Some of the worst words you want to hear after 8 years of post-secondary education, 6 years of training and 22 years of practice are, “…we think you need to take a leave of absence.” I heard those words in mid-August of 2022 and haven’t worked as a general surgeon since. Over the past several months I’ve had to come to terms with my (fragile) mental health and the issue of burn out. It is my intention to use these blog entries to both highlight my struggles (financial, mental and emotional) and insights. The topics will likely be wide-ranging but will definitely be very personal.
I’ve spent the past 2 hours trying to understand and navigate WordPress just to get a blog up and going. I’ve yelled at screens and icons on the computer, I’ve walked away several times and all but gave up…
I didn’t give up, though. I won’t “give up.” There is a journey to be had here…just no the one I begrudgingly began 30 years ago. Self-discovery and a growing self-worth. Those are the goals for me. A success will be finding a me, a we and a job that I can fully invest and be myself in.
In places I will be frustratingly vague. In others I will be painfully specific. That’s okay. That’s my expression. I can only write what I know.
So…on with the program…
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