“Hang on the walls of your mind the memory of your successes. Take counsel of your strength, not your weakness. Think of the good jobs you have done. Think of the times when you rose above your average level of performance and carried out an idea or a dream or a desire for which you had deeply longed. Hang these pictures on the walls of your mind and look at them as you travel the roadway of life.” -James Whistler-
While in residency in the Detroit area we lived on the island, Grosse Ile, I remember some of the most beautiful sunrises on my way to the hospital in Wyandotte in the morning or on early morning runs. Some more spectacular than others, this picture is one of my favorites. Paired with my favorite quote shared with me by a favorite cousin long ago while in undergrad trying to figure out why everything was always so hard and felt so difficult. It’s a quote I that reminds me to think of where I am now instead of not being where I want to be.
There are seasons when life feels uncertain — when the horizon seems far away. But if you keep your focus on the light, the path ahead reveals itself. This sunrise feels symbolic… a reminder that even after long nights, new beginnings await.
Tomorrow as we celebrate the ribbon cutting of Sorenson Foot and Ankle, I’m reminded that faith, perseverance, and gratitude turn the hardest chapters into the most beautiful ones. The light always returns — and it’s just getting started.