What Am I Doing Here?

By Philip L. Ruth, MBA, RT(R)

September 2009 — Ever ask the question, “What am I doing here?”  I have, many times in my life. The question might be related to the work environment or in the many facets of our lives.  Seems like I ask myself the question each time my lovely bride of almost 25 years drags me to Wal-Mart for that one loaf of bread.
 

In retrospect if we were not “there,” we wouldn’t learn the lessons taught by trial, error, and experiences.  These individualized experiences are what make us wiser and, one would hope, keep us from repeating the same mistakes.  Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice . . .
 

I often hear colleagues say, “I wouldn’t have done anything different” after a difficult situation in which the outcome was not what was expected.  I too have made that statement before.  However, if we do not take stock of the decisions that failed, can we truly learn from our mistakes?  We owe ourselves a retrospective review. 
 

Learning and profiting from our own mistakes will no doubt add to our objectivity and ability to compromise, as well as benefit family, coworkers, and others we come in contact with on a daily basis.
 

So what I am doing at Wal-Mart with my lovely bride of 25 years for that one loaf of bread?  See above. 

Philip L. Ruth, MBA, RT (R) is director of medical imaging at St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center in Hot Springs National Park, AR. He is a member of the Editorial Review Board, as well as a contributor to Radiology Management and Link. He can be reached at philip.ruth@mercy.net.