Enjoy Your Life: A Gentle Reminder to Savor the Moment

Troy D. Woodard, MD
AAO-HNS/F PresidentThis year has been heavy. I’ve lost more friends, colleagues, and family members than I ever imagined I would in such a short time. At the same time, I’m watching other people I care about slowly burn out. They're exhausted and are running on fumes. It feels as if the world keeps asking for more. More productivity. More output. More hours and for what? Less appreciation, less time for ourselves and our loved ones.  If we are not careful, we get stuck in survival mode—just grinding through the day, waiting for some big moment to make it all feel worth it.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to “enjoy life”—not in the cheesy way, but genuinely “living” and being present in the moment. Although I don’t have a perfect answer, I do know that we must start making room for joy.

We live in a world where being busy is not only the norm, but a badge of honor. Many of us rush through life checking off to-do lists, chasing deadlines, and juggling responsibilities without truly pausing to enjoy the journey with people, taking time to breathe, laugh, or rest. If we don’t make space for joy now, we might not get another chance. Enjoying your life is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for mental, emotional, and even physical well-being.

Many of us are stuck in the revolving loop of wake, work, eat, sleep, and repeat. We are not machines. We were created to feel love, connect with others, grow through experiences, and have meaning. Joy doesn't have to be loud. Sometimes it's quiet and simple like a good conversation with a friend, a deep breath, a moment of silence. Enjoying life doesn’t mean quitting your job and running off to an island or an isolated mountain. (Although I won’t lie, it does sound tempting.) It means finding something good in the middle of chaos—a quiet moment to reflect before the day starts. It’s taking five minutes to sip your coffee in peace. It’s cracking a joke with a friend when the day feels too heavy. It’s letting yourself cry when you need to and laugh when you can.

It also means being honest with yourself and others. If you're tired, say so. If something's not working, it’s okay to say that too. Many of us carry heavy loads in silence and try to look okay while we're barely holding on. That’s not how we're meant to live. You deserve more than just survival. You deserve to feel awake, feel alive, even in the middle of hard seasons. Live fully, love deeply, and find joy in the ordinary.

This is exactly why I'm so grateful for gatherings like our Annual Meeting this fall. In a profession that demands so much of us, these moments of connection with colleagues who truly understand become essential for our well-being. There's something restorative about being in a room with people who share your challenges and your passion—where you can laugh together, learn together, and remember why you chose this path.

I hope you'll join us there, not just for the education, but for the joy of reconnecting with our global otolaryngology community and taking care of yourself in the process.