Health is Wealth

Doctors are tired of  hearing  about wellness – we need to do something about it instead **I originally wrote this post for Canadian Healthcare Network**  ‘We’re all just tired of being tired’.   Have you heard one of your colleague physicians say something similar to that lately? Better yet, have you ever had one of these thoughts?   “They [the government, the organization, my boss, etc.] are just saying that they care about our wellness. But they really don’t care , it’s all about politics. They are just trying to check a box”    “I am overworked and hardly have enough time for myself and my family – the last thing I want to do is an online module that’s supposed to teach me about ‘wellness’”   “We would all be a lot less exhausted of medicine if we got paid more, or at least recognized for the work that we do that no one sees”      We’ve all heard it since we were younger: actions speak louder than words. When it comes to address...

Another New Year is upon us! It is always interesting to me that as we go through the year, Christmas seems so far away. But then, out of nowhere - December is here, and then January - the New Year! Once a new year arrives, the 'resolution-making' begins. I can discuss ends on ends about resolutions and why they are helpful - and when they are not. To be brief, resolutions can be helpful when they encourage us to make goals and take steps to achieve them. However, the major issue with resolutions is that we often fall into the trap of making 'bold and big' resolutions. These can 'work' for us for a temporary time, and then we fall back into our previous habits. Or, we might set resolutions that are 'trendy' because we want to be like others, we perceive a benefit from certain 'goals' (ex. 'drink more water! Get 10, 000 steps a day!', etc)., or because of certain external factors (ex. a sale on certain products, a promotion, etc).  The c...

This is a continuation of the series on 'lessons from infants/children'. If you have not already ready the previous posts, please take a look here and here . When you first read the title of this post, you may be wondering how on earth adults are supposed to learn from infant 'babbling'. Have you heard an infant babble? It's a jumble of sounds that seem to be halfway between humming and speaking. It really is quite amusing when you watch a child babble - they do so without any fear of judgment, simply moving their mouths and enjoying the fact that sounds are emerging! First, let's briefly talk about the value in babbling. Infants babble before they are able to produce 'real' words and sentences. Babbling, hence. is a form of early communication. Apart from the fact that babies are learning to produce vocalizations, babbling also allows them to learn to make eye contact with others, hear changes in sounds, and see 'how communication' works in rea...

 Continuing in the series around 'Lessons from Children', let's talk about the power and importance of 'play'.  What exactly IS play? When was the last time you allowed yourself to 'play'? Why is play important - or is it? (I suppose you can assume that if I am asking this question, it is important!) There is a great deal of literature on the importance of play. We will definitely have another post about technology and the pros/cons of this, but for this post, let's focus on the importance of taking time to 'play' and be 'a child' again.  What are some activities that you enjoy doing that involves 'playing'? Let's brainstorm a few; here are some ideas to get started! -arts and crafts (painting, colouring, drawing, doodling) -puzzles (jigsaw, number, etc) -sports -listening to a podcast -singing and dancing -fixing things for fun -cooking, baking -organizing a room or space -gardening and planting  -reading a story/book; writ...

Have you ever watched a baby look around the room, or jump their attention from one adult to another?Have you ever noticed how little infants, as they become more aware of their surroundings, take delight in staring at things around the room? Their eyes scan the room and 'take everything in'. If you observe these little ones, you will notice how interested they are in their surroundings.  When was the last time you stopped to notice what is around you? We often say 'stop to smell the flowers' or 'take in the sunshine'. But do you actually DO this?  Young children are learning about their environments; our eyes take in our surroundings and transmit these messages to the brain, where visual processing occurs. Without getting too complicated, it is quite a complex and interconnected process! The miracle of vision is truly a blessing we all have. Stop for a moment and take a look around you. What's there? Is your room organized? What colour are the walls? How is...

 My nine-month old niece is an absolute joy - and a handful! In just nine months, I have learned so much from her... The amazing thing about watching and interacting with children as they grow is realizing that they literally come in to the world on a 'clean slate'. It's like a journal that has nothing written in it - who knows what will fill the pages?! Lessons from children can range from anything to how to keep trying, to the appreciation of language, to the simplicity of smiling at everyday things, etc. In these new few posts, I will be discussing the various lessons I have learned from my lovely niece. Although, to be fair - here is a shout-out to all my little patients who I see in clinic as well - you have all taught me so much about life too! Before the next post begins the series, I want us to reflect on a few things: 1) How often do you allow yourself to 'play'? When was the last time you grabbed a toy, a puzzle, or a piece of paper and let yourself enjoy ...

I don't know about you, but rainy days are just NOT my favourite. I thrive on the sun - waking up to a sunny day makes me feel energized and 'ready'. When it is dark and rainy outside, the dampness gets to me. It feels gloomy, my joints get stiff, I have to wear a hood outside... AGH! Many people are similar. There is good evidence that sunshine has a positive effect on things like cognition, mood, memory, energy, sense of well-being, and more (see  this article  for just some information!). In some individuals with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), light in general has a strong impact on their mood.  The past few weeks in Ontario have been nothing short of .... 'interesting' in terms of weather. April was a relatively dry month, but May and June have been bringing us all sorts of surprises! It has a been a colder and wetter May and June since I can recall! I noticed myself - especially three weeks ago - feeling very frustrated with the rainy weather. After all, we...

 The pandemic triggered an increased in 'virtual' everything - from meetings, to healthcare appointments, to gatherings, to art gallery viewings...  There are many benefits to this. During the pandemic, transitioning to virtual formats allowed us to stay connected to one another at a time when social distancing was critical for our communities. Although it was a huge learning curve, it also increased and encouraged many people to learn more about technology. People also may have been able to save money on gas when commuting, they connected to people far away, explored new activities online, were able to access their healthcare providers, etc. However, there were (and are!) many pitfalls to virtual formatting of 'life'. Not everyone has access to laptops, phones, stable internet connections, etc. Technology can also fail, and when it does, it can be incredibly frustrating. From a healthcare perspective, virtual care allowed doctors to treat patients when they were at ho...

 Happy Easter to all those celebrating! Easter is about forgiveness, new beginnings, and hope. The joy of the Resurrection of Christ means that death no longer has victory over us. It's ever so easy to become distraught, hopeless, fatigued, and overwhelmed in our circumstances. It is easy to become exhausted and feel like there is no end in sight. But Easter changes that. Jesus died for you; you are loved by a God who gave up His life for you. In doing so, He defeated the power of evil over His children. You will have victory - not because of yourself, but because of Christ!  I pray that this Easter season fills you with peace, joy, and hope. I pray that the knowledge and confidence that God is alive - and that there is no power that can overcome you in Him - gives you strength. Happy Easter - Christ is Risen! Thank you, Lord, for dying for me, and for showing me how loved I am. Thank you for reassuring me that nothing can conquer me as long as I hold on to You!

T his year in Ontario has felt like one long winter! From cold temperatures to bouts of heavy snow, I’m sure we’re all ready for spring to arrive!   You’ve likely heard of the concept of ‘spring cleaning’, whereby we’re supposedly to organize, clean, and refresh our lives in preparation for spring. The concept is actually helpful if you think about the tasks you can get done: getting the garden ready for planting flowers, putting away winter clothes and embracing, lighter ones, etc.  If you think more deeply about the concept of spring cleaning, however, you may find that there is actually a lot more that you can do to embrace the new season. Spring cleaning doesn’t only have to be about ‘seasonal changes’; it can also be about personal life changes. What are some goals that you want to make as the weather gets nicer? Perhaps you would benefit from taking a daily walk outside to clear your mind? What about your closet? Are there clothes that you no longer use and can donate...

How do you define 'love'? It is a feeling, an action, a word...or all of them? The greatest example of love if Christ - He died so that you can have life - and life abundantly!  On the theme of 'love' because it is February (i.e. Valentine's Day is February 14) - t ake some time to let those around you know that you love them. Yes, saying I love you goes a long way... but the heart (haha!) of love lays in actions. How do you show love to those around you? How can you show those around you that you appreciate them, that you care for them, and that you will always be there for them? And remember - you are wonderfully and fearfully made, loved by a God who gave His life up for you. Never forget that you are made for a purpose - the Lord has His eyes on you at all times; oh, how He loves you! 

Don't you hate it when you feel like things are out of your control? As humans, we all - to some extent - have the need to feel that we can control certain aspects of our lives. Uncertainty leads us to feel anxious because we feel that we don't know what is going to happen next - and we feel helpless.  It is important to recall that not everything is out of our control. There are, in fact, many things that we can control, and many things that we can change. For example, in an argument with a partner, you may not be able to control how they feel at the moment. You cannot go back in time and take back the harsh words you said. However, you CAN control things now by apologizing. You can control things now by giving your partner space and asking how you can help make things right. Let's look at another situation: job loss. You cannot control the fact that you were laid off. You cannot control the sadness you feel because of this. However, you CAN control how much this impacts ...

The first piece of my ‘artwork’ that I’m going to share with you comes from my work on Procreate, an app for the iPad. Just in time for Christmas, my favourite holiday!  I am by no means an expert artist - not even close! But there’s something special about getting into the Christmas season by doodling. From my heart to yours, I wish you a very Merry and blessed Christmas. The season has so much to offer - from hope, to love, to gratitude, to peace.   The birth of Jesus Christ into the world brings us joy - we are not alone in our struggles here. God’s love for us in sending us His Son to save us brings us hope and comfort. I pray that you are surrounded by love this Christmas season. I pray that the joy of the holidays and the warmth of loved ones allows you to realize how blessed you are, and how much joy you bring to others. Take some time to let your family and friends know how special they are to you. Slow down and cherish the simple pleasures and blessings of life: from ...

I never realized how much I love drawing and colouring until I allowed myself to finally explore this in my bullet journal and on my iPad. This, dear readers, is the story I have wanted to share for a while: the birth of my BJ last year, in 2021. It took me a while to decide on sharing this part of my life because to be honest, my BJ is something really personal to me. I hope by sharing this story - and parts of my BJ here - you will be inspired to create, to explore your hobbies, to become vulnerable through art, and to learn more about yourself and your talents/interests. (Note: no images in this post are mine. When I share my work, it'll be clear that it is mine!). I used to spend time on Pinterest exploring pins on bullet journals, adoring the spreads before me. I loved the ideas there, but for some reason, felt like I could never do this. First, I was not 'good' at art. Second, I didn't even OWN a bullet journal or tools to draw/colour. Third, I didn't have the...

October brings about the beautiful colours of fall - leaves gracefully shedding from trees, changing colour from orange to yellow and red. It is quite a lovely sight. Although I quite dislike the weather getting colder, there is something special, touching, and lovely about the autumn season.  October - at least in Canada - hosts Thanksgiving Day. Traditionally, people get together and eat turkey and gravy, stuffing and pie, etc. But what is thanksgiving really about? You may or may not be familiar with the Pilgrim history. I'm not getting into that here. Instead, let's take a moment to reflect about the important of gratitude in our lives. It is easy to go about our days and not stop to be mindful of our blessings. Consider how busy your day is - from getting up in the morning, going to work or school, interacting with dozens of people, taking care of yourself and others, etc...there is A LOT happening in one day!  An 'attitude of gratitude' is important to have. It fo...

  No one likes to be challenged out of their 'comfort zone'. You know - the place where you know you will succeed. Please note that I am not talking about real safety. There is a HUGE difference between challenging yourself to do something you are worried you will fail at, and putting yourself at risk of harm. I am not a 'risk-taker' by any means. I hate roller-coasters. I despise scary movies. I don't speed through yellow lights hoping to pass through. At the same time, I'm not superstitious. I will take some risks if I think that they are reasonable. I will apply for positions that I am not sure I will get. I will try drawing something that I have never tried before. I will (cautiously!) try new yoga positions to test my balance. At the same time, I very much dislike getting out of my comfort zone in certain situations. For example, I applied to a position a while ago, feeling nervous that I would not get it. I mean, how awful would it be if I did NOT get it? ...