Everybody knows that “pinky swear” is the most serious promise that one can make at 9 years old. Like, “come hell or high water” and “til death do us part” kind of serious. Well, at the time. I’m sure we can all think of a time when we have broken a promise, EVEN one that was sealed with the hook of a little finger. Situations change, people change, and sometimes a broken promise turns out not to matter. Still, there are some that matter a lot, and escalate into broken trust, broken relationships. As I’ve gotten older, I have tried to stick to the principle of, “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” Sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes it seems harsh, but it’s realistic, and I think false hope and lost trust can also do real damage.

As I’m sure you’re aware, friends, there is so much uncertainty in the world right now, especially in this country. This is not a blog on politics, and that’s not really the point of this post, but you would have to be living under a rock to not see how divided America is right now, and how what comes across as a victory for some people results in ten steps backwards for others.  I am so disheartened. I am scared. I live 3 miles from the nation’s capital, and I have never felt so helpless as a citizen. I’m getting real sick of feeling like that, so I decided to make myself a few promises to help me focus on the good and the possibility of better days. Promises I intend to keep, and that I want to share with you all.

I promise to love my neighbors, even ones who don’t think, talk, look, love or identify like me.

I promise to be there for my loved ones, no matter what they go through or what they need from me.

I promise to use my voice, and to utilize my position and privilege to represent the voiceless.

I promise to fight for my patients, to advocate for the kids and families that will make up the future of this nation.

I promise to believe in science, to do the work to stay as up-to-date as I can on medical advances that affect my practice.

I promise to practice gratitude, for the small things and the big.

I promise to work on self-care, to take good care of my body and make sure I get what I need to be my best self.

I promise to keep writing, to share my story and to interact with all of you incredible readers.

Friends, I encourage you to think about it: what promises can you make to yourself? To others? To the world?

I PROMISE that what you do, matters. Most of all, I promise that YOU matter. Pinky swear.