Love Notes

As I enter into my 41st year, I felt a sudden desire to return here to my blog and write.  It has been awhile.  I have shared poems and other words on social media, and a few here as well.  But, it has been some time since I have sat down to reflect, write out

With Thanksgiving around the corner, gratitude is in the air.  Gratitude is of course a wonderful thing.  It is one of those “life hacks” that reminds us how fortunate we are, and connects us more quickly to a sense of joy. And yet, to be honest, I struggle with gratitude sometimes.  I have tried all

It is 10 pm on a Wednesday night as I sit down at my laptop to check in with each and every one of you.  The sights and sounds of the evening are settled around me.  I write at the kitchen table, an orange bucket of mini halloween candy sitting right in front of me

Today, I was sitting with a group of first year medical students, and we were talking about loss.  Specifically, how to be with dying patients and their families.  We were discussing the situation of one man’s catastrophic grief:  the death of his entire family in a car accident.  What could we, as physicians, do in

Lately when I sit down to write, I feel a compelling desire to ground myself.  I write something that often begins like this:  “It is 10:02 pm on Thursday night in Southern California.  I am sitting at my desk, the house around me quiet…” I wonder why there is such a need within me right

On a recent family vacation to Disney World, I found myself sitting in a black motorcycle seat, pressed forward against a chest restraint, legs locked into place, about to enter into the motion simulated, virtual reality world of an Avatar ride.  I am generally apprehensive about any ride that makes me feel terrified or motion

There is a 6:15 am sunrise trying to climb above dark green mountains. The pale light starts to wake a sleepy sky, and creates glowing patches across my morning coffee. I want to trust in whatever makes the sun rise today and every day. I want to believe in the moon that knows to hang

Dear friends, I wanted to share a few words that I had scribbled down in my journal last week.  I was traveling to San Francisco, and I found myself in my head, ruminating about various events from the past and future.  I am sure you have found yourself there too, at one time or another.

I recently took a six week mindfulness course with the wonderful Cayce Howe.  He started and ended the course with two pearls of wisdom that stay with me.  At the end of the first class, he assigned all of us a simple homework assignment:  take one mindful breath per day.  And at the end of

Dear friends, I am sitting down in front of my laptop at 9:30 pm on Tuesday evening, writing you to say hello and let you know that I am thinking of each and every one of you.  Today was a day full of seeing patients, and I walk away from the office, inspired by the

For the last few years on my blog, I have only posted on Mondays.  Posting on the same day of the week of course provides a certain consistency for me, and also allows my readers to know what to expect when.  Yesterday, my writing coach, the fabulous Jena Schwartz posted a seemingly innocent question:  What would