I have a little dream-box on the nightstand next to my bed. It was a gift. The idea is to write down your dreams, put them in the box and they will seep into your every human fiber as you enjoy a lovely night of golden slumbers. Then when you wake up, you make that … More I threw a dream in the garbage.
I had the honor of being chosen as the class speaker for the NUNM graduating class of 2017. The transcript and video of the speech are below.
You were made to dream. Made to believe. Made to have unbreakable faith. You were made to put everything you have into something. Made to count on it. To rely on it. To know it will always be there. You were made to be wrong. You were made to be let down. Made to question … More Don’t forget what you were made for.
I’ve always hated running. It’s a reasonable hatred, I think. When I was younger, I had a bunch of health problems, including asthma, which made running a truly painful experience. Every time I ran, my lungs felt like they were being set on fire and ripped out of my chest, I was immediately struck with … More I ran until I cried.
It was dark when I woke up this morning. It’s always dark when I wake up. Lately, though, it’s been cold, too. I wear long fleece pants and a big, fluffy robe. I put on my warm slippers and check if I can see my breath as I slowly exhale. I turn the heater on … More Quiet, lonely mornings – My daily ritual.
My time living in Portland, OR has felt like a single blink of my eyes. I moved here in late August of 2013 and since then, I have constantly been studying for an exam or training for a martial arts competition. It’s been relentless and exhausting. That is, until a few weeks ago. I took … More A few words on my goals and accomplishments.
I knew I was pushing myself to my limit, but I thought I could handle it. My plan was to take my first set of board exams to become a licensed naturopathic doctor on a Tuesday and fight at a Muay Thai event on the following Saturday. From the moment my school term ended until … More It’s not about being unbreakable.
During my first week of medical school at NCNM, I met up with a veteran student to get some advice and ask about his experiences at the school. He kept mentioning the word “burnout” like it was a disease or something. Some virus that students inadvertently and unavoidably give to each other. A rite of passage … More Hi, I’m James and I suffer from burnout.
A few days from now, I will compete in my first Thai Boxing fight. Training for this fight has been pretty difficult for me. I’m also in medical school, which in itself is a pretty busy life and adding the immense amount of athletic training required for a fight has been among the most grueling … More I fight because I’m broken.
I’ve been reading. I heard that a great way to prepare for medical school is to read. A lot. It doesn’t have to be science based. The idea is to get used to doing a good amount of reading every day. I’ve already put a few books away. My current reading is a book called … More Fear is a doozy.
James is Trying 