April showers bring May flowers!
When I lived in Chicago, I would always get seasonal affective disorder. And for those of you who have never lived somewhere cold — where the days are short and the sky stays relentlessly gray — you may not fully understand what it’s like.
It’s a time of snuggling up under a blanket, staying in your pajamas, and never leaving the couch. It’s feeling so blah that you have zero motivation to do anything. You feel sad for no real reason. I used to go to tanning salons just to feel warm. But honestly, the only real cure seemed to be escaping somewhere like Mexico or Hawaii.
But when April hit — I’d suddenly feel hopeful again. We were on the verge of spring. The snow was starting to melt, and those enormous piles of dirty slush heaped against every light pole were finally disappearing. Chicagoans always looked forward to spring and summer with everything they had. April was always a turning point — a time to feel hopeful for longer days, warmer air, and a fresh start.
Now that I’m in California, I never take the sunshine for granted. I’m so grateful I no longer have those mood swings. But I’m still reminded of the joy I feel when April arrives, because April brings change. It’s the moment I take stock of what I want to shift in my own life.
Change is scary. Change is uncomfortable. But change is also necessary for growth. You cannot expect to grow without friction.
Change can look like learning something new at work. It can mean collaborating with new people. It might mean moving to a new city, a new state, or even just a new home. It might mean finding new friends or building a new team. Change brings uncertainty. It brings a season of discomfort. But what I have learned through this process is that you learn. You might learn a hard lesson — or you might discover that you are grittier and stronger than you ever gave yourself credit for. You might learn that you can pivot. That your identity is so much bigger than the version of yourself you’ve always defaulted to.
We often pigeonhole ourselves. And I think that’s where we sell ourselves short.
My two cents: look for the silver lining. Ask yourself — what does this teach me? What have I learned, and has it made me better? When you start asking those questions, you realize just how capable you truly are.
One thing I want to change — or more accurately, deepen — is my daily practice of gratitude.
To be truly grateful and appreciative of my life. My journey. The lessons — even the hard ones. To be appreciative of the people in my life, both new and old, and what each of them has brought to my story.
My hope is that this practice keeps me humble. That it helps me see people for who they truly are — not who I want them to be or who I think they should be. There is something so freeing about releasing that expectation and just… receiving people as they are.
Gratitude has a way of softening us in the best possible way. It quiets the noise. It shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s already here.
So as we step into April — a month I’ve always associated with renewal and hope — I invite you to ask yourself: what do you want to change? And what do you already have that deserves more of your appreciation?
And speaking of gratitude, I am so deeply thankful for this community — you. The MDIB community is proof that there is strength in numbers. That when women lift each other up, incredible things happen.
I am especially excited to see our CEO Cohort A members in Nashville on April 30th. These gatherings never get old. There is something truly special about being in a room full of smart, driven, ambitious mommy dentists. You always walk away with so many pearls — insights, strategies, and friendships that stay with you long after the event ends.
If you haven’t yet found your people within MDIB, I hope this is your sign. Surround yourself with women who get it — who understand the juggle, the ambition, the dream — and watch how much you grow.
With love,
Dr. Grace Yum
Founder, Mommy Dentists in Business
