In Control

The myth about a hockey goalie is that he is always simply reacting to a situation. We always hear about a goalie’s reflexes and speed – tools used for combating the aggression of the shooter. But what an experienced player learns is that it’s the shooter who is reacting to the goalie. It’s the shooter who chooses to shoot or pass based on what the goalie is doing. And a smart goalie uses this to his advantage, to force the shooter into a bad shot or maybe even no shot at all.

The same holds true for a trauma surgeon. While the situation is infinitely more complex than a hockey game, the principles hold true. The good trauma surgeon cannot simply react and rely on trained instincts. He must be proactive, and control the situation as best as he can.

I feel like in life we are often on our heels, cornered into a place where we are on the defensive, and forced to react. It’s only when we realize that we actually do have control that we can take charge and move on.