Susan Thompson Hingle, Certified Listener Poet Cohort 13 alum, has had two pieces published over the past several months: "When Love Doesn't Stay" in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and "Aware, Guided, and Grateful" in the Annals of Internal Medicine. She shared with us her reflections on each of these pieces.
“In “When Love Doesn’t Stay,” I reflect on the profound and often unspoken grief of a disrupted adoption. With honesty, tenderness, and hope, the essay explores love, loss, infertility, family, and the enduring marks left by relationships that were real, even if they were not permanent. It is a meditation on holding grief and gratitude at the same time—and a reminder that love always matters, even when it does not stay.”
“In “Aware, Guided, and Grateful,” I share a deeply personal reflection on mentorship, mental health, and the life-changing power of human connection. Set over the course of one unforgettable night, the piece explores the weight of suffering carried by trainees, the importance of recognizing signs of despair, and the profound impact of simply reaching out. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, it is a meditation on compassion, presence, and the quiet moments that can be life changing.”