Listening

Lately I have become more aware of my problems with listening. Listening is an "other" focused activity and I am basically self-centered. Listening takes work and practice. Listening is NOT reacting, talking or thinking of a response. Rather listening...

He is everywhere?

Our boss caught us loafing! We always worked hard in his presence, but sometimes we were not as diligent in our work when he wasn’t around – the true confessions of my work experience on a farm! Presence, at times, makes a difference. Just as my...

Out of My Comfort Zone

Exercise has been a regular part of my daily routine for many years. My smug complacency regarding this routine was shaken last year during a physical exam. I was challenged to move out of my comfort zone by increasing the diversity as well as intensity of my routine....

Test Day

During my 23 years of education, taking tests was a regular activity. These tests evaluated my aptitude and knowledge. As I moved into medical school and emergency medicine, testing increasingly assessed not only my knowledge base but also my skill level – my...

Smart People, Foolish Choices

Everywhere I turn there seem to be smart people making foolish choices. What is happening? As I look more closely, foolish choices don’t seem to escape me either. Recent scandals have led television commentators to ask, “Why do people do bad and foolish...