My body was achy, and my brain was foggy this morning. I told myself, I could see what my patients mean when they come to the clinic describing how horrible life is and how they could not do anything or focus!

However, I had no choice but to get up and get ready to arrive early at work since I have booked a special training for our electronic records system that was about to start at 8am in the morning and I needed to do some letters before that. I dressed in black to match the mood (and wine colour to lighten it a bit) but could not avoid wearing some kohl and my strawberry heart earrings. It could not be all gloomy! I told myself.

I cheated with the calories by adding a few teaspoons of Cadbury’s hot chocolate to my warm milk and poured it in a biodegradable travel mug as I rushed out to jump in the taxi I have ordered. I know, I could get broke, if I continue to order for taxis this often! This is not a routine, but I could say that probably I could have bought so many books if I walked to the hospital or cycled. Last year I preferred to cycle or sometimes take the bus, but I started to feel lazy when the weather got chilly, and then apprehensive about cycling in the dark after the killings of women in London starting with Sarah Everard, then the teacher, and then the nurse. I must also admit that my mother was not a fan of me cycling believing it to be not “lady-like” and further insisting that I better not cycle after I have informed her about a colleague from work who was killed in a crash with a petrol tanker near the hospital in Cambridge. So now, my default transport is the bus, my rescue is a taxi, and my dream is to walk or cycle to the hospital before Summer is back!

I was pleased to find that I know the taxi driver. A fine gentleman who once took me to Heathrow airport and back home on my return. In few other occasions he drove me in long journeys. His car is always clean, and in the hot weather he provides free water bottles to his passengers. He does not play loud music and his car smells good. And now I almost see him as family since he told me a lot about his! I could say we as well exchanged other benefits with him telling me about areas to buy houses in Cambridge and myself giving some health advice on the go when he asks me. In brief, I could say that I feel safe in his taxi, and though the journey was very short, I was pleased to have a familiar feeling in the morning today and with him wishing me a good day using my first name as I left his taxi. You could do a lot to me by just calling my name with honest care! I hear it in the voice.

As I arrived at work, I realised that I have forgotten my badge. I wondered if I would be stopped at the entrance but thankfully someone got just before me, and the door was open, and the security man recognised me so welcomed me with a good morning and how are you instead of asking where my badge was. He is one of the lively security men who greet people with joy every morning. I walked to our department not sure if I would be rescued with another’s badge, but I thought I would worry about it when I get there and thankfully a colleague arrived one minute after me and let me in.

As I got on my desk and turned on my computer, I realised that the time for the training is 8am CT not GMT! Shocker! I have to re-juggle the clinic this afternoon with my colleague which ended to be doable in the end. The morning clinic ended early as well giving me time to call some of the patients earlier. Thankfully they were welcoming.

I was also pleased to see my office mate back from his leave as well. He reminds me of my brothers, home, and the medical school!

Other bits and pieces and phone calls but I think you have sampled enough from my day.

At the end of the day, I am exhausted but satisfied.

Working from home today, I woke up, stretched in bed and prayed for the day to be a good one and for me to be a better and a happier person. I listened to Tony Robbins while I was brushing my teeth before pausing him for privacy and resuming the moment I sat at the table to start my work giving myself a few minutes to practise his proposed meditation.

A few things more I like about working from home beside the freedom I have described before are keeping my feet bare on the picnic blanket that I throw beneath the table for some warmth and the scented candles adding an element of relaxation beside some music! I promise I do not sleep, I work with focus with less interruptions to move around as no boredom to break!

I had limited human contact today. Beside my sister I called only one patient and had one zoom meeting with my colleague to review her article. Then all paperwork and e-mails until interrupted by the delivery men with my dressing table that I have ordered for 7 months ago! I was hoping that by the time it arrives I would have bought my house ,however, house hunting in Cambridge turned to be mission impossible! Trying o find a house with character needs a bigger sum of money. Not that I am buying a house in Coppice Avenue though I recall that I was dazzled by one of those! I hunt for a 3-bedroom house with two bathrooms, big windows with light everywhere, a spacious kitchen and dining area, a warm lounge and a big garden with a small potential playground. Somewhere away from the crowded centre but not too far from work! I am dreaming I guess! But I find it so hard to settle for less snd I know that I will need to build my budget up if I am not to surrender and settle for less! But, hey! I know how to make my dreams come true! (with God’s will, of course!). 18 long months to find somewhere. My heart is hooked with Great Shelford though now I started to regret that I have turned down that beautiful house in Hauxton concerned about the history of buried chemicals! “Maybe I was stupid to turn down that offer! I told myself!”. But I could not get a house that I might one day be forced to sell and for sure would not be able to sell to anyone if I have an inkling of a doubt about safety to others! Anyway, they say that your house will find you and home is where the heart is! 😅

How did I get there? Oh, yes, the dressing table. I could not wait to finish the working hours to unpack it and put it together! I love it! Maybe I would share photos once I decorate it with my plants ! Or maybe not! I wondered:

“Are you planning to spend the whole time by the mirror?”

“Of course not, but some vanity is not too bad!”

I say it for someone who did only manage to put eyeliners in her 4th decade and still removes any sign of a lipstick after having the courage to put it on reaching the gate! Is it hard to look modest and feminine at the same time?! I guess it is, sometimes!

Anyway, I had some learning to do about the hormones. Some GPS send intriguing cases and questions my way! By the end of my work I celebrated with a brief dance for crossing off my to do list (something one could not do at work! 😅) and clapped for finding out one of my patients did respond to treatment with his thyroid function trending towards normality after a long struggle!

I am aware that I have not shared anything useful today so I will leave you with an older wisdom from Instagram and a song!

Good night!

The best thing about today is that I got to start it hearing the voice of my mother from the other end of the phone sounding well. We were so worried that we might lose her but thankfully she is better with only some harmless aches and pains.

I cannot recall every detail from today (a state of transient amnesia, I assume!) but had the chance of 85 minutes of financial review (I would more accurately call it education) that together with a few videos I watched on YouTube today will likely set me in the right direction to managing money better.

However, with all the thinking about money today, I realised that material does not matter to me much. As long as I am alive, healthy and safe, I have no fear about any financial loss since I am aware that I could find a way to replace anything if I am how I am today. I went further to think how grateful I am for everything I have in this life, for my family, my education, my mind, my body, my soul, the way I look and for everything I have or do especially the breath that I manage to take freely and comfortably (alhamdilillah)!

I ditched plans to do chores and binged watched an old Egyptian series. Of course fast forwarding given that I did not want to spend the whole day on it. But, it captured my attention. A young woman who was not allowed education by her father who ended marrying at young age someone who did not love her and married her to care for him and his mother while he reach his goals and ambitions. He prevented her from education when she tried to seek that since she realised that she could do more with her life.

After 6 years of humiliation, possession and suffering with a narcissistic husband she got divorce but found herself pregnant. She hid her pregnancy from her husband, sought help from her uncle and moved towns to live with him instead of her parents. She found friends from her childhood and together with her uncle they encouraged her to use her potential. She started working while educating herself and raising her son to be a fine boy and when her husband returned after 10 years she was standing tall, strong and without any hate to introduce him to his son. The series ended with her marrying her childhood friend who stood by her side and who loved her and respected her deeply.

The lessons as always:

Education is power!

Choosing to be with kind respectful people is your duty towards yourself!

And love requires kindness before all to be ranked as love!

The series is called:

“هي و المستحيل”

She and the impossible!

And last I would say:

Everything is possible!

“Make just one someone happy and you will be happy too!”

Mum was unwell last night, so both my sister and I stranded far away from where she is were too worried to sleep and kept disturbing our siblings back home to get updates. 

For the last few years, I had this fear of losing one of my parents. Just the thought makes me feel breathless! I know that the day would come but I know that I am not ready for it and will never be ready ever! I must admit that I once selfishly wished to go first, until I realised that if I did go first their pain would be so great and I could not stand it either! So, I stopped thinking about who would die first. Thankfully, before the sun rises this morning, my mother got better!

Late again to take the bus and arrive in good time for pre-work work, so I ordered for a taxi. He was at the door 15min earlier. I realised this is likely the same person from yesterday and I was right! 

“Good morning!”

“Good morning!”

“How was your first day yesterday?”

“It was good. I had 5 more other customers after you”

He looked pleased. I told myself, since he came back for me, then his experience with me was ok (trying to convince myself sometimes that I am a good person! (Eh!). Today, he got the car set on the right direction before I come and got me to work in no time!

No blueberry muffin for me today and no Costa’s hot chocolate. I told myself, not too bad in comparison to yesterday!

As I arrived at my desk, I felt comfortable, peaceful, and fresh. It felt like everything is in the right place. I knew that I had a long day ahead, but I knew that I could do it all and well by the will of God.

I had a mixture of patients in the clinic and one registrar helping. A few with Addison’s disease and other causes of adrenal insufficiency, some with thyroid disease and others with hypogonadism. They all have interesting stories, but for confidentiality I could not share any details. However, I could share that I had the joy of reviewing someone who feels now much better after a treatment we have initiated earlier and the pain of catching someone on phone just after he was told that he has no cure for his cancer. He was about to drive himself back home on his own. I wished I could hug him or drive him home. I could do neither, of course!

Ah! I was about to forget the sudden outage of our electronic system. I was with the second patient in the clinic. Thankfully, I have reviewed all her records prior to calling her in. So, when the system went down, I could capture her information and assessment in my notebook to transfer earlier. I started wondering thereafter about what has happened, but I took the opportunity to go to the medical school building and on the way back got hot drinks for me and my colleague before the system recovering. It felt like the end of the world for a minute! I thought that might have been a virus and I joked with myself we should name it “Camicron”! 

Teaching and another meeting before I leave home. Phones, food, and “Sleepless in Seattle” which brings us to the end with the title above, but I think I need to sleep so would not tell the reflection about this! (To be true, it was more exciting, but I am too sleepy to care about how this piece would look like!). Sorry!

Good night!

I woke up in the morning but against health advice I opened my phone to a series of messages that were worrying about someone who matters deeply. Worst of all is knowing that I could not do anything to make things better for them and that half of the solution needs to be initiated by them and by their own internal will. My heart raced for a few minutes but I had to get up to get ready and pray. A few sms to and fro, I felt my energy is being consumed before the start of the day trying to find solutions where there seem to be none. I opened the window for some air while I do my prayers. It was still dark but the breeze of air and the chirps of the birds made it feel a bit more hopeful. As I finished my prayers and read some Quran I peeked through the window, closed my eyes, inhaled deeply the smell of the morning. It has a healing effect! I decided that I am not going to let anything else stresses me and I took a taxi to work.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), the driver arrived 20 min before the set time. It pressured me more to rush everything so I had to omit drinking my milk and rushing out. He was awaiting there looking both stressed and excited!

“Good morning!”

“Good morning”

“Sorry, I did not come out immediately but my time is not until 07:50, that is why”

“I know. But, today is my first day ever and you are my very first customer!”

“Oh..I wish you a good day then”

That was added pressure! I have to make his experience a good one or at least not a bad one!

He struggled to turn the car around and it took us 3 minutes to head into the right direction. I remained silent hoping in my heart that I will not get to the hospital later than planned!

He got me there but he wrongly pressed his counter and made me underpay!

“This is not the right price for the journey!” I noted

“Yes, I know but I have pressed the wrong button! Do not worry, the company will sort this out!”

“Please, check with them today”

He nodded with a yes.

“I hope you have a good day!” I said

“You too” He replied

On my way home later as I came off the bus and walked, I called the company to check that money has been withdrawn. None yet but they promised to sort it out. Halal money! I have always to keep my money halal and never mix it with something that is not mine!

I arrived 5minutes later and sat at my desk at 08:10. I needed to quickly allocate patients in the clinic. We have a big one today. I was not still able to forget about the early hours and it brought a heavy feeling on my chest so I decided to walk to the concourse and get myself my emotional food healing package: “M&S blueberry muffins and Costa’s hot chocolate”. Those two fixed me for a long day ahead. (But probably messed up with my calorie intake for more than a week! 😅🤭)

Clinic done, post clinic registrar case review done, post clinic meeting done. I devoured a home made sandwich of cooked tuna with vegetables and peanut butter in-between. Prayers done, results meetings done! I resisted the temptation to go home on time and decided to stay for another hour to review some referrals and GP requests. Post done.

It is time to go home. As I am leaving I met the man who cleans the unit every evening. He looks so kind and cheerful that I am always happy to see him and exchange salutations! But, I realised shockingly that I have not brought him a new year’s gift! Maybe tomorrow. I told myself. I passed by him as he met me with a beaming smile and exchanged a few words.

I needed to pass by the secretary’s office to drop the post I have reviewed. Two of them have not left yet! One of them has Super powers and works 10am to 10pm! I have no idea how she does it and still smiles!

On the way out of the division and in the corridors I have passed through a group of men and a woman who were painting the walls. They have been working since yesterday. What was different about them is that they looked like a family and they worked very quietly. I could not figure out which African country they originated from but they had beautiful features visible despite the masks.

I walked out of the hospital building and smiled as I looked at the half moon. I am satisfied about the day and grateful for being alive!

Wonder Woman!

Back to back clinics and limited time for anything else! But the highlight of the day is a late present for my birthday from a colleague and a friend.

I smiled as I opened it because she just got the right stuff for me. Something I would have bought for myself if I saw before me! But the story is not about me today and is about her! (I am hoping she does not read this! 😅)!

She is “Wonder Woman!”. That is the best way to describe her! Beautiful, strong, athletic, thoughtful, respectful, rightful, revolutionary, original, determined, fair, extremely intelligent, super hard worker, focused, efficient, energetic and beyond that is sweetly vulnerable and sensitive but so good at hiding that only an eye that looks beyond the surface could see. An image of how a wonderful woman is made!

***

I actually wanted to talk about water but realised that it might take me at least an hour to do so and I need to sleep. I will have to write it on another day but could say one thing tonight: feel it as it wets your mouth the next time you sip it and as it flows on your face and body when you wash yourself. Look at it with amazement as you water the plants and touch it with your hands and face when it rains next. Be grateful for every drop even that you might have wasted because even that is a sign that you are in no fear of being without it and that is a reason for gratitude and for celebration!

The book is from the school of life. They have a good set of emotional, spiritual and relationships aids and tools including games for exploring and building relationships. They do have an online store but if you are one who prefers to see things in person and browse the galleries, they do have a branch near Russell Square in London.

https://www.theschooloflife.com/shop/

https://youtube.com/c/theschooloflifetv

Moving forwards!

Given that COVID19 cases are on the rise, we have been advised to work from home when we can and since all I had to do today is either paperwork or calling patients, working at home it was!

There is something good about working from home. You save time by not having to dress up or travel to work. I managed hence to sleep till relatively late and still get a shower, dress (in black loose wide trousers with a wine-coloured T-shirt, pulling my hair up with a band and not having to worry about having a scarf on! (Bonus: no masks either!)), get my warm lemon and honey drink and peacefully doing my morning prayers on time. By 07:40 I was on for work with the first e-mail read after I have already written the plan for the day! Boring details?!

Just before midday I got a virtual occurrence that made me realise that I have lost someone forever (interesting, it is no longer real life! Let us wait to see what happens when the metaverse arrives! And since I am at work, of course not on social media). I was shaking for a minute and I had to hold my heart. I then recollected myself since I am supposed to be working and respond to that message and since the Pomodoro was counting (Forest application! Very useful for when you are working at home to keep track and focus and avoid using your phone. And by the way after certain number of points a real tree would be planted based on your work! Awesome! And for courtesy, I first got to know it from a tweet of a guy working at Cambridge University. His name is Tyler Shores. If you live in Cambridge and are interested in intellectual stuff and IT stuff, you will likely find it useful to follow his account!).

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/forest-your-focus-motivation/id866450515

Where have I been?! Yes, I was telling you about my heartbreak! (It does not have to be romantic by the way!). I continued to work until my 5 minutes-break for praying and when I got on my praying mat and as soon as I finished praying I found myself crying. Not sure if that was of grief, or loss, or embarrassment or of feeling that I was so stupid! It was more painful because on the exact same date a couple of years back the very same person made me feel that I have seen a glimpse of a soul like mine or what my future self would be like! “How ironic!” I told myself. 2 years ago I did not know that the same person would make me cry today! Maybe one day I will be able to tell the story less vaguely and anonymously but I wanted to share that there was pain today! But, you know what? I moved on!

We had a meeting on zoom and I forgot about it all. It is good to see other people from work to remember that you are not living in a dream. I think if someone lives on their own for awhile with no real human contact they could easily mix up their real life with a dream-state during sleep since no one could provide proof to them that life is real and that one is real!

After the meeting I could within 20 min get something for a meal and eat it while still looking some emails and returning back to work with more focus no minute later! Super-time saving! No distances to cross or distractions!

Back to work. I had to respond to a complaint that I yet need to understand why it was put in the first place but it was kind of not impossible to respond to since we have actually done everything right and I had everything documented to prove! And of course that the patient is safe and with no harm.

I finished work at 17:30. I did my prayers and decided that I want to move! I did need to go out. I was satisfied about the amount of work done, I was not exhausted and I needed to clear my thoughts. Dolly was singing and I did not prevent myself from moving with her music and voice given that I could release some of “the negative energy” as Dr Ahmed Emara says. This is a famous modern psychologist from Egypt. He was right! I felt better after that and I did not waste time since I managed to change my clothes and be on the move. I thought about inviting my neighbour to join me for the walk but I remembered that i did not want to talk and I wanted to get lost in my own thoughts! (It did not happen in the end! In that journey I have talked to my sister, my mum and my friend! Guilty only of calling my sister! 😅).

I took the bus and was pleased to see a driver I am familiar with. He is one of the drivers that I like to see. He is Chinese in origin. He is both friendly and serious and gives the feeling of competence, trust and safety! I know, I know, I do not know anything about him but I think one could sense what people are even if you do not know the details of their lives. It takes practice. (I am hoping I am not very wrong!).

I got to the town centre and walked to the river. It was quiet there. Yet all of a sudden a man appeared rowing out from beneath the bridge as I stood in the centre of the rails looking at the water, light and darkness. He was so quick that by the time I got my phone to take a shot he was far beyond a clear view. Another two followed and a third followed later.

I walked down the bridge and found one of the benches looking into the river. I told myself I want to do something that I did not do before. I wanted to sit outside on a bench with my feet up and my legs crossed (yoga position). A simple thing it sounds but at some point I was so strict with myself and what I called to be appropriate behaviour might have been a little bit military-strict! But I am all for doing whatever I wish for these days! I put my shoes up beside me on the bench to make sure that no insect would crawl inside as I am lost looking into the river. The rowers passed at least twice through that spot. Slower this time followed by a few swans!

I decided to take my kindle out of my pocket and start reading Tim Ferris’s 4 hour workweek. By the way, I have not finished week 1’s January book yet but I have decided that I will move forward and start whatever I plan to do with no going back if the unfinished task is not time critical. I could still read it at the background while I am reading the rest of the books without feeling guilt. Tim Ferris was telling us about how to spread our retirement through the years rather than waiting till the end! It makes sense!

It is 19:00. I need to start walking back to make it on time for sorting other stuff and sleeping on time! As I walked by Côte brasserie, it was empty, quiet and looked romantic and warm with the candles lit. The taste of the chocolate fondant came to my mouth and I have told myself “why not!” I delved in “Table for one, please!”. I got to choose where I sit with plenty of options. I picked a warm comfortable corner with a view to the outside. I apologised that I am only going for the pudding (I do not think there was space for more!). I enjoyed it while reading. People started to come in and that was a prompt for me to leave and go home.

It was drizzling so I pulled the top of my blue raincoat on my head as I walked to the bus stop. My mum convinced me that it is not a good idea to walk at this time. On my way to that a few people were running in orange shirts. I think they are in kind of a race. I admired their stamina!

Regardless of everything happening in the world, you have the choice of how to make your own world or how to perceive it.

Good night! 🙂

A day with people

I decided today that time is too short to waste going to the supermarket for groceries and other household items so explored the option of online order and same day delivery. Using an application from the comfort of my home I ordered all the things that I will need for this month and spent the rest of the time clearing things at home before I do my prayers and leave to the café where I planned to read the book of the week and write a few notes. There was another plan waiting for me instead!

As I left my place I was welcomed by the warm rays of the sun. Something we have not experienced for sometime! I hesitated about how I should instead spend my day. Staying in a café sounded like a big waste of this gift of the sun today. I walked as I debated what I should do and turned on my music.

“I believe in you”! Don William?! It could not be better. One of my very favourite songs. “I am being gifted today at every turn!” I think to myself. Elvis Presley, Roberta Flack, Bill Joel, Taylor Swift, and others. Just the right list for this day!

I thought I would better walk to Nero at the station and when I get there I would give myself a chance to feel how best I could spend my day, at the café or wandering around and wondering! I even thought about taking the train to London to have a long walk by the Thames and maybe calling a friend to join me if they are free. But I recalled that I am invited for dinner at my neighbour’s and it would be rude to not show up and apologise! I was feeling that Cambridge is too small for me today as my soul would like to have an endless horizon to feel free and even it felt that even the whole country might not be enough. I wished that I had a vehicle that fly me around the world tonight. Only then I could feel that the space was enough for my soul! Obviously 4 static walls would not have done for me today and I hence walked and walked. My feet got me to Cambridge Botanic garden. I yet have two hours before the place closes so I wondered around accompanied by my sister on the phone as she called me by the time I were near Nero. I wandered around taking photos at time and then left the garden to walk up the A1134 to Fen causeway, Fen Coe, Mill lane, Trumpington street then I found myself at the King’s Parade.

At Mill Lane I spotted a man I have seen in the intellectual forum. I recalled him because he looked familiar and he asked the question I had in my mind.

“Why did you choose the colour white for silence? Most people usually see silence as Black rather!” The man asked.

“Because white has all the colours within it and when you reflect it, it shows you the beauty of all these colours!” Sundeep, the author of Anthropocene answered.

Not the exact words but these capture some of the meaning.

Another person took the opportunity and jumped to ask the next question to Sundeep “Why are you always dressed in Black?”

“Not for any particular reason other than laziness! You do not have to do much to care for black clothes and I only got to change this and these!” He pointed to the handkerchief in his left shirt pocket and his socks.

He disappeared from the lane but I was surprised by seeing him again crossing at Silver street. We did not talk. I do not know even if he recognised me but it was more comfortable this way.

At the King’s Parade there is another cafe Nero. This one has hot chocolate that tastes different than other places and I liked it last time. I felt satisfied enough that I could sit and return to my first plan. As I stood in the queue I heard a person saluting me! A Moroccan guy I have met with the other day in the group walk. It was nice to see him. I recall that we had a good conversation in that walk. I invited him for coffee with me but he already had two today hence he agreed to chat only for a bit and we walked after that shortly before I leave him to enter Boots for a few things that I forgot to order online. He convinced me to bake pizza next week (he had a good recipe for pizza with seafood toppings for his supper tonight) and to try a group film event at the Art Picture-house.

I arrived earlier than planned at my place and after doing my prayers and speaking to my mother I felt so sleepy (at a very strange time I say). I decided to lie down hoping that I would not accuse myself of laziness. “The day is already done without achieving any of my original goals! I will leave myself to it as a day of leisure and pleasure!”. I talked myself out of any achievements for today!

I could not sleep though and I did a few things before I got ready to go to my neighbour. It was nice to be in a place just downstairs and not worrying about how I would get back home!

I had a good company and I had to leave early since we are both working tomorrow but not before learning something from each other and exchanging some websites.

The Sainsbury’s man delivered my stuff to the door of my flat nicely and politely. I would give the service 4+ or 5 stars.

It is time to say good night to you all! 🙂

A random day in life!

Started vulnerably in the morning swaying between being open to the world and between turning in to my closed private world but have decided in the end that, the way to contribute is to be out there, to communicate and to interact.

Fear is not the way of spending your days in this world. To add value and to show kindness you could not live it alone and you could not build walls and shields between you and people!

I planned to go out to a café to read the book of the week with more focus but could not manage to leave my place in the end. Several phone calls to family and friends of the family before I had a meeting for a financial review (that was enlightening!).

I decided at some point midday to see a film. Fargo! A random choice. High scoring but a terrible true story! A husband planned a kidnap of his wife to get money off her rich dad with his plan ending in the death of 5 people including his wife and father-in-law and his own imprisonment! Oh, and a million-dollar buried somewhere in the snow that would have likely remained there for years because the only one who knew where it was met his own death in the hands of the collaborator in the kidnap! It is astonishingly ugly to see that a person could do any of that! Anyway, I regret and not regret the time spent seeing the film even though I did a few tasks while doing that.

When I finally managed to hold my book, it was late but what do they say? “better late than never!”. But the highlight of my evening and the day was listening online and live to the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. I see being able to be anywhere in the world from the warmth of one’s own house is one of a few positive things coming out of the Pandemic. I count appreciating the importance of human contact, the awareness of mortality and shortness of life, and embracing mental health and wellness some of the other positives.