Living life – Page 33 – Physician In Numbers

Wednesday Wool-gathering

Several random thoughts on the week past.

A Weekend In Numbers

1 National holiday.

3 Visiting children.

2 Visiting parents. Add 2 hosting adults and note that we outnumber the children. Barely.

Future Me, January 2020 Follow Up

I started this series of posts at the end of October 2018, when I cut back my hours from full time to 90%. At the time I was dealing with overwork and atrophy of my personal life; I worried that I would waste the extra time I was buying myself with my pay cut.

I started with 10 Steps to Future Me. In mid-February 2019, I reviewed my goals from October, and came up with some new ones. In May of 2019 my father’s illness derailed my regular life, and I was pretty forgiving about missing most of my goals in the mid-June update. The work load over the summer was hefty, and again my September 2019 update had many missed marks.

I had planned to follow up at the end of the year, so it’s time to revisit September’s goals and see how I stand with them.

Monday Melange: Fun Vs Money

I have been reading personal finance blogs for a while. I love the breadth of subjects: frugality, meal planning, travel ~~hacking~~ planning, geeky number posts comparing traditional and Roth IRAs.

One of my issues is that they all, every one of them (it seems), glorifies the side hustle.

You know, the other job, the one you do after your regular one is done. It doesn’t pay as much, yet, but helps you diversify your income sources.

Even doctors are supposed to have a side hustle, I hear.

Tempest Fugit

Today was not one of my regular days. Instead of going to the hospital, I participated in an off-campus event for the morning.

Once I was free, I decided to walk home, as it was a bright, unseasonably sunny day. I almost pulled out my sunglasses, kept in my purse in perpetual optimism, in case I can actually get outside during daylight.

2019 In Review

This is the time of year when people make resolutions for the next year. Usually there is talk of losing weight, saving more, getting ahead.

Before I consider resolutions (or plans) for 2020, I would like to look back at 2019, and think about accomplishments I can point to with pride. I find it is healthier for me to concentrate periodically on things that have gone well, rather than always pointing out what needs to improve.

Christmas 2019

This is the first Christmas I haven’t worked in quite a few years. I plan to enjoy myself. My plans are pretty decadent: sleep in, putter around the house, finish off my charitable giving for the year (my check book will be getting a work out).

I hope your day is as much fun as mine should be, whether it’s a slow day to catch up on things, or a busy day seeing family, or celebrating the day religiously.

Here is some art to brighten your day, in case you need it.

The Wild Swans (The Twelve Brothers Turned Into Swans), 1928 Arthur Joseph Gaskin. Courtesy of the Birmingham Museums Trust, via Unsplash.

What Do You Want?

This is a question I have been asking a lot lately.

For the holidays, I ask my loved ones (or their parents): what do you want? Toys? Shirts? Books? A DVD? (For the record, a scarf or two and some lovely Smartwool socks–Margarita, knee-high–would be great for me.)

I have also been asking that question of myself during this season.

Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I plan to enjoy myself with my family, eating (too) well and likely failing to keep up with the younger generation.

I feel very fortunate to be able to spend time with my parents, siblings, niblings. We are all healthy, and out of the hospital. We have plenty to eat, can take time off for the holiday, and are able to travel to see each other. As I wrote about last year, I feel quite rich, even if numbers in the bank might tell me I am “comfortable.”

I hope you enjoy your day tomorrow, and feel that you have much to be thankful for as well.

Win By Walking

This weekend I finished several weeks of ~~durance vile~~ hospital wards, supervising residents and students, teaching, and taking care of clinic work. This is a hard stretch of service, with long hours and little time off; many things (exercise, tidying, socializing, reading) get left by the wayside. However, it is this time that allows me lighter hours when I am only working in the office.

Though I still had work to do, I woke up my first free day feeling the need to Do.All.The.Things. Or at least work on my goals.