Mostly harmless

I was never angry with you. I was sad, because I was afraid you’d lost your way.

I did lose my way.

or a writer wants you to read what they’ve written

it’s quite often an expression of trust

because a poem or a story or a painting are often things that come from the heart

little pieces of the artists themselves

and if they’re willing to share it with you

They seem to be based on the idea that people who completed four years of medical school and however many years of residency and worked hard and sacrificed and were constantly pushed out of their comfort zone and didn’t see their family or friends as often as they wanted and made new friends and communities wherever they found themselves, and did this their entire young adulthood, aren’t actually resilient and that the issues they’re facing can be fixed by meditating for five minutes a day and taking a walk at lunchtime.

First of all, since when did physicians get lunchtime?

I get really mad when I sit through those burnout discussions because I feel very blamed.

It is not the fault of someone who works 80-100 hours a week, never sees their family, and puts 100% of their emotional energy into a job that takes and takes from them that they feel burned out. So DON’T tell me to “practice mindfulness” or “do more yoga” or “make time for my family” – like I could somehow fix myself.

I am strong. As physicians and trainees we are incredible to fight through what we do every day. So let’s change the conversation – we’re not burned out. We’re taken advantage of. Our humanity and our love of our jobs is taken advantage of.