Shhhh...It's a Secret

**Weekend Happenings: Waffles and Sticker Books. Rockstar and Tiny Dancer like to make breakfast together. I like to benefit from the tradition.**

Do you remember that book 'The Secret'? I heard about it on the radio, back when Oprah was going to discuss it on her show. From what I understand, the basic premise is that you send out a wish into the Universe for something you want(a soulmate, a million dollars), and somehow by desiring it, wishing for it, picturing it, it will come to you.

As 'power of positive thinking' as I am, this seems rather hocus pocus-ey. However. I have my own medical version of 'The Secret' going. It goes something like this:

Randomly one day while I was a resident, it occurred to me that I hadn't done an anoscopy in a while. And if you are green with envy at the thought that I get to do anoscopies, I totally understand. But I'm funny like that, and not much grosses me out anymore.

So when within a day or two of thinking that, a patient with hemorrhoids was on my schedule, and needed an anoscopy, I thought, "Huh. How funny...I was just thinking about that!"

And then it happened again and again and again.

"Gee, I haven't had to remove a toenail in a while."
"Hmm...I haven't had to admit someone to the hospital from the office recently."

Poof! A toenail removal. Poof! A hospital admission. etc., etc.,

So last week, as I was sitting there in my office, just letting my mind wander, there came one of those thoughts, "Huh...I haven't had to do stitches in a while."

I don't have to tell you where this is going.

I was working the Saturday morning "acute care" clinic this last weekend. And when I saw on the schedule that someone was coming in with a cut finger, possibly requiring stitches, I knew which doctor(me) would end up getting to see that patient. When I say 'getting to see', I mean that. My colleagues and I all enjoy procedures.

Sure enough, I was the next doc up for a patient when the injured hand was ready to be seen.

I took a look at the cut and said, "Yup, we're going to need to stitch this."

I gathered my needle and thread, and set about closing up the wound. (Incidentally, as I was tying my knots, I thought, 'Who says I'm not crafty?!?' A different medium, perhaps...)

The difference between me and 'The Secret', I suppose, is the fact that I'm not being intentional about it. So maybe I should change that? Maybe when I'm craving the chance to do a biopsy, an IUD placement, or a certain medical work-up, I should send that wish that out into the universe and see what ends up on my schedule.

On second thought, I'd probably be better served trying this on my kiddos. i.e., "I'm visualizing a toddler who always shares with her baby brother." "I'm wishing for a baby who never wakes up teething."

Ha! I doubt it works if you can't even do it with a straight face. Cause I don't think I can. "The Secret: Medical Version" notwithstanding. :)

**What about you...do you ever have any 'The Secret' moments?**