Ken's Response to Writing Assignment #3

I found Chapter 4 "Stamina" to be particularly interesting so I will focus on that.

For the most part I feel I do look after myself: I eat right, exercise, try to get enough sleep, and do what I can to keep my stress level down. I could be better. Lately, in fact, I just haven't been getting enough exercise, but I probably do better than most people. And if I am sick and feel a doctor could make me better, I go (unlike Shackleton). If you will recall from my NP lecture last year, I am interested in living a long time so I try to take care of myself now so I will have more good years later in life.

As for taking care of others, here again I could be better but I do fairly well on the whole. As part of my job, I am responsible for social events for the ELP. We quite frequently have parties and other events to bring us together so we can relax and enjoy ourselves in ways that do not involve working. I believe that among the ICU faculty, the ELP parties are somewhat famous and others are envious of the good times and general good relations that we have.

I try to be attentive to my family and friends as well. As I live on campus, I can generally be home by 6:00 to help with dinner and take care of my kids until they go to bed at 8:00. Then I try to do something with my wife (usually watch a DVD or talk, or we each read). If I have work to do (like tonight) I do it after she has gone to bed. In the morning I get up early to help with breakfast and taking care of the kids, and I rarely leave home before the kids head out the door for school.

And "Summit Fever" is not a problem for me, even when I was a serious mountain climber. My philosophy when climbing was that the mountain would always be there. That is, if the weather was particularly bad or conditions particularly dangerous, you could always come back another time. I think this attitude keeps my stress level down too.

Finally, I do have a couple of good friends that I like to get together with and have a beer with and talk about work and life, and this seems to be very important for me, both for the human contact and for relieving stress.