Love outside Medicine
(Ninang help!)

Is love possible between a doctor and a non-doctor. I have seen a number failed. And I have seen a successful few.. Or one? Two? Hmmm probably I don’t know that many people (disclaimer). Just kidding, I made a tally! Among my residency batchmates, its approximately 2:1, the ratio of doctor-doctor to doctor-nondoctor marriages. So yes it’s possible but from the figures, less likely. Meaning, most probably it is more difficult for Doctor-non Doctor relationships to be permanent, or maybe thrive.

The reason why I’m writing this is not to encourage doctor-doctor relationships but to tell those who are struggling in the “heterogenous” relationship that they are really in for more challenges. The time commodity is most often the issue. But sometimes, it’s not that they actually have less time for one another, but they may understand each other less because of the different professions. So what do I say (if I’m actually making sense), it takes EXTRA effort, patience, understanding, and most of all Trust to make it work. It actually entails much sacrifice (though really, in every relationship) for at least one of the couple– and please do not keep a record of doing more or having more time. It’s actually a Decision (actually in all relationships!) more than a feeling to stay, invest (emotions and dateless nights- sometimes date nights are really overrated), and to believe that he/she is the person God wants you to spend the rest of your life with. So will you keep him? Or Will you let her go? Well, can you live without her? And you, do you want to live without him?  (Hey these questions are for All couple relationships!)  Well, six of my 31 batchmates are still single.. And I guess, also happy 😋😋😋 and fruitful (in a different way.. I mean not the kids as fruits..) 😋
“I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lords affairs–how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world–how he can please his wife– and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lords affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world–how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:32-35)
“..if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” (1 Corinthians 7:9)
-Ninang thoughts while waiting for preceptorials