Splurges

I know a former surgeon who’s on social media who once said that she used to compensate for the stress of residency by shopping compulsively. I can relate to that in my training. There is a certain amount of stress that goes into becoming a doctor that most people instinctively pivot to unhealthy ways to deal with it, whether it is drinking, shopping, compulsively eating, etc., etc. 

One splurge that I don’t necessarily regret is the purchasing of two writing instruments that collectively have set me back maybe $1400. It’s not an insane amount of money, and the investment is toward something that’s healthy and productive. After all, journaling regularly has been proven to have benefits for one’s mental health. However, as I’ve learned, I could very much just open a Word document on my computer to get the same effect. Sure, the old-fashioned typing experience on a typewriter is not the same, but I don’t know if that experience is worth over a thousand dollars—maybe if I become financially stable.  

Yet, I still think about the need to stay financially solvent, especially if I go on to enter the field of architecture as a student taking on debt to cover living expenses. It would be a privilege for sure. To be able to do art as one’s career is, I’m sure, an honor and, for those lucky enough to be able to do it, it’s certainly something to be thankful for, as I’ve learned there are many jobs out there in the world that are just not very enjoyable. At the end of the day, a job is just a job for most people.