Reverb 11, Day 28 – Freedom & Forgiveness
Forgiveness – What one thing do you need to forgive yourself for this year?
and
Thought: What new thought, idea or action have you taken this year that gave you a true sense of freedom?
I had trouble thinking of new and interesting responses to both these prompts. For forgiveness, it would be, as usual, not studying even just a little bit harder. Even though time and time again I’ve heard that setting aside just one hour every day to read something medicine related is one of the best things I can do to be the best doctor I can be, I still struggle with it.
As for freedom, well, the major things were getting my driver’s license and a car, and moving into an apartment without a roommate, both of which I’ve already talked a lot about.
Freedom is a wonderful thing, but it’s a transition state. It’s not an end goal; it’s simply the beginning. Having a car means I get to go places on my own, whenever I have the time, and living by myself means I feel more comfortable, more free, to be exactly who I want to be and live how I want to live when I’m at home. Freedom is being free to do. Freedom is potential, which is wasted without action. When opportunity knocks, you don’t rest in peace knowing that the chance came and went. You open the door. What good is freedom if you don’t make any choices or do anything with it? I decided to go to medical school, which has meant that I’ve not done so many other things in all these years. I will need to pick a field for Residency, which means I will not have specialized in other fields, and I will be in one place for Residency, which means I won’t have lived in so many different places.
And that’s okay. That’s good. That’s what freedom is really about, in my opinion.