It was clear in my last post that I was embarking on a pretty long vacation. Doctors in general are not known for taking things slowly. In fact, most never take a vacation and few take one longer than a couple of weeks. You can see the toll this takes on them as they age. Time and distance from their families and hobbies leaves them married only to their careers, the office and their white coat. I had seen more than my fair share of lives ruined by this singular mentality and was determined to not let it happen to me. Last year my family and I hopped in the car packed to the roof with tents, sleeping bags and bug spray to camp across the US. We spent a month exploring the highways and the byways from Michigan to Minnesota, South Dakota to Yellowstone our explorations cut short only by the tragic fires in Colorado. That month on the road with my family was one of my happiest moments.
This year I had planned to go visit my grandmother who’s health has been quickly declining. I left the office in the very capable hands of my staff and gratefully was able to spend nearly a month with her. My grandmother’s dementia is still not severe enough to forget who I am but she has forgotten who my son is. I took a break while visiting her to travel alone by train through Europe which I had never done before.
I hope that in reading about My Travels you will be inspired to protect your health so you can take a walk in the park, smell the flowers and enjoy your family.