Friday Musings—22/11/24

What's new with me

Next week, I’m finally seeing a specialist in intestinal inflammatory diseases—and not just any specialist!

You might remember this summer I fell down the stairs during my mountain stay and ended up at a nearby hospital for X-rays. The doctor who saw me was very caring and seemed more concerned about my ongoing gut issues than my sprained ankle and wrist. Before we even knew I had IBD, she recommended two gastroenterologists—one in Bologna and one in Turin—saying they were among the best.

However, when I got a colonoscopy two months later, the endoscopist referred me to another gastroenterologist, and I thought I’d just follow his suggestion. But while in Seville, I got an email from him saying it would take longer than expected to secure me an appointment. Oddly enough, I felt relieved—it made me realize I really wanted to see one of the specialists recommended over the summer instead.

I called the hospital in Bologna first, but that doctor was booked out for years. I emailed him anyway, and he replied the same day, suggesting a single specialist in Turin. It was the same name I’d been given this summer! Convinced it was a sign, I set about getting an appointment.

As expected, this doctor wasn’t accepting new patients either. But I persisted, and after three emails and a month of waiting, he finally agreed to see me for an initial visit. :)

I’m not expecting a miracle, but he seems incredibly knowledgeable and up-to-date with the latest research (yes, I stalked him on LinkedIn and watched some of his interviews). He also seems kind, judging by his replies. It’s pretty wild to think that if I hadn’t fallen down the stairs, I might never have gotten this appointment.

Advice from a memory champion

I really enjoyed this TEDx talk,  L’arte perduta della concentrazione ("The Lost Art of Concentration"). Andrea Muzii, a world memory champion, explores the decline of our ability to focus and offers practical strategies to enhance our cognitive abilities and overall well-being. The talk is in Italian but includes English subtitles.

Mobility masterplan

How mobile do you think you are? Try these ten essential moves and let us know in the comments how it went! I have weak hip flexors, so exercise number 3 was unbearable.

The right focus

As you probably know, climate change has me deeply worried. The other day, I was chatting with a student about the recent US elections and how the outcome might affect us. This isn’t intended to be a blog about politics, but it’s no secret that Trump isn’t a strong believer in man-made climate change—or, at the very least, he doesn’t seem to care much about it.

The student agreed that the new administration wouldn’t be good news for the planet’s health, but said he’s decided not to worry about it because, as he put it, he’d probably die of a heart attack or something before the worst effects of global warming come into play. I looked at him, puzzled, and he laughed, explaining it was his way of saying he’s chosen not to stress about things beyond his control. He tries to focus on what he can do and refuses to let anxiety overpower him over things he can’t change.

It sounds like solid advice—don’t you think?

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"I am the one thing in life I can control."  (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

As always, I welcome your insights or questions. Which musing was your favorite? What topics would you like to see covered in future newsletters? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments or send me an email. Don't forget to share this with someone who may find it interesting.

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML