Always take the stairs.

Not because it’s good for your health and helps tone your calves. Sure, those are good reasons, too. Take the stairs because it gives you a quiet place to pause for a minute before moving on with your day.

The stairs in my hospital have a bay of windows that overlook the city. In the summer months, the sunlight bounces off the buildings and the city glows like it’s made of gold. When it rains, the storm clouds float overhead, pulling the rain over the streets like jellyfish dragging their tendrils over the ocean floor.

Sometimes I’ll take the stairs and spend a few extra minutes gazing over the city, reminding myself how much of the world lies outside the hospital walls.