Weekend Wrap: 'Tis the Season (no, not THAT one)

A few things that caught my attention, made me think, or brought me joy this week.

I had a bit of an epiphany this week. I realized that I have been spending a lot of time collecting things: information, ideas, tools, workflows. But I haven’t been regularly spending the time processing these items, and I certainly haven’t been creating with them.

In the process of this, I also realized that this impacts how I approach the newsletter. I want this to be of value to those who take the time to read it. I am grateful for those who do, and want you to feel like it is worth your time.

So, that is a long preamble to simply say that there will be some slight changes coming. Mostly, it entails my process for choosing what I am writing about. In the end, I hope that the changes make this more meaningful.

Teaching season has returned

I have officially entered the season of medical students and residents. There was a five-week break at the end of May and through June. After having so many people with me, those weeks actually felt really odd.

Too often, I find myself complaining about the opportunity I have to teach. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it; I do, very much. But it changes the dynamic of each day. In clinic, it means that if I have a few minutes between patients, I can’t (maybe more accurately, I feel I shouldn’t) sit down, take a minute, just chill.

Instead, I feel that I need to spend that time teaching. I don’t get to spend much time with most of the residents and students, so I feel it is important to maximize our short time. And time really is the key. I had so many hours of my life completely wasted during medical school that I have promised myself I won’t do that to others.

And I do recognize it is a privilege. Something I am grateful for. As James Clear said:

You can create a lot of meaning in your own life by helping someone else do something that is meaningful to them.

Ultimately, medicine is all about people. Not just my patients, but all of the people I interact with on a daily basis: other providers, clinic and hospital/OR staff, and the students and residents who are spending their time with me.

This year, I have made it a goal to not complain about the opportunity to teach. But rather, recognize it for the opportunity it is and be grateful for it.

Image over behavior

This certainly isn’t the first time I have written about the importance of aligning our behaviors with our identity. I’m doing it again because I think it is so important, especially for me.

The past few weeks, I have been making some pretty large changes in my behavior. The type of big swings that—weak as I am—often result in only lasting a couple of days at best. But this time has been different.

And the reason is identity. I have been working on behaviors that are not only consistent with the identity I want for myself, but that actually reinforce that identity.

It has made all the difference.

I still find myself struggling. Daily. But I have stuck with these changes more consistently than in many previous attempts. I have a long way to go, but every day I remind myself of how these behaviors reinforce the identity I am creating.

And it seems to be helping.

Something else

No, I am not abandoning writing about things I am enjoying. And oh boy, have I been enjoying this one.

Many years ago, at the young age of 15, Metallica released what has become known as The Black Album. They exploded in popularity, and it seemed everyone was a fan.

Including me.

Then a friend lent me a CD from a band I had heard of, but never listened to. That album was Persistence of Time by New York thrashers, Anthrax. And for more reasons that make sense for me to share here, I fell in love with that album.

And I have always had a soft spot for Anthrax. Never as popular as the other members of “The Big 4” of American thrash (don’t even get me started), I always found them more interesting. But we last heard from ‘Thrax back in 2016. So having a new album from them is a treat.

And Cursum Perficio is a good Anthrax album. It isn’t their best, but it is a solid slab of thrash metal from a veteran band. It sounds energized, vital, and interesting. It is a welcome return from a band we haven’t heard from in a long time.

Welcome back, Anthrax. Please don’t make us wait another decade.

Looking Ahead

I do hope that the upcoming change in publishing pattern will be an improvement. I feel that it will, but I suppose time will tell. Either way, it is a good change for me, if only because of the structure and constraint it provides me to work in.