When I was little, I used to memorize “The Wizard of Oz.” Whenever my parents sent me to bed before I was ready to go, I'd console myself, “Oh well, I’ll just watch a movie in my head!” Then I’d proceed to replay the entire thing in my imagination — at least until I got distracted or fell asleep. ...
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My goal is to write two blogs every Friday: one for my medical website, and one for this website. Originally this was really easy, because I didn’t see patients on Fridays… so I’d wake up late, go to Barnes and Noble, and write my medical article with plenty of time afterwards to do business ...
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Every year I have to get 30 CMEs (Continuing Medical Education Credits) in order to renew my license to practice medicine. Right now I’m at a conference in Phoenix put on by the AANP (American Association of Naturopathic Physicians). It’s been educational, in more ways than one.  In general, med ...
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Growing up, I wanted to be a tomboy. I looked down upon the stereotype of the “girly” girl — you know, the overly emotional, irrational, shallow types who freaked out when they broke a nail and didn’t ever want to get dirty. Boys talked about these types of girls in a scoffing, superior tone, and I ...
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A long time ago I used to work at Starbucks. One of my favorite coworkers was this quintessential hipster girl who studied English at the university, and whose worldview was in many ways the compete opposite of mine. We amiably debated and discussed various different stories as we closed together, ...
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When I was little, I used to be afraid that I’d grow up and lead a boring life. I wonder if this fear subconsciously caused me to make choices which almost preclude routine, because people tell me now that my life is never dull. I’ve always got stories about challenges, mishaps, and other chaos. ...
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  So for the last few months, I’ve made a point of writing down one potential blog topic every day. As I read through the list, over and over this theme seems to appear (in my shorthand to myself): Need. More. Sleep. Need more of a margin in my life because literally every moment is ...
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So I’m taking ballet. I’m not especially coordinated, mind you, nor does it really seem as if there’s much point, considering you pretty much have to start as a child in order to get in the 10,000 hours necessary to achieve proficiency (so says Malcolm Gladwell in “The Tipping Point,”) but I’m ...
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So I was headed to work one morning and my car battery started to sound sickly as my engine turned over. Unfortunately I wasn’t headed straight to work, I went to the gym first… and by the time I got back to my car, the battery was completely dead. (I guess that happens in Arizona in the ...
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Last week I met a man who will almost certainly inspire a character in my upcoming dystopian trilogy. He'll probably be one of the underlings of the evil dictator. Picture this: 60-something, short (probably about 5’3”, slightly shorter than I am) with a pudgy middle, slicked back gray hair, shirt ...
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