Tea and Honey

I think it's probably a good idea to begin today with Winnie the Pooh.

preferably accompanied by tea and honey.

trusting the universe...

The Power of Ruling Things Out/Rules of Storytelling

I recently read a post from Emma Coates, Pixar's story artist about the rules of Storytelling.  I have talked before about how one big part I like about medicine is the stories I get to hear/get to be a part of because of it.  I have been exploring writing my own experiences with medicine, but I have yet to branch into non-fiction as a way of processing these stories.  I recently read an amazing article by Dr. Jay Baruch where he writes stories about how patient encounters could have gone if he had made other decisions in order to process his decisions.  In the article I mentioned, he tells a story of deciding NOT to treat a man with gunshot wounds to the chest because the patient keeps yelling at him and calling him a Douchebag (the title of the story is Dr. Douchebag).  

What I like about writing techniques is that they can also often be techniques to process your own life.  Take Coates' rule #9, "When you're stuck, make a list of what wouldn't happen next" 

This can definitely be applied in our own lives - my version of this is:

if you don't know what you want, start with what you KNOW you DON'T WANT. 

This can also get pretty silly - as in,  well I know I don't want it to start pouring rain and ice while we're standing here talking about it.  (this can turn into the very helpful exercise of "it could be much worse") But it can also help one to choose a path as in, I don't want to do my residency training in Texas (no offense to the Big State, it's just not for me right now).  For me, the possibilities of things I would probably be really happy doing can sometimes seem endless, which means that I have no idea where to begin.  Sometimes the only strong feelings I can get are "well, no I don't want THAT" which end up being incredibly revealing of what I DO want. 

Things I DON'T WANT in my life right now  --- what it reveals that I do want
1. worrying about things I can't control ---  to do more yoga/focus on having faith
2. being too tired that I can't enjoy things --- to rest, get enough sleep, focus energy on what I enjoy
3. feeling like I don't have enough time with people I love ----; to spend time with the people I care about

To keep you thinking of writing rules as life guidance, some of my other favorites from Coates:
*Pull apart the stories you like.  What you like in them is part of you; you've got to recognize it before you can use it. (for example, this list of 10 young adult novels with strong female heroines)

*Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.

~~~~~~~

"from the day we arrive on the planet, and blinking step into the sun,

there's more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done"

-the Lion King, Circle of Life

(great song, surprisingly super profound)

Getting Ready

My To-Do List
(because sometimes these are the most revealing of what's going on in my life right now)

1. re-learn cholesterol synthesis so I can teach a review session this afternoon
2. review applications for the Schweitzer Fellowship this year so I can interview applicants later and decide who gets it!
3. go take passport photos at the post-office for visas etc. (no smiling)
4. drop off/pick up travel medicine prescriptions (cipro- check! diamox- check! diflucan - check!)
5. bake home-made bread to take to grandparents house tomorrow
6. schedule a post-match financial consulting appointment
7. turn in my tutoring forms from the fall to get paid
8. write up the introduction and methods for my paper on teaching medical students sign-out
9. apply for a leadership conference in family planning scheduled for May (the last day to apply is Friday, shoot - I need to get on this)
10. call my parents and catch them up on all my travel plans
11. buy new hiking boots, as after 10 years mine are officially no longer waterproof thanks to a big rip in the seams - and then wear them constantly to test them out before our trip!
12. run 5 miles today to shake out my legs, run 8-10 miles with my buddy Katie tomorrow early morning before traveling to see my grandparents for the day
13. swim/yoga/stretch my sore muscles this weekend
14. check in with my tribe
15. watch this TedTalk on the power of vulnerability
16. pick out an outfit for match day (1 week!!!)
17. write my next narrative medicine story (stay tuned)
18. pick up a used copy of Into Thin Air to read again about the history of Everest.
19. send some papers I've been promising to 3rd years whose research projects I'm trying to help with
20. kiss the manfriend (this makes me smile when its on my to do list)

what's on your to-do list these days?

photo source

~~~~~~

and I really like this one:

"two things define you: 

your patience when you have nothing 

and your attitude when you have everything"

-unknown

Poetry Tuesday: Instructions (if you find yourself in a fairy tale)

This poem comes courtesy of a narrative medicine course in combination with Alice and Wonderland - which I'm re-reading and re-adoring right now.  There are so many amazing quotations in this book that can be interpreted infinitely; one of my favorites is:

"'If you knew Time as well as I do', said the Hatter, you wouldn't talk about wasting it'"

photo is from vanity fair, TIm Burton's Alice in Wonderland photo shoot

(I'm a huge TIm Burton fan)

Instructions

By Neil Gaiman

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before.
Say “please” before you open the latch,
go through,
walk down the path.
A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted front door,
as a knocker,
do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.
Walk through the house. Take nothing. Eat nothing.
However,
if any creature tells you that it hungers,
feed it.
If it tells you that it is dirty,
clean it.
If it cries to you that it hurts,
if you can,
ease its pain.

From the back garden you will be able to see the wild wood.
The deep well you walk past leads to winter’s realm;
there is another land at the bottom of it.
If you turn around here,
you can walk back safely;
you will lose no face. I will think no less of you.

Once through the garden you will be in the wood.
The trees are old. Eyes peer from the undergrowth.
Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman. She may ask for something;
give it to her. She
will point the way to the castle.
Inside it are three princesses.
Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.
In the clearing beyond the caste the twelve months sit about a fire,
warming their feet, exchanging tales.
They may do favors for you, if you are polite.
You may pick strawberries in December’s frost.
Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where you are going.
The river can be crossed by the ferry. The ferry-man will take you.
(The answer to his question is this:
If he hands the oar to his passenger, he will be free to leave the boat.
Only tell him this from a safe distance.)

If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.
Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that
witches are often betrayed by their appetites;
dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;
hearts can be well-hidden,
and you betray them with your tongue.

Do not be jealous of your sister.
Know that diamonds and roses
are as uncomfortable when they tumble from one’s lips as toads and frogs:
colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.

Remember your name.
Do not lose hope—what you seek will be found.
Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped to help you in their turn.
Trust dreams.
Trust your heart, and trust your story.
When you come back, return the way you came.
Favors will be returned, debts be repaid.
Do not forget your manners.
Do not look back.
Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall)
Ride the silver fish (you will not drown)
Ride the gray wolf (hold tightly to his fur).

There is a worm at the heart of the tower; that is why it will not stand.

When you reach the little house, the place your journey started,
you will recognize it, although it will seem much smaller than you remember.
Walk up the path, and through the garden gate you never saw but once.
And then go home. Or make a home.

Or rest.

Monday Giggles: if all of your friends jumped off a bridge

 link to the original on the xkcd website
the rollover text is: "and it says a lot about you that when your friends jump off a bridge en masse, your first thought is apparently 'my friends are foolish and I won't be like them' not 'are my friends okay?'" 

This week has been a crazy few weeks of activity: (can you say "how to cope with uncertainty stress?")

Monday Feb. 25: 

epic snow hike up Sunset Ridge, sled down!

Tuesday Feb 26: 

6 mile run, 

rock climbing gym 

Wednesday Feb 27: 

6 mile run at dusk by myself in the slushy snow (so lovely)

Thursday Feb 28: 

7 mile temp run, 

rock climbing gym - edging up the learning curve!

Friday March 1 : 

5 mile walk (rest? day)

Saturday March 2: 

epic snow hike up Sunset Ridge with my sister and buddies, 

80s dance party until way too late (okay, so 1am just feels really late these days)

Sunday March 3: 

10 mile run,

rock climbing gym - still improving 

(but my arms definitely could tell that I haven't been in days)

Monday March 4: 

early morning wake up for a snow-shoe up Teardrop, 

4 mile run

Tuesday March 5: 

skiing all day (so much snow predicted!)

at some point soon I'll probably need to rest.

but hopefully this will be really helpful with getting ready for the Himalayas!

White Out

Two amazing things happened this Friday: one, I finished my medical school requirements. 

Not for the rotation, not for the year, but COMPLETELY.  done. with. medical. school. requirements.

Second (and actually, equally as exciting) my sister came up to visit!

I wanted to show her a truly Vermont winter experience, so we went for a hike!  Now is probably a good time to tell you that the manfriend and I have just solidified all of our plans for a >20 day hike in Nepal.  

Yes, friends, we are going adventuring!  

And this time, it's not for away rotations or interviews, just us and some very, very large mountains.

In preparation - besides getting about a million administrative things done (plane tickets - check!  travel clinic with vaccines - check! learn what gaiters are - check!  order gaiters online - check! etc.) 

- is HIKE! a lot! in the winter!  and rock climb (even though we won't be doing any of this officially on our trip, it feels in the spirit of the trekking in large mountains, plus it's super fun)

photo source
by this amazing blog by a couple who did a very similar, if not the same, trek as we are!


I definitely feel like part of the fun of this trip has been in the planning and anticipation for it.

And a big part of that has been our "training" hikes.

(which we may have done anyways, but feel even more fun because we're training)  

***

Our hike was a lot more snowy and at a much (much, much, much!) lower altitude.

but it still felt pretty intense.

Chris took this photo, but if we include him, this was our trekking crew!

note Steve, the best dog ever

as well as how warm and colorful and energetic we look

(warning: some of these things do change as the hike goes on)

K and I in front of what could be rolling vermont hills

or just a white wall

couldn't see, didn't really matter

G and I in the snow - I'm so lucky to have the best sister in the whole wide world!

G gets fierce on the rock face as we reach towards the peak.

(and I zip up all my layers)

and yes, I used poles. for the first time ever.

no, not because I'm aging and my knees hurt more than they used to

(although those things may or may not be true)

but because they recommend them on our trek and I wanted to see if I liked them

the upshot: not really

G, C and I climbing in seriously deep snow up to the face

there are trees behind us

no, really.

you just can't tell because it's a WHITE OUT

and everything is all fluffy snow and WIND.

but we made it to the ridge!

and to our peak!

(not so warm and energetic now - but very, very happy)

as evidenced by the manfriend 

who sits proudly in the snow before we begin our 3 mile slide down :)

we ended the day with a Mardi Gras/80s themed dance party with a whole bunch of medical school friends that I haven't seen in ages.  it's so thrilling to have everyone back in one place and off of crazy schedules for a brief moment in time.  

sister visits, snowy treks, and 80s dance parties - 

can you think of a better way to spend a Saturday?

PS: stay tuned for more details about our trip to Nepal!

~~~~~~

"The mountains are calling - and I must go"

-John Muir

(one of my heroes, as you can see from my blog description above)