Reflection at the end of the year 2013

Coincidentally, with the closing of 2013, three things ended.

First, is the closing of the year 2013. Like always, it has been a wonderful year. In fact, it is better than the year before. I count my blessing on that.

New acquaintances, new connections, new things to look out for in life. Most of it involved life adjustments - or work adjustments.

It's hard to spell out success stories. Success has a different meaning in different people.

In an academic world, being able to publish in high impact journal is one. For others, landing a huge research grant is also considered a success. For some, one grant is not enough. The more grants under your belt, the higher the status you attained, the more important you are among the research fraternity in the faculty.

The more grant the person bagged, the bigger the ego is. Psychologically, it helped with the confidence. But, having too many to juggle at one time - it seems a bit daunting. Not to mention distractions it may create to throw you off from your focus.

Completing a manuscript for publication - still brings a sense of satisfaction for most. Though it is the only paper for the entire year - and its publication is still pending for approval.

Success has different measures for different people. Nevertheless, you should not belittle others no matter how small their success measure is compared to yours.

The new year opens a new book for me to write on.

The end of a career for a teacher

How often do we feel when a teacher who had taught us before retires? Not often. Many teachers come and go, but we are not bothered with that. It’s a life cycle, we say. And it is a norm for people to move from one place to the other.

Not this teacher of mine. He will still be a teacher to me though I have been elevated as a colleague. He is an Orthopaedic surgeon, a professor. His sudden email informing of his retiring after serving 20 years in the faculty came as a sudden shock.

Let me tell you why he deserved to be reminisced.

Clinical teachers are usually dogs. They bark at any moves that is not in tandem with their teaching of clinical physical examination. They will, without hesitation, use the bell of the stethoscope like a hammer on the mindless palpation of an abdomen.

Prof PKL is not like that. Though he might be old school, his attitude is not. He is the scaffold that helps students to right what is wrong. He is what facilitation really means. He gets the students to think.

Most importantly, he inspires students. Several of them are now his orthopaedic apprentice.

It is usual for students to get playful at times. It may be irritating to the teachers involved. But handling them should not be rough. Otherwise, the same attitude will be returned to you. Play along with them, slowly and gently coaxing them to get into the real business. This needs patience.

Prof PKL is a patient man. Though we were wrong, he never let out hurtful words, in his anger, to us. He just kept quiet. His ears were red. And we know what that means. We could expect what is next. Surprisingly, out prediction was wrong. In his repose self, he did not get mad. He spoke when everyone was ready. When he spoke, it was civil, with authority and just. No parang wielding moment.

Well, he will remain in my memory. A living example of how a teaching doctor should carry himself.

The end of a loving wife and mother

This is another shocking news for a colleague - and all of us known to him. His wife has passed away. I shall not focus on the disease here.

From what I have gathered, it was quite a sudden demise for him. For the past two weeks, the family have been battling the disease and thinking of ways to treat it. The diagnosis came as a sudden. Prognosis was quite poor. The surgeon in charge whispered to him that she might not make it out of the operating theatre.

Worth it or not, it is still an attempt. She consented.

I imagined myself in his shoes. It’s unbearable. Yet, he was so calm and composed. His children were calm too. They seemed to have accepted it.

In fact, he has kept it a secret from the faculty - only to confide it with certain people. Imagine his mind worrying of his wife at home, and to carry on teaching the students.

Reflection point

The point for reflection is, as we are nearing the end of the year 2013, we must cherish whatever we have right here and right now. At any point in the future, we all will part.

So, take off your eyes from the FB page - if it leaves you fuming mad after seeing the statuses.

Stop paying attention to the WhatsApp messages on your phone.

Play with your children.

Kiss the hands of your parents.

Go for a movie with the family.

If your shift has ended, end it right there and then. Let someone take over it. Your shift now is with the family waiting at home.

May you have a wonderful year ahead. Happy new year!