Taking My Own Pulse First is a story of overcoming career burnout in medicine while navigating the emotional complexities of life as a never-married person. In an accessible, honest, and comic relief-filled voice, the author's struggles are balanced with the absurdities of life. Though medicine is an exclusive profession, this journey can resonate with anyone who has wondered, "e;Is this the best I can do for myself?"e; and stumbled into a lonely, tangled morass. The key insight of the book – that prioritizing your own needs is empowering rather than selfish – is meant to inspire others to take self-preserving action.