This is 42. It’s a big number. Daunting actually. I’ve lived a lot of life, but still so much more to live. * More than milestones achieved and boxes checked off - this week I’ve been thinking about people I’ve chosen to spend my time with, projects I’ve poured my heart into, and situations I’ve navigated differently over the last few years. Am I happy? Am I at peace? Am I proud of myself? Am I tuning out the noise? As I fall asleep at night- am I comforted with the knowledge I’ve tried my best today, made an impact, and lived with integrity? Choice is a funny word these days. The beauty of choice is no matter what your adversity is- YOU can choose to flip the script in your own head. YOU have opportunities every day to pave a new way. YOU have complete control over your thoughts, actions, mood and reactions. (If only some understood choice) This decade of life I Choose calm over stress, empathy over anger, patience over frustration, big picture over minutiae, and joy over loneliness. I am not even close to perfect but I strive for it often. And on this day in the OR I choose to see 2 brilliant and talented female PAs assisting me on a bilateral total knee replacement- not the OR delays, frustrations and 2 stools I had to reposition 1000 times to reach my patient’s knees. My goal one day is to not notice the negatives above- for that would be ultimate internal peace & happiness. There’s always 43.