I went to the funeral of a colleague today. His death was sudden, unexpected and feels unfair. Our entire community is reeling from the shock. The service was beautiful with flowers and photos and so. Many. People. Hundreds of people came to pay their respects. There were stories and images of his adventures, successes, and family.  It was a service that told the story of a life well lived.   We often talk about living aligned with our values. I’ve said it. I’ve poured through lists of core...

Happy new year!! I'm going to take you waaaay back to the Luther College womens track and field team..   The year is 1997. I come around the bend of the indoor track and the noise hits me—people cheering, halogen lights glaring overhead, the air thick and dry. Running a 3000-meter race indoors is brutal.   The passing of years reminds me of that race—circling the same track again and again, crossing the line, starting another lap. Sometimes you lose count. Your feet turn over one after the...

I just got back from the Women Physician Wellness conference, and I’m still full of excitement and gratitude.  It was an incredible time; I got to connect with amazing, brilliant physician women. We learned together and exchanged ideas on how to manage and balance our busy lives. While there, I had the opportunity to give a talk on conflict. During that talk, I shared a story about a time I intentionally entered a conflict that I knew would be uncomfortable, but I thought was important.  A...