Hey everybody... its been a long time

[Twink]

Bradley, I asked you several posts back what motivated your career choice.

If you are a person who likes action much more than words, likes using your brain to figure out why someone is sick -- and then going in and fixing it -- if you are task oriented person...

Are you a fixer in your relationships? Do you listen to someone and decide quickly what the problem is? Do you offer your suggestions without being asked? Did you do that with your W?

I was also drawn to it because it was sort of like the Top Gun thing. it is the ultimate challenge in surgery and it draws people who are compelled to challenge themselves.

There are many ways to challenge yourself, but this specialty, IMO, sometimes draws MDs who thrive on "saving" people because they can, regardless of if they should. I can't share my very personal experience here, but are you the CT guy who wants to show his stuff when it may not be in your patient's best long term interest? If so, does that translate into your personal Rs? Do you rescue when you really shouldn't?

..is much nicer than sloshing around in the belly with fat, poop and guts sorry if that is too graphic)

Umm...no, it's not. I'm a bio major with some experience in the hospital...and I am also a mother LOL!

Bradley, I still see a lot of ego in your posts. Ego is healthy to a point, and I understand how it's helped you achieve what you have, but it can interfere with relationships if not contained. I hear you talking about your years of training and what a commitment that was. You went through all of that, you say, for the benefit of your family. You admit that your W also gave up a lot to support you. Can you see that now that you're through, she would like to reap those benefits in the form of an engaged and present husband and father? Does she see you instead continuing to build your career at the expense of that?

B, I'm not trying to beat on you. Really. I know that things are often much more complex than what's apparent. Just some things to think about. I have found that the more I seek to empathize with what my MLC H might be going through, the more compassion and forgiveness I can find. That translates into less anger and more detachment, which can only be good for me.