I think it's real easy for people to get down on themselves, focusing only on negative things (particularly in trying times). I'm not a particularly negative person, but I want to try something crazy. I want to put down on paper (or blog, rather) why I like me. I want to write out 15 reasons why I think I am awesome, and try to not come across as cocky. What if everybody liked themselves simply for whom they are? I suppose I'd have to think more about it to give a real answer, but here goes.
1) I drive a stick.
2) I got into med school.
3) I have saved lives.
4) I followed my ultimate childhood dream and entered the Air Force.
5) I can live like a king on $20,000 per year.
6) I have successfully lived in suburban, rural, and urban environments.
7) I really really like country music.
8) I am still passionate about emergency medicine, even after watching a 3 month old infant die on Christmas Day.
9) I have watched Elton John, Van Halen, and Tom Petty play live.
10) I got a full-ride to med school.
11) I look really good in a suit.
12) I have worked 24 hours straight and more than 100 hours in a week regularly.
13) I know where to find the best pizza in the world.
14) I don't know the last time I turned down a challenge without a really good reason.
15) God loves me for me, despite my best efforts.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
When you have a free $2500
I've spent the past week or so in deep thought about the best way to spend my summer. I already have some great plans: open water swim race in P-cola in May, Air Force training through June, Denver in the beginning of July, possibly teaching wilderness medicine for 2 weeks in Kentucky in July, and Washington for climbing/touring last week in July. Tons of fun, I know.
I have looked into the possibility of a mountaineering course, just to hammer out the essentials (i.e. crevasse rescue, running belays, etc.). I found one that works out perfectly, running from Aug. 1-13 with Mountain Madness. It seems perfect.
I got to thinking, however, if this would be the best use of my money. It is expensive, but I have the money available. It is something I really want to do. Am I being selfish, though? With the price of this class I could build a couple wells in Africa, or buy vaccines for kids, or any other number of things to more directly help the world. I was very back and forth for the past week.
Two things helped me to get closer to make a decision. First one. I was at Kensington for their Wednesday night service, and I just had a feeling along the lines of, "if you don't learn this now, when will you learn it?" I wouldn't go so far as to say that God spoke to me (but I'm not one to rule that out), but it was just an overwhelming feeling that this mountaineering matters somehow. Somehow it is a big deal in my life and potentially for the rest of the world.
Second one. Back in 2004 when the Tsunami hit southeast Asia I was at Boston University. I was about halfway through my sophomore year, and beginning to feel like this college thing was going to last forever. When the Tsunami hit I really wanted to do something to help, but didn't have any way of helping out. I felt like I was sort of wasting my time and school, setting myself up for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle where I don't really help anybody. A real wise person by the name of Jesse helped me out. He pointed out that when Paul went through his conversion on the road to Damascus he spent years in meditation and studying before he started his ministry. Even after literally speaking to Jesus about what to do he had a lot of preperation to take care of. What Jesse was getting at is that sometimes it's not as simple as throwing yourself into the disaster zone. I was likely getting ready for something else in Boston, and that something was more important to my story. So how does that apply to me now? I'm not sure. But I do know that mountaineering evokes a certain passion in me that I can't deny (ask me about my conversation with God at Thunderstorm Junction). John Eldgredge seems to support the idea that pursuing a passion will make the world a better place, which is why I think charities after Hurricane Katrina to get musicians' their instruments back are a good thing -- indirectly they push other people to pursue their passions. To summarize, I think that maybe (just maybe) paying for this class will be like the fishing idea -- teaching a man to fish vs giving a man a fish. With skills in mountaineering I would have access to parts of the world that do not get tourist doctors. I would be able to raise HUGE amounts of money with climbs (possibly into the millions for big mountains). I'm sure I can't even fathom the good that God might be planning with all this.
I can't deny the fact that my $2500 could help some people live, and people may die (or at least certainly maintain a poor lifestyle) as a result of me paying for this class; but I feel like that's a pressure I can't put on myself. That would create guilt for every expense beyond survival (heating for a house, renting a movie, etc.). Not worthwhile or correct.
So I think I'm going to sign up for this class. Anybody want to join me?
I have looked into the possibility of a mountaineering course, just to hammer out the essentials (i.e. crevasse rescue, running belays, etc.). I found one that works out perfectly, running from Aug. 1-13 with Mountain Madness. It seems perfect.
I got to thinking, however, if this would be the best use of my money. It is expensive, but I have the money available. It is something I really want to do. Am I being selfish, though? With the price of this class I could build a couple wells in Africa, or buy vaccines for kids, or any other number of things to more directly help the world. I was very back and forth for the past week.
Two things helped me to get closer to make a decision. First one. I was at Kensington for their Wednesday night service, and I just had a feeling along the lines of, "if you don't learn this now, when will you learn it?" I wouldn't go so far as to say that God spoke to me (but I'm not one to rule that out), but it was just an overwhelming feeling that this mountaineering matters somehow. Somehow it is a big deal in my life and potentially for the rest of the world.
Second one. Back in 2004 when the Tsunami hit southeast Asia I was at Boston University. I was about halfway through my sophomore year, and beginning to feel like this college thing was going to last forever. When the Tsunami hit I really wanted to do something to help, but didn't have any way of helping out. I felt like I was sort of wasting my time and school, setting myself up for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle where I don't really help anybody. A real wise person by the name of Jesse helped me out. He pointed out that when Paul went through his conversion on the road to Damascus he spent years in meditation and studying before he started his ministry. Even after literally speaking to Jesus about what to do he had a lot of preperation to take care of. What Jesse was getting at is that sometimes it's not as simple as throwing yourself into the disaster zone. I was likely getting ready for something else in Boston, and that something was more important to my story. So how does that apply to me now? I'm not sure. But I do know that mountaineering evokes a certain passion in me that I can't deny (ask me about my conversation with God at Thunderstorm Junction). John Eldgredge seems to support the idea that pursuing a passion will make the world a better place, which is why I think charities after Hurricane Katrina to get musicians' their instruments back are a good thing -- indirectly they push other people to pursue their passions. To summarize, I think that maybe (just maybe) paying for this class will be like the fishing idea -- teaching a man to fish vs giving a man a fish. With skills in mountaineering I would have access to parts of the world that do not get tourist doctors. I would be able to raise HUGE amounts of money with climbs (possibly into the millions for big mountains). I'm sure I can't even fathom the good that God might be planning with all this.
I can't deny the fact that my $2500 could help some people live, and people may die (or at least certainly maintain a poor lifestyle) as a result of me paying for this class; but I feel like that's a pressure I can't put on myself. That would create guilt for every expense beyond survival (heating for a house, renting a movie, etc.). Not worthwhile or correct.
So I think I'm going to sign up for this class. Anybody want to join me?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Some thoughts
My last post was October, and it was entitled something about not updating this daily. I suppose I won't update it monthly either.
The things I've learned over the past few months: who you're with is more important than what you're doing; I love mountaineering as much as I hoped I did; joining the military is a scary and big commitment, but either way I'm in.
I spent most of this past year working, when I wanted to celebrate my year of freedom. I don't regret anything, but I wish I had traveled a bit more. I do plan on going down to Pensacola one more time before med school to race an open water swim. I'm also going to Mississippi for Officer School for the Air Force for a month, and I do plan on going to Washington to do a bit of climbing. It should be a good summer.
The things I've learned over the past few months: who you're with is more important than what you're doing; I love mountaineering as much as I hoped I did; joining the military is a scary and big commitment, but either way I'm in.
I spent most of this past year working, when I wanted to celebrate my year of freedom. I don't regret anything, but I wish I had traveled a bit more. I do plan on going down to Pensacola one more time before med school to race an open water swim. I'm also going to Mississippi for Officer School for the Air Force for a month, and I do plan on going to Washington to do a bit of climbing. It should be a good summer.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I never said I'd update this daily.
I've been thinking a lot about climbing and adventuring lately, and I want to get some of my thoughts down in words.
There's something about the treeline. I felt it climbing Olympus. I felt it on top of Marmot Basin. I felt it on Mt. Marcy. You feel like you're breaking some rule -- a rule that everybody knows but yourself. It's the reason that natives of the Karakoram don't climb (that's the region of the Himalayas that has the biggest mountains in the world).
Climbers are always superstitious. Usually for good reason, too. When I was on Marcy I made some comment about being stronger than the mountain, and throughout the rest of the day little things kept going wrong for me (stuff falling off of my pack, little things breaking, etc), that didn't happen to anybody else. I'm not akin to superstitions myself, but it was still strange.
I just got my hands on some new gear that I'm pretty excited about. I got a new jacket, pants, and a hat. The more I buy, though, the more I realize how much I need still. It's dang expensive, too. If I climb for a while (through to my 50's or so) I bet I'll spend about $300,000 on the sport. If I get any good, though, I'll get a lot of that covered through sponsorships and stuff like that.
It's funny though: in spending a lot of money on this stuff I really don't feel any buyer's remorse. I did when I bought my bike, and I do whenever I go out to eat, but I'll gladly drop $200 on a jacket (even when it's a "worse case scenario" jacket that I hope I'll never have to use). I think it'd be real cool to mix medicine and climbing. For one, I could always be an expedition doctor and get on with big-time climbs. Big-time mountains are almost always surrounded with vulnerable/indigenous/exposed populations. I think it would be real cool to go work with some of those populations, too (kind of like how Greg Mortenson got his start in Three Cups of Tea). It's an idea, but who knows. I guess I gotta get into med school first.
I've been training real hard. I can run 10 miles pretty well now (I have no idea what my time is), so I've been throwing in a ton of hills. We have a hill in downtown GR that rises about 250 ft. in about half mile, so it's pretty steep. I try to run that five times within a 5 mile loop (thus giving me about 10 miles). I find that I love that hate the hill all at the same time. My knee hasn't bothered me in a really long time, so I figure I'm doing things right. I started lifting, too, so that should help me out a bit. Hopefully it will all put me on top of Mt. Elbrus.
There's something about the treeline. I felt it climbing Olympus. I felt it on top of Marmot Basin. I felt it on Mt. Marcy. You feel like you're breaking some rule -- a rule that everybody knows but yourself. It's the reason that natives of the Karakoram don't climb (that's the region of the Himalayas that has the biggest mountains in the world).
Climbers are always superstitious. Usually for good reason, too. When I was on Marcy I made some comment about being stronger than the mountain, and throughout the rest of the day little things kept going wrong for me (stuff falling off of my pack, little things breaking, etc), that didn't happen to anybody else. I'm not akin to superstitions myself, but it was still strange.
I just got my hands on some new gear that I'm pretty excited about. I got a new jacket, pants, and a hat. The more I buy, though, the more I realize how much I need still. It's dang expensive, too. If I climb for a while (through to my 50's or so) I bet I'll spend about $300,000 on the sport. If I get any good, though, I'll get a lot of that covered through sponsorships and stuff like that.
It's funny though: in spending a lot of money on this stuff I really don't feel any buyer's remorse. I did when I bought my bike, and I do whenever I go out to eat, but I'll gladly drop $200 on a jacket (even when it's a "worse case scenario" jacket that I hope I'll never have to use). I think it'd be real cool to mix medicine and climbing. For one, I could always be an expedition doctor and get on with big-time climbs. Big-time mountains are almost always surrounded with vulnerable/indigenous/exposed populations. I think it would be real cool to go work with some of those populations, too (kind of like how Greg Mortenson got his start in Three Cups of Tea). It's an idea, but who knows. I guess I gotta get into med school first.
I've been training real hard. I can run 10 miles pretty well now (I have no idea what my time is), so I've been throwing in a ton of hills. We have a hill in downtown GR that rises about 250 ft. in about half mile, so it's pretty steep. I try to run that five times within a 5 mile loop (thus giving me about 10 miles). I find that I love that hate the hill all at the same time. My knee hasn't bothered me in a really long time, so I figure I'm doing things right. I started lifting, too, so that should help me out a bit. Hopefully it will all put me on top of Mt. Elbrus.
Friday, August 7, 2009
A month recap
The past month has been a blur. They say history can't be fully understood until everybody affected is dead. I'm not dead yet, but I might be able to understand the past month or so.
It began with a backcountry trip to Canada, my first time leading a trip of this sort. Here are some pictures:
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Reeds Lake
I just got back from the Reeds Lake Run, a pretty big 10K in East Grand Rapids (around the same lake that Paul and I did the triathlon at). My goal time was sub 45 min. with the full expectation that I wouldn't even come close, but it turns out I was just above 47, so I am very pleased. A bunch of paramedics I work with ran, too, and I think I beat them all, which is a little ego boost there. All in all, real fun run.
I got word from University of Tennessee already. As it turns out they are only accepting in state applicants. Kudos to them for not putting that fun tid-bit in any of their information.
I'm starting George Washington University's secondary application today. Let's hope that goes well. I don't know how much longer I can get denied from stuff -- jobs, schools, etc.
I had a cool idea the other day. I was thinking that when my lease is up I should close all of my bank accounts and just drive around until I run out of money. That would be a cool adventure.
I got word from University of Tennessee already. As it turns out they are only accepting in state applicants. Kudos to them for not putting that fun tid-bit in any of their information.
I'm starting George Washington University's secondary application today. Let's hope that goes well. I don't know how much longer I can get denied from stuff -- jobs, schools, etc.
I had a cool idea the other day. I was thinking that when my lease is up I should close all of my bank accounts and just drive around until I run out of money. That would be a cool adventure.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The next big thing.
Plans are set for the next workout. We're going to do an "out and back" of the Musketawa Trail, which links Muskegon and Marne. We're gonna bike 25 miles out and walk 25 miles back. I think I'm gonna do some other stuff to make it a 24 hour event...maybe some swimming, just for giggles. My wrist is still bothering me from last time, so hopefully that clears up.
We've also made some plans for climbs. Mt. Katahdin in November, Mt. Elbert in March, and Mt. Elbrus sometime at the beginning of 2010. Elbrus is the big one as far as cost and training goes, but I've got a year and half to get ready for it. If all goes to plan (which it certainly won't), I maybe be standing on the top of Europe sometime soon. Sounds good to me. I still think it's goofy that I spend so much of my time with guys in their 40's.
I had a real cool day yesterday. A new friend and I went to the zoo in GR (my first time there), did some culinary exploration on the east side of the city, then went to a production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (or whatever it's called). It was a great day, one of those days that feels like a 15 hour vacation. I wish you could consistently plan stuff like that.
I'm reading a bood about a guy who walked the Appalacian Trail (real funny book by Bill Bryson), and I gotta say that it's turning me off from the trail. It's hard to put my finger on why, but I"m just not feeling it as much anymore. Maybe I'll change my mind after my big July hike with Derek. It's strange how it's so hard to decide on adventures when I have absolutely no parameters or limiting factors. I can do anything and I can't think of anything. Maybe I should just walk to Mexico or Alaska or something like that. Who knows what I'll do.
We've also made some plans for climbs. Mt. Katahdin in November, Mt. Elbert in March, and Mt. Elbrus sometime at the beginning of 2010. Elbrus is the big one as far as cost and training goes, but I've got a year and half to get ready for it. If all goes to plan (which it certainly won't), I maybe be standing on the top of Europe sometime soon. Sounds good to me. I still think it's goofy that I spend so much of my time with guys in their 40's.
I had a real cool day yesterday. A new friend and I went to the zoo in GR (my first time there), did some culinary exploration on the east side of the city, then went to a production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (or whatever it's called). It was a great day, one of those days that feels like a 15 hour vacation. I wish you could consistently plan stuff like that.
I'm reading a bood about a guy who walked the Appalacian Trail (real funny book by Bill Bryson), and I gotta say that it's turning me off from the trail. It's hard to put my finger on why, but I"m just not feeling it as much anymore. Maybe I'll change my mind after my big July hike with Derek. It's strange how it's so hard to decide on adventures when I have absolutely no parameters or limiting factors. I can do anything and I can't think of anything. Maybe I should just walk to Mexico or Alaska or something like that. Who knows what I'll do.
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