A former student of mine is now a first-year medical student trying hard to maintain a balanced life. How? By not giving into a "study frenzy." This is a good idea!
Study frenzy makes people frenetic which is not a good temperament for a doctor. I like my doc to be chill.
Doc: "Greg, dude, gotta bust out the running shoes now and then. Ya feel me?"
Me: "Yeah, Doc."
Doc: "You know, like, dia-freakin'-betes, du'. Not cool. Die early and shit."
Me: "Yeah, thanks for the heads-up . . . for like the gazillionth time, Doc."
Doc: "Yo, chill. I'm just sayin'."
Me: "S'cool. I know you got my back."
Doc: "Speakin' of getting your back. Time for the old man checkup."
Instead, it might have gone like this:
Doctor: Mr. Monfils, you're risking diabetes if you don't exercise strenuously 45 minutes, at least!, each day.
Me: Yes, I know, Doctor. I recall your warning last year.
Doctor: And the warning still applies . . . except, of course, I offer it with greater urgency as you continue to age.
Me: Thanks, Doctor.
Doctor: No need to thank me. Now, drop your trousers and turn around so I can check for prostrate cancer. Still eating red meat?
You see, that's a doctor who was frenzied in med school. Fortunately, I'm not easily frightened. Perhaps I should be. But a chill doc would be more successful getting me to exercise. Mos def.
So to my former student I say, "Chill" and be a humane, sensitive doctor not a harbinger of doom.
(My actual doctor . . . is great!)
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