Walking to Work

I try to (most days) walk to and from the hospital.  It's a pretty easy 40 minutes - there are a few bigger hills but it's not exhausting and I feel more awake and invigorated when I arrive at the hospital. 

I really get a chance to appreciate everything around me.  This morning the walk smelled like roses.  Lots of people have roses in their front garden of every size and colour and even from far away I could smell them - the wind must have been traveling just the right way - it was gorgeous.  

On the way home the air smelled like gum trees.  It's funny how I'm used to that smell now but it still makes me smile.  The birds were dancing in between trees chasing each other and the sun was starting to set and it was a beautiful walk down the Stock Path this evening.   

Sometimes it's like I'm experiencing everything for the first time again.  Like pieces of armour are chipping off after all my hard years of medical school and residency.  They didn't seem that hard at the time - I honestly didn't know I was wearing that armour - but it's falling off nonetheless.  I feel like I'm remembering a version of myself from early in my University years.  Someone who has time to think and look at things creatively.  Someone who enjoys learning in a true way without pretense or politics.   Someone who has time to smell the roses.