10 Reasons Why I Love Being A Pediatrician

I am lucky. I realize this. I get to do a job I love each and every day. And because I am often asked why I became a pediatrician, I thought I’d share my top 10 reasons as to why I feel very fortunate to do what I do. So in no particular order...                                                 

1. I am able to follow a child from birth to adulthood. Being able to follow the growth and development of my patients from baby years to adulthood is probably my greatest joy. Watching them grow from these tiny little entities where eating, sleeping and pooping (and peeing) are all that matters until young adulthood where their goals may include making the world a better place to live in is such a rewarding thing for me to witness.

2. I get to have amazing conversations. This includes cooing contests with 2 month-olds to discussing favorite rides at Disneyland with 6 year-olds to having in depth conversations about the life and the curve balls thrown our way with high school students are things I get to do on a daily basis. And I enjoy each and every one of them the same.

3. I work with great people. Typically, anyone who likes to work with children has a great attitude and outlook on life because one realizes it’s about the children. My office... no exception.

4. I become part of the family. Over time I really feel like I become part of the patient’s extended family. This often gives my well-child-care visits a sense of catching up on life, just like we do with relatives and friends who live many miles away.

5. I watch the parents mature. Not only is it the patients who develop and mature, but the parents do as well. I thoroughly enjoy witnessing first time moms and dads so tentative and unsure develop into such confident and experienced parents.  

6. I get to meet so many interesting people. Sure, I enjoy conversations with people of similar interests to me, but I’m also fascinated by those who chose a completely different path in life. It’s a reminder each and everyone one of us is unique.

7. I have an impact on the lives of so many. Yes, I try to impress upon my patients the significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle but I also try to slip in the importance of living by the code of “doing the right thing” as well. Not an easy thing to do with someone my age but with a 10-year-old, you still have a chance of leaving that type of an impression.

8. I get to do other things as well. Being a pediatrician has allowed me to use another part of my brain as well... including writing and blogging for DailyStrength over the past few years.

9. I get to teach. Practicing medicine in a large urban area with many training programs allows me the opportunity to teach what I’ve learned and pass it on to those just beginning or exploring the field of medicine.

10. I remain useful in my own household. Obviously, I’m being a bit sarcastic here but until my last child heads off for college, I do feel relevant for the next 14 years. Although, I’m sure my kids at this point may think differently.

Anyway, there you have it. Maybe not glorious stuff, but certainly all of which satisfy my heart and soul. 

                                                                           

Life Is Good

                                                                                        

 Life Is Good

                                         

Nothing in life comes with a guarantee or a promise of commitment. Life is just life and we never know 

what to expect from one day to the next. The only sure things in life is that we shall pay taxes and die 

this is certain. I myself get my feelings hurt and throw my little pity party for a day or two and then I am 

over it and ready to move on with this extraordinary wonderful life that God has given me. Everyone

should be aware of how precious this thing we call life truly is. 

We should truly savor each day and make it last as long as possible. We should really open our eyes

and watch every sunrise and sunset. Show the people that we love exactly how we feel about them 

and tell them daily. Have you ever lost someone close to you? If you have you must realize all

the "Why didn't I do this?"  "Why didn't I visit more?" "I wonder if they really knew how much I loved 

them?" Then the why me? Why my mother? Did I do something? Am I being punished.? This is all

guilt a form of grief. 

I did these things therefore I would love to save someone the heartache of having to live through 

this yourself. God is not mad at you, he loves you. You are not a jinx and no one else will die if

you decide to be with them. (Boy do I regret this one) Later in life we regret things that we did 

in our grieving state. But, then you realize that life is just as it is suppose to be after all. The 

people we least expect can touch our life in a profound way. Just having someone to talk 

to that we are comfortable with can be essential to getting past any situation that arises in

life.

I once had someone that I could tell everything to and even share my most intimate secrets,

now that person is not there anymore. As the cycle of life revolves so do people and how they

relate to us. Simply put life happens and people outgrow us. 

Life is good. We can make it good, but it is solely left up to us to direct or redirect our destiny

Today I will take the time to smell the roses, to tell the people in my life how I feel about  them. 

Today I will live.

Today I will Choose to Love even though my lost in life is great.       

          

   

Life's A Beach

Life's A Beach

I awake and wipe the sleep from my eyes, and thank God for a brand new morning. The sound of the coffee maker, the smell of it's aromatic aroma has waken me.  From the shadows that appear to me I can tell I have little time to set up for my day. I go into the bathroom wash my face, slip on my shorts and top and pour myself coffee before walking out onto the balcony. I love to sit on this balcony each morning while having coffee and watch the sun rise with all of it's majestic glory. For here I am very much aware that God is sitting on his throne made of gold looking down upon me. I feel so very close to him as if St. Pete Beach is his heaven upon this earth.

As I sit here I wonder if he finds goodness in me? I realize that he knows the number of hairs upon my head and has known me before I was a twinkle in daddy's eye. I want so much to please God yet I know so many times I fall from grace. All in all I know he knows my heart and he has a plan for me that far exceeds anything I can dream of myself. 

No matter how I feel about the things that Blake and I have been through I know we shall remain friends. It shall be out of the norm for a while to live apart, yet we did not live together that long. I have known him for so long now yet our relationship has been on and off again since last June. Things will be good for us once we find our soul mates and can move into long lasting, loving relationships.

All in all no matter if I get the blues because a relationship has not worked out I can still remain friends with that person. Time I find does not heal broken hearts, but maybe I myself can do better the next time I love. I blame myself because of a past love that will remain with me until my dying breath. Although, I am a kind, compassionate and caring I am not easy to love. I have walls in place that are hard to break through even for the strongest of men. I avoid dating if all possible since I hate putting myself out there knowing eventually I will get hurt.