Appreciation

I love Mother’s Day. I love the hugs and kisses, the breakfast in bed, the unrestrained love fest that my children shower upon me. This year, my haul of mom-loot was quite impressive. I received the following items (in no particular order): a potholder emblazoned with a strawberry that said “Berry Best Mom,” a tissue paper encrusted vase with construction paper flowers, another vase with a tissue paper flower, a mug that was handmade by my preschooler in pottery class, a picture of my daughter on a piece of colored cardboard, and a plastic cup filled with seedlings that I have been told will grow up to become marigolds. I also received at least a dozen cards, notes, pictures, drawings, and projects. I am so blessed.

This annual day of appreciation for moms reminds me of what a sucker I am for appreciation. I am the consummate people pleaser and love, love, love to receive positive feedback, kudos, and the like. Just like my role as mom, my role as doctor often involves numerous small but incredibly powerful expressions of gratitude. Here is a partial list of all the ways my patients have showered me with appreciation recently:

• A birthday card from a patient whose birthday is the day after mine, signed (with love) from her and both of her cats
• Tears or relief and a grateful hand squeeze from an elderly woman whose husband is also my patient after I explained that his anemia was not from cancer
• A hug and a sincere thank you from a daughter for taking care of her mother as my patient lay dying in her hospital bed
• A reassurance that “we trust you Dr. Frank” upon informing an older patient and his wife that I thought the best course of action was to admit him to the hospital for observation, regardless of what the cardiologist said

I am so blessed.