Declaration(ˌdekləˈrāSH(ə)n) of Geneva(jəˈnēvər)

AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I SOLEMNLY(ˈsäləmlē) PLEDGE(plej) to dedicate(ˈdedəˌkāt) my life to the service of humanity;
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;
I WILL RESPECT the autonomy(ôˈtänəmē) and dignity(ˈdiɡnədē) of my patient;
I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost(ˈətˌmōst) respect for human life;
I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability(ˌdisəˈbilədē), creed(krēd), ethnic(ˈeTHnik) origin(ˈôrəjən), gender, nationality(ˌnaSHəˈnalədē), political(pəˈlidək(ə)l) affiliation(əˌfilēˈāSH(ə)n), race(rās), sexual(ˈsekSH(o͞o)əl) orientation(ˌôrēənˈtāSH(ə)n), social standing or any other factor to intervene(ˌin(t)ərˈvēn) between my duty and my patient;
I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided(kənˈfīd) in me, even after the patient has died;
I WILL PRACTICE my profession with conscience(ˈkän(t)SHəns) and dignity and in accordance(əˈkôrdns) with good medical practice;
I WILL FOSTER(ˈfôstər) the honour and noble(ˈnōbəl) traditions of the medical profession;
I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;
I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;
I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;
I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate(ˈvīəˌlāt) human rights and civil(ˈsiv(ə)l) liberties(ˈlibərdē), even under threat(THret);
I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Geneva

Your Relationship With Text Messaging

By Steve Pavlina

How would you rate(rāt) your current relationship with texting on a scale(skāl) of 1 to 10?

A 1 means you really need to improve how you use this tool. A 10 means you’re using the tool in a way that works very well for you, and other people who text you understand and respect your boundaries.

I feel that I have a healthy relationship with text messaging. It’s generally not a distraction, I use it effectively(əˈfektəvlē), and my approach works well for me. Boundary issues are uncommon and easily fixed.

So let me share some tips regarding(rəˈɡärdiNG) how I use it. See if any of this helps you reassess(ˌrēəˈses) your own relationship with texting.

Define your desired relationship with texting in advance. Instead of addressing issues only in a reactive bottom-up matter, get clear about the role you want this tool to play in your life. What are the justifiable(ˈjəstəˌfīəb(ə)l) and intelligent use cases for it? What uses would be distracting and should be considered out of bounds? I encourage you to write up your own personal list of do’s and don’ts for the tool.
…
Keep your phone outside of your workspace. If your phone is your primary(ˈprīˌmerē) texting device, and if your work doesn’t primarily involve texting, leave your phone elsewhere while working. I leave mine in the kitchen while I work in my home office.
Respond on your schedule. If you always respond to people immediately when they text you, you’ll train them to expect that. If this works for you, great. But if not, just respond when it’s convenient(kənˈvēnyənt). I often don’t reply to texts for a day or two.
…

How is your current relationship with text messaging working for you? This type of tool will probably be around for many more years, so it’s wise to make this a healthy and positive relationship. When this relationship isn’t working well, it becomes an added source of stress. When this relationship is working well, it can add meaningful value and connection to your life.

https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2020/12/your-relationship-with-text-messaging/

limits?

our grandchildren’s grandchildren

By Henry H. Walker

who we are,
when we are less than our best,
denies(dəˈnī) any limits to our will,

who we are,
when we are at our best,
denies any limits to our will,

our tragedy(ˈtrajədē) is how often
we cannot differentiate(ˌdifəˈren(t)SHēˌāt)
between the two takes on the will,
and we have to face a bill we cannot pay:
overpopulation(ˈˌōvərˌpäpyəˈlāSHən),
over-use of fossil(ˈfäsəl) fuels(ˈfyo͞o(ə)l),
over-indulgence(inˈdəljəns) of our appetite(ˈapəˌtīt)
for calories(ˈkal(ə)rē), for consumption(kənˈsəm(p)SH(ə)n),

we can choose the tribal(ˈtrībəl)
and not quite get how many tribes there are,

still I turn and choose to believe
in the best of Western tradition:
that problems can be solved,
that obstacles(ˈäbstək(ə)l) can be overcome,
that we will not be held back by limits
to our imagination,
to our problem-solving,
to making each moment a gift
to our grandchildren’s grandchildren.

https://henryspoetry.blogspot.com/2021/01/limits.html

The American Tailwind(ˈtālˌwind)

Excerpted(ˈekˌsərpt) from Warren Buffet’s 2018 letter(ˈledər) to Berkshire(ˈbərkSHər) Hathaway shareholders

Charlie(ˈCHärlē) and I happily acknowledge that much of Berkshire’s success has simply been a product of what I think should be called The American Tailwind. It is beyond arrogance(ˈerəɡəns) for American businesses or individuals to boast that they have “done it alone.” The tidy(ˈtīdē) rows of simple white crosses at Normandy(ˈnôrməndē) should shame(SHām) those who make such claims(klām).

There are also many other countries around the world that have bright(brīt) futures. About that, we should rejoice(rəˈjois): Americans will be both more prosperous(ˈpräsp(ə)rəs) and safer if all nations thrive(THrīv). At Berkshire, we hope to invest significant sums across borders.

Over the next 77 years, however, the major source of our gains will almost certainly be provided by The American Tailwind. We are lucky – gloriously(ˈɡlôrēəslē) lucky – to have that force at our back.

…

For 54 years, Charlie and I have loved our jobs. Daily, we do what we find interesting, working with people we like and trust. And now our new management structure has made our lives even more enjoyable.

With the whole ensemble(änˈsämbəl) – that is, with Ajit(ə) and Greg running operations, a great collection of businesses, a Niagara(neˈeɡərə) of cash-generation, a cadre(ˈkadrē) of talented(ˈtalən(t)əd) managers and a rock-solid culture – your company is in good shape for whatever the future brings.

…
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-motivate-teens-struggling-with-remote-school-11607432420

How to Motivate Teens(tēn) Struggling With Remote School

Getting boys to engage in virtual(ˈvərCH(o͞o)əl) instruction doesn’t have to be a battle. Experts offer tips on how to make virtual school more bearable(ˈberəb(ə)l).

By Julie Jargon

We’re nine months into the pandemic and remote school is wearing on students. Boys, who are at greater risk of falling behind academically(akəˈdemiklē) than girls, are having an especially tough time with all the hours spent behind screens. The challenges of staying focused and motivated in remote school carry even higher stakes(stāk) for adolescent(ˌadəˈles(ə)nt) and teenage(ˈtēnˌāj) boys, who face more academic pressure than younger ones.

I reached out to child psychologists(sīˈkäləjəst) and education experts to find out how parents can help their sons—and daughters—remain focused and motivated in virtual school. They all said the first step is for parents to examine(iɡˈzamən) their own expectations and reactions to their children’s struggles. Here are some key pieces(pēs) of advice(ədˈvīs):

Enlist(inˈlist) your child in developing solutions

“What you need to do as a parent is try to stay away from your own catastrophic(ˌkadəˈsträfik) thinking and use your foremost(ˈfôrˌmōst) consultant(kənˈsəltnt), which is your child himself,” said Michael Thompson, a child psychologist and author of “Raising(rāz) Cain(kān): Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys.” He added, “No one knows more about what he likes and what he hates about school than he does.”

How do you elicit(ēˈlisət) meaningful feedback from an adolescent or teenager who responds with one-word answers? It’s all about how you ask the question. Dr. Thompson suggests saying something like, “I see you’re struggling with math and English. How can I help you with that?”

…
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-motivate-teens-struggling-with-remote-school-11607432420

Confidence required

By Derek Sivers

Most of the time, we are working hard, head down, using what we know.

We get better and better at it. We make little improvements, and keep working. Our expertise(ˌekspərˈtēz) and confidence keeps increasing.

We can’t afford to stop and question everything. We can’t go back to school. We have work to do.

Until we don’t.

Last year I left my company, and decided to start a new one.

I wanted to replace my old thoughts with new ones. I had been working hard, doing one thing in one mindset for ten years, and needed to install a new operating system in my brain.

I read a lot of books on business, social psychology(sīˈkäləjē), management, behavioral economics(ˌekəˈnämiks), investing, cognitive biases, crowds, marketing, networking, learning, and communication.

But each book that made me feel smarter (“Aha! I think I understand the world better now!”) also made me feel dumber(dəm) (“Wow, I’ve been an idiot(ˈidēət). It’s surprising I survived at all.”)
…

It was all very humbling(ˈhəmbəl).

So humbling, that I found it hard to do anything at all.

…

After all I’ve learned, I can’t believe anyone actually thinks they’ll succeed in the complex world of business. Don’t they see all the really smart people who have tried and failed?

I can’t believe how foolish I was to start my first company. Just me in my bedroom with no experience, making a little website, when I was up against(əˈɡenst) giant(ˈjīənt) IPO-funded competitors(kəmˈpedədər).

I was an over-confident punk, thinking I had the answer, and everyone else didn’t.

But it worked.

And in fact, isn’t that kind of confidence absolutely required to get anything done?

Isn’t the role of the entrepreneur to be the bold, daring(ˈderiNG), audacious(ôˈdāSHəs) one? The over-confident reckless(ˈrekləs) one who says, “Screw(skro͞o) it. Let’s do it!”?

Yes! Of course! It’s the essential final lesson: that all this learning means nothing until you make something happen.

Whether you think you’ll win or not, you need to jump in the game, and say, “Let’s go!”

Whether your confidence is naïve(nīˈēv), inspired, or crafted, you need its high-horsepower(ˈhôrsˌpou(ə)r) engine to get uphill and go anywhere.

And no matter how humbling the lessons of life are, this final lesson is the most important of all.

…

Time to go make something happen.

https://sive.rs/confidence

Hippocratic Oath(ōTH) (Modern Version)

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant(ˈkəvənənt):

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains(ɡān) of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly(ˈɡladlē) share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic(ˌTHerəˈpyo͞odik) nihilism(ˈnīəˌlizəm).

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy(ˈsimpəTHē), and understanding may outweigh(ˌoutˈwā) the surgeon’s(ˈsərjən) knife(nīf) or the chemist’s(ˈkeməst) drug.

I will not be ashamed(əˈSHāmd) to say “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery.

I will respect the privacy(ˈprīvəsē) of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness(ˈhəmb(ə)lnəs) and awareness of my own frailty(ˈfrā(ə)ltē). Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever(ˈfēvər) chart, a cancerous(ˈkansərəs) growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability(stəˈbilədē). My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately(ˈadikwətlē) for the sick.

I will prevent(prəˈvent) disease(dəˈzēz) whenever I can, for prevention(prəˈven(t)SH(ə)n) is preferable(ˈpref(ə)rəb(ə)l) to cure(kyo͝or).

…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

I Love You

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I love your lips(lip) when they’re wet(wet) with wine(wīn)
And red with a wild(wīld) desire;
I love your eyes when the lovelight lies
Lit with a passionate(ˈpaSH(ə)nət) fire.
I love your arms when the warm white flesh(fleSH)
Touches mine in a fond(fänd) embrace(əmˈbrās);
I love your hair(her) when the strands(strand) enmesh(inˈmeSH)
Your kisses against my face.

Not for me the cold, calm(kä(l)m) kiss
Of a virgin’s(ˈvərjən) bloodless love;
Not for me the saint’s(sānt) white bliss(blis),
Nor the heart of a spotless(ˈspätləs) dove(dəv).
But give me the love that so freely gives
And laughs at the whole world’s blame(blām),
With your body so young and warm in my arms,
It sets my poor heart aflame(əˈflām).

So kiss me sweet(swēt) with your warm wet mouth,
Still fragrant(ˈfrāɡrənt) with ruby(ˈro͞obē) wine,
And say with a fervor(ˈfərvər) born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.
Clasp(klasp) me close in your warm young arms,
While the pale(pāl) stars shine above,
And we’ll live our whole young lives away
In the joys of a living love.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50334/i-love-you-56d22d5628559

Trump’s legacy(ˈleɡəsē)—the shame and the opportunity

The invasion(inˈvāZHən) of the Capitol(ˈkapədl) and the Democrats(ˈdeməˌkrat)’ victory in Georgia(ˈjôrjə) will change the course of the Biden(ˈbīdn) presidency(ˈprez(ə)dənsē)

Four years ago Donald Trump stood in front of the Capitol building to be sworn(swôrn) into office and promised to end “American carnage(ˈkärnij)”. His term is concluding with a sitting president urging a mob(mäb) to march on Congress—and then praising(prāz) it after it had resorted to violence(ˈvī(ə)ləns). Be in no doubt that Mr Trump is the author of this lethal(ˈlēTHəl) attack on the heart of American democracy(dəˈmäkrəsē). His lies fed the grievance(ˈɡrēvəns), his disregard(ˌdisrəˈɡärd) for the constitution(ˌkänstəˈt(y)o͞oSH(ə)n) focused it on Congress and his demagoguery(ˈdeməˌɡäɡ(ə)rē) lit the fuse(fyo͞oz). Pictures of the mob storming(ˈstôrmiNG) the Capitol… are the defining images of Mr Trump’s unAmerican presidency.

The Capitol violence pretended(prəˈtendəd) to be a show of power. In fact it masked two defeats. While Mr Trump’s supporters were breaking and entering, Congress was certifying(ˈsərdəˌfī) the results of the president’s incontrovertible(ˌinkäntrəˈvərdəb(ə)l) loss(lôs) in November. While the mob was smashing(smaSH) windows, Democrats were celebrating a pair of unlikely victories in Georgia that will give them control of the Senate(ˈsenət). The mob’s grievances(ˈɡrēvəns) will reverberate(rəˈvərbəˌrāt) through the Republican Party as it finds itself in opposition. And that will have consequences for the presidency of Joe Biden, which begins on January(ˈjanyəˌwerē) 20th.

…
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/01/09/trumps-legacy-the-shame-and-the-opportunity

One Year of Daily Blogging: Lessons and Insights

By Steve Pavlina

Today officially concludes my one-year daily blogging challenge that I committed to a little over a year ago. I started on December 24, 2019 and have published a new blog post or video every day since them. So that’s 374 days in a row if you include today’s post.

As you can verify(ˈverəˌfī) from the blog archives, I successfully completed the challenge.

I’ve been blogging every year since I started in 2004, but this is the first year that I’ve published something new every single day. This was an interesting experience, so I’ll share some thoughts about what it was like, some of which might surprise you.

I had no doubts(dout) that I could and would cross the finish line. As I’ve noted before, these kinds of challenges are won or lost in our minds before we begin Day 1. Quitting(kwit) or skipping a day wasn’t a temptation(tem(p)ˈtāSH(ə)n) at any point. I was all-in with this from the beginning.

Partly I did this as a gift to my future self. It creates a powerful new reference experience. I now know what it’s like to publish something every day for more than a year, and for the rest of my life, I’ll always know that I’m capable of at least that much. Even 20 years from now, I’ll be able to remember that in the wild year of 2020, I published something new every single day.

I’ve created and published more new material(məˈtirēəl) this year than in any previous year of my life. I’ve been earning a living from my creativity since 1994, so I have a lot of years of that behind me. It seems I still have a lot of years of that ahead of me too.

…
https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2020/12/one-year-of-daily-blogging-lessons-and-insights/