Poppiholla. A Chicane remix of Sigur Ros’ Hoppipola (hopping in puddles). There’s something about a good song remix that makes a certain warmth rise from your chest and make you want to close your eyes to savour pure sound. Pure sound.
I don’t give a damn about “nice”
Honesty/truth is always the best policy.
I don’t give a damn about “nice” people. Everyone can be “nice”. Anyone can be congenial to people’s faces. But not everyone is truthful. Not everyone have the guts to stand up for what is edifying.
So please stop whining in fear of hurting feelings. Yes feelings can get hurt. But these things are temporary. Sometimes it’s much better to get the truth out there and process what hurts because at least you’re dealing with something TANGIBLE.
Okay okay, you can’t just be harsh bulldog truth. Yes, I say yes to throwing compassion into the mix… but that’s not the point of the day.
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Okay. Self-righteous ranting over.
To be honest (ha. ha.) I know I am not one for consistency with my own beliefs. But hey. I try. I try. And hopefully one day habit will become character.
Thinking out loud.
The past few months I have been thinking a lot about why I am a Christian. Or call myself one. Same difference(?)
I was born to a family of fourth generation Presbytarian Christians. Grew up in Sunday school, contemplated heaven, hell, sin and grace as a kid playing amongst the red velvet curtains by the altar. Been through Pentecostal youth groups, sneaked into Catholic Masses, Jewish Synagogues, Buddhist Temples, Sikh Temples, Hippy gatherings and Islamic talks.
I have a very clear idea of what I believe is Christian. It doesn’t have a lot to do with the crowd you choose to be around but rather your character. The things you do automatically. The marriage between words and actions. Heart felt compassion as opposed to displays of flamboyant morality.
But when it comes to Christian doctrine, I start to feel shy about what I really believe in. I want to be part of what is called “Truth” but how can you feel certain when you know historically this faith has undergone more than one ‘theological make-overs’. Surely truth is consistent? Thought I’d put it out there. Not expecting answers. Just pondering out loud.
The most convenient packet of crisps.
The other day I was the lone doctor on the ward, armed with my trusty final year medical student. It seemed like any other day, quiet. I was minding my own business trying to get jobs done when a young timid 3rd year medical student came up to me asking for healthy patients to clerk.
“Uh…. why don’t you clerk that young asthmatic lady over there and present the patient to me later?” I barely glanced up from my admin jobs as I directed the trembling 3rd year student ‘over there’.
After a good 10 minutes the student came back. “Ok, present the patient to me.” again half-looking-up from my paper work. The 3rd year student inhaled and exhaled a long ramble of medical history. It was then in the corner of my eye, I saw the same young asthmatic lady crumple onto the floor by her bed…..
Almost
I almost made a really bad prescribing error…
But the nurse who was about to administer it and the pharmacist were both gracious people. Pointed it out to me.. and in massive relief I hugged them both before I quickly corrected it. That was close.
Lesson learned:
We are all human and sometimes a long tiring day can make you slip.
But thank goodness there are other people around you who will gladly work with you for patient safety.
It’s all so cheesy and I know it sounds like propaganda…
However
I was so glad for the “Multi-Disciplinary-Team” today.
Advice to future junior doctors… respect the other team members. They can save your ass and your patient’s.
