Never feel powerless, You can do something!

Two crappy pages a day.

That’s supposed to be the formula for writing a book. I think Tim Ferris said it.

Hell, I can’t even string together two crappy sentences.

But I’m committed to the process. Write something every day.

I’m better at coming up with ideas than implementing them. I think this is true for most of us. So I don’t worry too much about it. I just try and stretch that idea muscle. Put down the words. And see what happens.

Maybe I’ll have an idea to help my patients or my business. Maybe I’ll have an idea for the next book. Maybe this time, the book will actually be good.

I get a lot of happiness from writing. More so when people read it. I don’t think this is narcissistic. I think this is just how we’re all made. We all crave some type of affirmation.

A mentor once told me medicine was acting for ugly people. What he meant was, you have a mild celebrity status with your patients. His point was to not take advantage of it. Your job is not to be the guru. Your job is to help people that are going through difficult times.

In college, I watched the movie Patch Adams. I became Lowkey obsessed with the real life doctor. It was at a time in my life that I was looking for direction. For purpose. For a mission. This put me over the edge. So in a way, you could say, I became a doctor because of a clown.

Unlike a lot of people, I don’t feel powerless. I know I can do something. But anyone can do something, it’s not about being special. It’s about deciding to do it – to dive into work for peace and justice and care for everybody on the planet.”
—Patch Adams

Most doctors don’t want to treat addiction. It’s too frustrating. You feel like a failure. Because people that struggle with addiction tend to relapse. This is a fact.

Ask an alcoholic. They count the days of sobriety with pride (as they should). But with every relapse brings the next set of choices.

You either act or you don’t. You either keep smoking or you don’t. You either show up for work on time or you don’t. You either get back in rehab or you don’t. You either take a step out of hell or you don’t.

Now substitute the word “won’t” for “don’t”.

With every action comes an opportunity for another action.

With every person, with every failure, with every long night……comes an opportunity.

One more last chance.