As I sit here gazing out the library window as the wisps of spring begin to enter the air, I have been contemplating the last few months of my life. They have been a roller coaster of triumph, failure and exhaustion. With the light at the end of the tunnel slowly growing brighter, I am left in a bit of a quandary....
...Namely whether or not I shall continue this blog.
For almost four years and 503 posts I have documented my journey as a discouraged undergrad to successfully adapting to pharmacy curriculum.
I have gotten married, become a father, moved hundreds of miles and lost a good friend along the way. This site was originally designed as a centralized database for my adventures at work, but over the years it has evolved into something more.
Now I am left wondering where to take it from here. I do not have the time, nor the confidence or experience, to take it in the direction of Eric, RPh or The Redheaded Pharmacist. I cannot compete with the artful and hilarious writings of Drug Monkey or TAP. Nor do I want to emulate any other pharmacy blog in existence.
I always told myself that I wanted this site to be something slightly unique and different. Everyone can yell and complain about the profession, I had decided long ago to delve onto a different path.
Today, when I wish to write I find myself writing more about my other main interest rather than pharmacy. I am not sure if it is that I am burnt out on the topic due to the trial and tribulations of the first year of school or if it is something more.
Call it writer's block if you will... except there is no actual block. It's merely a nonchalant feeling when it comes to discussing daily aspects related to the profession.
That, and the pharmacy I work at is incredibly boring to work in.
Earlier this week I toyed with the idea of possibly calling it quits. The response I have received since then has kept me open to the idea of keeping open... at least until I can decompress over the summer.
In short, the tone of this place may change a bit in the coming weeks. As to what that one may be, I cannot say, but it will be different nonetheless.
Whether its for the good or the bad... well that's up to you to let me know.
10 comments:
Phathead, you are a very talented and intriguing writer. Whether you write about pharmacy, racing, or the sun coming up in the morning, I will read and enjoy your blog. Change is inevitable, following your changing path helps me deal with mine. Please keep writing.
I can understand that you have a lot on your plate right now and staying committed to a blog might be a challenge. Having said that I sure would miss this blog should you ever decide to stop writing it. In the end though it is your decision and you will do what you think is best.
I recently had to evaluate my own blog and I came to the conclusion that I was doing too much. I didn't want to stop writing (I really enjoy it) but what I was doing had started to feel like too much. My solution was to just cut back and I can already tell it was the right move for me to make. You'll find the right answer for your own situation. Whatever you decide I will say that this site and your 500 plus posts are quite an accomplishment. I can only hope to get to that level myself!
I hope you continue this blog. I have certainly enjoyed reading about your journey to become a pharmacist.
I can't even imagine how busy you must be. But I would vote for writing the blog once a month. If possible, forget it the rest of the time.you are a fine writer, and I would love to one day hear all about you getting out of school and also hearing more about the baby. But if it is too much, just drop it and don't give it another thought.Don't do something that makes your life harder.
I love reading your stories. I'm not in the profession, but I still understand the majority of it. It's very entertaining, and I would be sad if you quit.
Keep up the good work!!
You may not have time to write as much (and it will only get worse) but I hope you keep the blog. Those of us who went to pharmacy school a "little while ago" find it interesting to hear the stories of pharmacy education today, and you'd be surprised how little has changed. Plus, it can be therapeutic to vent once in awhile. It is easy to feel burnt out, no doubt about it.
I enjoy your blog, but you need to do what's best for you. Personally, I found myself in the same situation and realized that my problem was that 1) I had no work/life balance and 2) coming home and blogging about work was only exacerbating the problem. I deleted my blog and have never regretted it.
You are such an inspiration to me because you gave me the hope by presenting your continuous hard work and struggle through this journey of yours. You showed me not to give up this hectic prepharmacy journey of mine. You showed me that I wasn't the only one going through exactly the same thing you did. You really proved to me there is light at the end of the tunnel. Therefore, I really hope you do reconsider your idea of giving this up. You can take a break from it whenever you choose to but don't give up on the followers who actually look forward to the leader.
-Thanks.
I would vote to continue... As of right now, I'm ending my third year of pharmacy school, and rotations are apparently all about reflection (learning, what learning?) over the past three years. What you're doing here will probably ultimately help you because the majority of your posts are not 100% complaining - and supposedly this reflection thing is good for you...
I know exactly how you feel. I begin pharmacy school this fall and have recently taken an unintentional sabbatical after a recent intentional sabbatical. While my blog is just semi-daily ramblings and life events, I think this is just preparing me for all of the time I WON'T have in school to write in it. Don't ever feel guilty for not writing. Trust me, the guilt passes and you find other ways to let it all out. ;)
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