Life is now

[Prime2000]

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I guess I just realized that. Maybe you all already know this, but I didn't. Ever since I can remember life has always been something off in the distant horizon. For me life was supposed to start in high school, you know, cool parties, cars, sports. Instead I got caught up in AP courses, SAT's, etc. Then life was supposed to start in college, but I got caught up in GPA's and pre-med courses. Then life was supposed to start in med school but obviously I feel like a hamster in a cage spinning on his wheel. So I had convinced myself life starts in residency, then maybe as a practicing physician? Meanwhile, life is passing me by. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Life is now.

Say hi to somebody you've never spoken to in your class today. Break out of your clique and sit next to somebody new. Live today, instead of always waiting on tomorrow.

 

[VoiceofReason]

no you're right actually life is during or after residency.

 

[Prime2000]

no you're right actually life is during or after residency.

Nahh, life for me would have always been right outside my grasp. Residency would be very busy so I'd say it'd start after residency, then it would be once I get established in a practice, then.... Tired of waiting on tomorrow.

 

[Deferoxamine]

"Life is now."

You all continue to amaze me with your abstract thought patterns and deep, profound revelations.

Mods, sticky this thread to the top, please.

 

[Prime2000]

"Life is now."

You all continue to amaze me with your abstract thought patterns and deep, profound revelations.

Mods, sticky this thread to the top, please.

Thanks for your opinion. Don't you have a journal article to read, photocopy, and handout at 5 am to your team? 😉

 

[GoLytely]

Lay off of the OP; his/hers is an important realization, and I was fortunate enough to come to the same conclusion during third-year. This ought to guide your choice of specialty and residency program. Do something that you love, at a place where you'll be happy, right now. I know way too many PGY-7 general surgery residents, practically living at the hospital (the best one they could get into per US News, which isn't necessarily to say the best place for them), pounding out research in every spare minute and applying to fellowship.

There's something good to be said for making your career the main aspect of your life, but people tend not to know when/where to stop, and it is precisely this that some of the highest-end residency programs take full advantage of (malignancy at columbia, anyone? 7-year general surgery at penn? Scrubbing the floors at MGH????), expecting us to be overjoyed with having no life in exchange for the great honor of training there. We expect ourselves to do the most well-respected thing possible with every ounce of our energies, but if you're not careful...before you know it you'll be pushing 40 on a fellow's stipend and a family comprised of 3 friends (your fellow PGY-8s).

Most people on this site won't understand this, by virtue of the same drive that has them perusing this site in the first place.

 

[Knicks]

I guess I just realized that. Maybe you all already know this, but I didn't. Ever since I can remember life has always been something off in the distant horizon. For me life was supposed to start in high school, you know, cool parties, cars, sports. Instead I got caught up in AP courses, SAT's, etc. Then life was supposed to start in college, but I got caught up in GPA's and pre-med courses. Then life was supposed to start in med school but obviously I feel like a hamster in a cage spinning on his wheel. So I had convinced myself life starts in residency, then maybe as a practicing physician? Meanwhile, life is passing me by. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Life is now.

Say hi to somebody you've never spoken to in your class today. Break out of your clique and sit next to somebody new. Live today, instead of always waiting on tomorrow.

👍

 

[del taco]

You'd be surprised at how many ppl in medical school and residency perpetually live in the future. It's really quite sad actually.🙁

 

[Bartelby]

This is a very important realization (and I'm not being sarcastic). Delayed gratification is good in moderation. It's bad when it's all you have.

What real changes do you plan to make thanks to this insight, OP?

 

[Superfrost]

Life is the months between match day and start of internship.

 

[dazed1980]

Life is now.

Say hi to somebody you've never spoken to in your class today. Break out of your clique and sit next to somebody new. Live today, instead of always waiting on tomorrow.

I like this. I'll try it in class tomorrow.

 

[sideways]

I like this. I'll try it in class tomorrow.

No need imposing your epiphany on some unsuspecting classmate. Enacting the advice given would just be awkward. Instead, go out into the world and live your life. Leave school at school and embrace experiences and relationships outside of the classroom.

 

[weightyheart]

Awareness of your living is the awareness of your inevitable march towards eternal death anyway, so let me just quietly kill myself with work in peace.

 

[Cybii]

Awareness of your living is the awareness of your inevitable march towards eternal death anyway, so let me just quietly kill myself with work in peace.

Jeez... now that was awkward. 🙁

I know what you mean, OP. I don't recall from where I heard it, but I remember someone stating that "humans are constantly in a state of becoming, rather than being" or something along those lines. I had a similar experience this weekend when I finally stopped studying to hang out with my friends and had a great time. I kicked myself for not doing it more in the past.

 

[TopsyKrett]

I guess I just realized that. Maybe you all already know this, but I didn't. Ever since I can remember life has always been something off in the distant horizon. For me life was supposed to start in high school, you know, cool parties, cars, sports. Instead I got caught up in AP courses, SAT's, etc. Then life was supposed to start in college, but I got caught up in GPA's and pre-med courses. Then life was supposed to start in med school but obviously I feel like a hamster in a cage spinning on his wheel. So I had convinced myself life starts in residency, then maybe as a practicing physician? Meanwhile, life is passing me by. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Life is now.

Say hi to somebody you've never spoken to in your class today. Break out of your clique and sit next to somebody new. Live today, instead of always waiting on tomorrow.

I really, really like this. Good for you!!!!!

 

[Knicks]

Awareness of your living is the awareness of your inevitable march towards eternal death anyway, so let me just quietly kill myself with work in peace.

 

[235009]

hey knicks, nice avatar 🙂

 

[Doublecortin]

Lay off of the OP; his/hers is an important realization, and I was fortunate enough to come to the same conclusion during third-year. This ought to guide your choice of specialty and residency program. Do something that you love, at a place where you'll be happy, right now. I know way too many PGY-7 general surgery residents, practically living at the hospital (the best one they could get into per US News, which isn't necessarily to say the best place for them), pounding out research in every spare minute and applying to fellowship.

There's something good to be said for making your career the main aspect of your life, but people tend not to know when/where to stop, and it is precisely this that some of the highest-end residency programs take full advantage of (malignancy at columbia, anyone? 7-year general surgery at penn? Scrubbing the floors at MGH????), expecting us to be overjoyed with having no life in exchange for the great honor of training there. We expect ourselves to do the most well-respected thing possible with every ounce of our energies, but if you're not careful...before you know it you'll be pushing 40 on a fellow's stipend and a family comprised of 3 friends (your fellow PGY-8s).

Most people on this site won't understand this, by virtue of the same drive that has them perusing this site in the first place.

👍
all well said, amigo

 

[Knicks]

hey knicks, nice avatar 🙂

hehe, copy-cat! 😀

 

[searun]

Precisely why I have a girl friend and go dancing as much as possible. Much better to live in the present than in some anxiety ridden vision of your future.

 

[bigmike7104]

Awareness of your living is the awareness of your inevitable march towards eternal death anyway, so let me just quietly kill myself with work in peace.

If your living in the present moment your not focusing on death, but if you keep living in the future, where that's where your death is. I like what the OP is saying though, if your not living for today later in life your going to wonder where all that time went.

 

[Music MD]

Taking time to advance yourself professionally is a worthwhile dedication but as always, life is about balance and living presently requires the time to do so. Keep your hours focused and efficient, and limited. Use the rest actively doing things you enjoy. That's my idea of a nice day anyway.

To the OP, I'm sorry it took you so long to realize that life is happening now, but atleast you have the all the time in the world to experience everything around you.. Start enjoying yourself it sounds like you have an opportunity for a breath of fresh air. A new slate. Just go for it dude.

 

[Perrotfish]

...

 

[andie gustafson]

It's not about the destination, it's about the trip, if you want to truly feel like this u should watch peaceful warrior, excellent inspiring movie.

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

It's not about the destination, it's about the trip, if you want to truly feel like this u should watch peaceful warrior, excellent inspiring movie.

+1 for this 👍

I've tried to live my life by this motto (my mom beat it into me as a child) and it really makes you enjoy the small things.

 

[Rollo]

We only live in the present, in this fleet-footed moment; the rest is behind us and lost, or ahead of us and may never be found.

- Marcus Aurelius

 

[MegaSpectacular]

"Life is now."

You all continue to amaze me with your abstract thought patterns and deep, profound revelations.

Mods, sticky this thread to the top, please.

lol. you've had a few zinger posts. 🙂

 

[swamprat]

We only live in the present, in this fleet-footed moment; the rest is behind us and lost, or ahead of us and may never be found.

- Marcus Aurelius

I think I'm going to watch that movie now lol Is that a quote from it? I just recognize marcus aurelius.

 

[OpalOnyx]

👍 I really like this thread. If working 12 hours a day is what you truly enjoy, then by all means do it. But if you're miserable, then change and focus on being happy in the present.

there is always the next thing to worry about... when you're in residency, you may focus on what to do next and establishing a practice... when in practice, there may be a new set of issues associated with establishing yourself... after getting established, there are responsiblities regarding staying current in the field and sustaining a commendable career... it just goes ON and ON and ON. It is my opinion that results-oriented people tend to be more stressed out... I think people who enjoy the journey may see equally successful results (or better results), but they're not killing themselves in the process 🙂

 

[deleted191570]

This thread just restored some of my faith in medical students.

I had a long convo about this with a friend the other day:

It seems like the pervasive mentality in med school is "I need to study so I can get honors [and get ahead in our class rank/get AOA]" or "I need to do [some activity] so I don't screw my chances of getting a good residency." Or for others, it might be "I really need to bust my butt so I don't fail." In any case, those frames of mind all seem kinda unsatisfying to me... I'm definitely not bashing hard work or going above+beyond-- but if, God forbid, some unforeseen circumstance forces me to quit med school tomorrow, wouldn't it be nice to be settled in the knowledge that hey, at least I learned something, rather than feeling like I just wasted a lot of time (and money)?

As long as we're enjoying our lives each moment, can we not just take our studies at face value and enjoy them as well?

(Aside: Of course there -are- those that love the science and all that, but they seem to be the exception for whatever reason. [They're all incognito!?] I guess what it boils down to really is I just want to be inspired!)

Regardless, big ups to you, OP. Thanks for sharing.

 

[calvinNhobbes]

Ah, the classic delusional medical education thought process....

Premed sucks but I just need to get into medical school and everything will be great...
Med school sucks but I just need to get to the clinical stuff and everything will be great...
Clerkships suck but I just need to get to residency and be a real doctor and everything will be great...
Residency sucks but I just need to finish and being an attending will be great...
Being a doctor sucks...

From my experience, you either love it or hate it, but things don't get better as you go along.

Life is now, indeed!

 

[futile]

I really felt like what you described until about my third year in college, when I realized something --

I freaking love college. I love how crazy busy I am. I love long nights in lab. I love walking home watching the sunrise. I love feeling on top of my classes, especially when they are humongously difficult. The only reasonable reaction was to accept that these are some of the best years of my life, and there's no use pretending like I'm doing them just for the final reward.

So, yeah..enjoy your classes and the camaraderie of your fellow students going through something difficult. There's no point in going through it miserable.

 

[gnomeski]

Jeez... now that was awkward. 🙁

I know what you mean, OP. I don't recall from where I heard it, but I remember someone stating that "humans are constantly in a state of becoming, rather than being" or something along those lines. I had a similar experience this weekend when I finally stopped studying to hang out with my friends and had a great time. I kicked myself for not doing it more in the past.

probably martin heidegger

 

[Hifey]

I really felt like what you described until about my third year in college, when I realized something --

I freaking love college. I love how crazy busy I am. I love long nights in lab. I love walking home watching the sunrise. I love feeling on top of my classes, especially when they are humongously difficult. The only reasonable reaction was to accept that these are some of the best years of my life, and there's no use pretending like I'm doing them just for the final reward.

So, yeah..enjoy your classes and the camaraderie of your fellow students going through something difficult. There's no point in going through it miserable.

While I'm not as "in love" with all the other stuff you mentioned, I agree. I realized that I love being in college. I love learning stuff that interests me. I love my friends, having conversations till 3 am, doing whatever WE want to do with no pressure from the outside to do anything else (AKA Disneyland instead of partying/getting drunk lol). I love that I can learn about so much and apply it to real life.

When I started, I had this mentality that I had to push for med school with all my might. As a result, Freshman year was a bit antisocial. Once I started hanging out more with my friends, I realized that I could take the time to enjoy myself. I can (and do) take classes that interest me for the sole reason that I think that they're interesting, not because I think they're going to make me stand out.

Honestly, ever since I started embracing living life in the present, I have had a lot more fun. I'm still unable to do a lot of functions with my friends because of my classes, but I'm a lot more available to fun than I was as a freshman. End result: good grades + happiness + amazing relationships. Can't beat that!

 

[dazed1980]

No need imposing your epiphany on some unsuspecting classmate. Enacting the advice given would just be awkward. Instead, go out into the world and live your life. Leave school at school and embrace experiences and relationships outside of the classroom.

i actually tried this, and though it wasn't life-changing, it felt good to get out of my comfort zone. And there was no awkwardness. What could be awkward in saying, "hey, how's it going? how was your weekend? by the way, my name is so and so...."

 

[malpractician]

When i was in the military the majority of my thoughts were "I can't wait to be out and in college." I missed out on a lot of things and friendships that I didn't value at the time.

Well now i'm in college and a pre-med, and not going to make the same mistake.

 

[unsung]

This is a great point. And one that I think a lot of people might "think" is obvious, but do not put into actual practice.

I came to the same conclusion sometime over the end of the last semester. At first med school was like I was dumped into the ocean and it was just a mad struggle, trying to stay afloat, figuring out how to cope with all the work.

Then once I got past that, I sort of got into this mode of still wanting to study all the time ('cuz really that initial period of adjustment was scary for me). So it was partly out of fear. And partly 'cuz at that point, I still didn't have a good grasp of "how well" I could actually do, relative to my classmates. Then I started to get the hang of things.

Until one day I was like, what is this for? It's not even like studying to master <obscure fact X> is going to make me a better physician. So I'm basically doing it for the grade & for my own self-confidence/edification. And of course, both of those things are important... but how important?

It's still a bit of a debate in my mind. Even though I know I'm not at the level where I'm in contention for #1 or what not, I know that on any given test I could score very well, and I'm still constantly improving. So there's that constant default mode of wanting to study more & more...

And like you said, it's important to temper that with "living" in the moment. I was really dissatisfied with how little reading for pleasure I was doing ever since the start of med school. I think I'm just going to have to make time for it! Every day!

So my "interpretation" of living in the moment really has to do with my daily schedule and making time for the things I enjoy every single day. Still figuring out how to make it work. But I want to get to the point where I'm like "okay, absolutely NO work past 8PM". Of course, that time tends to get pushed further & further back.

 

[lildave2586]

I'm sure I'm not alone in this. Life is now.

Congratulations, you win.

 

[Perrotfish]

We only live in the present, in this fleet-footed moment; the rest is behind us and lost, or ahead of us and may never be found.

- Marcus Aurelius

If this were true, though, at least 3/4ths of us would drop out. I mean, seriously, right now the moment I'm living in involves me memorizing picture after picture of diseased genitalia. Who would do that if life is all about the now?

While I don't disagree with the idea of trying to sneak as much balance into your life as possible, I honestly think it's important to realize that most of the time between now and at least the end of your intern year is going to suck and, more importantly, that you are working to get into a situation where the situation doesn't suck any more. I think it's the people who let stockholm syndrome set in and decide that 'this is my life' who never really try to get clear of the misery, instead letting themselves get sucked into endless 100 hour workweeks and endless additional education even post residency. The fact that this can go on forever doesn't mean it needs to, and if you don't want it to it's important to realize that you will very soon have the opportunity to stop making yourself miserable and go enjoy the income and job security you've earned through all the work you've already put in. And then life can really begin.

 

[medicinesux]

Good to see that the O.P is able to see through the fog. So few ever do.

 

[mednsports]

I like this. I'll try it in class tomorrow.

If you sit by me, I'll probably slap you in the back of the head.

 

[penguin24]

If you sit by me, I'll probably slap you in the back of the head.

That would probably depend on how hot dazed1980 is. Don't lie

 

[la petite mort]

But I don't want to sit next to anyone outside my clique.

 

[OpalOnyx]

That would probably depend on how hot dazed1980 is. Don't lie

ugh. nightmare = sitting next to someone really hot and not being able to focus on lecture

at lunch? awesome. 😉

 

[Hecate]

To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and true success is in labor.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

 

[Cybii]

I found this awesome song on the tube, and I thought the lyrics related to this thread nicely. Been jivin' to this all day.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bW6USsmR70[/YOUTUBE]

"make the most, before we turn to ghosts"

 

[Old Grunt]

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

- John Lennon

 

[ucsfstudents]

Priorities change over time. You have to make sure you have a good balance overall, but also make room for situations of imbalance such as when studying for a board exam, taking care of a newborn or sick parents, and dealing with a personal crisis. The OP has come to a realization that is right for him/her at this time. Kudos to you!

 

[Marcus Brody]

[youtube]Qd43i1Sf0TY[/youtube]

 

[Excelsius]

Pain is a prerequisite. Without its anamnesis happiness has no quarantined context. Thus, a societal perfection can only be achieved when happiness is eradicated.