poetry – Writing for Wellness

Writing Prompt: Uncertainty

With many of my friends and myself matching for fellowship in the last few weeks, I’ve been overcome with emotions that I have had a difficult time processing. I even had a panic attack the night before Match Day when I realized that there was a possibility that I could not match into fellowship. IContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Uncertainty”

Writing Prompt: Pleasure

Guys, who needs a pick-me-up? I felt low for the week after I came back from vacation, so I have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather here in central Ohio, as well as my more flexible work hours before I go back to inpatient medicine tomorrow morning, and taking regular walks through my neighborhood. Every timeContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Pleasure”

Writing Prompt: Caged Bird

Last week was a hard one for me. I did not have any sort of personal tragedies or difficulties; rather, I ached with my fellow citizens as we all do when faced with collective grief. Forest fires. Possible fire tornadoes. Hurricanes. A continuing pandemic with no end in sight, with over 58 million people having filed jobless claims since itContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Caged Bird”

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: 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: 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: The Best Possible Day

Atul Gawande is one of my favorite medical writers. His oeuvre is a great place to begin when you are interested in exploring narrative medicine because it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, but still very accessible to the modern reader. He is the author of several books, including Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, from whichContinue reading “Writing Prompt: The Best Possible Day”