I originally wrote this blog post on November 15, 2013. It was 2 years after I had officially quit dentistry. After blogging for some time, I met the first of many other dentists who had also experienced life after dentistry. I was so excited to meet Rick, a dentist and fellow blogger. A lot has changed since then. I no longer hide behind the screen name, Lolabees, and Rick has also evolved his own career. That is the great thing about taking that leap the first time– once you do it, you never fear changing again. Check out his guest...
I’m at a crossroads, facing a dilemma that feels huge. Logically, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, but in my heart, there is something keeping me stuck. I don’t know if I should shave my head. These days we have access to amazing technology that can actually help save our hair during chemo. It’s called a cold cap. The cold cap has been around for a while, but now they’ve developed a system that makes the process simpler, more manageable, and more accessible than ever before. The cold cap freezes your scalp, restricting blood flow to the...
We all know the pressure to stay the course once we have made a huge commitment to something. Changing is hard work, and it’s inconvenient and uncomfortable. Plus, the unknown makes it scary. It is always easier to do nothing, and sometimes that little extra bit of inspiration is all we need to get us going. Over the years, I have had a few guest bloggers that shared their own stories of change on Lolabees. People loved reading about others’ experiences. Some of the remarks were: It is very refreshing to hear that you have done something else with your...
Welcome to the new Lolabees! In 2011 when I started this blog, it was simply a distraction, a way to open up my world. I was stuck in my career, without any idea how on earth I was going to change anything. I knew I needed to stop practicing dentistry, and for many reasons I was too afraid to take action. This blog was merely a step, an attempt to do something different and to bring more creativity into my life. There were no expectations or pressure. I just needed something new to shift my stagnant energy, and that’s exactly...
I recently had very similar discussions with a current client and a prospective client. They both know they need to change something in their careers. One has a strong sense of what she’d like to do next, and the other just knows she doesn’t want to continue in her field anymore. What they share in common is a desire to change from within, as opposed to looking externally for the magic pill that will make all their challenges go away. They recognize that this is the key to making lasting and positive change. One expressed that she knew she could...
In my last post I marveled at how easily Nola is able to immediately let go of another dog’s aggression toward her. I even gave myself a little pat on the back for being so relaxed about it too… as if I’m always so calm, cool, and collected. It wasn’t until I read this comment from a reader, that he reminded me that I’m not always as skilled as I’d like to think I am at “shaking it off.” He said: If dentistry taught us something, its being able to move on after that last excruciating conversation with someone who’s...
One of the great perks about blogging about my dental career is that I have met some amazing people along the way. Not only are they inspiring, interesting people, but they are also people who have decided they want something different out of life. They are people who have decided to take risks to bring more joy into their lives. They are people who have decided not to settle for their existing conditions because it’s easier to stay put than to change. I’m thrilled that one of those amazing people is now my latest guest blogger! Her name is Ritu,...
This isn’t just some silly fight between two Jewish kids. I normally wouldn’t ever even call myself that, but there really is a guy who calls himself The Fat Jew. And I’ve got a bone to pick with him. He doesn’t even know who I am, and until last week I didn’t know who he was. So it can’t be a real fight between us. Instead this is a battle of principles. It’s more about what we each represent. This is one bandwagon I will gladly jump right on. Last week I was put on the defensive in a big...
I need your help, but I should start by apologizing. I’m sorry I tricked you, but I was desperate to get your attention. My husband was not on Ashley Madison, but this does kind of, sort of have something to do with Ashley Madison. Instead of spending hours searching for my friends’ husbands on there (my husband would never do that,) I’m using that precious and otherwise productive, time to write this blog post that I really don’t want to write. Calling all bloggers and anyone else who uses the internet. I really need your help. No, YOU need your...
Yeah, you heard me right, I entered another contest. After I told myself I was done, I went and did it again. And since I know you’ve been on the edge of your seat in suspense, I’ll cut straight to it… I finally won! I’ll get to the actual contest in a minute. First, the journey to get there is fresh on my mind. A while back I discovered a book called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. I loved it so much that I dedicated a blog post to it. I’ve never read another book that so convincingly and...
