The next in the series of “Purpose in Life”. Again, what would you want to be remembered for, and what is/was your purpose in life? For me, and Sarah, a big purpose has been being a doctor. There is nothing more rewarding when trying to help people, especially when it comes to health. But there also can be times when nothing could be more devastating as well. You take care of people the best you can, and do everything you can to help them, and sometimes it just does not make any difference. We have no control over that. I wish we did! We are both in year 28 of practicing in Watertown, and no day is ever the same. Sometimes, you just have to go back to when the process all started and remember what you went into medicine for in the first place.
This picture was taken at the end of my second year of medical school. We had to take a series of Board exams to keep moving on in school. Part One was the worst! The hardest part about medicine was the volume! I thought undergraduate college was intense, but it was nothing compared to medical school. Nothing out there could ever prepare you for the time you had to put in. The first two years were consumed with all of the basic sciences. It was the foundation for going into our clinical years. There is no question the importance of this, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine the volume. This picture has me with the “important notes” and review manuals preparing for that Board exam. It either made you or broke you! But medicine involves lifelong learning. Medicine changes so fast it is incredible. You always have to keep learning.
This is the material 2 years ago getting ready for my re-certification Boards for Sports Medicine. We are seeing patients every day, and continuously learning as well. The volume can still be overwhelming. But you also have to practice what you preach when it comes to healthy living as well.
This is Sarah and I running the Halloween 5k during residency. I have to say, we look exhausted. It was not because it was a 5k, but it was during residency. Now we are doing more training/running.
I have always said, you can’t tell your patients to work out, and exercise, and watch your diet if you don’t do the same thing. That is another thing I want to be remembered for–walk the talk! Lead by example. You have more credibility when counseling patients about what they need to do when you are doing it yourself!
This is where I need to stop and think about things now. Everything going on the last 2 years has really been a struggle. You bust your butt to do what you can and wonder if it really makes a difference.
We did not create this pandemic, we are just trying to help where we can, and continue to do what we do, regardless of how some of the days go, or who is taking their frustrations out on you. Everybody is frustrated. We can’t wait for all of this to be gone too. We were trained to take care of sick people, but not to take the abuse that health care personnel have been taking the last several years. It has made the decisions for some people to quit, or retire early, a very easy decision. You can only do so much.
I just have to keep reminding myself that Success as a physician is truly a journey, not a destination, and for sure, not a final destination. I/we are going to keep doing what we can do, and help where we can, and hopefully we can say when all is said and done, we did the best we could. The best we could–always!
Especially as a Family Physician, we emphasize treatment of the patient with the health issue, or disease, not just the disease. We are all human, and we can have some very major health issues, and we can’t always “cure” them, but we can certainly help them deal with it the best they can as well.
This is hopefully what my true purpose in life was meant to be. Make a difference! Help others feel like they make a difference. Because–bottom line–we all make a difference. Live the best life you can. Learn to go with the flow. Expect setbacks and learn how to make the best of them. Ask yourself when you have health issues, “what is it this problem is trying to teach me?”. How is this not only going to help yourself, but others? I thought I had a lot of empathy prior to my health issues 3 years ago, but no question it helped teach me how to have even more empathy. What do we learn from those experiences, and how do we make things better for someone else? Figure out your purpose in life! Keep moving everybody!
The next in the series of “Purpose in Life”, with this week talking about humor. I had to bring it up because last week I made a typo talking about being a runner, and instead it came out as “funner”, and a friend of mine brought it to my attention, and thought I was going to talk about my sense of humor. Well, I will now. It is similar to the thought of last week in that my purpose in life is not about humor, but once again, humor brings purpose into my life. When we talk about laughter in medicine, we are talking about trying to find “humor and purpose” with some of the health issues that we can have happen to us. There is definitely a time to be serious, but there is a time to bring out a smile and laughter in people to help them make the best of the situation they are in. Smiling and laughing needs to be a natural thing. I just look at my 7-month-old grandson, Connor, always smiling and laughing. We lose that as we get older, and that is when we need to have it the most. Laugh at ourselves at time, and learn to “let it go”, and make the best out of the situation at hand. Our running group is great at keeping the laughter going!
Trying to get some nutrition in after a long run, but we can still figure out a way to smile! Many times we do more laughing than running, which is exactly why we keep meeting every week!
Here we all pretended like we died after our run! Which when it is really cold out, it sometimes feel like we did!
But then we will turn around and show off our olympic skills at snow ballet. For some of us, it shows how uncoordinated some of us can be, or that some of us can’t follow instructions, and we are the opposite of everybody else! But that is what makes it fun, and of course, the uncontrolled laughing then ensues!
It can be so easy to start coming up with something as a joke when one of us does something different, right Paula!! The rest of us were fine, but did not know if we were going to have to start CPR on you or not! You just helped us decide by covering up your face to say, in essence, “you don’t need to bother, I am gone!” I just take the pictures, but I, or we, can come up with whatever caption we may want for the picture!
But, bottom line, we are just happy to be running, spending time together, and laughing. That is what life is about! Don’t take things so serious all of the time. I/we need to learn how to have fun as well. I like all of the Disney animated movies, and they were great with the kids growing up, now it will be with the grandkids. But the movie “Frozen” hit is right on when it continuously talks about, and sings, “Let is go”! Exactly! Learn to let it go! AND–HAVE FUN TOO!
Sarah and I dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day last year, and of course, we always have to do something more when this is Sarah’s birthday. I just know she tells me “all the time” that life is not boring with me! Now, I am taking that as a compliment! We are always laughing, and so I have to show her my appreciation of life with her by getting her this T-Shirt–
And, of course, I remind her of this every day! Purpose in life–have humor and laugh, and after all is said and done, this will also help you find purpose in your life!
Sometimes, this can be a very fine line! Overall, laughing really is the best medicine. We just feel better when we can laugh and enjoy life. You will always find purpose in your life as long as you keep laughing!
At least this is what I keep telling Sarah! One of these days she might actually agree with me, but at least it can still keep the smiling and laughter going on. Get back to that point when we were all small like my grandson, and we all laughed the majority of the day. Bring it back as an adult, and enjoy life to its fullest, and to help create, and find, purpose in your life! Keep moving everybody!
This post is the next in the series of “What is your purpose in Life”, and it deals with running. It may not be so much that my purpose is to run, but that running has made my purpose in life better. I promote exercise to my patients daily. I practice what I preach. Running, and exercise in general, has been my escape over the years, to help work out problems, and to help solve them. It has been immensely helpful as a stress reliever. Running has taken me places I have never been before, and sights I have never seen before, and brought me in contact with people who have been my closest friends. And it is also how I gained the attention of Sarah before we started dating.
When we were in medical school, we did not start dating until our second year. I definitely noticed her, and I knew she was a runner. I would see her out running some days during that first year. She moved into a different house with several other roommates, and it was like 2 blocks from the medical school. I would see her sitting and studying through the dining room window when I went home. I conveniently changed my running route to go past her place on the way out, and then again back home. Those initial hot days that Summer of our second year was convenient as I ran past her house without a shirt on. (Hee Hee! I did what I had too!) Of course, she noticed, and then we started running together a few times, and then the rest is history. If it had not been for running, who knows if that relationship would have developed.
I started running Cross Country and Track as a senior in High School. I can’t tell you how much confidence that gave me going forward. Enough confidence that I ran both sports in college all 4 years of undergrad. It set the tone and gave me the confidence to believe I could do what I wanted to do in life…become a doctor! I will elaborate more on this in the final series of “purpose in life”. Running had become my purpose, and it helped me develop purpose in my life.
I have learned this more and more over the years. It is not the times of the races that matter, but the races I have done over time that matter. Each one brought a different experience. Each one helped fulfill a new goal. Each one allowed me to develop more friends and increase the number of training partners over the years, and those training partners have become some of my best friends. We kept working on the running, and importance of exercise, with our kids as well, and if they did not run in High School, they do now!
Running has been a huge bond between Sarah and I, ever since that first time I saw her running, as well as the first time I ran with her. Our life has been an ongoing marathon since, with no foreseeable finish line coming yet. New adventures and things to do and see that we would not have done had we not been runners.
Not all runs are great, but by far and away, the majority of them are. Sarah and I still have a lot more runs, and races to do as we get older. When we get to the point of retiring some day, we are going to travel the masters circuit and do more events together.
Together, we are going to “run after life”, and “through life”. Again, my purpose in life is not to run, but running has given my life purpose, and it always will. I definitely want to be remembered as a runner. We are promoting running, and exercise, all of the time in Watertown. We run events, sponsor events, and want everybody to get out and move, and be in better control of their lives.
Exactly! A very good summary! We all need to work on this. Have purpose in our lives. Be able to look past the bad times. Learn determination, discipline, and set new goals in life. Learn how to not give up. Make your life have more purpose in it and live it to the fullest! Keep moving everybody!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you out there, and your special valentine! May this mark the beginning of a new special day, and special beginning, of a new year. All of you who are married, or who have a significant other, know what I mean. You have a partner in which you can spend time with and do life together with. Through good times and bad, good weather and bad, and all times in between. Make it your day!
Sarah and I have spent years running together. We both love to exercise and stay fit. So many places we have seen and traveled to because of running. The plan is for there to be many more as well.
We are always pushing each other to strive for more. We all should keep working on getting better. Life does not stand still, and neither should you. You never know what you are capable of until you try.
We have hiked out in the Hills in both Summer and Winter. There are always things to see, and when you are outside exploring, you have no idea what you will see that you would not have otherwise.
Things are always changing, and if you don’t keep looking, you will miss it. Enjoy life to the fullest. If you have someone special to share it with, all the better. We are not meant to be alone. Find your passion, and purpose, and do things with the people you care about.
Of course, on this Valentine’s Day, I have to worry about Sarah finding a new man! No problem when he is our grandson, Connor! Someone else to love and care for, and to care about!
For all you girls out there, may it find you some flowers on this special day. But more important…
…may you have someone special to share it with! Happy Valentine’s Day to everybody and enjoy it with the one you care about!
The third in the series of “What is your purpose in Life”. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Again, what do you want to be remembered for? Did we spend time with the people who are important to us? What do we want our friends to say about us? We/I want to make friends and spend time with them! Creating memories with the people who mean a lot to you. We all want to be remembered as being someone who someone else could count on, big or little. Here we are with the Hauck’s when we went to Disney to do the Half Marathon and Full Marathon a few years ago. What a great trip. Memories forever.
Our run club is a great place for making friends. We all love to run and have a great time solving problems while out for a run. It truly is more than just running though.
We will meet several times for coffee after a run. Everybody catches up on what is all going on with each other in our lives. They are more than just friends. They are an extension of family. We care about each other and what goes on for us all of the time.
Jen and Paula are on the mend from some recent health issues, and it was great seeing them back again. Friends! We all have that as a purpose in our lives. We want someone who we can count on when we need support, and vice versa. These people you can always depend on!
Tom and I have been friends for a long time. Training partners for many years. Both working for years in the medical field, and Tom now has been retired for 2 years now. Where has all the time gone? Those run days are great for catching up on. Now we can talk about our grandkids!
Of course, my people at the clinic are incredibly important as well. On the left, Chris, my main nurse, ever since I have been here. 28 years! She may be retiring later this coming Summer! In the middle, Melody, who has been with me now I think 12 years. And on the right, Michelle, my scheduler for many years, 7 or 8. The best scheduler! We work as a team. That is one thing we will all be remembered by, is how we work as a team. We need to work as a team. Medicine is absolutely a team effort.
Running will be the next purpose in life to talk about. 3 years ago, Noah, and Megan next to him, ran their first Half Marathon with me at Disney. The next day, Carissa ran the marathon with me, her first. We were a team on everything that week and weekend. Close friends, but more like a another set of kids for me. They were just in Deadwood with us last weekend all helping to work, and help Carletta, working at the conference. The purpose that weekend was for them to experience their first long run, and for them to help me complete the Dopey event. We all succeeded! Keep working on your purpose in life! Keep moving everybody!
This past weekend we had our South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians annual meeting in Deadwood. We had only a virtual option last year due to covid, but this year we had both live and virtual options. We all had to wear masks during the meeting and had tests available if anybody started having any symptoms. It was a very good meeting, and we learned a lot. Sarah had served as President for the last 2 years, having an extended year due to covid. She was receiving her plaque at the annual banquet. We had not gone anywhere for the last 5 months. It was time to get away. Whatever free time we managed to have, we spent outside hiking. As Family Physicians, we always have to keep learning. Lifelong learning. Four years of undergraduate work, 4 years of medical school, and 3 years of residency training for our specialty. Yes, Family Medicine is a specialty. All physicians have to have undergraduate training, and then the same training in medical school as all other doctors. Then things separated out in residency for what you type of physician you wanted to become. I always have a hard time when other provider groups advertise that they do Family Practice, and they are not Phyicians. We have a need for these other providers, but not when they falsely advertise. They can set up shop anywhere they want, and do “quick” services, regardless of the quality of care involved, or the level of training involved. I guess to me if they want to advertise family practice, or primary care, then go through the training that it takes to do it. No question, especially these last 2 years with the pandemic, we all needed help by other providers to see people acutely because it was impossible otherwise to see everybody who needed to be seen. But that is not primary care. Family Medicine encompasses care throughout the life cycle. Birth to grave, and all the health problems that can come up along the way. We have to know a lot of everything, but obviously we cannot know everything. That is when it comes time to refer to someone else. But we always have to keep learning.
The conference was 3 full days, early AM, to evening, learning the latest on medicine, and updates involved.
We take care of the “whole” person, mentally and physically. Just like for us, we had to have some breaks when we could just to get outside, and enjoy the mountains.
One evening on a break with the sun setting.
Early morning sunrise before the start of the conferences.
We stayed an extra afternoon after the conference to go hiking in the mountains with our daughter Megan. We needed to unwind and clear our heads after the conference ended. We learned a lot! We always have to keep reading, figuring out plans of care for our patients. We are always trying to figure out what we can do to help take care of our patients as best we can. It has been a huge challenge during this pandemic. All of the other health issues still come up, but covid keeps taking big portions of the day. Someday this pandemic will be over. The stress of this is having an effect on everybody, patients, and all health care providers. We are all doing what we can. Some days never end. But we show up the next day ready to take on more challenges. The life of Family Physicians. Always striving to take care of others. To all of you physicians out there, remember to take care of yourself as well. Keep moving everybody!
