New Year Resolutions.

I know the subject line is probably confusing to most, and no you are not reading a 6 month old post, but if you read on (or if you’re a resident physician) you’ll understand.

First, some vital statistics:

Date: 6/28/08
Age: 30y 8d
Weight: 311.6 lbs
BMI: 38.9
BP: pending
Current leisure reading: John Adams, by David McCullough; various comic books.

Pretty scary reading so far, eh? The worst part....it’s pure non-fiction.

So I’ve decided to put all this blog stuff to work for me in a variety of ways. First, and foremost, it’s going to act as fiber for my brain. With that being said, a lot of it will probably end up being pure crap to anyone reading it. I apologize in advance for those of you who may find what I’m talking about vague and obtuse. I work in a business where the subject matter is often confidential and sensitive, not to mention just plain gross, as summarized by the most famous line in William’s Obstetrics: “Obstetrics is a bloody business”.

I also apologize in advance to anyone I offend or embarrass in the course of telling these stories. While I’ll try my best to de-identify and change the names of prominent characters and events, in the end I travel within a pretty small circle with a stable cast of usual suspects that would challenge even the best writers to fictionalize.

The second reason for this blog rebirth: shame.

“Shame?” You may be asking yourself.

Yes. Shame.

Let me explain. The “vital statistics” at the top of this post will be the main thrust behind this blog. While certain facts and figures may come and go, the basics (Age, weight, BMI) will not. While I’ve subscribed to the Alcoholics Anonymous method of weight loss known as Weight Watchers, I’ve decided to concurrently subscribe to the 21st Century method of motivation...internet shaming. Now, usually this shaming is aimed at an individual or group in the hopes that he/she/it will change. Such famous, and infamous, examples include shaming tax evaders , sex offenders , and countries that sponsor terrorists. This shaming is a bit different, in that it’s directed inwardly. Now, I know it sounds harsh, and “shame” isn’t necessarily a “healthy” form of motivation for most “rational” people (isn’t it amazing how quotation marks can make any sentence funny), so that’s why I call it “concurrent”.

If you want, we can call it “public accountability”. There...now all you sensitive types can stay on board, I hope.

I’ll try to add some fun vital statistics here and there as well, ‘cause in the end, let’s face it, the internet was invented in order for us to have fun and download porn. And since I don’t have porn to offer, might as well try to provide some fun.

As for the “new year resolutions” subject. In three short days it will be July 1st. To 99.9% of the world, this simply means three days before the 4th of July....which, when you really think about it, doesn’t really mean much to the majority of the world...unless you’re British and still wondering where all the cotton, tobacco, and tea from the New World went. But I digress.

July 1st in the world of medicine is New Years Day. It’s a time of rebirth and rededication. It’s when we in academics welcome our newly minted doctors into the world of ungodly work hours, unending paperwork, and doing no harm (to themselves or others). It’s a monumental day along the continuum of a physician’s life.

For those of us in it already, it can serve as a day to reflect on where we’ve been and where we may be heading. It’s a reference point during a time in life when time, space, and everything in between is blurred by early mornings, late nights, and endless calls. This will be my third July 1st as a physician, and I can tell you in some ways it feels like my first, and in other ways it feels like my 100th. What makes this one a bit more monumental for me is that it happens to coincide with my recently departed 30th birthday.

So I’ve decided to mark this particular July 1st with this little re-dedication to myself. Maybe I’ll end up a little healthier. Maybe I’ll end up a little smarter. Hell, maybe I’ll end up a bit happier.

But at least I’ll end up somewhere.

If you want to come along, I’ll be happy to have you.

Cheers.