An encounter with Dr Charisma

Saturday morning resume building provided the perfect opportunity to daydream whilst listening to a lecture about leadership in medicine by the man himself. As Dr Charisma had us in the palms of his manly, manly hands, I wondered, is charisma the single most attractive quality in a man?

If I were to write a medical history of Dr Charisma it would go something like this;

30 something prominent cardiothoracic surgeon presents to conference to give lecture re: leadership.

HOPC:

• Traits of charisma began to appear in early medical school when pt joined medical society
• Symptoms of charisma increasing throughout life with appointments on the national governing body of medicine and many a tv appearance
• States that charisma is present throughout the day but increases when sense of humour shines through, or when patient simply smiles
• No evidence of charisma decreasing but assumed that pt. would not be so charismatic after a long day of troublesome pediatric cardiothoracic surgery
• NB: WORKS with CHILDREN - swoon, swoon, swoon

PMhx:

• Prior to charisma episodes was inflicted by kindness and determination
• No other medical problems
• No regular medications
• NKDA

Shx:

• Non-smoker
• Occasional drinker (when charming others)
• Married (sigh)

Fhx:

• Assumed that charisma runs through family, surely this amount of charisma must be genetic

O/E:

• Well built, handsome man with devastatingly killer smile emanating charisma
• Intelligence ++
• Sense of humour +++
• Engaging audience +++++++
• Ralph Lauren supported smell ++
• Kindness +++
• Able to engage in self-depreciating humour +++
• Ability to make all women (and some straight men) swoon +++
• Charisma +++ (Level: Martin Luther King charisma)

Ddx:

• Charisma
• ? just charm to get the girls (probably not as already married, sigh)

Mx:

• Reassure pt that charisma is a wonderful quality not to be feared
• Advise pt to talk to more people so that they too may enjoy the charisma and know what to look for when trying to find own charismatic man.

And how was I inspired by Dr Charisma? Well I spent the evening basking in the glory of Dr Charisma-to-be (i.e. the interstate, medical student version, who has appeared on popular breakfast television), with a few drinks, some good company and a few other details that won't be mentioned as there shall be no kissing and telling.

Breakfast with Little Miss Sunshine

Once upon a cloudy Melbourne morning, two ladies decided it was high time that they finally caught up and explored the cafe that has been voted 'Melbourne's best breakfast' two years in a row.

Replete Providore can be found quietly nestled in between the hustle and bustle of Barker and Glenferrie roads. Surrounded by one of Melbourne's notoriously snobby schools, it doesn't take much to feel intimidated. However, as soon as one walks through the inviting red doors and makes oneself comfortable on one of the custom made red and black benches all fears are allayed. Most of the folk at the cafe look as if they have just wandered down to their local and the atmosphere is filled with light chatter and smell of delicious things to come.

Little Miss Sunshine having visited previously stuck to the tried and tested and ordered the corn fritters with crispy Istra bacon, tomato and avocado salsa, replete chutney and sour cream. I, also a conservative when it comes to food, adventured out with the ricotta hotcakes with lemon curd and strawberries.

The conversation flowed easily, after all we had much med couple gossip to catch up on. Furthermore, we soon ascertained that we had a not-so-fond-of-girl in common and shared examples to reinforce our not-so-fondness. More customers poured in with the stressed out waitress having to take them out to the back. As the smells kept wafting, the rumblings of two hungry stomachs overwhelmed the conversation.

What arrived was not a dissapointment:

It may have even tasted better than it looked. The tangy flavours of the cheese combining with the sweetness of the strawberry and smoothness of the lemon curd - absolutely divine.

More food was devoured as outside the weather turned from cloudy, to rainy, to cloudy to rainy again. Coffee was sipped and we talked until we realised that we had spent close to four hours continuously chatting in the cafe. Seeing dozens of patrons lined outside just waiting for a table we mutually concluded that it was time to leave.

So, on a public holiday Monday morning two fabulous ladies stepped outside into the sunshine, content that both their minds and stomachs were brimming with joy.

Clearing out the trash

As I sat tidying my study, an act that should have occurred months ago, I couldn't help but wonder; is it about time that I cleaned out the trash in my life too?

From the outside it seems that there is very little rubbish in my life - a final year medical student at such a young age guaranteed of a job and endless possibilities, several chances to travel this year alone and meetings with friends and family where the laughter can still be heard long after everyone has gone home. Yet, what many fail to see is the nagging doubts, the insecurities that litter my existence and threaten to overwhelm the surrounding beauty.

Take Mr Investment Banker (MIB) for example, a man with whom I had an enthralling whirlwind romance almost a year ago but who continues to be that person in my head that I continue to tell my stories to. Why I don't have the courage to tell him the stories in real life is anyone's guess. Things with MIB ended due to circumstance rather than a falling out, we remained friends and continued to play the games that only two twenty-something singles can play. Eventually, tired of the lack of progression and the lure of exotic lands I neglected to answer his last flirty Facebook message. However, since coming back from my travels my mind has not let me forget about him, yet my pride and everything I have learnt from 'He's Just Not That Into You' prevent me from making that first fearful move. Instead I have been feeding my cravings by regularly checking his profile and obsessing over why his 'single' status has been removed from it. It doesn't take 5 years of medical school to know that this is unhealthy.

So today I actively decided to push this overwhelming fear of rejection out of my life by inviting him to a charity event that I happen to be organising. And whilst in theory the fear should be well on the way of being lost somewhere in the big, wide universe, I sit here obsessively wonderin what is going to happen. So much so that I felt the need to start a blog and vent. Baby steps, right?