Dear Wellness Community,
Brr! Winter is here! Sweater weather has made its way to the Puget Sound. A winter wonderland is in full view outside my window. A blanket of white, fluffy snow covers the ground, little birds rest in a bush looking for food amid the tall firs standing majestic, with a cold front that plans to linger around. This season brings with it so many gifts: wondrous sights, celebrations with family and friends, food, lights to brighten up the shorter, darker days, the culmination of another year and new beginnings.
A week ago, as I gathered with friends and family around the table, I was filled with a myriad of feelings: warmth and gratitude to my loved ones and colleagues for the joy they bring, for my health, thanks to my family for their support, some fatigue from the collective work it takes to work, cook, play and do all the many chores we may find on our plate as well as a desire to give back to community.
As the days get shorter, we can surround ourselves with light, feed our souls with joy, laughter, soup or holiday cookies or both and take much needed breaks. The last few weeks of the year bring many traditions and celebrations from all over the world. To me, it is a time to reflect on the year, both gifts I receive and challenges I face, to come together, find joy and hope while acknowledging the many months of hard work and at times, grief.
How do you experience the gifts of the season? In what ways do you celebrate?
In this issue, you will find holiday recipes, light displays around the Seattle area, cool events you can partake in, books and movies to enjoy as well as ways to take a pause from the busyness and share gratitude.
The following verse from Ross Gay’s poem “Thank You” resonates with me.
Walk through the garden’s dormant splendor.
Say only, thank you.
Thank you.
This week’s Wellness Corner authored by:
Dipti Chrastka, LMFT
GME Wellness Director
Monday – Friday at Harborview
206.744.0655
diptic@uw.edu
GME Wellness Counseling
Contents
Navigating Parental Leave for Resident and Fellow Physicians
- Navigating Parental Leave event on January 10th from 6:30 – 7:30pm on Zoom. At this event, Hayley Fisher, GME Director of Housestaff Affairs, will educate trainees about navigating parental leave, how upcoming ACGME requirements may alter provisions and answer trainees’ questions.
- Register today: Registration will close at 8:00am on January 9th. All residents, fellows and guests are encouraged to attend via Zoom.
- Navigating Parental Leave for Resident and Fellow Physicians: January 2023
SMooCH Tickets Raffle Winner
- Leah Karlsen (PGY 2 IM) is the lucky winner of SCH’s Annual SMooCH Fundraiser tickets. Congrats Leah! Hope you have a fabulous time at the event.
Lights and more Lights!
- Step into the holiday season by taking in some magical light displays all around Seattle!
- Wild Lanterns at Woodland Park Zoo. Take in this larger than life, immersive experience filled with animals and nature scape lanterns from all over the world. (Runs through Jan 22 from 4 to 9 pm).
- Check out over half a million lights as you walk around this lit up botanical garden. I enjoyed my visit here and recommend it highly.
- Enjoy free live music, delight in larger-than-life light sculptures and make memories at the Holiday Lights and Delights, Occidental Square in Seattle.
- Catch a snowflake and enjoy a spectacular show with a nightly parade of drummers, dancers, live music amid dazzling lights on Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane.
Sweeten the Holidays
- The perfect holiday treat: Cookies. We all have our favorite. Thanks, Seattle Times, for this Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookie recipe. Find more fun recipes here.
Oh What fun it is to:
- Bring out your fugliest holiday sweater and compete in the Fugly Sweater Championship (Dec 15 from 6 to 8 pm).
- Bike around Seattle to catch holiday light displays. Dress in layers or bring along a warm beverage as you pedal around on 5 different routes.
- Cuddle up with your favorite book. Pick from a great list curated by the New Yorker.
- Get into the holiday spirit! Check out a large selection of shows and movies on PBS.
Mm good for your soul!
Arboretum Winter Solstice Walk
Music to your ears
Black Lives Matter
- Discover Ross Gay’s work: poems, books and essays. A suggestion: Inciting Joy: a book by Ross Gay. Ross Gay is a finalist for the National Book Award and National Books Critics Circle Award. Ross talks about his book in this video.
- Collection of BIPOC focused mental health resources. Thanks, Marie Cockerham for this resource.
- Edmonds Diversity Film Series: Free every 3rd Sat at Edmonds Theater (through April 2023).
- Black Books Matter. Join hands to donate books on Black history and culture to a local child with NAAM.
- Celebrate Kwanzaa on Dec 29th from 6 to 730 pm.
For Parents and Kids
- Have your questions answered and hear from experts on parenting topics you have always wanted to hear about. Thanks Seattle Children’s Hospital.
- Cozy up with a Good Book Challenge with Sno-Isle Libraries.
- Sharing a new book from an author in our GME community. Check out Julia Kuo’s latest creation. Luminous: Living Things that Light Up the Night. In this “surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world” (Kirkus STARRED ★Review), kids aged 4 to 8 will marvel at the science of bioluminescence through stunning images of glowing creatures and other organisms.
- Bring in the holiday spirit at Seattle’s Winterfest that runs through Dec 31st. Live performances, food, a winter train village and more fun for everyone!
Wellness Corner Quick Links
Did you know? Resources
- Sign up to receive regular updates on child-care-related caregiving, local and virtual family activities, webinar lectures, access to a biweekly parenting newsletter and more.
- SCOTUS Dobbs ruling in June may have brought up questions. Find answers to many questions you may have here.
- 988 suicide prevention hotline is live since July 2022. A first in the nation is “Native and Strong Crisis Lifeline” in WA State.
- Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) while contending with shorter, darker days in Seattle. Get some great ideas including light boxes. More suggestions here.
Mindfulness Minute
- Happiness and the research behind the science. Learn more about the Science of Happiness by tuning into this podcast.
- Thanks, Greater Good Science Center for this Happiness and Awe Calendar.
- A great opportunity to learn more about mindfulness (free). Check out this offering on Jan 12 from 6 to 7:30 pm.
Giving Back and Looking Ahead
- The UW Husky Gratitude Challenge began on Nov 17th. You can show gratitude by taking a pause and writing a postcard to someone you are grateful for. For inspiration or other ideas, check out this post.
- Join Seattle’s time-honored tradition of watching the Parade of Boats on Dec 17th. Donate to the Toy drive (benefits Seattle Children’s Hospital).
- Check out space themed Annual Gingerbread Village (free to attend) that benefit Juvenile diabetes. Open now till Jan 1.
- Be a life saver by donating blood at Bloodworks Northwest. Find the schedule here. You could win a trip to the Grammys. Check this out!
- Come one, Come All! Usher in the new Year with Seattle’s Polar Bear Plunge on Jan 1, 2023. Special costumes encouraged and you can claim your commemorative Badge of Courage for the neck deep plunge.
Gems from Treasure Valley
- Ride Boise’s Trolley to catch holiday lights from Dec 3rd to Dec 28th. Tickets selling out fast!
- Enjoy walking and browsing the storefronts of downtown Boise and cast your vote for your favorite Winter Windows. Hurry, voting ends Dec 18th.
- Venture out to “Winter Wonder Village” with fun events, crafts, hot chocolate, gift ideas.
- Get a picture with Santa or enjoy a round of ice skating at the Village in Meridian.
Got Feedback for Us?
We’d love to hear it! Share your thoughts about the Wellness Corner, suggestions for future events, discounts or articles to highlight, or anything else you’d like to share. Please email your thoughts to Dipti Chrastka (diptic@uw.edu), Julia Kocian (jkocian@uw.edu), Patty Long-Brohm (pattylb@uw.edu), and/or Howard Schafer (hischa5@uw.edu).