Calming Affect.
I apologize for my radio silence. We are in the midst of the insanity that is Block 5...
Today I received a compliment that I never expected, and hold in higher regard than most.
I was checking out at our local Trader Joe's, and the cashier was an older gentleman. He was full of personality. He was kind, and excited. I believed he cared about my day, even if he just asked the previous 80 customers the same question.
I bought a small arrangement of flowers to put next to my bed. He asked about them, and I told him I liked to wake up and see flowers in the morning. We chatted about the snow, and the impending doom that is this incoming apocalyptic storm when he asked what my plans for the rest of the day were. I smiled and told him I needed to spend hours studying. He asked when I was studying, to which I replied that I am a first year medical student.
He stopped, looked at me, and said, "you have one of the calmest affects Ive ever seen. I think you are going to be a soothing doctor to be around."
His compliment took be aback. I wasn't prepared for it. I certainly don't feel calm most of time. We spend so much time thinking about the mechanics of a patient interaction, and yet we assume we know the appropriate disposition. I'm grateful to that cashier for pointing this out. Its something I want to remain cognizant of moving forward.
