The Builder

There comes a point in every young person's life when dreaming is no longer enough.

Eventually, you have to start building.

For me, this chapter began with my first real job after residency. After years of lectures, anatomy labs, internships, residencies, board exams, and chasing the next milestone, I finally had the opportunity to build the life I had imagined for so long.

I threw myself into it with everything I had.

A career.

A home.

A marriage.

Children.

Friendships that became family.

A reputation I was proud of.

Every long day, every sleepless night, every sacrifice felt like another brick laid in the foundation of the life I believed I was creating.

Looking back now, I know there were cracks in that foundation long before I was willing to admit they existed.

But that's the funny thing about builders.

We don't spend our time looking for cracks.

We spend our time believing in what we're creating.

And for a while...

It was beautiful