This is enjoyable. I wake up, work all day toward something I like, and go to bed. Will it make money? Maybe. Will I regret it? Don’t think so.
Yesterday I was listening to a podcast at the gym, Peter Attia’s The Drive , where his guest Bill Perkins said something that required I drop the dumbbells and rewind, twice: “I’m operating in a regret minimizing framework, not a risk minimizing framework.” Whatever this is, compared to what I was doing, feels closer to living in the former framework.
In Monday’s article , I wrote about my experiences with a good friend, a version of Tuesdays with Morrie featuring a squirrel instead of an older gentleman. For the two years I lived in Irvine, I sat in the courtyard of my apartment complex—morning, afternoon, anytime—and felt sorry for myself. Not enjoying what I was doing, I labeled myself a victim of circumstance, blamed anyone I could, and otherwise wasn’t doing much to improve my life. That was, until I met the Squirrel with No Tail. This creature didn’t feel sorry for itself and certainly was no victim of circumstance. Wish I could shake that squirrel’s fore-paw and say thank you.
In my spare time I like to refurbish furniture. Starting with a dresser for our bedroom, I have now sold ten pieces, mainly desks. Turns out I like refurbishing desks. I know not where this is going or how it figures into the rent, but it’s fun and seems a piece of the puzzle.
It’s been a month since the website launch, and since, I have had some awesome conversations with friends and family. I have also heard many guesses at my reasoning for quitting medicine. My wife, acute with her assessments, has noted I can be vague when talking about what I am doing this for. Thursday’s article, The Real Reason I Left Medicine , is an attempt to clear that up.
If anyone reading this is stuck and not sure where to go next, I get it. Would love to connect. (P.S. thank you to everyone who sent over ideas for future articles last week!)
To figuring it out,
Ryan Fightmaster, MD
Book of the Weekend: Greenlights
When I drove to San Diego last year for a camping trip, I listened to Greenlights there and back. I wrote about the trip here, where I figured some things out, aided by McConaughey’s memoir. If you haven’t read this book yet, you’re probably tired of people recommending it. Just read the book, it’s awesome.
