Springtime has arrived in Richmond with flowers galore and the tiniest of new leaves already on the trees. Warm weather and the sunshine return to Virginia sooner than Vermont, which is one reason I moved here. While the earth is waking up – the birds singing and soaring and the pollen exploding – I find myself taking a breath of relief.

Even in Virginia the winters are gray. This year we had a period of fierce snow and ice for the first time since I moved south. I’m excited to see the osprey on the James River again. They’ll stay for the summer. Their chicks will be visible soon in their nests; they look like little dragons until they grow true feathers. I never thought I’d live in a city that had osprey screaming overhead, but I’m happy I do. I also look forward to scouting for native passion fruit and pawpaws this summer. And, of course, looking for bats overhead at dusk in the downtown park. There’s something joyful about nature finding a way to thrive in the heart of a city.

I embrace spring cleaning. The literal interpretation – organizing the house, rearranging the plants, reviewing my wardrobe. And the metaphorical one – brushing away the cobwebs that settled around my innovation and motivation when sunshine was scarce. This is a more exciting spring than usual. April 1^st marked 90 days left of residency. This spring I’m reflecting on what I’ve done these past 3 years of residency and what needs to change once I graduate.

Becoming a doctor is a sacrifice. It takes years of dedication, intentional work, and intense focus. I’ve found that the most challenging part about the journey through medical school and residency is that the process limits one’s freedom. Freedom to choose one’s schedule. Freedom to choose one’s location of work. Freedom to decide how to spend one’s day. Freedom to have energy and time to do other things.

This spring I’m preparing for my next step in the doctorhood quest – passing my board exams and starting to work independently. I’m also taking time to look at the other parts of my life. It’s time to remember my hobbies – the ones that have been sitting dormant for years as there was no time to pursue them. My other goals like personal health, social activities, and world improvement that have all atrophied during residency. This spring isn’t just when the earth rejuvenates, it’s the spring I rejuvenate too.