retalien

Everyone has their own form of catharsis. Some find it in journaling. Some in outrage. Others in raw emotional expression. Overall, I believe it’s one of the best things you can do when emotions build up. Let it out. Make space for new feelings. That way you don’t end up taking unnecessary anger out on innocent people. I’ve been there. I held it in, exploded, and ended up hurting the people I love most. I spent the whole next day apologizing. So yes — release the pent-up emotions. In short: CATHARSIS IS THE BEST FORM OF THERAPY FOR ANGER AND PENT-UP EMOTIONS.

I’m really hoping I’ll be fortunate enough to get my internship placement tomorrow. I had my eye on another spot, but I heard the next openings aren’t until December. I don’t want to just sit around until then. I need to get this phase of my life done quickly so I can move on to the better things ahead. I know people who’ve already finished week one, some who just started, and then there’s me — still waiting to begin. I just want my turn.

The four principles of medical ethics are maleficence, benevolence, justice, and autonomy. Benevolence isn’t always spoken about, but it’s held in the highest regard. It means acting in the best interest of the patient — caring for them, and approaching their condition with a kind, well-meaning attitude. I remember a doctor on ward rounds who kept talking about amputation and cutting off limbs. Patients grew scared every time they saw him, thinking he didn’t care about them. But one resident changed everything. He simply asked the patient’s name and how they were doing. That small act of benevolence was all it took to win the whole ward over. That’s what made him the “best doctor.”

"Razzle dazzle" lives rent-free in our heads. The irony is we drop it after a show-stopping performance, just to dazzle the crowd one more time. Translation: That was incredible. But saying “dazzle” is the final spark that actually sends our minds spinning 😂

The average medical student wants to perpetuate the toxicity they experienced as students to the next generation 😂 And that’s exactly why the tension stays so high among us. Nurses, doctors, pharmacists, scientists, physiotherapists — everyone fighting over who’s “right” and who takes better care of the patient. That was never the point. We’re all caring for the same patient, just through different methods. So why perpetuate these toxic behaviors instead of embracing a loving, collaborative approach where we treat the patient together, like a round table?

People now rely on the internet and books instead of asking superiors — not just for convenience, but for veracity. Let’s be honest: not everyone is current or quick with information. Why depend on an outdated, unreliable human source when the internet gives you faster, more accurate, and verifiable answers?

Sometimes you have to extricate yourself from a toxic relationship to see how much better life can be. You have to pull free from that deep clutch — the one that’s trying to ruin you — before you can see what life actually has in store. I know it’s hard. They might seem perfect. They have everything. I used to think spending 2,000 naira on juice every day in this Tinubu era was “living the life.” Until I ended up broke, drinking garri. If I hadn’t extricated myself from that habit, I wouldn’t be here telling you this story. I thought it was awesome, but it was going to destroy me. So here’s my advice today: extricate yourself. Free yourself from that harmful relationship before it extricates you from life and all its beauty.

As a kid I loved Courage the Cowardly Dog. The name wasn’t an accident. Even though he was scared, he showed courage every single episode — staring down ghosts and monsters to save his grandparents. Honestly, I’d be sprinting out of that farmhouse every 2 days. But Courage stayed. A little dog in the middle of nowhere with more courage than most people I know.

One thing every doctor needs, no matter the specialty, is empathy — especially when delivering bad news. Don’t confuse empathy with sympathy. Sympathy comes later, usually when speaking to a patient’s relatives about loss. Empathy is what you show in the room, in the moment. When you’re telling someone they have a chronic illness, or breaking down treatment costs that feel like money laundering schemes, empathy matters. Because if the roles were reversed, you wouldn’t want to be treated like scum. The good doctors — the ones who keep hospitals running through the terror that flies by day and the arrows that plague you by night — are the ones who lead with empathy. That’s what carries you through. That’s what makes you an outstanding doctor.