Category Archives: gratitude

Chicago 

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November Gratitude Shorts, Addendum

I missed Day 13 due to the meeting I mentioned yesterday. Briefly, all day Friday I found myself feeling grateful to live in Chicago. This is rare–most of the time I lament that I live here and look forward to the day I can move back to Colorado. But being among my many passionate and inspiring colleagues, and reconnecting with people from my last 24 years here, I was reminded that this is where I am meant to be now. 
Focusing on anywhere other than where I am now serves me little. The climate bothers me, and I prefer mountains to water. But I live here, and I can visit the Rockies anytime I want. My life is here right now, and it’s a pretty great life. So I will practice gratitude for Chicago more often from now on.  

Gathering

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November Gratitude Shorts, Day 14

(I’ll write a make-up post for yesterday.)

“I’m always grateful when we gather to educate one another.” –Mark Silver, MD

The last two days held a gathering that filled my mind and my heart. The annual meeting of the American College of Physicians Illinois Chapter brought together almost 200 internists from across the state.  National leaders in cardiology, adult vaccination, physician well-being and numerous other fields spoke with passion and inspiration.  We learned, discussed, and communed.  I reconnected with friends from college, residency, teaching, and practice, and made several new friends. 

In this era when we can look up any information on the internet, the chance to meet in person to share ideas and learnings feels exceptional.  We humans require connection to thrive. Too often we allow the daily grind to interfere with this, and we slowly wither away inside. 

My most sincere thanks to all of my creative, dedicated, and generous colleagues who made this meeting possible!  May we keep our flames lit and hold one another in the light of purpose and caring. 

In Praise of the Words of Others

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Today I give thanks for my amazing WordPress friends.  Every day my Reader fills up with inspiration, education, curiosity, and connection.

So today, I will share some of these treasures!

I already reblogged Donna Cameron’s post on when it is nobler to sacrifice honesty for kindness, but here it is again.

Maria Holm has written a heartfelt letter to an impetuous young woman on the real search for true love.

Rachel Griffin, an artistic force of nature, writes powerfully once again to give voice to people with mental illness, and remove once and for all the stigma and shame around them.  You go, Rachel!

Emily Heath wrote a powerful post, the first I had read about Starbucks’ red cups.  It’s still the best one I’ve read yet, and was picked up by Huff Post.

Benjamin Studebaker, a gifted political scientist, gives us the perfect reframe of feminism, so we can all move forward using the word as a synonym for gender equality.

Finally, Melissa recently wrote a moving piece on the tenacity of nature, despite the destruction of humans.

I hope you enjoy these articles and authors as much as I do.  It’s a privilege and a joy to count myself among such inspired and inspiring people.  Thank you, all!