5 Minute Life Check: February

I think… that I can make it through the madness

I wonder… how my family is really doing

I want… to be home taking care of my mom

I dream… of a future where everyone will be accepted and loved

I speak… out against tyranny and hate

I act… to preserve the rights for all

I honor… my family values and the lessons I've learned

I cry… because I'm overwhelmed

I see… a lot of coming together and support

I feel… the need to speak up and act up

I manage… to make time and take care of myself

I support… my mother and all of the patients who will soon lose their healthcare

I seek… to make this world a better place

I find… it difficult to balance my current life situation and my desire to be more active in the political process

I teach… others that it is not ok to hate

I learn… from others that I still have a long way to go to be more accepting of all

I am… ok with where I am in life

I wish… that I had JP or someone at my side supporting me during this difficult time

I love… my roommate and best friend TJ because he's always been there for me and introduces me to the most wonderful people

5 Minute Life Check: January

I think… that his year is going to be difficult

I wonder… how my mom is doing

I want… to be with my family supporting them

I dream… of finding someone to support me through the difficult road ahead

I speak… with confidence and devotion

I act… like I am strong and ready to face difficult times

I honor… myself by focusing on me

I cry… because I don't want my mom to suffer

I see… the pain that my mother is going through 

I feel… like I could do more if I was closer in location to my mom

I manage… to do what I can to support my family from afar

I support… my mom as best that I can

I seek… peace of mind and strength

I find… joy in small gatherings with others

I teach… myself to be better

I learn… how to write and publish a paper

I am… strong and will make it through this coming year

I aim… to keep myself balanced and working on myself and what I want to accomplish, while doing what I can to help my family

I love… my mom

5 Minute Life Check: December

I think… that I'm going to rock my committee meeting next week

I wonder… if I will be ready to take the next step in my life

I want… surround myself with people who love me

I dream… of being completely balanced and content with my life and situation

I speak… of grand adventures and trips around the world

I act… in ways that make me seem better than I am or in ways that make me appear to do more than I am doing (I wish that I wouldn't do this to make myself see above others)

I honor… the memories that I have of good and bad things

I cry… because I see a country divided and see more hate crimes instead of understanding and coming together

I see… more division in our future

I feel… hope that our nation will not lose its greatness and the progress it has made recently

I manage… to find time for myself and just enjoy being alone

I support… my lab mates and help them when they need it and show them gratitude when they help me

I seek… a life where I am at balance and happy with my decisions

I find… that I learn something new about myself and people the more I travel

I teach… younger MD/PhDs about science and life. I hope that I can make their process a little bit easier.

I learn… to be more humble and to be more patient

I am… a good man with good desires for a better future

I miss… JP

I love… butter cookies, hygge, and throwing dinner parties

30 Before 30: 3/30

It's been about a month since I started my 30 Before 30 and I making progress! Currently, I'm 10% done with my list, but have started some long-term projects and have scheduled other take place. I'm really excited to continue doing this and I hope to have them all completed by January 7, 2018 when I turn 30!

Completed:

1. Travel to a new continent: Back in August and September, I traveled to Australia! It has been on my list of places to go and the opportunity presented itself. I had such a great time there. I was able to explore Sydney and Melbourne, drive the Great Ocean Road, camp in the Outback, see Uluru-Kata Tjuta-King's Canyon, hike in the Blue Mountains, and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. Those were the major adventure highlights, but there were also some major highlights from everyday life. I got to see a whole bunch of marsupials and pet a kangaroo and koala, I met some great new mates, started crushing on an Aussie boy who inspired me to do a 30 before 30 list, learned to surf, ate delicious bread, lamb, and Asian food, and so much more! This trip was wonderful and I hope to go back there someday to catch up with my mates and experience its beauty once again.
2. Go to dinner prepared at a chef's table: About a week ago, I went with my best friend Kevin to Eureka at Kava to have a 9 course dinner plus wine pairings prepared by the Chef Flynn McGarry. He is an amazing teenager! At age 11, he started hosting fine dining dinner parties at his house and then has gone from there. At age 16, he started a pop-up restaurant that typically travels between NYC and LA. I was disappointed that I didn't go last year, but so happy that I was able to go this year. He seriously knows how to cook! His courses were basically the best prepared foods that I have ever had. Everything left me wanting more and he seamlessly paired each course with the next. It was very vegetable heavy, which I loved, but also had delicious cuts of meat, like pork neck! The wine pairs and desserts were divine. I seriously could not get enough of it! It was also great to talk and interact with Flynn. We were able to hear his inspiration behind each dish and how he developed his dishes. Some of the the inspirations were so simple, whereas others were so complex. I can't wait to go to my next tasting menu and chef's table fine dining experience!
3. Reconnect with an old friend: Last week I had the opportunity to reconnect with not just one, but two old friends! It was a double whammy! Sarah and Brandon (from college) were in NYC and we decided to meet up. We have remained in contact off and on over the years, but lately we haven't been talking. Recently, we started reconnecting over social media and they told me that they were coming to the city and would love to see me. I jumped at the chance to see them! I was so excited to reconnect with them. We went to brunch and then walked around the city until it was time for them to go to their Broadway show. I couldn't believe how much I missed them and how it felt like years haven't passed. This is a sign of true friends. I wish that I would have been able to spend more time with them while they were here, but I know that we will remain in better contact now. I hope to see them when I travel to DC and when they come up to NYC.

In Progress:

1. Go to Iceland to see the northern lights: January 5th-9th
2. Go beach camping: I need to buy the permit soon, but have it planned for June
3. Go to a concert of one of my favorite artists: January 28th
4. Finish Duolingo Spanish and speak Spanish more fluently: Working on this most days
5. Run a half marathon: Registered for the lottery and will find out in December if I can race in March
6. Regularly volunteer with NY Cares: I've done my first volunteer session with them
7. Obtain a PhD and publish a first author paper: Working on my manuscript now and will hopefully defend in March/April
8. Put away $35,000 in retirement/investments: Slowly chipping away at this, but will put a big chunk away in January when I add the maximum amount to my Roth IRA
9. Read 12 novels: I finished a book a couple weeks ago, but I can't remember the name (will update this later) and I'm currently reading Man's Search for Meaning.
10. Cook 25 recipes from Molly on the Range: Reading through the entire cookbook and deciding which recipes to make
11. Try to become a Freemason: I sent an email, but never received a response. I will try again in January.

List:

1. Go to Iceland to see the northern lights
2. Travel to a new continent (Australia) √
3. Travel to Yosemite/Patagonia
4. Travel to a US city that I've never been to (Philly/Chicago)
5. Go beach camping (June)
6. Go on a road trip
7. Go skydiving
8. Go deep sea fishing
9. Go to a dinner prepared at a chef's table √
10. Go to a concert of one of my favorite artists
11. Circumnavigate Manhattan by foot/bike
12. Get a tattoo
13. Call in sick from work and go on an adventure instead
14. Take a cooking class from League of Kitchens
15. Take a dancing class
16. Finish Duolingo Spanish and speak Spanish more fluently
17. Run a half marathon
18. Regularly volunteer with NY Cares
19. Work in the student run clinic 10 times
20. Start a new craft/hobby (bouldering?)
21. Send in a Post Secret
22. Obtain a PhD and publish a first author paper
23. Host 4 dinner parties with one of them being a fundraiser
24. Put away $35,000 in retirement/investments
25. Read 12 novels
26. Cook 25 recipes from Molly on the Range
27. Reconnect with an old friend √
28. Visit a good friend in another city
29. Speak with grandparents about their childhood
30. Try to become a Freemason

5 Minute Life Check: November

I think… that I'm ready to take my life to the next level

I wonder… when my thesis committee meeting will be

I want… to escape and travel the world

I dream… of running away to Australia and falling in love

I speak… about diet and exercise and how both can be life changing

I act… in ways that will make me a good friend

I honor… my heritage by sticking with many of the morals and values that have been taught to me

I cry… at times because I am depressed and sad

I see… the light at the end of the tunnel of my PhD

I feel… like I need to be closer to my family, in particular my grandparents

I manage… to repair relationships that I let go for various reasons and make them better than before

I support… Hillary Clinton and hopes she wins the election

I seek… to become a Freemason

I find… that it's easier to not give a fuck

I teach… those around me through my actions

I learn… from those around me by observing what they do

I am… wanting to not be in a relationship for a long time because I need to gain strength and learn to be ok with being alone again.

I want… to build a life where I am happy and strong

I love… food and exploring the wonders of it

30 Before 30

A boy I met in Australia, whom I am quite smitten with, inspired me to make a list of 30 things to do before I am 30. He was doing this, but didn't make his 30. I have a little over a year to accomplish all of these things, but I'm going to try my best. I think it will be a way to push myself to live life to the fullest and help me develop as a human being. I'm excited to see what happens and who I become!

Here is my list:

1. Go to Iceland to see the northern lights (January 5th-9th)
2. Travel to a new continent (Australia) √
3. Travel to Yosemite/Patagonia
4. Travel to a US city that I've never been to (Philly/Chicago)
5. Go beach camping (June)
6. Go on a road trip
7. Go skydiving
8. Go deep sea fishing
9. Go to a dinner prepared at a chef's table (November 5th)
10. Go to a concert of one of my favorite artists
11. Circumnavigate Manhattan by foot/bike
12. Get a tattoo
13. Call in sick from work and go on an adventure instead
14. Take a cooking class from League of Kitchens
15. Take a dancing class
16. Finish Duolingo Spanish and speak Spanish more fluently
17. Run a half marathon (March)
18. Regularly volunteer with NY Cares
19. Work in the student run clinic 10 times
20. Start a new craft/hobby (bouldering?)
21. Send in a Post Secret
22. Obtain a PhD and publish a first author paper (March/April)
23. Host 4 dinner parties with one of them being a fundraiser
24. Put away $35,000 in retirement/investments
25. Read the following novels... (need to make this list, recs?)
26. Cook 25 recipes from Molly on the Range
27. Reconnect with an old friend
28. Visit a good friend in another city
29. Speak with grandparents about their childhood
30. Become a Freemason (sent my first email!)

5 Minute Life Check: October

I think… about loss

I wonder… about my future family and what it looks like

I want… to work hard and enjoy myself this month

I dream… of running away to Australia

I speak… with old friends

I act… to build a community around me

I honor… my father and all the hard work he has done

I cry… because my life has changed a lot and is changing quickly

I see… the light at the end of the tunnel

I feel… light and free

I manage… my emotions and do what I want to do

I support… Kevin and his struggles in third year

I seek… to join the Freemasons

I find… the world around me beautiful

I teach… young scientists immunology

I learn… to be more patient and loving

I am… empathetic

I reconnect… with an old boyfriend

I love… traveling and will be doing so a lot coming up