We all know happiness comes from within, right? Or so they tell us. We have all heard it over and over, but how many of you really believe that? At one point the idea frustrated me. I understood it, but I wasn’t sure I ever truly experienced it. I spent years wondering how I could change from within to become a happier person who was impermeable to the world around me. It didn’t seem realistic. Then I experienced it myself, and I started to really understand what that meant. Working through my career change shifted this from a concept to...
Who ever thought that dentistry, Chile (the country,) and hummus had anything in common? Not me! My next guest is a great dentist who has decided to branch out into new territory. A Chilean with a Palestinian background, she has taken her love of food, mixed it with her strong heritage, and has started a side business making hummus and babaganoush. Her story highlights some of the best things about dentistry! She decided that full-time practice wasn’t for her, so she took control of her schedule and works limited hours in the dental office. This flexibility that dentistry offers is...
CT, my latest podcast guest, is back to share more of her story! Last week I interviewed CT, a dental student from Hong Kong, and now she has more to say! After our discussion, CT decided it was time for her to reveal more about her journey on her own blog. She fills in a lot of the blanks, and it is interesting! You’ll understand why practicing root canals in the lab often brought her to tears. You’ll see how the teaching style at her school shaped her experience, and you’ll see that she survived after quitting dental school. Her...
This week my guest comes all the way from Hong Kong! I’m excited to feature CT, another former dental student, who is here to share her amazing story. Throughout her life, CT always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Because of the way a degree is chosen in Hong Kong, she found herself going into dentistry instead of medicine. After completing three years of a six-year dental program, she considered quitting dental school and discovered she had to make a change. While it seemed like quitting dental school was not an option, something told her that it was the only option....
When we think about dental anxiety, we often think about patients, right? Of course. It’s obvious. Everyone knows that dentistry causes anxiety for patients. As dentists we put a lot of energy into understanding how we can help alleviate their worries. That’s a wonderful thing. But what about our own anxiety? What about dental anxiety for the dentist? I speak with a lot of dentists who struggle with anxiety. Although I used to wonder if patients’ anxieties and fears were rubbing off on me as a dental patient (anyone else ever think that?), dental anxiety for dentists is different. For...
Welcome my next guest, Kristen. Kristen practiced dentistry for seven years before she took some time off to raise a family. After 12 years out of the field, she found herself at a crossroads when she suddenly needed a steady income. So she got back in the game! Although she had kept an active dental license over those years and even pursued her Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, she became well aware of how much dentistry had changed in those past 12 years. That didn’t stop her though. She eased her way back in and discovered that dentistry...
This week we have a super-duper HUGE change coming to Lolabees… I have recorded my first podcast! You may be wondering why podcasts now? Well, I figure since I am interviewing guests, why not hear directly from them! On your commute, your next workout, or while you’re cooking yourself dinner you can tune in and get to know someone new. I’m excited to welcome my first podcast guest, Applonia, aka Apple! Apple is a business student from Toronto, Canada. She completed her first year in dental school in the US before she decided to take a leap and change course....
Welcome back to Part II of David’s story. I hope you enjoyed reading how he got started in Dentistry, and I’m sure you’ll find inspiration in how he evolved over the years. David was born in the North East of England near the border of what he describes as “sunny Scotland.” He practiced dentistry for almost eleven years, and in 2014, he made the decision to step out of dentistry. He turned a part-time career, practicing as a counselor and trauma therapist, into a full-time vocation. He also moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he now resides. Me: What have been...
Who is ready to meet the next Lolabees guest? Today I present my first interview with a very inspiring person from the dental community. He has a great story to share and some very valuable insights that I know will help you. In fact, he has so much great information to share that I have divided it into 3 parts. The first describes his story and background, the second shares his challenges and triumphs, and the third offers a few tips and a few fun facts about him. Meet David. David was born in the North East of England near...
How do you know when it’s time to throw in the towel? As football season is back upon us, I’m going to talk about some old news. It was 8 months ago that we watched the Patriots pull out the ultimate comeback. It was so inspiring. They were so far behind, a win seemed impossible. At this point they could have easily given up. But they didn’t. And they won. It was a beautiful reminder that we should always keep fighting, no matter what. It’s true. In fact, it’s one of the most true things we know. Journeys can be...
