Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How this physician lives his life in the margins

Jeffrey McWilliams, MD
Physician
August 11, 2017
381 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Do you ever have that “aha!” moment? That moment when a revelation hits you with such a level of intensity that your physical being is jolted. Attention is obtained as if a Louisville slugger or defibrillator pad made contact at an opportune moment. That moment of revelation when a crimson string interwoven through the fabric of your life makes a connection, transcending childhood, college, young adulthood, professional and personal relationships. All of a sudden, memories flood in at the speed of light — coalescing into a head of revelation. I had one of those moments.

Emergency medicine is an intense, full-contact profession. We live in the trenches of life and death while wading the waters of government regulations, insurance carriers and best practices. Full engagement is essential often making it difficult to disengage when we leave the bay doors. My personal haven or disengagement comes in the way of an elevated heart rate, ear buds and a sweat laden endeavor. This is my time to decompress, reflect and refuel. Whether I’m lifting weights, pounding the pavement on a midnight run or strapped in the saddle of my road bike, it makes no difference. This is where I refuel, clear my head and return to baseline. During these pilgrimages I listen to the sounds of Sinatra, interlaced with a little Lecrae or Queen, finishing up with a TED talk or podcast. It’s my mosaic, duplicated daily with intrinsic variation.

I was recently riding my bike on an East Texas county road. The wind was brisk on my face as I felt the vibrations of the road and pounding of my heart. Sweat was dripping from my brow as I ascended a steep hill, looking forward to the restful plateau in sight. My glutes ached as lactic acid built up and filled with anaerobic metabolism. It was here, while listening to a podcast by Mark Batterson that I was hit with that “aha moment,” literally stopping my bike in the tracks. I stood there, sweat drenched as the words resonated as my crimson string, connecting the dots in my fabric. He said, “Live your life in the margins.”

“Live your life in the margins.” What does this mean? What did it mean to me?

Personally speaking, it meant I couldn’t live my life focused always on the big events, the main story or dialogue, but rather be intentional with the journey. It’s those small, seemingly meaningless interactions that often resonate the loudest and can have the biggest effect on others. In my personal life, it’s the morning drives while taking my children to school or the time spent in the checkout line at the grocery store. These moments or margins are often hidden in the storyline of evening meals, work deadlines or school concert events. It’s the time of preparation, travel or brief, unplanned interaction that is neglected as an afterthought. In the hospital or ER, it’s the brief passing in the hallway or momentary interaction with a family member. It’s the conversation in passing with a consultant or staff member while dealing with a complex cardiac event or surgical procedure. I’m not undermining the complex or obvious storyline of our daily personal or professional interaction but rather amplifying the power of being intentional with our margins.

As in Hesse’s Journey to The East, I understood that sometimes, the revelation lies in the journey and not necessary the destination. Don’t underestimate the power of a kind word or warm cup of coffee in the margins as your daily story unfolds. The reach of the crimson string in the fabric of the lives of others has a much farther reach than you may realize.

Jeffrey McWilliams is an emergency physician who blogs at Advocates Of Excellence.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Doctors have weight problems, too. Here’s my story.

August 11, 2017 Kevin 0
…
Next

MKSAP: 54-year-old man with dysphagia

August 12, 2017 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Emergency Medicine, Hospital-Based Medicine, Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Doctors have weight problems, too. Here’s my story.
Next Post >
MKSAP: 54-year-old man with dysphagia

More by Jeffrey McWilliams, MD

  • True happiness and fulfillment come in servitude of others

    Jeffrey McWilliams, MD
  • Thank you nurses, for rushing in when we need you most

    Jeffrey McWilliams, MD
  • This doctor defines himself as a Christian, not a physician

    Jeffrey McWilliams, MD

Related Posts

  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Why academic medicine needs to value physician contributions to online platforms

    Ariela L. Marshall, MD
  • Ethical humanism: life after #medbikini and an approach to reimagining professionalism

    Jay Wong
  • The life cycle of medication consumption

    Fery Pashang, PharmD
  • Medicine vs. racism: white coats for black lives

    Divya Seth, MD, MPH
  • Medicine rewards self-sacrifice often at the cost of physician happiness

    Daniella Klebaner

More in Physician

  • The essence of health narratives, including poetry

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • Discover the power of patience

    Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH
  • Doctors rediscover joy in practicing medicine, on their own terms

    Kim Downey, PT
  • Physician return-to-work policies

    Deepak Gupta, MD
  • How my patients’ Zoom backgrounds made me a better doctor

    Joseph Barrera, MD
  • Understanding reproductive rights: complex considerations

    Anonymous
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Understanding reproductive rights: complex considerations

      Anonymous | Physician
    • COVID-19 unleashed an ongoing crisis of delirium in hospitals

      Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher, MD, Nathan Stall, MD, and Paula Rochon, MD | Conditions
    • Air quality alert: Reducing our carbon footprint in health care

      Shreya Aggarwal, MD | Conditions
    • When physicians are disrespected [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • When physicians are disrespected [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Addressing dual diagnosis needs in addiction treatment

      Susan Hertz Berrick, EdD | Conditions
    • The essence of health narratives, including poetry

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Discover the power of patience

      Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Doctors rediscover joy in practicing medicine, on their own terms

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • End-of-life ethics and antibiotic use [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Novavax's Updated COVID Shot Authorized by FDA
  • SBRT Noninferior to Conventional RT for Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
  • Mixed Bag for Early Metformin in Gestational Diabetes
  • FDA Advisors to Consider DFMO Maintenance for High-Risk Neuroblastoma in Kids
  • Adding Tirzepatide to Basal Insulin Cuts HbA1c in Poorly Controlled T2D

Meeting Coverage

  • SBRT Noninferior to Conventional RT for Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
  • Mixed Bag for Early Metformin in Gestational Diabetes
  • Adding Tirzepatide to Basal Insulin Cuts HbA1c in Poorly Controlled T2D
  • Low Relapse Rates With Twice-Yearly Schizophrenia Treatment
  • Menopause Can Negatively Affect Women's Careers
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Understanding reproductive rights: complex considerations

      Anonymous | Physician
    • COVID-19 unleashed an ongoing crisis of delirium in hospitals

      Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher, MD, Nathan Stall, MD, and Paula Rochon, MD | Conditions
    • Air quality alert: Reducing our carbon footprint in health care

      Shreya Aggarwal, MD | Conditions
    • When physicians are disrespected [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • When physicians are disrespected [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Addressing dual diagnosis needs in addiction treatment

      Susan Hertz Berrick, EdD | Conditions
    • The essence of health narratives, including poetry

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Discover the power of patience

      Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Doctors rediscover joy in practicing medicine, on their own terms

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • End-of-life ethics and antibiotic use [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...