Being opportunistic, going with the flow

I feel like I’m in such a rut lately. The second year of med school is finally winding down but I feel like I’ve been so bored, boxed in, confined for the last two years that I’ve become downright boring . . . and really bored

So much so that the only things that seem to offer me some kind of escape tend to be thinking about the future, about my career, about taking care of patients, etc etc etc

Its at times like these that its good to get some perspective. Dr. Payson, the “godfather” of the MD/MBA program here at Dartmouth had some great advice. He said that in the end, allow yourself to be opportunistic and take what comes to you. In other words, though we may all think that we can plan and plan our careers to maximize our productivity, time, happiness, Norm’s message is quite the contrary: don’t plan

He’s the second person (along with Prof Michael Chu, another person who I want to emulate) who has had great societal and personal success in life, a happy home life, successful career, does philanthropic work, etc. Like Prof Chu, Dr. Payson’s career as turnaround guru in the insurance industry and a big time private equity zonk was not something he mapped out but rather stumbled into and became good at because he liked it. In fact, he started his career as a family doc in the Indian Health Service in Arizona before joining the first group practice which he later became CEO of and sold before starting a successful HMO and then turning around a major insurance company in Oxford health and selling that. Its interesting to hear him say now that despite all of his success in business and all the impact that he has had to insurance companies, doctors and patients that he doesn’t think there is anything one could do that has the same emotional impact as helping a patient especially one from a vulnerable population. So as to the questions of what do I want to do with my career, my degree, my life (questions I get asked and ask myself all the time), in the end, I think I’m gonna just do what I feel like.

As Norm says, no matter how much you plan, its very unlikely that you’ll map your way into being uber-rich but if you follow your passions, you have a good chance of living a happier life.

What makes the time fly by?

Lately, I’ve been talking with Jane and others about the idea of being simply satisfied with your life vs being truly happy. The latter obviously more important one always seems so elusive and as I think about what I really enjoy doing I think it really all comes back to talking with people in a time of need. For example, I recently I had a long talk with a friend about a major career change. It was a difficult decision that had major consequences on his personal and professional direction and somehow counseling him, establishing the relationship, listening and offering good advice all was really fun for me. So much so that the two hours we spent together literally “flew by” and I found myself having to run to my next meeting and almost getting late.

Anyway, this all makes me think that perhaps counseling and mentoring folks is my “happy place”. Developing a relationship, working toward a goal with someone. The problem is that somehow this all sounds a lot like psychiatry, resolving unresolved conflicts, listening to people, cognitive behavioral therapy and the like. The only problem there is that psychiatry is the antithesis of all the symbols of prestige and power that I have surrounded myself with my whole life even if it would fulfill the side of me that wants to help people. So maybe I should just be a psychiatrist after I have had a successful business career and satisfied my business ego? Counseling and motivating CEOs as my patients, hmmmm . . .

Restaurant list in Montreal

Here is the list of great restaurants we actually went to or really want to go to next time (in order of recommendation)

La Croissanterie Figaro
(514) 278 6567 open til 1am
5200 Rue Hitchison
-kind of in the outskirts so you have to drive but parking is good
-Almond Croissant is friggin amazing, the best almond dessert I have ever had

L’Express
(514) 845 5333
3927 St Denis
-French bistro, quite expensive but very good an foo foo
-NEED RESERVATIONS

Isakaya
(514) 845 8226
3469 Avenue du Parc
-Not bad but disappointing in that I was expecting a real isakaya complete with benches a good sake list and lots of Japanese tapas, this was more of a family sit down and eat restaurant but the food wasn’t bad

L’Academie
(514) 849 2249
St. Denis and Duluth right next to SAQ the wine store
-bring your own wine French place

Jardin Nelson
407 Place Jacques Cartier
(514) 861 5731
-seasonal only open in the spring, they were closed when we went there
-good for Crepes and breakfast in the Old Port

Bishoku
1184 Bishop St
-apparently it is mostly a sushi place, the Sushi pizza is supposed to be pretty good

Magic Idea
1675 de Maissoneuve Bloulevard
Good Bubble tea place

Chains you can find anywhere
-Dagwood’s
-Amir’s for middle eastern
-Basha for lebanese

Monreal is AWESOME

Man, they aren’t kidding when they say that Montreal is like a little bit of Europe in North America. It definitely was in many ways very much like France except WITHOUT the snobbery. The people in Montreal were really friendly. I was there for our break after exams for just two days and had at least three encounters with the friendly French Canadians. For example, one guy across from us on the train platform signalled to Jane that she had dropped her hat even as he boarded the train going the other direction. In addition, we ran into a family sitting next to us at L’Express (a really good french bistro btw) who talked to us for sometime (The grandpa even spoke to me in Japanese). Even right before we left, the gas station attendant was teaching me how to say how are you in French! It was really great.

The city itself is really awesome! Lots of amazing food of all kinds (they are like a Hub for immigrants from Francophone countries, North Africa, Vietnam, Middle East). In two days, we at the following menu:

Lunch at L’Express (french bistro) of Foie Gras, Steak Tartare with fries, Fish soup (which was amazing) and Goat cheese salad

Dinner at Isakaya (Japanese Izakaya) of Amaebi (not that great), Miso ramen (not bad), Gobo tempura (very good), okonomiyaki, Isakaya salad (very good)

Brunch at a Creperie at the Old Port in Old Montreal
Snack Pho in Chinatown

Dinner at Le Croissanterie Figaro (THE french bistro, highly recommended) – THEY HAVE THE BEST ALMOND CROISSANT YOU’VE EVER HAD and awesome very very fresh salads (I got the avocado salad myself) and great coffee. Definitely a great place to sit and chat and drink a coffee and have a snooty french meal. Great service too

The best part of all is that its really accessible from here, only 2h 40min by car . . . and seriously, I feel totally rejuvenated after this weekend and eating a chocolate croissant from Figaro and middle eastern lunch from Amir’s that we brought back.