Saturday, February 8, 2014

On The Road Again...


It has been way too long since I've written on these pages.

Over the last three years, I have graduated from residency (hallelujah!), met a wonderful man and gotten married (woot woot!), had my first child (aww...), and started my first job as an attending physician (eek!). Career-wise, I have had periods of intense job-love and periods of intense burn-out. 
And though I have been away from this blog throughout this time, my life truly has not felt complete without the ability to process each and every one of these experiences on these pages. 

I won't go into the reasons behind my writing hiatus. I will say, however, that I have always cherished this blog. Without my ability to write, reflect, and reminisce over my experiences in residency, I would not have become the doctor I am today (not that I don't have a long way to go!) Furthermore, I could never express enough gratitude to you, my readers (are you still there?), for taking the time to read my thoughts and express your support and encouragement. This blog, and all of you, played a huge part in helping me make it through my intern year in one piece. 

Writing helped me to reflect on the moments that stuck with me, influenced me, inspired me, and humbled me. I wanted to document the experiences that shaped my growth as a physician. I wrote so that I would never forget what it was like to see and do things for the very first time. My hope was that 30 years from now, I would still remember the feeling of awe and wonder in bringing new life into the world, the heartache and compassion in helping people with life lost, and all the profound moments that happen in between. 

Since the last time I wrote, I have had enough ups and downs to realize that writing was more than just a tool to preserve memories for the future. Writing also helped me reflect on and appreciate the present. It helped me see the good in each life moment over the bad. It turned every experience into an opportunity for learning and growth. 

These days, I could use a little more of that. 

You see, I always imagined that life after residency would be more simple. On the contrary, I have found it to be more complicated. Instead of a single balancing act of life and medicine, I know find myself juggling a career in academic medicine, motherhood, marriage, and my own personal sanity. Trying to be the best doctor/mother/wife I can be is no easy task and in taking up blogging again, I hope to both cherish it a little bit more and forever remember these moments. 

And so, here we go... back on the writing road again!