Living life – Page 44 – Physician In Numbers

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.

Wednesday Wool-gathering 4

A few random thoughts, inspired by my recent rotation through the hospital wards.

Slowing Down

Alas, I am not announcing that I am slowing down at work to focus on the blog. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

7 Good Things

Sometimes I feel like I’m writing about things that aren’t going as well as I might hope. Or I am wrestling with problems I haven’t figured out yet.

Today (I’m writing on a Saturday), I had a surprisingly lovely morning. I didn’t have to travel far, and it didn’t cost much. As I reflected further, I realized I had a pretty good week, and maybe it’s worth remembering that and figuring out how to enjoy more of what I already have.

Becoming a Breadwinner

One of the toughest financial transitions I have made over the years was becoming a breadwinner for a family.

A Hierarchy of Activities

Much like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, or Maimonides’ hierarchy of charitable giving, I find there is a hierarchy of activities I do in my time off. I had the opportunity to engage in many of them during my week at home:

Lessons Learned During My Staycation

I recently enjoyed some time off. After my deliberations a few months ago, followed by an exhausting road trip, I decided this time to stay home for a week. Nine days at home without having to go to work represented an experience I haven’t had for years. I found it educational.