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As a mother and a doctor, I know you are sometimes worried and afraid, overwhelmed and overstretched. But your families depend on you to be their foundation. You're imperfect. And that's okay.
Because you are something better.
You're whole, fierce, and unshakeable.
ALL RECENT POSTS:
Have you read this beautiful essay by Bronnie Ware? Bronnie worked with palliative care patients and wanted to share the universal stories of regret from those at the end of their lives. Write down your regrets. Keep this list in front of you, because you can use these regrets to be guide posts for your […]
In 2012, at that moment in the emergency department when I felt I had screwed up my life choices, I would never have guessed that I would ever be on the other side of burnout. I didn’t know much about personal development, core values, or habits. I didn’t even know how to take care of […]
At this time of year (if it’s December when you’re reading this), probably you are thinking back to what happened in the past 12 months. Maybe you feel good about all you’ve accomplished. Maybe you feel you didn’t hit your goals. I want to share a habit that I started to practice about 8 years […]
If you’ve ever read the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by law professor Amy Chua, you’ll have a good idea of the type of mother I thought I would be. I had dreams of my kids speaking four languages, being great readers, being skilled at the violin, and of course excelling at the best […]
There is no quick fix to burnout. You are not responsible for the holes in the healthcare system. I hope this is obvious. It’s okay to feel angry that medical culture penalizes those who choose to be mothers. It does extract an unfair toll. Expectations for mothers are unrealistic. You know this. I don’t need […]
Growth. You might hate it. You might resist it. You might feel as if “you don’t have time for it.” But you know you need to grow if you’re going to get out of burnout. This is non-negotiable. As non-negotiable as acknowledging Colin Firth as the definitive Mr. Darcy. Don’t try to argue with me […]
What is your favourite way to relieve stress? Have you ever found yourself indulging in your favourite stress reliever, only to feel jarred back to the terrible truth that your reality has not changed (and maybe even feels worse than ever)? Did the stress reliever do its job and provide real comfort and rejuvenation? Or […]
You might call it work life balance or work life integration, but in the end, it’s a function of wanting to be great in two areas that compete—motherhood and a career in medicine. To be in two places at once. Maybe, like me, you have even wished to be cloned so that you could handle […]
As women and doctors, it’s safe to say that you are comfortable giving advice. Often. While I’m sure your patients appreciate your efforts to help guide them with the best medical practices, what about when you interact with your colleagues and friends in social settings or on social media? Can you refrain from giving advice […]
I love talking about purpose and meaning with people. I especially enjoy listening to people who are navigating tough decisions in their lives. I could do that all day long. Medical trainees know this and often earnestly ask me “where should I work, Dawn?” “Where, Dawn? What hospital? I need to get this right! TELL […]
