Why Run?

Seem to have gotten most of the details for the run and the VA walk finished up.  Have been terrifically supported by the folks over at the Dean’s office and the Foundation.  Hats off to Kathleen, Rob, Crystal, Sarah and Russ (and anyone else I’ve forgotten…).   The website is done, and you can find it at http://www.wix.com/psreynolds/fifty-year-run .  Was fun building it and hopefully it will generate solid interest and cause folks to put some money into a worthwhile effort (plus it’s double Green Stamps day with the matching donations by Dr Breall!) Okay, some of you may not know what Green Stamps are… Yes, I’m old… :0) Read about them here.  Some days you could get twice as many for your purchases.  We shopped those days when I was a kid…

Hopefully, this whole running around idea seems like a good one to most of you.  If it doesn’t, maybe I can explain better why I’m doing it.  I suppose first of all because I can.  I’m fortunate enough to still be able to do this sort of thing and am becoming more acutely aware that the physical is the first to go.  As I’ve said in previous posts, ‘use it or lose it’ certainly applies and maybe I’ll even get a little more mileage out of the machinery if I just keep it oiled.  Secondly, and most importantly, I think it’s a fairly obvious thing that we don’t take anything material with us at the end of this life.  If we are willing to assign ourselves personal purposes in life, I think it will have nothing at all to do with our ability to amass personal piles of stuff.  Rather, it will be the ways that we were able to give ourselves away and the extent to which we could do that which will have added meaning to our existence and be a large part of the reason for our appearance here between our births and our deaths.  I suppose it’s hard to know how we might do that best, but maybe if we can take stock of our talents and gifts and hone them with all we can muster, it will be all it needs to be.  Sharing our finest parts so that they do the most good makes us all richer in the end. 

I was lucky enough to have parents with a similar worldview.  (That was supposed to make you grin…)  They were people who saw good deeds precipitated by good hearts and looked for ways to encourage more of the same.   They took us kids around to various volunteer activities, so we could see what our hands and intent might accomplish.  Mom said once, “We may not have much money, but we can always give our time.”  And, although they preferred to demonstrate love rather than talk about it, I’ve come to realize that the way we love and the amount we love is the best reflection of what we are.  I confess that I wish I could do it better.   But, I think if we can let that love and caring sneak out of ourselves whenever we can and however we are willing, we will impact our families, friends, neighbors, communities, countries and world in a powerful way.  Hopefully, I’m right.  And, in the process, we’ll get a little exercise.

Hope to see you all out for the run.  Please add to the scholarship fund if you are able.  Thanks.

Latest stuff

Busy just happens.  Finished the third test this year.  Did better than I thought I would.  It's odd to go into these tests feeling so unsure of how well I know the material.  We just cover such a great deal of information.  So, here's a heads up to future students:  Assimilating vast portions of the knowledge base is an unavoidable part of the rite of passage.  All med schools need to present the material, and we then must engage it with vigor.  And, although it seems impossible at the time, the vast majority of us seem to be able to do it.  Do try to remain focused and motivated.  Find your groove.  Gather this knowledge like a harvest in summer.  Consider it food for a good life.  It will be part of your training to learn how to learn well.  It will need to be a mastered skill you use as a doctor.

Been planning the birthday run and the VA walk again this year.  Have some help from the Dean's office this time.  Will build a web site for the run.  Hope to raise a little scholarship money for the school.   Will be fun and will try to do a good deed at the same time.   Hopefully the legs will hold out...  :0)

Almost completely settled into the new place. Just a couple more small tasks to finish up and will call it home, I think.  It really has made a difference in reducing distraction and allowing me a sense of peace.  Has been a great change.  Am very thankful for this new space to be.

Want to look over the new syllabus before bed and get a bite to eat.  Maybe can add a few thoughts when I have more time.

Settling in

Pretty much was moved in last weekend and am now feeling fairly settled in the new place.   Am remembering the major life events that cause stress in people's lives and that moves are high on the list.   So is divorce.   Am wondering if med school is on the list...  So, this is my 5th move since starting med school.  Hopefully, it will be the last until residency (not counting rural and away rotations...).  Maybe this will help me connect with the stress that folks are facing every day as I meet them in clinic, as they lay in hospital beds and hope for recovery.  I am reminded of how good it felt to relax tonight - for my feet to get warm and to drift off into a deep slumber in a quiet room where no noxious smoke drifted into my awareness.  I hope I can remember and recognize and appreciate the deleterious effects of stress in our patients' worlds.  I hope I can find ways to minimize it for them, so they can get on with more productive efforts.

I was reading today about the wild horse auction here in Oregon.  Noticed an article about a fellow with cystic fibrosis who went out and bought himself a gentled mustang after a good experience with a friend's horse.  He said taking his horse on a trail ride was the most amazing thing he had ever done.  He said it made him forget about his wife who had just died of cancer and made the long-term pain in his back disappear.  He said doctors don't know everything.  I confess that's true, but I'm learning as fast as I can, so I won't be so clueless when I get there.  Maybe I could acquire a few of those horses and use them as therapy horses.  I do like that idea.  Would be pretty amazing, actually.

Spent some time today thinking about a rural practice that I might be able to do eventually.  Looked at the WY maps again.  Really think I'm falling in love with the state and that it truly belongs at the top of my list.  I have created a weighted spreadsheet with about 20 criteria, so I might compare apples to apples for the various residency programs I am interested in.  Have it narrowed down to 8 or 9.  Definitely a solid list.  It gives me a frame of reference and a sense of direction.  Was well worth the time putting it together last summer.  Now, it's just nice to pull it up for a reminder and to tweak it from time to time.

All is good.  Kind of digging the kidney.  Amazing organ, it is.  Will have another look at it tonight.