People who show up regularly set the best kind of vibe | Considerations

One of the reasons I enjoy playing hockey is the conversations before and after a game. I've found that the people who show up regularly are the ones who set the best kind of vibe.

I typically arrive at the rink early to get dressed (there's a lot of gear to put on!), which lets me hear the layers of conversation build as people arrive to the dressing room. And when we're done playing, there's some post-game commentary mixed in with chatter about what's going on with our lives. Unsurprisingly, the people who attend the most are the ones that I feel closest to.

That sense of connection is one of the reasons I brought my gear wherever I moved – there was quick access to a group that played with and for each other. Being on a team reminds me of the way we boost each other's spirit with presence. This mentality extends outside the rink, of course - we are connected and all benefit when we are around one another.

True wealth is richness in relationships | Considerations

During an afternoon study break in residency, my colleague shared this thought about how he hoped to anchor his career in family medicine.

Neither of us know who to attribute this quote to, and I've since brought it everywhere I've worked. While of course I gotta cover overhead and pay bills and chip away at debt, my work schedule has margins if I need extra time for my patients. So I may see fewer patients in a day, yet the payoff comes in subsequent visits. Providing care and making decisions together is a lot easier when there's a sense of understanding and trust between both sides.

And then after I see enough patients for the day, I go home to be with my wife. We live within our means to reduce the allure of working more and accomplishing more and accumulating more. And our time? It's spent with each other and with people we care about. That's an investment that we trust will bring the most abundant return into our lives.

Sometimes the conversation in front of you involves unseen past participants | Considerations

Part of the fun of primary care is talking with patients about health issues, and my responsibility is to keep up with current literature. Sometimes I'm surprised by how my patients react to what I said (or didn't say?), and I have to remind myself that someone else probably said something that set their expectations a certain way.

I'll ask something like, "Oh, what helped you think about it in that way?", or my personal favorite, "What's the question behind the question?". Sometimes I'm lucky and there's a straightforward response; often it takes a little more digging. Humans are formed by the people they are in relationship with, so it helps me to know the people and narratives behind the original inquiry.

Ultimately, I know that my contribution to my patients' well-being is just one portion in relation to the rest of the people in their lives. It helps me and my patients to be mindful of all the participants in the conversation - whether they're in the exam room or not!