As the festive bells chime and the yuletide spirit wraps around us, I'm Dr. Sapna Shah-Haque, your guide through the world of medicine with a holiday twist. Imagine the joyous chaos of Christmas, the laughter amidst low-grade fevers, and the heartfelt togetherness that overshadows the shiniest of gifts. That's the essence of this special episode, where I reflect on the year's milestones, the lessons dressed as challenges, and the unwavering passion for our profession that keeps us all going. It's about embracing the spirit of the season and finding joy in the unexpected – like the impromptu dance parties when the fever subsides and the tranquility in the aftermath of the day's excitement.
Let's embark on a heartfelt challenge together, one that doesn't involve wrapping paper or ribbons. I urge you to select just one facet of life to enhance, bringing you closer to the existence you long for. As we navigate a medical system that's far from perfect, we hold tight to our mission to heal and help, not for profit but for people. So, as the New Year approaches, let's gift ourselves the commitment to personal growth and to awakening each day with the same anticipation of a child on Christmas morning. Let's carry this merry momentum into the new chapter, creating a reality that's not only better for our patients but more fulfilling for ourselves. Wishing you a season full of warmth and an inspired beginning to what lies ahead.
Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice. This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone. If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.
December 25th, also known as Christmas Day. If you're listening to this, merry Christmas. If you celebrate, and if you don't, happy holidays. Welcome to another episode of the Worthy Physician. I'm your host, dr Sapna Shah-Haque, reigniting your humanity and passion for medicine. Merry Christmas to all you listeners. The Worthy Physician would not be around in 2023. Coming forward into 2024 in a week if it weren't for listeners like you.
Dr. Shah-Haque:
I hope that this time of year is bringing you times of joy and gratitude and time with family and friends. I hope it's a time that you're able to reflect back on the past year the wins, the losses. Don't like to say the word losses, I like to say learning points. Nothing really is ever a loss. It's a way to learn, to grow, to reflect. Just like, just like Messy Christmas this year, I had all these plans and they got shut down because of sick kids, unfortunately. But silver lining and no, I don't think this is positive toxicity Silver lining I'm with my kids.
Dr. Shah-Haque:
Other than sniffly snotty noses and low grade fevers, everybody's alright. But it's the closeness, the togetherness, the crazy impromptu bouncing off walls when the fever's down, that has made this holiday season just worth it, and for that, it's not about the presence under the tree. It's not about the massiveness of stuff, it's about the massiveness of togetherness, of being present. And, yes, this is recorded after the kids have gone to bed and it's going to be posted before they woken up, before the chaos takes over, and exciting. But wouldn't it be nice to have that excitement every day, waking up like a kid to seeing what Santa left underneath the tree? And that's possible. That's possible when you've dug deep and you've identified what your needs and when you start taking the steps to create that reality.
Dr. Shah-Haque:
Yeah, we work in a system. The medical system's broken. We put profit before hells and that's really a moral crux, because most people I know didn't go into medicine to make money. They went into medicine to make the world a better place, to heal disease, to heal hurt people. One thing I would challenge you to do when everything dies down five, ten minutes, identify one area that you can work on, to start moving toward a life that you want, a reality that you want, just one thing, and it is not to say that the physician is the problem, because that's not the truth, that's the furthest thing from the truth. But take this moment and identify one thing that you would like to work toward in a positive way, and let that be your Christmas gift to yourself. Merry Christmas.