author | Lise1

I Refuse to Participate in this Nonsense

“Rat-a-tat tat, rat-a-tat tat, rat-a-tat tat,” An ancient cassette slowly spun in a tape player, miraculously still functioning. “Rat-tat...

Marc's Anniversary Visit

Every October, the light changes, the sun hanging lower in the sky. Every October, the leaves flash to orange, yellow and red, and drift...

"Burn Baby Burn"

[Author note: In recognition of this back-to-school time, here is a reprint of my blog about bullying. Many children are bravely...

Happy To Be “Too Sensitive”

My mother used to tell me, “You're too sensitive.” It was a repeated refrain, deployed when I cried too long or hurt too much. She said...

Who Cares?

Guest Blog by Patrick Lombardi “Who cares?” my mom says. It’s her go-to response whenever someone criticizes her baked ziti or grumbles...

Writers & Resilience

Guest blog by David R. Roth Resilience is commonly used to describe the capacity to overcome things like trauma, tragedy, or oppressive...

Angels who leave Christmas trees

When I was four years old, an angel left me my very own Christmas tree. I lay on a soft twin bed, tucked in the corner of a wood-paneled...

Somewhere Over My Rainbow(s)

(Part 4 in the series Choosing More Surgery) I have always loved “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I identify with Dorothy in The Wizard of...

Books that Heal

When I was 28 years old, I briefly dated a surgical resident. Perhaps like all surgeons, he was smart, decisive, and pleased with...

Abandonment and Resilience

By Dr. Michael Lennox This beautiful piece was written by my very first best friend in the whole wide world. Michael and I became dear...

How the Last-Picked-in-Gym Won a Gold Medal

In elementary school, my life divided into two clear zones. There were areas in which I excelled, and areas in which I was pitiful....