Taking a Moment to Receive
“When you receive, you are giving someone the joy of giving.” – Unknown
There is something a bit uncomfortable for many of us about being celebrated. We are far more accustomed to being the ones who show up, who listen, who care. And yet, once a year, a quiet invitation arrives: National Doctor’s Day. Not as a grand gesture, but as a pause. A moment to acknowledge the work we do, the paths we’ve traveled, and the people we have become along the way.
I remember the first time a patient thanked me in a way that lingered. It wasn’t elaborate – just a simple, sincere “I’m really glad you’re my doctor.” My reflex, almost instantly, was to deflect: “I’m just doing my job.” And in some ways, that was true. But over time, I’ve come to wonder if that response misses something important. Because this “job” is not just a set of tasks. It is years of diligent preparation, numerous personal sacrifices, countless unseen decisions, agonizing moments of uncertainty, and a willingness to keep showing up – especially on the hard days.
National Doctor’s Day in the U.S. traces back to March 30, 1933, when it was first observed in Winder, Georgia, to honor local physicians and their contributions to the patients and communities they served. The observance included mailing greeting cards to physicians and placing flowers on the graves of those who had died, and it became an officially recognized national day by an act of Congress in 1990. Since then, it has served as a reminder of the essential role physicians play, not only in delivering care, but in advancing science, mentoring learners, and sustaining the health of communities. And yet, studies of physician culture consistently highlight a tendency toward self-effacement: minimizing one’s own contributions while prioritizing the needs of others, often at the expense of personal well-being.
This then offers us a rare opportunity. While there are many admirable qualities to the humility that focuses on life-long learning, rising to challenges, and showing up no matter what, perhaps there is something missing in the quiet internal narrative that says, “Well… it’s just part of the job.” Over time, it all becomes surprisingly easy to normalize; the years of training, hard-won experience, and the daily effort to care quietly folded into a familiar shrug. Perhaps today is an invitation to loosen that reflex just a bit. To pause before moving on to the next thing, and without overthinking it, allow a small, unfamiliar moment of “yes, what I have the opportunity to do is a really big deal” to sneak in.
So for this year’s Doctor’s Day, let’s consider a reframe. When someone says “thank you,” pause before you deflect. Let it land. And offer the same to your PeerRx partner and other colleagues (even if neither of you is a physician!) – a quick note, a text, or a call, taking a moment to express “I’m glad you’re in this work.” And for yourself, take just a moment to recognize what it has taken for you to get to where you are. Not with pride or self-importance, but with quiet appreciation. Because this work matters. And so do you.