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Writing Prompt: Sparks

This week, I saw a plastic bowling set given to a child with cancer to use as a tool for occupational therapy. The way his face lit up as he prepared to show his family over FaceTime his unrivaled bowling ability was the spark of joy I needed to get me through my day. More importantly, IContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Sparks”

Writing Prompt: Heroes

I don’t feel like a hero. And I am probably not one. In this eerie time of lockdown during a pandemic, we describe healthcare workers on the frontlines as heroes. Many, as they should, extend this designation to other essential workers, such as farmworkers, employees at supermarkets, bus drivers, paramedics, meatpackers, custodians, warehouse clerks, and others. It takes allContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Heroes”

Writing Prompt: Perspective

I love newborns. They are so perfect, as untouched as anyone can be by outside influences. They love unconditionally; all they need is milk, a clean diaper, attention, and snuggles, and they are happy to see you (metaphorically – they can of course see very little at this age). So working in the newborn nursery this month wasContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Perspective”

Writing Prompt: Possibilities

The only thing that is certain during this time that we are living in is that so much is uncertain. It can be difficult to plan for the future when we have no idea what the future will entail. There is a considerable amount of anxiety and associated paralysis that accompanies this ambiguity and it reminds meContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Possibilities”

Writing Prompt: The Voice

I have sat down to write a blog post multiple times in the past few months. But every time that I did, I felt paralyzed by the fact that I didn’t have anything important enough to say in this time of crisis. I felt that no one would want to listen to me or that my messageContinue reading “Writing Prompt: The Voice”

Writing Prompt: Listening

It’s primary season! While the season itself has at once nothing and everything to do with medicine (Medicare for All or updating the Affordable Care Act?), what is most interesting to me is how it demonstrates how we practice democracy in this country. It seems that it has changed over my lifetime, especially my adult life. Though, itContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Listening”

Writing Prompt: Grief

Death is a terrible thing. Yes, it eventually comes for us all, but even when expected, it is still hits us like a freight train careening off the tracks. And when the Reaper finally arrives and carries one of our brethren off into the sunset, no matter what else we feel, we are also overcome with grief. AContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Grief”

Writing Prompt: Daffodils

During these dreary winter months, I find that my motivation falters a bit. The awful weather (freezing rain in Columbus as I write this) and the short days, with no celebrations to look forward to, significantly deplete all of my energy. In the land of pediatrics, winter is also the busiest season in the hospital, as littleContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Daffodils”

Writing Prompt: Silent Prayers

I have had a rough week. Coming back from vacation is always hard, and as I did, I wished my husband goodbye for a six-week stretch. And don’t we all do this thing over the holiday season? We either work too much over our time off, or if we do truly rest, we come back overwhelmed with allContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Silent Prayers”

Writing Prompt: Loneliness

I know I wrote about fiction this week, so the natural focus of a writing prompt would be literary fiction. However, I wanted to share this powerful essay I was introduced to on Twitter this past week, written by Shannon E. Scott-Vernaglia, MD, the director of the pediatrics residency program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. In it she shares herContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Loneliness”