“You don’t have any muscles in your body,” said the former Egyptian olympian as she gave me a massage. This was a huge blow for me, as I had grown up very fit and athletic. But the years of child-bearing and medical training had taken its toll on me. There I lay, weak and vulnerable […]
10 Fitness Tips for Muslim Women from my personal journey Read More »
Making your bed isn’t just about straightening the sheets; it’s a ritual that kickstarts an intentional, purposeful day. 5 ways that the simple act of making your bed each morning boosts your well-being: Do you make your bed daily?
How making your bed impacts your whole day: boost productivity Read More »
Whether it be images of war, people buried under the rubble of an earthquake, viral clips of police brutality, or stories told by our elders, traumatic experiences are all around us. Even when we don’t experience the trauma first-hand, we can be significantly impacted by it vicariously. Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma or
I remember when my kids were little, and we would do the science project where you wrap the lentil in a damp paper towel and watch it sprout over time. It was really exciting to see the progress each day, even for me as an adult. We were always taught that plants need three essential
If lentils can grow without soil, so can you: overcoming obstacles to self-development Read More »
I recently had the pleasure of meeting a friend for lunch. We are both ophthalmologists, moms, and busy community members involved in a variety of things. But we took the time out to sit together over a meal and connect. One of the things she shared with me is that she does daily gratitudes with
Counting your blessings literally changes your brain: the benefits of gratitude Read More »
I’ve heard a lot of advice about cutting toxic people out of your life. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is that simple. Often times, these people are inextricably linked to us either through family, work, or other reasons. In many cultural & religious traditions, it’s wrong to cut off family members & break family ties. So
Can we face toxicity with forgiveness? Read More »
I was given a plant as a gift two years ago. At that time, it was full of pink blossoms. Over the course of a month or so, those flowers gradually died. For the next 22 months, it sat on my kitchen counter, under two large skylights, watered weekly, and it grew. The gangling green branches sprawled, increasing in
Is your environment promoting growth or prolonging stagnation? Read More »
As a parent of 19 consecutive years – and 36 cumulative years – I’ve learned a lot . I’ve developed some of my own parenting philosophies and strategies, which change with the years and situation. As we are in a society of plenty, at least here in the bubble in which I live (and sadly not
Many times over the years, people have asked me how I “do it all.” I don’t and I can’t. Can any one person do it all? Of course not. We shouldn’t expect that of ourselves or others, as it sets us up for disappointment and feelings of inadequacy. I know that in reality what people mean when
How I do it all: finding life’s delicate balance Read More »
I just read an article by a fellow female physician. A well-written and brave piece about putting her life on hold to become a surgeon. After the many rigorous years of training, she finds herself at age 38, without a partner, going through the difficult and expensive process of trying to freeze her eggs with the hopes of one
Having kids in residency – a perfect storm Read More »
