lunar.soliloquy

Life's been pretty much as usual for the past few weeks. I don't really see much point in going into much specifics since it would probably bore non-medical people reading this. Endocrinology has been quite a nice run and the relatively few assessments and largely clinic-based work is quite different from my previous 2 runs (Paeds and O & G). As a result I've probably become a bit lax with my discipline (enough to purchase Diablo 3) but I don't plan on become addicted to it any time soon. After the trauma of those last 2 runs I don't believe I have the luxury of indulging in too much leisure this year, unfortunately.

I guess the main thing that inspired me to write this post was the growing sense of detachment and indifference to a lot of things that have been happening in my life. I'm not sure how I can explain this but I'll try my best. I feel that in the past I've been quite attached to things. All sorts of things. Material things. Routine. People's perception of me, to some extent. Somehow I find these attachments would restrain me from achieving what I want to in life. I don't have much ambition in terms of what I want to achieve in this lifetime. Sure, I do want a stable job doing something that will keep me busy enough to not get bored, and medicine offered it. I'm sure there are many other career pathways that result in the same outcome but I happened to choose probably one of the more difficult ones (considering my largely non-academic background in relation to other students). I don't regret it, since challenges make one grow.

Until I really accepted medicine as part of me I don't think I really did ever go out of my comfort zone to do things. There really would be no point, and any logical person wouldn't put themselves in unnecessary trouble unless it was for a good reason. But I think if there's really something you strive for, something you'd dedicate your heart to, something powerful enough to define you as a person, I don't think you'd really have a reason to let these small attachments to hold you back. That is, if your desire is strong enough. People who are too attached to their pride won't achieve their ambitions because their pride is their ambition; their self-image has become their main focus in life and everything else comes secondary. And I don't believe simply looking good to other people is a worthy aspiration in life, but that's just my biased way of thinking.

If you think I'm spouting out baseless nonsense I do believe I can relate to these experiences, even on a superficial level. I don't know how many times I have to admit to a consultant that I haven't a clue to how to approach a problem and they've reprimanded my lack of knowledge resulting in emotional hurt and damage to my self-esteem. I don't consider myself a particularly emotional person but I nonetheless feel these things quite strongly. This type of circumstance recurs pretty much every day, week after week because there's always going to be something I didn't know, something that I was too afraid to ask, something that I felt I should have known. But I feel medicine has helped me overcome my previous attachment to my self-image by repeatedly exposing me to situations where I had to constantly overcome it to survive the day. Now, I suppose I feel quite detached to these feelings and if that situation comes up, the response is logical rather than emotional. Where did I go wrong? Should I really have known the answer to that question? Or are the consultants just dicks asking me registrar level questions? Okay, so I maybe I'll do some reading on it tonight and revise the case again. I believe that life really isn't that difficult if one approaches things in a logical manner, so long as you have your goal in mind. The problem is, not everyone can readily suppress their emotions as easily as some.

The same principle applies to other things in life. Lost your iPhone? Learn to be more careful next time and maybe fork out and buy another one if it really meant a lot to you. Failed a major assessment and can't pass the year? Simply repeat the year and work harder. Afraid that people might judge you because you failed? Well if you're going to let other people's judgement get in the way of your goal, it really does say a lot about you. People are going to judge you no matter what, so it's up to you how authentic you want to be to others. You're the only one who has to live with the real YOU. You can't blame anybody else for the way you are but YOU. It took me a long time to realise these things, despite my mother telling me them a long time ago when I had very little self-esteem and communication skills. I used to blame things and people in my environment and always played the victim because I failed to take control of my life. I never really had any goal back then. It wasn't until I really logically evaluated myself in the context of the wider environment (probably being Auckland, lol) that I realised what I was lacking, and what I desired. It was then that I managed to break away from those chains.

I don't usually post this sort of internal emotional thought processing publicly but I suppose I've been feeling quite this way inclined in recent days. This growing sense of not really caring about these little things, focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel, building that mental resilience. Not letting my environment control me because I'm not going to let it. It's a pretty damn stubborn way of thinking, really. It just works for me.

Another hiatus plagues my blog yet again. I wish i could explain these to you, my dear reader, but such things are too personal to bring to the surface so lightly. Every time things seem to be getting back on track something comes up again. And again. Repeat ad infinitum. But i'll keep coming back.

So what is there really to write about these days, anyway? I guess there's Population Health Intensive Week that's just gone by. Not a topic i'd like to talk about in depth. Let's just say that that's just another week of my life med school's taken from me that i'll never get back. Big deal. Why should I have the right to complain about these things, though? I'm in med school, what more could I want? Just suck it up.

There really isn't a lot to write about on here. I guess being bored while waiting for the hairdresser has motivated me to write again. I'm actually writing this from my phone, yay for keyboard phones xD. Blogging out in public places isn't usually my style but i could incorporate it more into my blog if I decide to purchase a mobile data plan. What's the deal with this hairdresser, anyway? I booked my appointment for 2pm and I've been waiting in here for 15 minutes already. I guess you can't always rely on people keeping to their appointments even if you go out of your wey a lot to keep to yours. Such is the nature of society. Annoying.
So i spent this morning doing some chores and errands. Vacuumed the house, did the washing. Picked up a consignment I'd missed yesterday (couriers are terrible things when you live in an apartment where nobody's home during the day). Had lunch with mikorikawa at oporto's using one of those online coupon deals. Their veggie burgers aren't bad, but in the end it is just fast food. Did some grocery shopping after that and now here I am at the hairdressers.

I initially discovered this hairdresser through my girlfriend and I tried it out once before and was quite good. All the hairdressers in town overcharge while the only cheaper places are barber shops who do very, very crude jobs. This place is around East so takes a bit of time to travel out for me but its only 12 dollars for guys. I guess if you counted the petrol cost it would probably end up close to 20 dollars anyway but I travel out here quite a bit. Sometimes I like to make day trips out to Botany to get away from the monotony of the city. It's actually quite a nice part of Auckland. If I were to move away from Central I would consider living in East.

I wonder if any of the things I put up on Trademe got sold this morning. Been trying to get rid of a few things I no longer use. Felt a bit guilty about putting up one of the things since I received it as a gift. But mistyangel26 didn't seem to mind when I brought up the subject with her.

Oh, looks like the hairdresser's ready. Signing off~

~Stand a little taller~~Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone~
Yay for Kelly Clarkson ^^ I find her songs really inspiring.
2 weeks have passed since my last post. Certainly doesn't feel that way at all. I can't believe O & G is over already, I feel as I had just began to get a grip on things it's finished. If only I picked things up faster, heh. I always feel like it takes a long time for me to get used to one thing, hence my dislike for change. But if it's a change for the better, or to advance fields of understanding or knowledge then it's definitely worth it. I just wish I could adapt faster and enjoy things more although I do seem to be getting better at it since entering med school. Med has certainly changed the way I think about things, and its a positive thing. Critically analysing situations for what they are and not holding on to past experiences and what's comfortable. Constantly expanding knowledge and being open to new experiences, it isn't something I would have welcomed previously.
Self-reflections aside, these past 2 weeks have been pretty stressful. O & G is supposedly the busiest run of the year and I'm glad as hell it's over. So many seminars, tutorials and reading to do, clinics to attend and if course that big OSCE at the end (which I just had this morning). I actually surprisingly enjoyed this run very much, despite all the work involved. My team was awesome, the medicine wasn't too complex and the patient contact was really good. If only I didn't get kicked out of gynae clinic so much during pelvic examinations, haha. I think I mentioned something like that in my last post so I'll leave it at that. I do like being kept busy, somehow. Having things to do each day does help with the motivation and is a good cure for procrastination. So long as the work doesn't eat too much into sleeping or self-care activities which I tend to indulge in (cooking and doing chores around the house does give me satisfaction, I admit).

 End of attachment morning tea/breakfast! Fantastic cake!! And yes, those are cornflakes you see over there. No, they're not mine (they belong to the midwives, actually).

 Savouries + cake + fruit. Worked out really well, good job boys.

I just hope the rest of the year goes well. Cos I'm looking forward to earning money as  a TI and having a little responsibility instead of being pushed around all the time at the bottom of the food chain. And hopefully my performance at this morning's OSCE was adequate. If I were religious, I would pray.
btw I got myself a new desk recently. Got sick of having to hurt my wrists to type since my previous desk was too high. I guess I do take pleasure in doing simple things such as optimising my environment. I mean, might was well make yourself comfortable if you're going to spend 4-6 hours a day there, right? I've always wanted to get myself a corner desk. Soooo much space. Tends to get messy real easy though, haha. Since its just too easy to dump stuff there and leave it. First world problems xD

Optimised work environment, oh yeah!
Going to have a relaxed weekend this time. Ice skating tomorrow! =D Excited. haven't been since Vancouver so looking forward to it. I sure hope I can work on my brakes a little at least, since I have a silly habit of building up a lot of speed on the ice then not knowing how to get rid of it (besides crashing into walls, or alternatively, people). Anyhow, I'm just really looking forward to having a day where I can just relax and not have to worry about stuff. On Sunday I'm going to Giapo's chocolate day event in the city since I bought a GrabOne voucher for it. All you can eat chocolate for $15 isn't too bad. Although I can't make as good use of it as some of my friends, heh. I dislike being bloated, and even less so on junk food. It just makes me sick, and what's the point of doing that to yourself when you're out there to have a good time? That's why I don't tend to purchase buffet food.
Off to paediatrics in Waitakere next! I wonder what adventures await me there. I heard it's quite a busy hospital for paeds. Guess I'll find out. For now I'll just take some time to tidy some things up at home. Laundry needs folding and papers on my desk need clearing. This always happens towards assessment days. Paper. Everywhere. Oh well, gives me something to do I guess. Thanks for reading, see you next post ^^ (whenever that is...)

just spent 3 hours listening to o&g tutorials ... guess the topics were kinda important but doesn't help with the boredom =.= I guess I prefer to study these things alone, heh. Oh well, weekend's ahead, hope I can get some things done then.