The feeling of connection with my readers is what keeps me writing week after week. Today, I rediscovered the website of another woman physician, Dr. Catherine Cheng, whose blog is titled Healing Through Connection. She is an internist from Chicago, and she participated in National Blog Post Month (NaBloPoMo) for the fourth time this year.
During the month of November 2019, her series of posts on “things that make me better” is impressive and inspiring. I can relate to many of the things that make her better, which range from teaching Medical Students to Journaling.
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I especially liked this post from NaBloPoMo 2018 where Dr. Cheng discussed a Culture of Wellness (COW) in opposition to the current hierarchical culture of medicine. Her discussion with medical trainees raises hope for positive change in the culture of medicine.
In the past, Dr. Cheng has also participated in the Blogging A to Z Challenge, which occurs during the month of April. As the name implies, there are 26 posts – one for every day in the month of April except the 4 Sundays – beginning on April 1 with the letter A and ending on April 30 with the letter Z.
I’m considering doing this Challenge in 2020, since April will coincide with my one-year anniversary of (nearly) weekly blog posts. It’s a way of showing appreciation for the readers that connect with me and support me. I have a lot to be grateful for this week.
Your E-Mails Are Appreciated
When I first rebooted my blog eight months ago, the leader of my mastermind group, Dan Blank, suggested I keep an email folder with all the responses I got to my blog. He said, “If there ever comes a time when you feel discouraged, you can open that folder, and those emails will inspire you.”
Don’t worry, I’m not feeling discouraged, but today, I opened that folder to find 80 responses. When I combine those heartfelt responses with the 50 people who open my newsletter each week (not always the same 50!), I have a lot to be thankful for.
I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and an uplifting time with friends and family tomorrow.
Dear Dr. Bayer, I love reading your blog each month. I passed this link to a young man who journals regularly and dabbles in writing. He was very grateful! I wanted to say that I have used a gratitude journal during the most difficult times in my life. My Mom died from devastating injuries from an MVA. And I was looking at a divorce a year later. Each morning I wrote down 5 things to be grateful for and I think this got me through this crisis. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much for sharing how gratitude was able to help you. It’s truly a powerful antidote to negativity.
Thank you so much for the shout out (again), Dr. Bayer! Always validating to get such positive feedback from a fellow physician writer. 🙂 Best wishes to you and your readers this holiday season!
Thank you! Best wishes to you, too.