Over these last few years, I’ve lost track of the number of patients who have looked me in the eyes and had deep conversations. On the other hand, it’s only a select few (and mostly my pediatric patients) who have looked down to my legs and asked, “Are you wearing bright red pants?” Why yes, dear patient, I am.

I grew up in a world of khaki. My high school had a dress code which required khaki pants and polo shirts most days, and I’m happy to say that I have been out of that dress code for almost two decades now. Sure, there are still days where I need to dress up a little for work purposes, but even in these situations, my respectable button-up and jacket are accompanied by pants in some color of the rainbow. Yep, my closet runs the full red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet with a few other colors in between, and I usually have a pair of bright striped socks to complete my ensemble. But this little act of dress code defiance isn’t really about thumbing my nose at my old high school (although that’s a nice byproduct). There’s a deeper reason for it.

There is power in humor, and something about the bright pants brings a little extra whimsy into our environment. While most of my adult patients will look me in the eye and never comment on the pants, there’s something about pediatric patients’ awesome lack of decorum which leaves them free to notice and say something. The pants are an immediate icebreaker with younger patients, and their bright colors also signal it’s safe to joke around with me.

The pants also send the message to coworkers that, while I take my work seriously, I don’t really take myself all that seriously. Have I worn bright green pants to meet a hospital president? Of course I have. Have I worn coral pants to an ethics conference? You know it. Have my lavender pants seen their fair share of emergency departments? Absolutely. After all, these settings need a little levity too. In my years of wearing brightly colored pants, I’ve never gotten a negative comment about them— just a chuckle here and there from people who could often use a good chuckle.

In a way, I’m grateful for my high school’s dress code. My two decades of defying it have actually helped me build some bridges and bring a little cheer to some difficult spaces. Do you have any similar acts of benevolent rebellion? If so, I’d love to hear about them.