What The ER has Taught Me About Life

The emergency room is an interesting place to work. It’s controlled chaos. Walk through the hallways and you’ll hear people screaming, see others crying, and others wincing in pain.

Certainly, my views have broadened and I’ve learnt a few lessons along the way.

So, with that, here are a few things I’ve learned.

1. Life is short

The big one. I’m sure we’ve all contemplated this before, but when you work in the ER, you’re reminded of this constantly. Everything can be going along smoothly when all of a sudden that passing car comes and it’s game over. Or you wake up one morning and that aneursym ruptures, or that MI suddenly drops you down. I’ve seen that far too often.

 2. Don’t put things off.

Things can be going along smoothly for us when all of a sudden an injury or illness comes along and changes everything.

Sometimes I think I should buckle down now and pick up those extra shifts. Work hard and save and sacrifice for a better tomorrow. This is certainly the culture that I was brought up with. But I’m constantly reminded that the future is never guaranteed.

3. Kindness matters

Receiving an act of kindness is amazing. When you’re working late at night, dealing with difficult people when you’d rather be at home, or in bed, someone giving you a genuine “thank you” can truly make the difference in your shift. Think about how good it feels to be appreciated for what you do.



It’s important to have that perspective. What we often think matters to us now, in the end, won’t be important at all.

For more information please visit: https://www.mdhealthyself.com/what-the-er-has-taught-me-about-life

Why You Need to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

What’s keeping you from living the life you want?

When you look down deep is there something holding you back? Keeping you from taking risks and breaking through barriers? Is there a resistance? A feeling deep down inside that you can’t shake? What is it? Is it fear? Shame? Doubt? Guilt?

You’re not alone. I certainly have my share of “blockages.”

These are areas in my life where I often meet up with an anxiety around change. It comes up frequently in new personal relationships, and new social situations, for instance. There are times when I hold myself back from taking risks for fear of failure or embarrassment.

Yet in other areas in my life, I thrive in uncertainty.

I’m an ER doctor. My job entails being prepared for the unknown. Literally anything can come through the door and I’m expected to react skillfully in these situations.

And you know what? I’m able to manage the majority of these situations without feeling a great deal of stress or anxiety. Calm in the midst of chaos. No problem. I’ve got crazy some stories too…..believe me. Often times, people ask me how I’m able to remain so composed in the face of what appears to be a very stressful situation.

The answer is easy. 

It wasn’t always that way at work. I remember being early in my training and incredibly hesitant to step into acute care situations. I found them terrifying.

What if I make a mistake? Maybe I don’t know what I’m doing? Could I hurt someone?

However, through training and repeated exposure to that discomfort it dissolved and faded away. Slowly. And that’s the same experience of my colleagues.

For more information please visit: https://www.mdhealthyself.com/why-you-need-to-step-out-of-your-comfort-zone

The Importance of Celebrating Yourself

Happy new year everyone.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, I’ve been taking time to reflect on the last year and the last decade. It seems as if I’m at that point where I can think in decades now. When did that happen?

Perhaps, if you’re like me, you can be hard on yourself sometimes. At times, my mind tends to focus on the things I haven’t done, or want to still do. Do you do the same? Naturally, I tend to overlook and forget about all of the amazing things that have happened over the last year and last decade.

It’s a mistake.

Problematic, in fact. Focussing on the future instead of honouring your present is a quick road to misery. It’s often said that desire is the cause of suffering. In that same vain, constantly looking ahead without taking in your present keeps you from appreciating all you already have.

Ten years is a long time and a lot has happened. When I allow myself to think about it, it’s been a pretty amazing last decade.

I was a resident ten years ago at this time. I had no idea where I’d be today. Now I’m a long experienced staff with the grey hairs (and no hairs) to show for it. I’ve been all around the world and fulfilled a life dream to make international work a part of my life. Lived in some great cities (London, Calgary, Toronto) and worked in some amazing contexts (Yemen, South Sudan, Ethiopia). I’ve loved, I’ve laughed, I’ve lost, I’ve learned. I’ve grown up in so many ways.

But despite all of that my mind tends to focus ahead. On what I’m missing and what’s next.

I understand that and I’d like to consciously change it. I’m usually not a big fan of resolutions, but this year I did resolve a couple of things. Last year was very goal based and I set myself a whole bunch of personal and professional goals. Some I accomplished (I started a blog experiment!), and some I didn’t, and that’s okay. I certainly figured a few things out a lot along the way.

Upon reflection, I realized that I’ve been too outcome driven. It’s good to have goals, but I can be a bit too strive-y and can focus too much on what I want to achieve instead of the process.

For more information please visit: 
https://www.mdhealthyself.com/the-importance-of-celebrating-yourself