Like a Diamond in the Sky?

Know what's exciting? Medicine. For real this time.

Studying sucked hard went really poorly the first 1.5 days. But then, I decided to stop taking notes and just read for a while. And I remembered: I love this! Medicine is fascinating, and naturopathic medicine is my passion! This doesn't need to be a terrible experience- and suddenly its not! Its awesome! I get to spend 2 months immersing myself in whatever I think I need to learn to be a good clinician. Its a huge luxury!

Its a little tricky, because part of me does worry: "What if I don't pass NPLEX? What will be on the test?" But those thoughts always have been a recipe for disaster- when I worry about passing tests I don't do as well on them; when I am more concerned with gathering information so I can excell at my profession I do so much better. Sure I could get the study materials that everyone else will be using and ensure that I ride with the curve. But these are materials that I know (ok- its hearsy- but from reliable sources) have out-dated and even incorrect material. This isn't just an exam I'm studying for- this is information that I'm going to be using to treat people. I can't eff around with it just so I do better on a test! Right? (Right?!)

Plus, it would be completely out of character for me to read/write/learn something that I didn't believe to be true. Back in my undergrad I couldn't wrap my brain around skeletal muscle mechanics- the way it was presented just did NOT ring true for me. Luckily, it was one of my favorite professors lecturing and we had a little chat about it. He told me that was the best supported theory to date, but that other (maybe better?) theories were emerging. How exciting is that? For me, at that age, it was a revelation! Knowledge evolves! My thoughts/instincts matter! I'm allowed to disagree with the scientific (and medical) dogma, because science and medicine should never BE dogma. It should always be open to questioning and modification by anyone who can work their theories around the evidence. The only real truth is the evidence. And even evidence can be misleading if you don't understand how it came about. Suddenly, my eyes were open again to the magic and equisite beauty of science.

I was born with my eyes open to the world ready to question it all! Before I started school and learning, I remember my first revolt against untruth at 3 years old.... it started with the ever provocative: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I could not be persuaded to compare little stars to diamonds in the sky. Nope, not in a million years. Diamonds were NOT found in the sky. To me stars in the sky looked like diamonds in a box, and that's how I'd sing it: "Twinkle twinkle little star, how i wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, like a diamond in a.. box." You could sing it "in the sky" if you like... if that's what you believe. But if I was singing it, I was singing about diamonds in a box, and I was singing with integrity!

But that independent attitude toward truth was blunted somewhat when I started studying science right up until my chat with Dr. Walker. Because unfortunately, Science has become Religion for the 21st century and its often taught as absolute. No questions asked. It saddens me for 3 reasons: 1) Because science doesn't have the spiritual answers that humans yearn for. 2) Because it undermines the unique democracy and wonder of an originally rebellious and exciting system of thought. 3) Because the world needs both science and spirituality! Sure they are separate systems, but as our knowledge grows in both these fields they converge!

Two other fields which are exciting when they converge: art and science! The are paired wherever genius is found. Beautiful music, stunning architecture, masterful surgery, fluffy omelettes, transcendental massage, inspired homeopathy, uplifting dance, in the twinkle twinkle song (I just didn't get art at the time I suppose)... and hopefully in my practice of naturopathic medicine!

For now: back to the science part.

I'll hopefully find my camera again soon and be able to post pics again. Revelstoke is freaking gorgeous this time of year- you need to see it!