Lemon and lime

I met up with an old friend from college whom I have not personally talked with for the longest time. Eight years ago, boys and parties and latest pop star icons were our common perks. I was delighted that that evening, they were still the same things that excited us, but to a different level. Maybe because we have grown so much from the past years that suddenly, we were speaking the adult lingo like eager kids.

Just as in my previous blogs, the following article is not a generalized opinion. It is only based on my own views as instructed to me by my own experiences. With the agreement of my friend Dickie, who is presently in the same profession as mine, our stance may not be the same as the other doctors. Though I strongly believe that in one point or another, they may have to agree.

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We doctors have different reasons why we have chosen this field. Out of family pressure, or of our passion for community service, or of external influence perhaps, whatever the cause that we are in this pedestal is beyond the context why we should not be treated like everyone.

I cannot deny that medical school has earned me more respect and apparently more ‘attention’ from others. If this is a positive outlook, I do not want to say it is altogether heavenly. Simply because I do not enjoy being seen and treated as a super human in particular instances. I do not understand why other people have their ways of ‘discriminating’ us because we are MDs. Guys not in the same academic level as ours are scared to date women MDs (which is vice versa to our male counterparts), old friends are too shy to mingle or even say ‘hi!’, co-workers are hesitant to ask questions, drivers asking exorbitant taxi/tricycle fare, etc.

Just like the rest of the world, we are persons too. We eat the same meals, ride the tricycle to work, shop in sales, fight for bargains, run out of money, curse or talk trash, get hurt, get dumped, love, then get dumped again. We are not more than the typical friends anyone can have.

If only they know how predictable and weak we are too. After a tiring day from the hospital, we also long for appreciation, a warm hug, a kind word, a lover to go home to, a hand to hold. I remember Meredith Grey’s lines so well, “Forty years ago, the Beatles asked the world a question. They wanted to know where all the lonely people came from. My theory is that a great many of the lonely people come from hospitals… As (doctors), we ignore our own needs so we can meet our patients’ needs. We ignore our friends and families so we can save other people’s friends and families. Which means that, at the end of the day, all we really have is ourselves. And nothing in this world can make you feel more alone than that.”

We are not super humans, and we find it sad being singled out just because we aimed higher than the others.

All we want is to be loved a little more, just like everybody else.

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I’m out.