The Reality Check

Introduction

We are rarely prepared for a true reality check. Many of us live in a "fairy tale" world, fueled by the expectation that effort is always met with praise and linear progress. However, life seldom follows our scripts. When we cannot bring ourselves to accept this unpredictability, we fall into a cycle of frustration.

Beyond the Lab Coat

We often form our career expectations based on movies, where pharmacists in crisp white coats spend every episode counter-checking prescriptions and suggesting life-saving interventions. However, the reality of the career sets in only when it becomes a daily routine. For an inpatient pharmacist, the job is far from fancy; it involves the meticulous labor of filling trolleys, managing inventory, and counting stock.

This gap between expectation and reality often catches fresh graduates off guard. Many students assume they will "learn it later", but the reality check hits hardest once they are registered. Suddenly, in a small clinic or a community pharmacy, you are the final authority. You must handle complex drug queries and find justified answers on your own.

Though we are often pre-warned by our seniors to "learn as much as you can" during our provisional years, the true weight of that advice is not felt until both the doctor and the patient are looking to you for a definitive answer for a drug-related question. This shift from student to decision-maker is the quiet reality of the profession that classrooms rarely prepare us for.

The Illusion of Connection

In our modern lives, we are always in a rush, preoccupied with "unsettled business" and tasks yet to be finished. Even in a traffic jam, we are mentally planning our next move; while walking to the office, we are buried in our phones. We trick ourselves into thinking we are "connected" by browsing social media feeds and replying messages, but life does not exist in a virtual world.

We have spent so much of our lives living self-centeredly, focused solely on our personal goals. Yet, the exact same thing is happening to everyone else in the world; we are all busy living the lives we believe we deserve.

The true reality is found in the people you greet and meet physically every day. When you finally slow down, empty your mind, and walk down a street, you see the world as it is: the young and the old, the diverse faces of people working on their own life projects. In a hospital, reality is the helpless face of a patient taking a forced rest in bed, or the concerned family members waiting in the corridor. These are the moments happening outside the digital screen that define our existence.

While we are busy with our missions and schedules, we often forget that we are aging and will eventually leave this world behind.

Decoding Truth through Action

Our frustration often stems from a rigid mindset - viewing things as strictly "fair" or "unfair" based on what people say. The truth is that every event and action happens exactly as it is, without an inherent, universally agreed-upon meaning. For example, if someone does not reply to your message, the reality is simply that they did not reply; it does not inherently mean they are ignoring you or that they are too busy. We often suffer more from our interpretations than from reality itself.

If there is a way to navigate this complicated world and see through untruthful lies, it is found in actions. The way someone responds to your calls or how they show up for you is the most honest form of communication. Action is a truth that exists far beyond any wordy promise.

The Unspoken Sacrifice

In the broadest sense, we often fail to realize the reality of our own upbringing. Parents rarely tell their children how hard they struggled to raise them. They don’t speak of the sleepless nights, the endless feedings, or the sacrifice of their own youth to ensure their child's well-being. They work through a life that can be dull and exhausting, knowing that money is hard-earned but spent in the blink of an eye for the sake of the family. This is the ultimate reality check: realizing that the life we enjoy was built on the silent, selfless labor of those who came before us.

Summary

Life is relatively short, and the years pass far too quickly for us to spend them chasing scripts or virtual illusions. Whether it is realizing that marriage and career milestones do not stop the clock of aging, or acknowledging that time moves regardless of our plans, the goal remains the same: to truly live the life we desire. By stepping away from the "fairy tale" and embracing the world - with all its mundane tasks, silent sacrifices, and honest actions - we find a reality that is far more meaningful than any movie. We cannot stop time, but we can choose to meet it with our eyes wide open, a calm mind, and a good heart.