I wouldn't recommend trying what I tried.

On another front, if you're on foot (as I was, walking home 1/4 mile from my abandoned truck): Yaktrax makes some AMAZING products. You can literally walk on sheets of ice in them. It's too late for you to get a pair for this ice storm, but I'd suggest ordering a pair (or two). They're amazing. I was able to walk 1/4 mile home (after ditching my truck), on surfaces that would have been deadly (or at minimum painful) otherwise.

Become a chiropractic patient. Go to Performance Chiropractic. But do NOT go because you made a bad decision and slipped and fell. Buy some Yaktrax.

https://yaktrax.com/

01/25/2026

Caring is a blessing and a curse... but I care. I just do. I care about people, I care about nature, I care about what's right (often subjective, I know), I care about reconciling (and accepting) differences, I care about a lot. To the chagrin of some and delight of others, I don't prefer to keep silent. Sharing my perspectives through writing is one way I hope to make a positive difference in a world where connection (and harmony) is sometimes (too often) lacking.

A Surry resident warns that abusive rhetoric and self-enforced ethics rules are holding the county back, urging supervisors to enforce their code.