This is the page on my website where I am supposed to introduce myself and maybe even trot out some credentials that justify my right to claim this creative space – the blogger’s equivalent of the dreaded interview question, “tell us a little bit about yourself.”
Gulp.
Who am I?
The truth is, I’m not sure how to answer this question, but I will take a stab at it. Please note, this “About Me” page is subject to edits, updates, and improvements.
I am the mother of two extraordinary daughters. That piece of my identity will always be at the top of any “about me” description. My children have brought meaning to my life that I can never fully describe. In a future blog post, maybe I’ll explain the bank of kisses I created for them, to ensure that they will always have access to enough love to nourish their souls during my life and beyond. But that’s a topic for another day. I digress.
I am a wife and a daughter. If the preceding paragraph did not give it away, you have likely gotten the message by now that my family means everything to me.
I am inspired by people who are creatively unconventional. Two of my role models are New York Times crossword puzzle mastermind, Will Shortz (I myself do not work crossword puzzles, but I am addicted to on-line word games) and musical legend, Bobby McFerrin. This also might be fodder for a future blog post.
I am a violinist. If I had the chance to reclaim my youth, I would pursue a career in music (maybe one day I still will. “Youth” is subjective). I often marvel at the infinite amount of music that exists in the world and feel a twinge of regret over the fact that no matter how long I may live, I will only get to hear a small fraction of the music that has been created – or has yet to be created. Although I was trained classically as a child, I enjoy all types of music, and my family often makes fun of my digital collection which, when sorted randomly, may jump from Bach to Byrd to Bernstein to Nirvana to Arrested Development to Prince to Gaga – and to all artists and genres in-between and beyond – without a hitch. I love it all. My kids once asked me how I define good music. I answered, “it’s good if I like it.” I stand by that.
On a more serious note – I am a psychiatrist. I am endlessly interested in people’s internal conflicts and capacity for resilience. I am curious about the ways in which human behavior is an amalgamation of social, biological, psychological, cultural and political influences that fluctuate over time. Over the course of my clinical career, I have come to question the twin notions of mental health and mental illness, and believe we cannot think of mental health as an entity separated from the communities in which we dwell. At the same time, I have become increasingly concerned about the tumultuous cultural/political landscape in which we find ourselves today, and am cognizant of the fact that there is a tremendous discrepancy between American ideals and American lived experience. I am convinced that we cannot approximate wellness without meaningfully addressing the ills of society at large.
The fact that each of us is but one serious illness, job loss, shooting, or natural disaster away from personal catastrophe is a reality that undermines the attainment of true health and safety. A society whose foundation is immersed in racism, that lacks a safety net, and cannot be counted upon to support its citizens during times of need is a natural breeding ground for anxiety, depression, and worse. This realization has led me to venture deeply into the worlds of social justice and activism, and I’ve developed a desire to use my writing as a vehicle for awareness and healing. I fundamentally believe that the assurance of dignity is inseparable from the pursuit of health and justice; individuals cannot thrive when basic needs are precariously met, if they are met at all.
So, with these words, I’ve offered you a snapshot of myself. I recognize that within this “about me” page, I have veered dramatically from the silly to the serious, and now I’m heading back toward a light hearted tone. I apologize if the whiplash is disconcerting; I hope it is not off-putting. I must admit that the detours of my mind sometimes feel like a meandering game of Pac-Man. Rather than fighting against nature by forcing my thoughts to conform to a single path or pattern, I will simply reflect this fluctuating dynamic in my written words. I’m tempted to take this Pac-Man analogy further, but I think I’m going to save that for later. You’re welcome.
As I conclude this section, let me leave you with a few more facts to flesh out my biography:
- I love cats (I have three).
- My second favorite animal is the wombat.
- My favorite shape is the trapezoid.
- My favorite foods are grapes and onions.
- My favorite color is purple.
- My favorite season is summer.
- I would wear flip flops all day every day if it didn’t snow in Michigan.
I doubt I’ve sufficiently done justice to the prompt, “Who am I?” but the truth is, that really is an unfair question with no fully satisfying answer. I did my best to address it under the circumstances.
The bottom line is, I’m incredibly excited to write this blog and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you. Thank you for entering this space!