A Delicate Balance and an Open Forum

The beginning of the semester thus far has been pretty interesting. I've found it a bit of a challenge to hit my stride both in the general sense of how my day plays out and with my motivation. Part of it is becoming acclimated to a new schedule (with the addition of our anatomy dissection labs), but another side of it is getting back in the routine of focusing on things that don't necessarily seem relevant right now, namely the physics of air in the lungs.

So how do I solve my dilemma of motivation and focus? By hanging out with my wife and writing on my blog, of course. But let me confess: I may or may not have spent the majority of my not-at-school-time today running the gauntlet of online assignments so all is not lost.

To add to one of my many methods of getting myself refocused and recognizing that there is more to medicine than alveolar gas exchange I offer you, my faithful reader, a question and open forum to speak your opinion. What is your opinion of medicine and healthcare? What's wrong? What's right? What should be done?

I've found myself slightly frustrated and perplexed at others' views of the current state of healthcare in our country and what is or is not being done to remedy any problems. I can't help but wonder, as I think everyone should, if I've become too closed off and set in my ways (or, let me be real, if I need to do a better job of articulating my point and its obvious truth to others).

So let me have it. I'll read them all, mull it over, and post my thoughts/summary/response after a couple of days.

Until next time.

A New Decade

2010, eh? I'm down with that (but really only if we call the 00s the aughts like we're supposed to).

While everyone seems to be excited about the new year (and sure, I'll go along with that), I'm more excited about the prospect of a new official decade. When I look back at the past decade, my mind explodes when I see just how much of my life has changed (and oddly stayed the same)

What changed? During the aughts I:

-cycled through middle school, high school, college, and am now studying medicine.

-have lived in three different towns and progressed from living at home to living "on my own" with people who are essentially brothers (if I didn't already have 3 good ones- that I gained in this past decade) to being wonderfully married.

-went from being an awkward and strange single teen to an awkward and strange (but very lucky) husband.

-became an uncle to not one, not two, but three hilarious boys.

What didn't change? I still:

-read incessantly (but like to think that I read better now thanks to that whole college degree thing)

-play and/or unabashedly enjoy video games/comic books/computers/tv shows/etc. (although I like to think my that tastes have refined)

-maintain a ridiculous competitive streak that school has been kind enough to keep alive.


The point of all this? I don't really know. Perhaps just to stop for a moment and think back at what's happened and changed over the past 10 years. You should, too. This is, after all, your life. Don't forget the immortal words of advice.

Until next time.

Edit: Upon reading this post, my new year resolution will be to slash my use of parenthesis. My bad.