When you wear scrubs at work

I always felt a distance creep in between me and my patients when I put on my formal dress of a shirt and tie with the doctor's coat on top. The court would put a guard between me and them if they had difficulty coming forth with their anguish and complaints. Changing to scrubs helped—with no mark of identification on you, the interchange became fluid and cordial—more like between friends—and that's when the true history came out—about their disease, their suffering, and how it was affecting them both physically and mentally. It was easy to treat them physically but tough to mend their scarred psyche. It altered my ego also—it just vanished—and it became a pleasure listening to them and helping them out. Although I had a hidden agenda, I believed in karma—the good you do to others comes back to you in a different way, albeit. And it does—the book of debit and credit in life gets balanced in this lifetime. The ease of working with scrubs was heavenly; it was during the COVID times when the sartorial transition took place that we would change into scrubs once we reached the hospital and back to our clothes when coming back home so as not to bring the virus back. And the practise persisted. For us, it was so much comfort, and for the patient, the communication barrier went down. We could talk freely about their disease and their social lives. Actually, every patient who walks through your door has a story to tell. So sit back, relax, and listen to their story. A man with vitiligo is not bothered about his skin ailment; he is more bothered about his ostracization from society. When he does not see the doctor's coat, the wall falls, and he has tonnes of tales to tell. You listen—you learn. The patient with a single patch of psoriasis has so much anguish lying beneath the skin that wearing an innocuous scrub puts him at ease, and you can look into his private world and give a holistic treatment. A teenager with acne scars is depressed because of his scars; the skin creams are his last priority; it is his scarred psyche that needs mending. The scrub scrubs out the friction with the patient. As you take down the scrub and head for home, you let out a contented sigh. When you take down your scrub, unlike a doctor's coat, there is no shedding of ego, as a scrub has only empathy attached to it.

I am an introvert and i am not antisocial.

I am an introvert, and I am not antisocial. We are different. We speak through silence—we listen rapturously to it and try to memorise it. Silence speaks to us without words. Silence is the best manure to grow. Generally, only my better half realises my nature; society does not. I turn into an ambivert in a social gathering—I make small talks, I mingle—but two hours of social interaction require four hours of isolation to recharge. I am a hardcore introvert—my profession as a doctor demands otherwise—so I have to turn ambivert sometimes, especially when I am communicating with my patients. It cannot be a one way affair with them. I did not miss the social life during COVID isolation. In fact, the isolation came as a breath of fresh air. After a tense day at the hospital, you wanted to be left alone to collect your thoughts and get back your sanity. Give me a good book, some good podcasts on Spotify, and a few movies on Netflix, and I am good to go. In fact, my better half sometimes gets surprised by the fact that I do have friends—good friends—who are there by my side at the drop of a hat. Introverts are just as capable of forming close relationships as extroverts. They may simply do it in a different way. I never cared for the likes and dislikes on social media—I left it long ago because I did not feel the need for external validation—and I wanted to grow silently. I even hate video calls. I hate to discuss my health, my wealth, or my family in a public forum; I like to listen to others. Saturday evenings—give me a good book, a warm nook, a virgin mojito, and leave me alone. I wonder how one can go to clubs, get sozzled, throw epileptic fits, eat the most unhealthy of diets, and then waste the whole Sunday nursing a big hangover. Tell that to an extrovert, and he will think that you are an alien. I am not antisocial; I find it a huge waste of time to spend the evening just sitting, gossiping, and eating unless there is a special occasion. I still like to pen down my thoughts and life in our own personal diary (I use the "Day One" app). As we are too private with our thoughts and feelings—journaling has been a great game changer—you can literally run amok with your feelings. When it comes to attending a social function that is unavoidable, suddenly I turn into an ambivert . I am not afraid of social interaction; I just open up with the books I have read, the great series streaming on Netflix, and the wonderful Tim Ferris podcast, and it is fun listening to others when you can recollect the same at their next meeting. But at the end of the party, when I see the extroverts fully charged, I am strictly the opposite; I am just drained. I need isolation to recharge. While extroverts prefer an evening full of bonhomie, fun, and frolic, we like to recede in our cave. My typical day is very boring: an early morning walk with my thoughts, ideas, and Spotify podcasts; making my own breakfast; an OPD full of patients; where I love to talk and hear; and at the end of the day, it is so refreshing. I like my afternoon siesta with my phone on aeroplane mode. Evening is swimming time—the rhythmic strokes surrounded by your rhythmic thoughts. Have a list of excuses if someone invites you to an evening party. As extroverts find our lives boring, so do we find their days extravagant. It is important to celebrate these differences and to create a world where introverts feel welcome and accepted.

Comfort zone makes you the greatest procrastinator --or does it? My story

You get afraid of facing challenges of life and it brings out the worst in you -never let you know your full potential--let alone develop it. Cocooned in the zone -you defy the poem of Robert Frost -- of taking the road less travelled. You always travel the road on which everyone travels-- as you are sure of the destinations and hardships on your way to achieving your goal. You travel on the same road again and again-- thinking your life is under control--refusing to come out of the false security cocoon. as a result at the end of the day -- you are at the same place where you started. No new skills, no new personality development, static income. My story-- I was in a government job for almost 3 decades-- where horses and donkeys are all the same-- there is no respect for your inefficiency or efficiency- at the end of the month -- you are happy with your guaranteed fixed income. The month passes balancing your budget of credits and debits- waiting for next month's assured pay check. Why was I afraid to come out? I was afraid of family obligations and my general basic nature of not taking any risks. Whenever I am on a long drive --i always want to be at the wheel of my car-- controlling it--so is with life I always want all things under predictable control-- Actually I had not timed my premature retirement well-- my kid had not finished his studies-- home loan EMI was on -- the steady monthly income from a permanent job--lulled me. The fear of unknown-- snapped me-- it was always -- what if? on the negative side. As a result I failed to take a single step to come out of the comfort zone. And that is where in life-- the meek fails-- and the bold makes it. Got stuck in the same everyday rut - month after month. A rolling stone gathers no moss-actually we gather so much moss that we forget to roll. We are happy to see the world pass by -comforting myself that --if you do not shift the goal post-- you remain happy.But if you do not shift the goal post-- you would not know the various ways to dribble --or how to score more goals. How did it harm me? The sense of security in the comfort zone has kept me away from realizing my full potential. Stopped developing new skills, kept on shutting doors of opportunities one by one which came my way. There were no new challenges-- so no new creative ideas it was a 9am to 5pm rut. As a result when life threw actual challenges -- there was total lack of confidence and anxiety to combat these problems. and wanted to snuggle back to my zone of comfort-- which I did. Lessons Learnt Coming out of your comfort zone can be challenging It requires a different set of mental make up-- to accept uncertainties in life-- to take calculated and uncalculated risks. And I found that the transition was the most vulnerable part--when you realize who are your real friends--and who are there to take advantages of your vulnerability during your transition. Create achievable goals with small steps. There were people along the way waiting like vultures who tried to take advantage of my fragile situation -- I realised the importance of my better half-- no questions asked, nothing in return -when she stood right behind me -- with solid integrity and loyality-steering me into a safe place whenever I got into a mess. Realisation Dawned I realised -- getting out of your comfort zone is a slow process-the initial struggle and effort is numbing--but it ultimately paves its way into way into success and glory --if you persist. I may be talking with a mindset of a loser--the time to come out of your comfort zone is when you are young, you got the energy to begin a new life with vigor. Otherwise plan your premature retirement meticulously- so that it is a smooth transition from finances, EMI.s , house, child education , post retirement employment etc. Suddenly your set routine of exercise, hobbies, diet, family time-- goes haywire-- while you are in pursuit of your new routine. and it does take a toll on your physical and mental life. But there are also advantages of comfort zone if you are in a cushy government job--especially if you are in a comfortable pay bracket-- enough time to pursue your hobbies, enough time to look after your health, enough family time, a fulfilling social life, pick up new skills, develop a side hustle, and skill up yourself for picking up jobs -- post retirement-- to keep you occupied as you know at the month end-- the pension will be there. Remember that coming out of your comfort zone takes time and effort. Don't be too hard on yourself if you struggle at first. With practice, you can learn to face challenges with confidence and courage. And at the same time-- enjoying your comfort zone-- does not make you a loser. Take your pick.

Go nuts on the nuts-a healthy frenzied indulgence : for these three nuts-Almonds, Cashew, Walnuts

Happiness lies, first of all, in health Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well. Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, The best six doctors anywhere And no one can deny it Are sunshine, water, rest, and air Exercise and diet. These six will gladly you attend If only you are willing Your mind they'll ease Your will they'll mend And charge you not a shilling. Introduction--why you should switch to eating nuts. When you are sauntering around the newly opened glitzy malls of the metros or the new spawning eating joints you are sometimes taken aback by the amount of children and adults showing signs of obesity, sometimes morbid, tagged along with their fawning mothers who believe that your waist circumference is directly proportional to your affluence. Unbridled capitalism and nihilistic consumerism have drawn developed countries like America into a vortex of an obesity epidemic which have produced a massive drain on their health care system and it is time to learn from their mistakes and not to follow them blindly into a path of self destruction which seems to be an inevitable result of rising middle class affluence in India. Because ultimately we realize that the age old idiom holds true that “health is wealth and if health is lost everything is lost”. And what better way to a healthy eating than to pick up a handful of nuts which are a powerhouse of healthy ingredients and are available in abundance at every nook and corner of any city from the smallest grocery stores to the ritzy malls, it is just little a tweak in your mindset and eating habits and you are on your way to a healthy life. So lets see what are the options available and how they can boost up your health by giving a new lease of life from your heart to the brain. Because health is a crown on the head of the healthy, visible only to the sick, and once we lose that crown we want to regain it at any cost and nuts are the surest way to regain that crown. Almonds( Badam): Almond blossom, sent to teach us That the spring days soon will reach us. Packaged beautifully and perched innocuously you will find it any roadside grocery stores this is a nut to go nuts about because of its great crunchy, buttery taste and high nutritive value. What are the benefits It is a power house of energy and nutrition with one oz. or about 24 nuts giving you 160 Kilo Calories, Fat 12gm, carbohydrate 69gm, with protein 69gms and Fiber of 3gm and very low glycemic index. Packed with micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, and of course Vitamin E –it is a powerful potent antioxidant. Much like the legendary Ben10 you can enjoy the crunchy buttery snack while reducing your chance of heart attack, and kick out your lousy cholesterol or LDL, by either adding it into your dahi, salads, or breakfast cereals or just as plain snacks. Purchasing Tips Be a little careful during your purchase and storage-which goes a long way in preserving its revitalizing properties.Stay away from the salted and the flavored one,and the shriveled one and the one with bitter smell. Try to store them in airtight containers in a dry place , avoiding exposure to sunlight. Additional Benefits This wonder nut is very heart friendly it revitalizes it by increasing the good cholesterol or the HDL cholesterol, decrease the C reactive protein (CRP) which causes inflammation in arterial walls, and the high folic acid content reduces your homocysteine level and chances of a heart attack. The wonder nut is also gut friendly due to its high fibre content which has a thorough cleansing effect on your bowels leading to decreased constipation and colonic cancer. For diabetics it is an ideal snack because it not only helps to reduce weight but also prevents sudden rise in blood sugar level. The micronutrients are great energy boosters and keeps you on your toes all day long. You can eat it with morning cereal, salad, shrikhand, or as tasty badam milk in summer, roast it or make a rich almond soup with it When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease. Start it now before you reach for the next packet of deep fried French fries, or potato chips because if you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want. Cashew Nuts (Kaju) Tips for Buying The mundane everyday fare turns into an exotic heavenly sumptuous meal when you flavor your meal with the exotic ground paste of these wonderful nuts. You can eat it in its many exotic forms raw, salted, and sweetened or ground it into a paste. Try to latch on to the ones which are ivory white in color, compact, uniform in size and colour. The nuts should be free from cracks, molds, spotlessly clean without any rancid smell and be sure to store them in small airtight containers and refrigerate them which the stays fresh for six months. What are the benefits: Cashew nuts give the same benefit as that of a Mediterranean diet as the nut has three fourth of its unsaturated fatty acids as oleic acid, same as that contained in olive oil as a result the obvious happens, your blood gets loaded with good cholesterol –HDL, kicking out the lousy cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. The high content of copper and magnesium provides you the invaluable health benefits of maintaining flexibility of muscles and joints, the magnesium coupling with calcium provides a healthy bone, prevents migraine attacks, and a relaxed mentation. The incidence of gallstones is markedly reduced with lowered risk of weight gain. So next time you come across this wonderful kidney shaped white nuts on the grocery shelf , stop pause before you saunter towards the pizza base because he who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors Walnuts The ‘vegetarian fish’ among the whole gamut of nuts is the walnut. It is richly endowed with omega-3 fatty acid which is the main oil in the fish which provides the health benefits especially the way to a healthy heart . What are the benefits A handful of walnuts each day provides you enough omega-3 fatty acids to banish your lousy cholesterol or LDL cholesterol and raises the good HDL cholesterol-this clears all the clogged arteries and veins, it is also anti-inflammatory reducing the pain and the medicine requirement of a painful arthritic joint. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for normal brain function and keeps the skin well hydrated, acne free and protects us from the harmful effects of sun A handful of seven shelled nuts or fourteen walnut halves is all required to reap the benefits of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects from its high content of Vit E which lowers your Blood pressure, mitigates the complications of diabetes mellitus. The antioxidants present in offers a great protection against breast and prostrate cancer. The omega 3 fatty acids also increase your calcium content and prevent osteoporosis. Tips for Buying and preserving Again due care should be taken when buying them if you are going for unshelled ones the nuts should be heavier for its size, the shells should be intact. While the shelled walnuts should not rancid, rubbery or shrivelled . Keep them refrigerated in air tight containers to increase their life span to six months. Before I sign off I just want to quote a Nursery rhyme quoted by What is normal Lipid Profile ? When do you know that you have to head for the healthy nuts? Go to reputed laboratory for a blood check up and ask for your lipid profile preferably every 05 years from the age of 20years: Lipid profile: Sample collection: • Overnight 14 hours fast • No smoking during 14 hrs fast • No strenuous exertionfor preceding 24 hours • Collect in sitting position Desirable values: • Triglycerides <150mg/dl • Total Cholesterol <200mg/dl • HDL Cholesterol (Good Cholesterol) >40mg/dl • LDL Cholesterol(Lousy Cholesterol) <100mg/dl • Non HDL Cholesterol <130mg/dl

Carpe Diem--How i got my morning back.

Carpe diem: I did not realize the value and meaning of the word when I read it, but I did when I gained it. Procrastrination From my college days to my late 40s, I always had the idea that people who wake up early in the morning are real goons. They cannot enjoy life like a human being — no late night Netflix or thriller story books — like the birds and the animals — they go to bed as the sun sets — to rise early with its first rays — little did I realise that this routine was an elixir of life. It puts life into a different perspective and fills the day with abundant energy. Initial struggle — my routine was to delay getting up from my bed — as long as I could — but make sure I was on my desk on time — bleary-eyed and still recuperating from the previous night’s dreams and heavy meal. I needed a cupful of caffeine to kickstart the day. The motivation came from Twitter, self help books, and watching people age gracefully without suffering from lifestyle diseases. Then you realise you were the real goonk, but it is never too late to start. Getting to sleep on time Initialy, it was too hard to fall asleep early. I tried warm baths, switching off the screen, no evening caffeine, relaxing music, books, and meditation, but nothing worked. Years of rust took a long time to peel off. Finally, what worked for me was taking deep, long breaths, relaxing, and suddenly finding yourself in deep sleep. Still, I made my compromise: 1100 to 1130 p.m. was my bedtime. Morning: Never hit the snooze button; you have lost the game if you did it. Try setting the alarm 5 minutes early every week until you get at least 2 hours in the morning to seize the day. Do not get into social media for the initial two hours. This draws you into a vortex of negativity, and it takes time to come back to your groove after worldly matters. The previous night, make sure your walking attire is ready and within easy reach. The next morning, take the day slowly. Disconnect I had the habit of reaching for my smart phone to update my social feeds as soon as I opened my eyes, and eventually I realised that was the worst thing to do. Before you realise it, you are sucked into the outside world, and you lose track of time by constant scrolling, so I just turned off all notifications for the first two hours of getting up. Such peace of mind — I realised that it is the thoughts that play a major role in designing your whole day. The morning walk — initially I felt so sleepy — that sometimes I thought of abandoning the walk midway and cozying up back into the bed — it took a lot of effort not to do so. About a month passed; the routine became a habit, and now the whole day is lost if I miss my morning walk. The first 20 minutes of my walk — generally, I do not put my earphones on — I listen to the birds,feel the wind on my face, watch the sky change colour, and concentrate on my breathing rhythm . Then I put on my noise cancellation headphones. Initially, I started listening to my favourite peppy songs, then tried to listen to Spotify podcasts on the Mahabharata, and ultimately gravitated towards the wonderful life changing forecasts of Tim Ferris, Sadhguru, and history like Empire or wonderful books on Audible. and the next 20 minutes passed in a jiffy. Adding Muscles I realised that as I am ageing, the muscles need some strength, balance, and mobility training. I started lifting lightweights, doing some foot and shoulder exercises, and now I am planning to inculcate yoga in my morning routine, especially for my back. Penning down: Morning, I found, was the best time to write down your thoughts. The ideas are clear, and your mind is not cluttered with a few people to disturb you. So once I would come back from the walk, I would hit the write button, dumping down my thoughts and ideas with no one to interrupt me. After a month, it was time to ramp up the morning exercises after the morning walk and introduce yoga into my routine for developing balance and mobility. Breathing Meditation was too tough for me — I could never concentrate on breathing; the wandering mind always went on a different sphere after 10 breaths — so I now only use deep breathing exercises just to calm myself down or to go to sleep. The morning meal After the walk and jotting down my thoughts, I made the morning breakfast, which I also enjoyed: coffee, water, fruits, yoghurt with muesli, and you have all the energy you need till lunchtime. Two more habits I would like to develop are thought dumping and journaling. Thought dumping would help me plan the next day at ease , while the journaling habit is an awesome habit that I used to love during childhood but grew out of. The problem is that if I had swapped the snooze button for an early morning walk when my body was young, we would not have to fight the lifestyle diseases at a stage when they become irreversible because the magical youth -has a tendency to believe in their immortality.