In case you were still wondering… I didn’t win the Biggest Baddest Bucket List Competition. If I had, you would have heard about it right away, over and over. In fact, you’d probably be sick of me by now. While I’ve summarized my journey into and out of dentistry on this blog, I realize I haven’t shared much of how life has been “post-retirement.” It’s no secret that I believe it was the best decision I could have made for myself. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but it was right. I am finally content, and...
I have a confession… I just entered the Biggest Baddest Bucket List Contest, and I don’t even have a bucket list. Well, I have never recorded an official bucket list. Here’s why: I do what I want when I want; I mean, when I can. (I’m not that cool.) In a way, it’s not unlike New Year’s resolutions for me. Resolutions are really motivational for some people, but they can also put others under a lot of pressure. When I’m under pressure to do something, I might resist doing it. This is partly why resolutions just don’t resonate with me. ...
In case you missed it, I submitted my entry for the Biggest Baddest Bucket List Contest last week. It’s too late to vote now, but it’s never too late to check out my submission. One of our tasks was to write a short blog post about one of our most memorable travel experiences. Lolabees started out as a travel blog, and I’ve been so focused on the adventures of my career change that I haven’t written about my travels in a very long time. So why not share the blog post about a fantastic adventure I had in Valparaiso, Chile...
Has it started already? Are you dreading going to work tomorrow? Do you feel stuck, and you can’t seem to figure out a way out of your job? I have the answer for you. Okay, so maybe it’s not the answer, but it could be an answer. And if it’s not even that, it could lead to an answer. Enter this travel contest. It’s Mydestination.com‘s Biggest Baddest Bucket List Competition. The prize is an all-expense paid trip around the world for 6 months plus a $50,000 cash prize when you get home. Sure, it’s not for everyone. If you own...
For years I ignored the fact that I was unhappy practicing dentistry. A few times in my decade of practice, I seriously considered getting out. But each time, I convinced myself to stay. My biggest excuse was the economy. As luck would have it, right when I concluded I wanted to change, things started to tank. People were out of jobs, and I told myself I should have felt lucky to at least have one. While that excuse was very real, it was just that– an excuse. I don’t regret it because it forced me to stay in the career...
I am proud to welcome my first guest blogger to Lolabees. I asked Amber to write a post I have been dying to have here for the past year. Her courage and insight to leave a high-powered career and follow her dreams caught my attention. And not only did she leave a career she had invested so much in, but she and her husband dropped everything to go on their 2nd Around The World Trip. That is something I wish I had the courage to do! And they’ve got big future plans that don’t involve any more time in the...
Have you ever had that dream where you see a plane crash? Or you’re sitting on a toilet peeing, only to wake in a panic, hoping you didn’t wet your bed? If so, don’t freak out! It doesn’t mean you need to cancel your trip to Mexico next month or that you need to start wearing Depends to bed. Believe it or not, dreams might be your body’s way of trying to get your attention. Throughout my career transition, I learned to use my dreams as tools, and it became extremely effective (and fascinating, I might add.) This was my...
I know, I know… my last post was pretty self-indulgent. I mean, most people can’t relate to such specific tales of bosses being hypocrites that have strict payment policies when they don’t have the courtesy to pay their own bills. Or bosses who manipulate and lie to their staff in order to control them. Or bosses that are too stupid to recognize that you are there to help their business, not compete with them. As an associate my role in the dental office was always unique. I was sort of a boss and sort of not. So when it was convenient...
Remember those quizzes from Seventeen magazine? Seventeen (magazine) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) While my values and morals were taking shape during my teenage years, these quizzes helped guide me to make important life decisions. When my high school crush started dating my best friend, I still wondered: Is He More Than Just a Friend? (I needed to be sure he didn’t like me.) When word got out that my friend’s parents were out of town for the weekend, I needed to be prepared and know: What’s Your Party Personality? (Just took this, and I happen to be the Perfect Party Personality!!!!) ...
At first glance, reading the history of how tumultuous my relationship was with dentistry, it might appear that I am placing all of the blame on bad jobs, mean bosses, or difficult patients. But those are just details. The fact is that I am responsible for how this all ended up. I had a choice. (more…)
