Burn and Rave

I am currently in between rotations, so this is the first weekend I haven’t had to go to the hospital on Sunday.  Time, however, must still be spent wisely.  I still have a whole list of things to get done.  Wrapping up papers from my last rotation, starting to read material for my next rotation, catching up with friends, spending time with family (thank goodness my parents and grandparents like taking a siesta so that I can have some midday time to myself!), making plans for the elementary class I teach at my church, and cleaning up my room, cleaning up my mess in various parts of the house, and working out.

I love being busy, because I feel very productive.  I can’t imagine living in another part of the world where life just lazily passes by, where the denizens have but one thing to do on their list for the day - go to the bank, go to the cafe, or go visit a friend.  My day is made up of all of those and more.  On the other hand, I wonder if they live longer.  Even if they do, I am satisfied with my life and my responsibilities.  I think that’s the most important thing to discover in life - the perfect balance needed for satisfaction.  

Now, I am off to start the washer to clean my sheets and then back to the computer to work on my cardiothoracic surgery papers, followed by running and then planning the next quarter for my class.  My day is filled with organized chaos and I dig it!

I am perfecting my philosophy of working hard and playing hard.  Having committed myself to a career as a physician, it really doesn’t matter what specialty I choose, the work will be demanding especially during my youth (my twenties and early thirties) as I slave away in residency for less than minimum wage per hour.  In order to stay competitive, please my superiors, read textbooks and articles, and deliver carefully and logically thought out care to patients, I have to work hard - long hours, little sleep, and constant action.  In order to stay sane, however, I will have to play hard as well.

Every moment I have free, I am going to do something I enjoy.  I will not hesitate to go to my favorite coffee shop (Caffe de Luca) or to go running or to take my bike downtown to ride by the lake.  I will not hesitate to watch movies with my friends or to fly away for the weekend when the plane ticket price is right.   No pondering the pros and cons, no cautious planning, I’ll save that for patient care.  But for my social life, I just go.  

Of course then there’s the mature side of life that I have to squeeze in between working hard and playing hard as well.  That’s eating well, helping my family to cook and clean, and spending time being with and keeping in touch with my family and friends - which is part of the playing, but I wouldn’t exactly consider such activities playing hard.

I wouldn’t consider this keeping life balanced on a tight rope, but more like bouncing between two parts of life by teeter-tottering on the seasaw.  At work, work’s all up, and play is down.  At play, work is down and play is revved up all the way!