March 14, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I don’t think people really get me? I have had multiple people ask me if I’m leaving my clinical day job which actually pays me money to go do climate activism full time? I don’t think those people really understand. I don’t mind because I’m the only one who really needs to understand myself. This is a hobby! I’m not giving up my day job. Not one person can solve the climate crisis, and it’s more efficient for me to motivate and inspire others to join in on this monumental tasks than do it myself.

Plus I’m not financially stupid. There is no money is activism that is sustainable. Everyone wants to change the world. Politicians, cult leaders, nonprofit leaders, stay at home parents – but the problem is that you have to feed yourself and your family. I don’t really want to change the world, I honestly don’t think I have that power or that is my destiny – does that make sense. I just know my role in the world right now is to do what I can, have fun, meet some people, and still be a pediatrician.

It’s really powerful to have a hobby that helps the world, and you can do it freely and voluntarily. Plus it saves you money if you are donating your time to help others and not spending money on frivolous things that cost money.

I have more time to do climate work because I’m not really into shopping. I don’t really have a lot of friends I care to socialize with (we have a very close family so I need to just spend time with my actual family). I’m not really into personal beauty other than looking good on camera. I don’t really like collecting things. And I have a lot of imagination because when we were young we didn’t have a lot of material wealth, so you had to kind of use your imagination

Right now I’m studying Vietnamese by myself, and improving my medical vietnamese and bothering my mom every day about different nuances of Vietnamese vocabulary. She gets annoyed sometimes, but she’s my mom and that’s her job to teach me Vietnamese. And it’s a free hobby that makes me super happy! It actually might make me money because if I can pass the Vietnamese language test (which I missed by 1 point 16 years ago), I think I get like $300!!! If I pass the test, I’ll take my mom for lunch of something with that money.

I’ve really enjoyed this hobby of mine for 6-7 years now. Has it been that long? I forget honestly. It’s still fun because it’s volunteer. I’m glad I didn’t make it my job because I actually love being a pediatrician. I have to do my MOC questions this quarter!!!! I want to get my score up! My brain still works! It’s great! I’m getting older now and I want to try to prevent dementia!