IM-PCP – Page 47 – Physician In Numbers

Don’t Wish Your Life Away

This is a phrase I have been repeating recently, as my current situation has not been so awesome.

Working long hours with no days off for several weeks: I can’t wait until I get some time off at the end of the year!

Faced with obscure tournaments or–gasp!–reruns on the Tennis Channel in December: I can’t wait until the Australian Open in mid-January!

Closing a book by a favorite author (especially if a cliff-hanger is involved): I can’t wait until the next book comes out!

Despite the fact that I am very much looking forward to these events, I try to remind myself that living in these difficult, or boring, or tedious days is a privilege that many of my patients wished they could have more of. That, at my age, accelerating time isn’t necessarily a great thing.

So I keep reminding myself that I shouldn’t wish my life away.

Leafless trees overlook a frozen lake while birds fly overhead. — Winter is not my favorite season, but still has a beauty I should learn to appreciate.

Mr. PiN notes that I had used to say this a lot several years ago.

Revisiting Grocery Delivery

This week winter hit our area, with bad roads and cold temperatures.

I also saw a huge uptick of COVID cases (likely Omicron spread by gatherings at Christmas and New Years).

Between one thing and another, when Mr. PiN announced we were out of eggs, I asked him if he would please arrange a grocery delivery instead of spending time battling traffic and tons of shoppers (who aren’t necessarily masking).

Winter Scene in Moonlight. Henry Farrer. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. — Not a true representation of our local roads, if only because the painter didn’t add all 120 cars that would be there now.

Since we haven’t really done this since the end of 2020, it was a somewhat different experience for us.

Fitness Log #169 And Friday Firsts (Omicron Edition)

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 3 years, and plan to continue doing so.

I started the Friday Firsts sections as a way of keeping track of some of my “firsts” as I dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Things seem to be settling down, but I will keep it for now–more as a way to be aware and thankful of what is happening in my life.

Future Me, January 2022

I started this series of posts at the end of October 2018. I had just cut back my hours, and wanted to use my new free time wisely. Some of that time was to relax, but I also wanted to improve my fitness, make my home a more pleasant place to stay, and work on becoming a more well-rounded human being.

My last update was in August 2021, with a number of wins, and several misses.

I had plenty of non-hospital months since then, which should have meant that I could hit most of my goals; however, between parental hospitalizations and a death in the family, my time was definitely not my own.

With all that, how did I do with my goals over the past 5 months?

Fitness Log #168 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 3 years, and plan to continue doing so.

2021 Is In The Rearview Mirror

Early January is when people about their resolutions for the next 11 to 12 months. Usually there is talk of losing weight, saving more money, getting ahead at work.

Before I consider resolutions (or plans) for 2022, I would like to review some of the highlights of 2021. I find it is healthier for me to pay attention to things that have gone well, rather than always pointing out what needs to improve.

Fitness Log #167 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 3 years, and plan to continue doing so.

A Wonderful Life

I’ve just come back from a walk outdoors at the end of a 3-day weekend.

Prior attempts at a post for this week were… whiny.

It’s been a very difficult few months, with parents hospitalized, a death and a funeral, a house guest who stayed with us for 3 weeks over 2 months (not that I’m counting), and some tough stints at work.

During that time, our lives at the PiN household were turned upside down, and we were taken out of our usual schedules. It was not great.

As I walked in the sun today, warmly dressed so that the cool weather was merely refreshing, I was able to reflect on the routine life that I have built with Mr. PiN over the past few years. The one that I missed very badly when it was gone.

A middle-aged couple from the late Middle Ages pose staring at each other. — They look very comfortable, though maybe no longer up for adventure at the drop of a hat.

Fitness Log #166 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 3 years, and plan to continue doing so.

Low Clutter Gift Giving

It’s that time of year: Giving Tuesday, Hanukkah, Christmas, family birthdays. A girl’s mind turns to giving.

I’ve already written about giving to charity in various ways, including–most recently–via donor advised fund.

In this post I am thinking more about the gifts we give to family and friends.

This year, I was more interested in more ephemeral gifts: what with inflation, supply chain issues, and more discussion about decluttering, I thought it might be a good year to think about gifts that won’t linger in a closet for years.