And Remember Kids

I have not officially begun my residency career, but I would like to lodge my first official complaint. With today's newer, softer physician training programs work hours have been slashed, antisocial personalities heavily medicated, and positive things said all around, but with such unbridled kindness and cheer has, as is so often the case, come also a little bit of insanity. Specifically, all the heartfelt behooving to "live a balanced, satisfying life" is ridiculous. I do not have any children, significant others, financial responsibilities, social commitments, or even a pet of any significant size, but even still I can confidently say that I certainly do not have much free time with my 80 hour work week to lead a life in harmony with my family, friends, and nature. The rest of the world seems to have enough trouble getting by on a 40 - 50 hour work week, and, given, though the average American may be in need of a few hour handicap to deal with some of the problems he gets himself in if the average American cannot live such a life with a 30 to 40 hour advantage are we to assume he is just lazy? I do not wish to create the impression that I think residency should be regulated to a 40 hour work week, and indeed in many ways sacrifice can at times in some ways make life stronger, but let's not play this silly mind game that living the good life as a resident is simply a decision that we make. We can make the best of what we got, but let's not pretend that what we got is anything fantastic. Residency is meant to be tough and our family, friends, spouses, and pets will feel neglected because they will be neglected. All the double think and smiling faces in the world ain't going to change that. So the next lecturer who tells me to take a quick nap after 30 hours of continuous work on call so that I don't somnolently drive my car off a bridge embankment and then in the same sentence tells me to take time out for the small things in life is getting a alphanumeric pager to the back of the head. You know, the big kind. With AA batteries. Grrr.