Salmon seared in a cast iron pan with a bit of salt and fine herbs. I arrived home late at 18h00. My son was waiting for me to cook diner. I had planned a fish dinner but i wanted something quick. I did not have time to think about a recipe. Warm and oil theContinue reading “Healthy fast food…”
Author Archives: martinphamdinh
Oven roasted duck
This is a pure source of pleasure and it’s such a simple recipe: Rub duck with salt and fine herbs, throw in the oven with veggies at 350F for 2h. Finish grilling at broil for a few minutes. Done. Prep time: 10 min. Awesomeness to difficulty ratio very high.
Quick lunch at home…
The trick with cooking at home and not losing time is all about planning. I’m an efficiency guy because i’m lazy. So yesterday, when i had a nice duck roasted in the oven, i knew what i would do with it: one meal with the fresh roasted meat, one goat-duck salad, one pizza and leftoversContinue reading “Quick lunch at home…”
The flight of the lanterns…
Saying goodbye to a child is a trauma for the soul. Through this ceremony, we were able to add a few smiles through the tears. Original post Facebook, November 2015
The falling leaves…
Quietly reading La Presse and sipping a coffee. I stumble upon something so beautiful and so touching that i cannot resist sharing. This photo is not just full of beauty, it is full of meaning. A man a certain age pick up dead leaves and throws them in the air… What is he doing? CreatingContinue reading “The falling leaves…”
The loss of a child…
A family close to ours lost their 2 year old child yesterday. A little boy died suddenly in a horrible accident… When i learned this, i did not know how to react. A sadness beyond what i can imagine has struck this family. What do we do in the face of such pain? I honestlyContinue reading “The loss of a child…”
When caring means letting go…
It’s a regular day in the emergency room. I’m covering the resuscitation room again. In comes a frail 91 year old lady, brought in by ambulance. She is out of breath. She looks bad. Her oxygen saturation is in the low 80’s. That is usually an omnious sign. Impending death unless treated. In 15 yearsContinue reading “When caring means letting go…”
In the flow…from mountain biking to the practice of medicine.
Yesterday i was mountain biking all day in Mont St-Marie. When i practice something that is very challenging and at the same time very pleasurable, i enter a flow state. Flow is a state of mind when our consciousness is deeply involved in what we are doing. Time perspective changes, it can accelerate or itContinue reading “In the flow…from mountain biking to the practice of medicine.”
In the face of pain and suffering…
To be truly good in my job as an emergency physician, i must not deny the emotions, i must accept them. I must feel the pain and sadness of others. I can be fearful as i keep going because there is often no choice but to go on. When someone is dying, there is oftenContinue reading “In the face of pain and suffering…”
A child’s tears…
This morning was difficult. Right before leaving the house to go to to school, Liam complained of abdominal pain. I noticed a little sadness on his expression. I asked him if he was sad. He answered no. I asked him if he felt like this because he did not want to go to school. HeContinue reading “A child’s tears…”
On hardship…
Don’t fear hardship, it is one of the places where strength is born… I love this quote that summarizes well this thought, I feel that this applies to all challenges life offers: “Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own; sourcesContinue reading “On hardship…”
Man’s search for meaning…
I read this book by Viktor Frankl 25 years ago. I was a teenager then and i still remember the profound effect it had on my life. The name Viktor Frankl came back to me when i recently talked to a friend that seemed to be captive of life events. You see Frankl too wasContinue reading “Man’s search for meaning…”
I am a writer…
As the events of my life unfold and i am entering a new chapter in my existence, one filled with white pages, i realize something: i am a writer. Writing is how i find peace in periods of suffering. Writing is how i share my joy with the world. Writing is how i touch people.Continue reading “I am a writer…”
On being happy…
Being happy is to… love what we are, Love what we do, Love what we have, And to love someone. Being happy has nothing to do with… Who we are, What we do, What we have, Who we love. Happiness is love. Love is happiness.
The path to nirvana…
It occurred to me while mountain biking… Pain is the shortest route to nirvana.
All that I have lost…
I am reposting previous publication from the past for many reasons, one of which is that although these events happened a few years ago, these writings might find relevance for a soul who is going through a though time. In the recent days, i have lived through the most painful experience of my life. IContinue reading “All that I have lost…”
Deepak Chopra meets Sam Harris at Caltech
Interesting debate… I like the part in the end where a real theoretical physicist stands up in the audience to react to the debate on quantum mechanics.
On fatherhood
“Much of life, fatherhood included, is the story of knowledge acquired too late: if only I’d known then what I know now, how much smarter, abler, stronger, I would have been. But nothing really prepares you for kids, for the swells of emotion that roll through your chest like the rumble of boulders tumbling downhill,Continue reading “On fatherhood”
The pace of our existence….
It’s 20:30. The kitchen is clean. Dishwasher is running. I’m quietly ending my day with a nice warm cup of lemongrass tea. This is a nice moment for me. Liam is asleep. Nadine is running downstairs on the treadmill in our gym. I enjoy this moment because i have time to think, time to writeContinue reading “The pace of our existence….”
On fear in the modern world….
The homo sapiens or modern human was born 200,000 years ago. He mostly lived as a hunter gatherer in the plains of Africa. In those years, a man was lucky if he lived 20 years. In those times, man was a prey. Life was very dangerous. You took a nap in the afternoon to wakeContinue reading “On fear in the modern world….”
Healthy fast food
I love cooking simple healthy tasty food. Today, wild salmon in an iron cast skillet. Salmon + salt + garlic + oregano Grill on the pan. Serve with left over veggies. Prep time: 5 minWho said great food takes time?
On inspiring our kids…
Yesterday, I was talking with my brother about the challenge of teaching my son the technique of skiing. I am very proud to have ignited in my son the passion for skiing. Teaching him the skills to become a proficient skier is quite another challenge. Having worked as a ski instructor in the past, IContinue reading “On inspiring our kids…”
The last run…
Skiing is the glue that binds our family together. My grandfather taught my parents to ski. My parents transmitted their passion to us, the three Pham-Dinh brothers. And we transmitted our love of skiing to our kids. Liam, Zack, Emma and Audrey, the band of cousins carry our fire, our passion. This afternoon, after spendingContinue reading “The last run…”
A message for those who grieve…
This message could be from your friend or family member, while you grieve… “I’m still hereTake a good look… inwards.When you love, when you feel something, this is where I am and where I will stay…Forever and ever…In your heart, in this place where the love we shared grew.In this place, in this source ofContinue reading “A message for those who grieve…”
The sleeping child…
I can hear him breathing, right next door. I sat in his room, I just wanted to watch him sleep. He has a little smile on his face. He’s fine. He’s happy. He’s holding his little doggie to his chest. I love him so much. I gave everything I had to this little being whoContinue reading “The sleeping child…”
Martin Pham Dinh 