Express Yourself

I'm working post call.  Just another day.   I got to talk to a senior resident about what I'm going through and he said he went through the same thing as me!  It made me feel so much better that I'm not alone.  I've known the resident for a long time and they told me they've noticed I have changed.

Residency is hard.  People drop out. People switch specialties even 2 years into residency.  If you don't have a support structure, build one!  It's so important. If you're not comfortable talking to people in your residency, make friends in other fields at your hospital and talk, even ancillary staff.  

People in the medical world work very hard, down to the techs and people who clean the operating rooms.  I just live in a constant state of exhaustion, hunger, and thirst.  I am careful about how much water and caffeine I take in because I don't want to be stuck with having to go to the bathroom when there's so much to do or I'm in a case.  

Another aspect of residency is working with people in other fields and building my reputation as someone knowledgeable and trustworthy.  So far it's been good. I can't emphasize how important it is to introduce yourself to the people you work with, even if it's just one call shift for a few minutes. 

Going to make it through this week for some hard earned rest. 

Eyes and Ears (music video entry)

Hey readers.  I hope this day has been sunny and pleasant for you.  I took some time to tend to the herb garden I grow on my apartment balcony, apparently my plants have become high maintenance.

Having a day off is incredibly refreshing.  I tried reprogramming myself to get used to and enjoy working without breaks, but it's not as fulfilling as taking time to enjoy life around you.  I also stopped worrying about that girl I had taken on a couple of dates: she just isn't into me, and that's cool.  I'm not making someone my choice when I'm just one of their options.

I'm supposed to hang out with a few other girls pretty soon, too.  I'm going to stop being all cryptorchidism and ask this certain one out I've known for some time.  Life's tragically short, so don't waste time agonizing over trivial things.

In other positive news, I beat a deadline for a journal.  I clocked probably 230 hours over 2 weeks just hammering away at it, it was absolutely draining and terrible for my morale.  But when you're done, you end up going to that research conference.  Worth it, even though it's arduous and draining.

This music video also puts me in a good mood:



The guy I referred to as "that guy" is apparently Jake Gyllenhaal.  I need to stop living under a lunar rock.