Socializing Outside Medicine

Anthony Rudine -- Last weekend, I had the fantastic experience of being the best man in a wedding. It was my first time to be a best man, but I certainly hope not the last. The wedding was incredible, the reception was top notch, and I fulfilled my duties appropriately.

However, aside from seeing one of my very dearest friends move into the realm of marriage, I was taken aback at some other developments as well. First and foremost, I was completely out of the medical world – no doctors in sight. However, during the mingling, it amazed me how the fact that I was in medical school kept popping back up.  I feel I may never escape into just being a regular guy again, as I now am required to comment on all medical conditions, hear stories about all doctors – good and bad, and constantly be treated as if I am already a physician; which I most certainly am not.

The other surprise was meeting people that I had known all of my life. Do you ever get that feeling? I mean, I have known one of the guests for 19 years, and only over the weekend did I truly get to "meet her." I find it so interesting that within our busy schedules, we rarely take the time to truly get to know someone. We many times think we know them already, knowing them for 19 years. But casual acquaintances and conversations rarely reveal the depth of a person, deep inside.

I guess what I learned was that each person truly has a gift to offer – you just have to be there to receive it. And what a gift it is to have a person open up to you, as a conversation of depth and importance arises.