{Yachats, Oregon}
Still on vacation and giving my brain a chance to rest. Will be back to reality and blogging more extensively when I return from my break next week!
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
{International Rose Test Garden, Portland, Oregon}
Okay, I’ll be honest. I’d much rather watch a documentary on Netflix (anyone have any suggestions?) and let my mind wander than write a blog post right now. Escaping to Oregon earlier this week for the first leg of my vacation provided a perfect combo of nostalgia, tranquility, and connection. Rather than psychoanalyze and process the impact that my trip had on my psyche (as I usually do in my posts), I’m instead going to reminisce and share pictures from my trip, which hopefully captures the essence of my time spent there. I still have one more week of vacation left, so if my writing doesn’t have as much structure and depth as usual, that’s because my writing is characteristic and reflective of my current, free-flowing state of mind.
{Washington Park, Portland, Oregon}
{Portland Japanese Garden}
{Yachats, Oregon}
{Devil’s Churn, Oregon}
{Voodoo Doughnut, Eugene, Oregon}
I enjoy taking a stroll down memory lane every once in awhile to reminisce about the past. While trying to find a photo for my next blog post, I came across pictures of fun times in Oregon during residency training. In effort not to embarrass my fellow colleagues (think trashy theme party, dancing to “Baby Got Back,” and movie nights with some of the most grotesque films ever made, to name a few examples), I limited the photos to the least embarrassing (not surprisingly, many photos were eliminated), pictures mostly of myself, or with the obtained consent from my residency friends (if identifiable in the photos). I may constantly mention the hardships of the journey through medical school and residency, but my three years spent in Oregon brought about many friendships, fun experiences, and memorable moments that I’ll treasure forever.
{Residency Retreat at Black Butte, Oregon}
{Wine Tasting in the beautiful Willamette Valley, Oregon}
{My 1st time golfing}
{Good thing I didn’t get graded on my Pictionary skills because I clearly would’ve failed}
{Oregon Medical Association conference in Bend, Oregon}
{My 1st time snowshoeing, Bend, Oregon}
{My Princess-themed party that my awesome co-residents threw for me before graduation}
Taking in the scenery from my balcony on my last day in Oregon
I’m currently sitting on my couch wearing gym attire contemplating whether or not to head to the gym. Five minutes into a repeat episode of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” I convince myself of an alternate plan to work out at 5am tomorrow before going to clinic (I confess that this is the 10th time I’ve created this plan, but have executed it only once).
My lackadaisical behavior doesn’t surprise me. Previous blogposts exhibit this behavior (here/) and I attribute the laziness to a recent move. My childhood memories relate the experience to the song “Kindergarten Wall:”
“And remember the seed in the little paper cup:
First the root grows down and then the plant grows up!”
I was uprooted when I moved to Oregon, then eventually established my community and made it my home. Moving is a huge transition. One may need to adjust to a new work environment or find a new job, meet new people, discover the least traffic congested roads, join a new gym, etc. I have several patients who present with depression related to a recent move. Though each case is unique, I don’t automatically treat the depression by adding a new medication because mood may improve over time. I empathize with their struggles and generally offer support through the adjustment phase.
It took me about six months to feel comfortable living in Oregon, though i criticized myself each time I felt sad, homesick, and overwhelmed with change. Now that I’m back in so-cal, it’s taking a bit longer than expected to create a daily routine, but I’m familiar with my pattern of establishing roots in a new area of residence (the exercise routine will get there…eventually).
{View from my window}
I just returned from a weekend in Sacramento and San Francisco where the weather was perfectly chilly, sunny, and breezy. Yet, prior to my flight to nor-cal, I experienced two snowy days in Oregon where I’m sure that I’m the only one who initially stared out the window in fear about having to commute in the snow. I’ve grown accustomed to texting fellow residents for driving tips and religiously checking weather.com to ensure I can tackle the snowy roads without problem, but have decided that instead of being constantly worried, I’m going to savor and enjoy the rest of my second Winter in Oregon no matter how snowy, icy, or rainy the weather may be.
{Is it nerdy that this pic reminds me of bronchioles?}
2010 proved to be a remarkable year for me. I’ve transformed from a former struggling medical student (constantly questioning my career choice with each brutal beating from complicated exams, all-nighters, and Attendings pimping me to the point of ridicule) into a now PGY-3 (Postgraduate year) making medical decisions on my own and witnessing the positive impact I can have on patients’ lives. And, after 1.5 years of living here, I can admit that Oregon is truly growing on me (which I never thought I’d say, but who wouldn’t appreciate smog-free skies, environmental-friendliness, genuinely friendly people, traffic-free roads, abundant green landscapes, etc). I’m thankful for the lessons learned in 2010 and can’t wait for the experiences to come in 2011. One and a half years of residency left to go!
Is it rare to have a class of residents who actually like each other and get along? When I moved away from home, the residents in my class were not just peers– they became my family. When one member leaves, you get hit with a sense of loss that affects you far more than you could’ve imagined. When more than one member leaves, you try even harder to keep your support system from falling apart even further, only to hope and find comfort in believing that life circumstances have led them to a better path. I’m fortunate to have formed wonderful friendships with amazing people over the course of one year, but will definitely last a lifetime. C’est la vie.
{Sunset in Waikiki}
Goodbye, Summer. Shorter days, raindrops on the window, dirt splattering onto my cream-colored slacks…just a few initial signs of gloomy Oregon weather. I’m already preparing for my period of weather-dependent laziness that starts around this time. I teach my patients some of the following simple strategies to feel a daily sense of accomplishment…or shed light on barriers towards accomplishing your goals (mine would be dark, rainy weather, which I documented here/):
1. Make a realistic daily task list, and check them off with pride as you complete each one.
2. Set a goal for the day, and if not accomplished, then write the reason why.
3. When you get overwhelmed, feel like you have no energy, or notice yourself making excuses not to complete a task, do something simple for 15 mins that brings you out of lazy-mode (take a walk, short run, read, journal, etc.).
What techniques do you find helpful? Please share before I turn into an even bigger couch potato this Fall.
{Welcome BBQ 2009}
Time flies. One year ago, I packed my bags and moved from my comfortable home in sunny California to a rainy, agricultural town in Oregon for my 2nd year of residency. Though I truly hated the first few months being away from my family and friends (and fabulous shopping malls), I can now willingly admit it was for the best. I work with amazing Psychiatrists, gained friendships that will last a lifetime, and most importantly, I’m learning more about myself. I guess these next two years of residency won’t be nearly as painful as I originally thought.
{Team Building River Raft trip 2009}
{Residency Retreat in Bend, OR}
{Snowshoeing event in Bend, OR}
{End of Year Party at Ankeny Vineyard}
I hate running. I’m one of those people who end up tachypneic after running 2 minutes and would much rather sit on the couch eating chips and watching “Man vs Food” reruns. I’m from so-cal where running seems scarce in the city, but when I moved to Oregon, I saw everyone and their grandmothers running down each street I drove. As soon as the dark, rainy season came around, I discovered the reason why…
I’m used to sunny days and am normally a happy, smiley person, but the short and rainy days made me feel pretty miserable. I started staying home more often, socialized less, and got upset easily. I admit that I watch a lot of tv, but it wasn’t until I started watching “For the Love of Ray J” (no offense to those who like that show) that I knew I’d reached a new low. I talked to my fellow resident and he suggested running especially since studies have shown that running can work just as well as an antidepressant (check out an article below from 2008). So…I got my butt off the couch, bought a new pair of running shoes, and started running. It wasn’t easy. But, I have to admit– I feel ten times better.
Tip of the Day: Run, run, run!
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/DepressionNews/story?id=5627302&page=1
