“New Green”

My internal narrator has been compelling me to write since the beginning of summer, when the fresh leaves decorated the tips of lonely branches with a new, fresh, green that makes its appearance only once a year. In Japanese, this is called “shinryoku” or “new green.” We have no such word in English.

Now the leaves are peaking in their autumn glory, though I haven’t been outside much to see them. Between trying to do my part in managing the house, be a mother to my daughter, a student of dermatology, and a good doctor, I feel many days like butter that’s been spread too thin.

Still, I try to make practice of acknowledging what’s been going well with my second year of residency. When my attitude is in a good place, I’m better at doing an exercise called “three good things,” which is a practice of writing down three good things (however small) that happened that day. What are mine today?

1. Called and cancelled tomorrow’s appointment in advance enough to avoid getting hit with a penalty fee.
2. My cafeteria lunch included an extra piece of steak.
3. All of my notes were done by the end of clinic today (!!)

Small victories, but noteworthy ones for me.