Thursday, 31 May 2012

Leaving......

No matter how much you prepare for it, leaving is the hardest thing. For me there are two reasons;
The first is that I have essentially grown up with the people I practice with. I first met them as a student and have since then been privileged enough to have, not only worked with them and call them colleagues, but also call them friends.

The second is that I am closing a door. One year ago this evening, I separated from my then partner. I thought at the time my world as I knew it had ended. I was right. It had. I also thought that I had made a terrible mistake and that I had done this. I had pushed her into another mans arms by lavishing her with presents and not my presence.

The truth, I was wrong!

Yes, my world as I had known it for the past 11 years had ended. I no longer had to tip toe around, apologise for having an opinion or apologise for being dedicated to something I truly love doing.

In all honesty when the smoke had cleared I felt a sense of relief. I had sacrificed too much of myself. I had somewhere along the line lost my identity and willingness to just breathe!

12 months on and what I have learnt is simple. Be yourself!

If people cannot accept you for the way you are then don't apologise for it. Simply close that door and move on. If they are true friends they will understand you and accept you for who you are.

When leaving, I did not want a big fan fare. The truth for me is, it's just been too hard on both a professional and personal level.

I have had my ups and downs with the job but can honestly say that I have loved the people that I have worked with and the job that I have done. But this chapter of my life has closed and to move forward you can never look back.

Not many people can say that they truly love what they do in life. I can!

A friend recently asked me, " Would you do it all again ?"

My response "In a heartbeat."

Because, even though I lost something and someone quiet dear to me, I gained my identity back and am now opening a new chapter in my life.

I'll leave you with two things that I am fond of.

The first is a poem that has always been a favourite of mine:

No One Clapped

Fueled
by a million
man-made
wings of fire --
the rocket tore a tunnel
through the sky --
and everybody cheered.

Fueled
only by a thought from God --
the seedling
urged its way
through the thickness of black --
and as it pierced
the heavy ceiling of the soil ...
and launched itself
up into outer space
no one even clapped.

Marcie Hans

The second is an old Chinese proverb that a friend gave me

'I dreamed a thousand paths, I woke and walked my own'

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

I remember my first day as a vet. I was nervous as all hell. I had been prepped for the last 5 years to do it. But a lecture theatre gives you only the theory not the feel, passion, practical skills or for that matter confidence to be a veterinarian.

My first consult, to say it was underwhelming was an understatement. University slants reality. At university you have the perfect world. Willing clients, endless amounts of money and all the equipment in the world. It's like you are in a toy shop and someone tells you that you have an endless budget........

However, reality soon kicks in when you graduate. You soon realise that you have to have a plan A,B,C and when that doesn't work a broad spectrum antibiotics and anti inflammatory usually suffices.

For me I count myself very lucky. I get to do something that I love and have always wanted to do.
The average person has seven careers in a lifetime with the average male earning $73000 /year. I have asked vets before whether or not they would do it again if they had the opportunity to do it all again.....??

I don't even have to think about it.......For me it's a resounding 'YES'............

Alot of people have had their two cents worth as to my career......"You can't work all the time, you have to have some other interests etcetcetc."

 To them I say the following:

Don't judge me as I do not judge you. If you took the time, you may understand that I do what I do, not because I have to but because I want to. I love the fact that when I get up each day I get to do something that i love with people that care about what they do and I get on with.........Life has worked out for me just fine and will continue to do so.........

I remember listening to a colleague of mine speak once with regards to being a vet but I really think that it can be applied to any career....

'Love what you do.....If you do not love or enjoy it and it is affecting you....Find a new job....If you do not enjoy that job, find a different field in your chosen industry......If you do not enjoy that and you are being affected adversely by it, then change careers.....Life's too short.'

I'll leave you with this:

Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

Anon.