I was recently on another Ideal Vacation - daily physical activity, ample social interaction with local dwellers and travelers alike, and limited connectivity to internet and phone. One day, I notice that my pants seemed to fit looser. I immediately thought, "It must be all those simple …
Checks & Balances
In my own practice of balance, I find that having varied interests keeps me inspired, happy, and de-stressed. I'd like to share with you a new series of posts called "Checks & Balances", highlighting things that either caught my eye, made me think, or made me smile in the past couple of …
Is it really just luck?
The word "lucky" is overused, so much so that it has come to represent a number of related concepts. "Beginner's luck" refers to the steep learning curve of a new activity. We are lucky when we escape an adverse event/fate. We've all had the thought, "I am so lucky" when we see someone less …
Pushing "Reset"
"We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden." - Goethe The culmination of my professional training - the American Board of Anesthesiology Oral Board Examination - has finally come and gone. When I say "culmination", I really mean it: after undergraduate school and …
Gossip: The Donut of Stress Relief
We all cope with stress in our lives using good techniques and not-so-good techniques. I'm knee-deep in preparation for my upcoming oral board examination, and to act like I'm handling the stress perfectly would be a complete fake out. I have fallen into some of my own old, less effective habits …
The Power of Music to Relieve Stress
I've been dealing with my own stress issues lately in the midst of my preparation for the American Board of Anesthesiology oral board exam (the final step to getting board certified!). Just last night, I was up for at least an hour at 3 am replaying mock oral exam scenarios in my head, the adverse …