I’ve often used the analogy that my career in dentistry was like being in a relationship. At times you could say it was slightly abusive, and at times it was very supportive and loving. Whether those descriptions are a bit dramatic or not, one thing is true: we had a very strong bond. Dentistry was a huge part of me and it was hard to let go, even if I really wanted out. As I journey through this career change, that relationship analogy journeys on with me. I was married to dentistry. You could say it was my first long-term...
What is the Slight Edge anyway? You don’t have to be cool like The Fonz to have it. It’s not some magical ability to bump a jukebox with your fist and get the right song to play. And you don’t have to have the “it factor” that Angelina Jolie has. It’s not having thousands of people in awe of every move you make. And you certainly don’t even have to possess that special charm Ryan Gosling has with the ladies. Really, it’s not about the 6-pack abs (though they are quite nice.) While these guys all might have the slight...
Changing my career was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. You might be surprised to hear that leaving Dentistry was much harder than getting into it. The process of entering the field took work and determination, but it went with the flow. It was what I was supposed to do. I felt proud and hopeful. However, leaving it was rebellious, and I was going against the flow. I felt ashamed and afraid. Because of the fear and the challenges involved, I made many excuses that I thought were valid. And dammit, they were important! But those...
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. ...
Remember a few weeks ago, I wrote a post about a travel contest sponsored by mydestination.com called Biggest Baddest Bucket List? I guess none of you ever get the Sunday Night Blues because as far as I know, you still have not entered! The grand prize is a 6-month trip around the world with a $50,000 bonus awarded to you when you return home. Ten finalists will be chosen to spend a week interviewing in London– 5 with the most votes and 5 chosen by the judging panel. Of course I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. The first travel contest...
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...
Do you have good internet manners? If you have good manners in real life, it may not be safe to assume you know how to behave online. But should the rules here be any different? The Daily Posters at WordPress recently wrote an article about comment moderation by the blog host, but lately I’m much more fascinated by the actual readers’ comments and what these statements say about that individual. Online behavior generally mirrors the non-virtual segment of the world we live in: most people are polite, but there are a few that are just plain rude. We all know...
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...
