Burnout.

Wikipedia.org:  “a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest (depersonalization or cynicism), usually in the work context. It is also used as an English slang term to mean exhaustion. Burnout is often construed as the result of a period of expending too much effort at work while having too little recovery.”

Just in case you don’t love Wiki, I go to my friend Merriam Webster to tell me his version:

burn·out

Pronunciation: \ˈbərn-ˌau̇t\ Function: noun Date: 1940

2 a: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.

I bring this up as my second issue on this blog and my first since introducing myself because I think it is ever important…preventing burnout as a graduate student.  Now I know there are some among us here at Mayo that would scoff at such a comment…but trust me—I have seen it with my own eyes…people that are in the process of burning out, and that’s why I want to bring this up. 

It isn’t as if the notion of balance is new…it has been around a while, heck my parents (and their parents) always stressed the notion of making sure my life wasn’t all about work or play or one sided.  I steal the line from Tim Allen, Santa Claus 2, when he says, “I’m a rubix cube with pants!”  Like the multi-color rubix cube, I think it is very important to have many facets of your life, and I think sometimes, especially in this Mayo environment, one can get carried away with the work side of life.  Its an amazing place, don’t get me wrong, but I think it is important to know when to step back and let the hair down, so to speak. 

One thing that I have been privileged with over the years are amazing people that always stressed the importance of this.  Now summer is upon us, and I wonder if those people reading this, who are either a) scoffing at this blog in the first place, or b) know deep down that I am talking directly at them, will put the book down, the pipette down, and go have fun.  Whether it’s a bike ride through the countryside here in Olmsted County or a leisurely drive along the MN-WI border—try by Lake Pepin—its beautiful there—or BBQ with your friends or catching one of Hollywood’s blockbuster summer hits at Chateau, I think everyone here at Mayo owes themselves a little down time this summer.  Take a break from the lab work and relax. 

When I was in Scottsdale, AZ doing a rotation with Dr. Joseph Lustgarten, he always stressed the importance of having fun!  It was and to me, even more important than the work you do for a couple reasons.  I am of the mindset that your work improves when you take a break from it, because you come back energized.  Also, unless you are one of the lucky ones that gets famous doing science, and lets be honest, how many truly get famous, win a Nobel Prize, etc…not many—chances are, and this might be a pessimistic perspective, you won’t be remembered in the end for the science you did in the lab—you will be remembered when you are gone for the way you made a child smile when you volunteered at your local church, or an elderly person’s day when you sat down and listened to them for a moment.  You will be remembered for your work and the way you lived your life outside the lab probably more than your work inside the lab.  I know we all have inspirations of doing both winning a Nobel Prize and touching people in our own communities—and I know I do, but I think it is important to think about these thing…

So I urge each and every one of you—those on the process of burning out—and those who are balancing their lives just fine—to go out and play a round of mini golf, have fun with your friends, go to the Rochesterfest parade, concerts in the park (they’re free by the way), or enjoy whatever the plethora of activities you like to do in your free time.  Take a little more free time this summer and enjoy life.  I know, I know–We wouldn’t be at Mayo touching the world in the small way we do if we didn’t love what we do at work in the lab or in meetings, seminars, etc, but if you employ these concepts into your lives, the work will be even more enjoyable and productive than ever before.

You know who you are.  You overzealous, unyielding, never take a vacation, stay in the lab until 8 to 9PM daily, work the whole weekend, or even worse, one of our six Mayo holiday days, never go out, always working graduate student just trying to get a Nature or Science paper.  I’m not slamming you for having incredible work ethic, I’m just saying, that you have your whole career in front of you.  Don’t work so hard now that you don’t want to do this later.  Enjoy being a student—it has its privileges…just ask a faculty person…lol…remember you are a STUDENT at this stage, not a PI.

So as a student, remember that as country crooners Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett sing—“its 5 O’clock somewhere”, relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy summer.  Then I hope you transform your thinking to the other 9-10 months of the year.  Because after all, that is what will make you more productive, more energetic, and might just get that thesis done faster—than wasting time repeating experiments that failed because you were too burnt out or in too much of a hurry to think through them properly.

Here’s to hoping I always heed my own advice.

JJ   

Hey yall, sorry I missed you on Hump Day.  It was a long day yesterday (and today for that matter)–so I figured I’d write the entry today instead of yesterday.  So happy Thursday night or Friday or beyond–whenever you are reading this!

So I was on the treadmill yesterday at the DAHLC, waiting for the Hillary-Bill O’Reilly interview on “The Factor”, when the last story of the news program before that started.  And what started as a light hearted story about a softball player named Sara Tucholsky from Western Oregon that never had hit a home run before hitting her first HR, what happened after that ball went yard was unbelievable.  Hard to put words to it.  Hard to hear the story being a sports fan and not mist up… 

Sara was rounding first base, forgot to touch the bag, and doubled back to touch and continue on her way in her first home run trot.  Must have felt good right?  Well it did, until her right knee gave out, and she fell to the ground unable to finish.

Now the rules state that if a coach, trainer, or a player from your team assists you while you are an active runner, you are ruled immediately out.  Just then Sara heard something (and I heard something last night), that was amazing.  She heard someone say, “Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?”  It was the voice of Central Washington’s school record holder in HR, Mallory Holtman. She was offering to take her to every bag with her other teammate Liz Wallace.  They carried her to every bag and she was credited with hitting the 3-run HR instead of a 2-run single. 

What was even more amazing to me is how Holtman plays it off as something anyone would do–her humbleness was unbelievable.  She said, “Honestly, it’s one of those things that I hope anyone would do it for me,” Holtman said. “She hit the ball over her fence. She’s a senior; it’s her last year. … I don’t know, it’s just one of those things I guess that maybe because compared to everyone on the field at the time, I had been playing longer and knew we could touch her, it was my idea first. But I think anyone who knew that we could touch her would have offered to do it, just because it’s the right thing to do. She was obviously in agony.”

I think the coach for Western Oregon, Pam Knox summs it up best, “It kept everything in perspective and the fact that we’re never bigger than the game,” Knox said of the experience. “It was such a lesson that we learned — that it’s not all about winning. And we forget that, because as coaches, we’re always trying to get to the top. We forget that. But I will never, ever forget this moment. It’s changed me, and I’m sure it’s changed my players.”

It certainly changed me.  I was 1,654 mi away this past Saturday.  Who knew some softball game that would happen in little Ellensburg, WA, would move hearts?  I certainly didn’t.

Just for the record, Western Oregon won, 4-2.

And little 5′2″ Sara Tucholsky hit her first HR.

And we will never forget. 

See you on Friday.

JJ

Hey,

So I just got done presenting at my first Immunology-exclusive journal club, and I will say a couple things.  First, phew!  It is nice to be done, but I know there is a lot to learn about this presentation game.  Spending more time belaboring and presenting experimental methods, practicing in front of someone, and finishing thoughts off in a better fashion is something that needs to be worked on.  And it will be.  Believe me, when I get on the mike again, improvement will occur, but that’s life.  Life isn’t perfect–and I always strive to better–so we go forward.  It wasn’t my best (by any means), but it wasn’t my worst performance.  It was somewhere in the middle, and I’m ok with that.  I will be harsh and grade it as a 6.3 out of 10–but it was my first one and life is a work in progress.  You never reach the mountaintop–until you see Christ’s face in heaven.

I’m relieved to be able to do some quality science for once.  It will be a busy week doing that and finishing up with my B cell tutorial next week–but I can focus on something else besides on presenting for a touch. 

In other news, Politics is getting interesting lately hasn’t it???  First, I want to say to all my readers out there–I come from small town in Northern Minnesota that mines on the Iron Range–I was born, raised, and learned about the political process in a very BLUE or DONKEY part of Minnesota and the world for that matter.  So you have to take that into context.  That being said, I have philosophies from both sides of the fence, Democrat and Republican.  I’m more of a purple fan in that regard–but in terms of presidential politics, after 8 years of GWB, I have to say, I’ve enough of the current policies.  He might be a good man–but some of the blame has to be thrown at him for the current state of the USA.  Granted, Dems in their own right have screwed this country up too–but we need a change.  We need a change from what we had–so I like both Dems in this race–not McCain.  No offense, John, but in terms of the war and the economy, I think you are way off base with mainstream America.  So Clinton and Obama will slug it out right?  To the brink of everything sane right?  I will say that I agree with Minnesota’s vote for Obama.  He gives us a fresh start—now I understand where people come from–he’s unexperienced and isn’t tested, and apparently doesn’t have the “package” or the “baggage” that Clinton brings to the table, but he brings a fresh perspective to problems that need to be solved now–and I am ok with that.  Clinton’s negativity lately has been disturbing, and the fact that the Republican’s will even be worse or really scrutinize Obama’s relationship with Rev. Wright is very interesting.  This whole controversy to me gets me going.  The bitter comment to–but one thing at a time.  I want to ask all the conservative Christians out there–how many times has your pastor said something at the pulpit that you didn’t agree with–if you say it never happened–you are a liar.  Did you leave the church and never come back?  No. No. No. No you didn’t!  So isn’t it insane to say, well Obama must leave his church.  Attacking America isn’t what I condone, and this AIDS comment is ridiculous–but I will say, isn’t a pastor’s job is to make you think provocatively–for good and for bad?  To challenge you?  Whether you condone the remark or not–I’m on the not side–you will never agree with everything.  That’s all I’m saying…For the record, I don’t agree with the comments from Wright’s mouth–I think they are disgusting–but leave the church?  No–just cuz’ you disagree?  No–I mean if I did that, I wouldn’t be Catholic anymore.  What kind of view is that? 

The bitter comment…this one bothers me.  Mainly because it is so crazy.  But I will have to save that for another blog and another day.  But I will bring it up before NC and Indiana go to the polls.

In some sad news, a dolphin named Sharky died at Sea World last Saturday when performing for the people watching the dolphin show.  Two dolphins collided and Sharky bit the dust.  Now that’s sad.

Here’s the link:

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/latest-world-news/2008/04/29/dolphin-dies-at-sea-world-sister-park-in-florida-91466-20834528/

A prayer for the 30-year old Dolphin is in order.  Peace to Sharky, my friend, you served us well.  May you rest with your other aquatic friends in peace for the rest of eternity. 

That’s all I have today.  Done with work, off to the gym, also known as the DAHLC here in Rochester!

Peace for this Tuesday.  Catch you for my hump day edition with Issue 3!

JJ

Hi everyone, I wanted to pass out some introductions, some niceties, some meet and greet information—well the most you can do online.  My name is Joseph Jon Dolence (proud of my middle name—more maybe in later blogs) and I am finishing my first year at Mayo Graduate School in the Immunology track.  I work in the Medina lab on early events in B cell development with a healthy mix of cellular and molecular techniques.  In later blogs, I will surely talk about my research, classes, and other feelings I have about Mayo Clinic in general.  I want to state here—These are my opinions, not necessarily those of the Clinic’s so don’t take what I say and run with it as Mayo’s position on something.  They are mine.  Another thing—I love going to Mayo Clinic for Graduate School—I can’t complain, the Clinic has given me a wonderful opportunity and I honestly feel most every day that I am living the dream.  That might sound naïve and not callous to the fact that I have only been here for one year—but continued readers of this blog will know certain things about me—one of them is I take Tiger Woods approach to life (with my edits in parenthesis), he says, “I view my life in a way…I’ll explain it to you, OK? I want to take in every moment and appreciate everything. The greatest thing about tomorrow is, I will be better than I am today. And that’s how I look at my life. I will be better as a golfer (& researcher), I will be better as a person, I will be better as a father (son), and I will be better as a friend. That’s the beauty of tomorrow. There is no such thing as a setback. The lessons I learn today I will apply tomorrow, and I will be better.”  That’s my philosophy to life.  And you will no doubt see that attitude sprinkled on the pages of this blog over and over.

I might get political on the pages of this.  I might talk religion.  I will talk sports.  I will obviously talk about school, education, Mayo, and anything science based.  Just don’t ask me about X-ray crystallography or NMR.  Nothing is off limits.  Well—as long using vulgar language is avoided and the Biggs at Mayo allow it.  I speak from the heart honestly about how I feel—you will get my spin on anything I deem worthy enough to talk about.  The point of this blog is to expose the three shields to the world in hopefully a way they haven’t before.  Mayo has so much tradition and prestige, and I have the role through this medium to show Mayo to the world.

That being said, I think I have introduced myself and the concepts behind this well enough to go to my first issue I thought of while listening to a lecture in Cell Bio or Genetics last quarter…or a seminar, I can’t remember—all I know is that I came up with this idea that JT (Justin Timberlake) isn’t bringing sexy back, scientist are.  I know this is like one of these, WHAT?, moments—but I will explain…it seems that in today’s scientific community, anytime someone has a chance to slip in sexy or a word like, provocative, promiscuous, or even in today’s seminar, the speaker expanded “BS” to that expletive.  It makes me laugh, but I am wondering when this started?  When did science and its countless researchers make a conscious effort to spice up a lecture with these words?  You know what my goal is?  Use the word lascivious in a scientific journal.  If I can pull that off, you can tip the hat to me.  If not, I guess I will just have to settle for less provocative words such as sexy or promiscuous.  Maybe the answer is that since most in the scientific community don’t look the part (as Justin does), we need to throw these in to wake up those sleeping, bored out of their minds, or to remind ourselves that, yes, we are cool enough still to throw this hip words around.  I know one thing though—you have everyone’s attention when you infuse these types of adjectives into a lecture.  So at least for that nanosecond, everyone is listening and to them, the world is sexy, perfect, and wonderful.

Have a great day!

Till next time,

Yours truly,

JJ

Another quote to live by—one of the fave’s on JJ’s list:

“Love life, engage in it, give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it.” Maya Angelou.              

Welcome to my site.  I hope you enjoy.

JJ