Summary

A former emergency physician finds happiness and fulfillment in a simpler life working as a hotel houseman, embracing physical labor, and pursuing personal interests while maintaining a stress-free and content outlook on future career possibilities in medicine.

Abstract

The author, previously a part-time emergency physician, transitioned to a job as a hotel houseman after quitting medicine in June 2020. Despite working more hours for less pay, the author reports being as happy, if not happier, due to the simplicity of the work, the enjoyable company of colleagues, and the ample time for personal activities such as family time, outdoor hobbies, and writing. The author remains open to future opportunities in medicine but is currently content with the lifestyle changes, which have led to improved physical health and mental well-being, free from work-related stress and nightmares. The shift in focus from worry to "appropriate concern" has allowed for a peaceful state of mind, whether dealing with hotel duties or contemplating future endeavors.

Opinions

The author values a balanced lifestyle and mental peace over financial gain, as evidenced by their satisfaction with the new job despite a significant pay cut.
Physical labor is seen as beneficial, contributing to the author's improved strength and health.
The author maintains a positive perspective on life transitions, viewing their current role as potentially temporary and embracing the uncertainty of future opportunities.
There is a clear distinction made between unproductive worry and "appropriate concern," with the latter being a healthy, measured response to life's challenges.
The author's contentment suggests a belief in the intrinsic value of work that allows for personal growth and happiness, beyond traditional measures of success.
Writing is an important aspect of the author's life, serving as a creative outlet and being inspired by their new experiences.
The author's reference to dreams indicates a belief that their current lifestyle is conducive to better sleep and overall well-being.

PERSPECTIVE

New Life — What Can You Learn From Being ‘Appropriately Concerned?’

Why worry?

I now work about four times as many hours as I used to. My take-home pay is about 40% of what it was.

I’m just as happy, perhaps happier.

Allow me to repeat …

In spite of working far more and earning far less, I’m as happy as I was, perhaps happier.

How is that possible?

Well, here’s the story, and the explanation. See what you can learn from it.

Until June 2020 I worked part time as an Emergency Physician. Then, as I’ve described elsewhere, I quit without an escape or contingency plan.

Retiring From the Practice of Emergency Medicine

Stick a fork in me, I’m done

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About a month back I took a job as a hotel “houseman.” I’m the guy who cleans the hotel’s public spaces, brings items to guest’s rooms and helps occasionally with luggage. I’m also on call to troubleshoot TV remotes, help housekeeping if necessary and be an all-around useful guy. I also drive the hotel shuttle back and forth to the local airport, ferrying airline crews.

It’s fun. I work with good people. It’s simple. I’ve got plenty of time to think, and a few good stories have emerged from my encounters at the hotel. More are on the way I’m sure.

I’m not necessarily done with medicine.

I’ve got a few interesting options percolating their way through the system, waiting for selection committees to select, positions to open officially, applications to be read and acted upon, and the world to reopen post pandemic.

Meanwhile, as mentioned, I’m happy.

There’s plenty of time in my schedule for non-work activities I enjoy — hanging with family, hiking, biking, walking on the beach, boogie boarding, helping my brother on his property, visiting with friends. It’s a good life.

Doing the physical labor at the hotel has made me stronger and leaner. I can lift, pull, push, sweep, vacuum and mop with ease and my belt has come in a notch. All good stuff.

My writing continues apace. The hotel experience spawned some stories.

My mind, freed from almost all stress, has gone into overdrive, seeing stories and story ideas everywhere.

Gone are the ER-related nightmares — of torture and drowning and worse— that used to disturb me. I dream almost every night, indicating I think, that I’m reaching the deepest and most restful and restorative of sleep depths. Almost without exception, my dreams are pleasant.

I’ve landed in a lucky place.

True, I’m likely in transition between doctor gigs, doing what I’m doing now as a place holder. But even if that’s not the case, I’m satisfied and will remain so.

Maybe I’ll do the hotel gig for another few months and reevaluate. If something interesting is happening somewhere in the world and the situation is right for me, well maybe I’ll go do that. If not, and a vaccine and good fortune reopen the world, then I’ll travel. Maybe something else entirely will assert itself. I can always re-enroll in school and continue to write.

No matter what, I’m unworried.

People used to ask me, fairly routinely, if I worried about working in the world of Emergency Medicine. “How about the stress?” “The unknown, doesn’t that bother you.” “The constant interruptions?” “Death, illness, violence — How about all that?”

My answer to all that and more was always the same.

“I don’t worry. Occasionally though I’m appropriately concerned.”

So now, if a TV remote needs fixing or an airline crew and their bags must be shuttled safely on a schedule to the airport, I’m appropriately concerned.

If a story works or doesn’t, gets accepted or rejected, earns money or doesn’t, then again, appropriate concern is my reaction.

Only now, appropriate translates to barely a ripple, a minor perturbation, in an ocean of calm and peace. That’s the feeling I’ll carry forward to my next doctor post or travel adventure or next set of, as yet to be discovered, experiences that await me.

Here’s hoping the same for you.