Meet the Coach Testimonials Physician Growth Framework Self-Coaching Program Resource Hub
← Back to all posts

VW Bug Reflection

by Dr. Tonya Caylor
Jun 08, 2025

For this week's reflection, I invite you to picture a 4-seater car. My friend, Dr Sasha Shillcutt, likes to talk about balancing/integrating life as the driver. You occupy the driver's seat (hopefully!), and then you have one other front-seat passenger and 2 back-seat passengers.

Here's my take. You get to decide day-to-day, moment-by-moment, who you are allowing in the car, and who gets to ride shotgun. These are the people, projects, etc. which are your priorities. The other people and projects can stand by the curb and wait for you to drop a passenger and make room for them when it's their turn. I like to say a long line doesn't mean anything is wrong with you - it's a marker of an abundant life.

So, who will occupy what seat in your car, for how long, and when do you know it's time to rearrange your passengers? How will you decide? (Sasha likes to remind us all that we don't own clown cars!!)

Some people can increase their capacity to a mini-van. But PLEASE stop pretending you own a Grayhound bus! (And if you do - keep in mind bus drivers have strict work hour limitations ๐Ÿ˜‰)

I'd love to hear what comes to mind.

Responses

Join the conversation
t("newsletters.loading")
Loading...
The Myth of Ready
This week, I tried a simple AI morning brain-warm-up experiment at the suggestion of Alex Morgan from The Neuron. I gave ChatGPT this reflective prompt: Share one interesting assumption I might hold without realizing. The response: Sometimes we assume we need clarity before weโ€™re allowed to move. That immediately reminded me of a reflection I wrote a while back. Iโ€™m resharing it here, because I...
The Casting Room
Iโ€™ve been reflecting on how easily past training experiences (or any experience for that matter) can be oversimplified by those who didnโ€™t live them. It took me a minute to understand why that bothered me. It's because those oversimplified accounts tell a very narrow story of some of the very experiences that shaped me. Realizing that made me want to write about one specific moment. Not to glor...
Progress Through Process
Iโ€™ve been spending a lot of time lately in complex work with many moving parts: helping design a longitudinal faculty coach training with the STFM CBME Faculty Coach Training initiative, and collaborating with colleagues through an AMA-funded Precision Medicine education grant with GAFP. In both projects, the challenge is the same: taking large, complex work and making it manageable. For me, th...

Joy in Family Medicine โ€“ Stories & Reflections

Lessons, lightbulb moments, and honest reflections from life inside and outside medicine - served with a side of perspective.
Footer Logo
Terms Privacy Disclaimer Contact us Login Personal Code of Ethics
Powered by Kajabi

Stay Connected


Join my mailing list to receive free weekly tips and insights!