Have I ever mentioned that I love birthdays? Maybe it is just assumed to be so because I am always the one making the cakes. The truth is that I love birthdays because it allows me to celebrate the wonderful people in my life on their special day. The day they were brought into the world was miraculous. And after seeing dozens of births in my medical school career, birthdays are truly something worth celebrating. And it does give me an excellent excuse to make a cake.
A week ago I was challenged by my friend Lindsay to make a "pink champagne" birthday cake. At first, I was a little hesitant about the idea. I was not really sure how champagne would taste in a cake. So I made sure this cake was tested at every step in its construction for maximal sweetness and complementary flavors. And LET ME TELL YOU, this was an excellent cake. The sponge itself was made with champagne and the icing was made with pureed fresh strawberries. Not a piece was left uneaten. The champagne flavor came through so subtly that it was noticeable but not overpowering. I would HANDS down make this cake and devour it again! The recipe was from Wood and Spoon if you want to check it out!
It's interesting in life how people take on different hobbies to keep themselves well. Life would be so boring if we all did the same thing! My passion for baking started in high school when we were low-budget on desserts for the school dance, and I offered to make cupcakes. I slowly advanced my skills and expanded my toolbox to create layer cakes of many different shapes and flavors. Making a cake is therapeutic to me. Things turn out best when I have the most time on my hands and the flexibility to make mistakes and try again. New flavors are challenges, like the "pink champagne" cake. And it brings me so much joy to see other people love something that I made. Food (specifically, sweets) stimulates senses like no other chemicals or drugs. In moderation, that can be a great contribution to mental and physical wellbeing.
Let me tell you that I have the greatest group of friends in medical school. We are all so similar in the fact that we are all studying hard every day and striving to be the best future physicians that we can possibly be. But there is something about each and every one of us that makes us different and unique in our own way. The ways in which we stay well are all so different yet so important to our focus on a daily basis.
For instance, I enjoy baking and cooking and exercising. I love to host friends at my house and make them dinner on special occasions. But I also know that I need to get a little physical activity in every day to keep myself well. Group exercise, swimming, or running outdoors are some of my favorite ways to let loose. For others of my friends, their wellness comes from watching Netflix to get a good laugh in before bed, praying, going for walks outside, knitting, playing piano, or attending sporting events. I feel like we have all tried each other's hobbies and in many cases learned that what worked for others did not work for ourselves. And that is ok! Again, life would be so boring if we all did the same thing.
As I reflect on my time thus far in medical school, I am reminded that God gave me gifts and talents to be the person that I am today. God put me in the place that I am today with the family and friends that I have and the patients I encounter because he knows what I have in store. He puts those people in my life because he knows that I need them, but also because he knows that they need me. It's amazing to think about His plan and exciting to dream about what is in store, especially after hearing all of the amazing outcomes of the MATCH 2022 for WVU SOM.
As of right now, I have my sights set on Family Medicine. I feel like it will be the career path that will lead me to the most creativity and flexibility with incorporating my passion for nutrition and physical activity into my practice. As I continue my training, I need to constantly remind myself that life is full of so many possibilities and the potential for me to succeed is great. Who knows where my future will lead me in the next year! I am nonetheless excited about what is in store. As for now, I will just try to live in the moment and keep on learning.
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