It’s Called paramedical for a reason.

I posted a Dalai Lama quote recently.  The quote was: “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.”

This is the simplest single statement I can think of that describes my career in Medicine. Yet, there is much left unsaid. I have always been captivated by the altruism of this work. Let’s talk about it.

Looking back upon my White Coat Ceremony, I remember thinking that I could not have picked a more noble career path.  There was a mix of consuming emotions. Emotions that still resonate today.  I was so humbled to be in the presence of brilliant minds, with an unyielding drive to unconditionally give to others.  I was also ecstatic about being welcomed along this journey of lifelong learning.  I felt incredibly humbled, and yet woefully under prepared for the task at hand. From that day onward it was, and always will be, overwhelming.

To be succinct, a lack of perfection is a risk that carries mortal consequences. I don’t believe that these feelings ever go away for any of us.  For if it does, one should consider another line of work.

Medicine is so much more than a job. It is a lifestyle.  It is our soul’s work.  It is a massive ever changing and evolving collection of countless emotions and trials.  Filled and fueled by passion, compassion, empathy, strength, humility, acceptance, reflection, grace, the realization of mortality, and more. 

This is the most rewarding hard work I have ever encountered in my lifetime.

Yet, along the way, many of us get lost at points throughout our career.  I believe that the lack of resiliency training during our medical education not only does a disservice to us as individual providers, but also a disservice to our patients.  Who are the epicenter of Medicine. I feel that resiliency needs to be woven into our education.  At several points.  Then repeated.  Fortunately, the military has supplied me with this.  However, not all of us are as fortunate. There are struggles along this life path.

We struggle with many things.  Including the balance of acceptance by the outside world in conjunction with ever growing administrative demands.  We struggle with a constant undertone of critical self-talk and wanting to be better.  We struggle with the remembrance of every mistake we have ever made and cannot undo.  We struggle with countless sleepless nights and a lack of understanding by others. Often friends and/or family. Creating a feeling of both social and emotional isolation from those that do not empathize with this life. Leading to a shift in mindset that begins with a fall from grace and veer from our path.

However, I think that once we come to terms with the fact that we are all imperfect beings, striving for the same things, it all seems to click into place.  We can get back on the path, and move forward with grace. We just keep going.  We need to.  We must. It is “our prime purpose in this life…”

My work as a paramedical artist is simply an extension of what I have been doing all these years in healthcare.  As I said in a recent post: Everyone has a scar.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone has a memory that they need closure with. Everyone.

I am here to help.

- Nicole XO