The answer is, yes, absolutely. About twelve years ago, I was on call for the labour ward and had one of those rare moments when it was quiet and no-one needed my attention. As a Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, on-call sessions were usually full on so this was really a precious time for me. I began to think about what my future as a Consultant in this specialty would look like. I loved what I did; in particular I loved being a part of a team that literally welcomed the next generation into this world.This is your blog post. Blogs are a great way to connect with your audience and keep them coming back. They can also be a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field.
Every birth that I witnessed was a special moment which saw us partnering with the Creator in bringing new life into existence. I loved working with women, listening to their concerns,reassuring them when I could, and trying to find ways of helping the unwell get better.
But in that moment, I suddenly realised that much as I loved what I was doing, it was not at the expense of giving up the chance to feature more robustly in my children’s lives. Or the opportunity to explore my writing gift, my involvement with my local church, my desire to live a fuller life. Some people call it a light bulb moment. A sudden awakening. Whatever. Somehow I knew, in that moment, that I had a decision to make. Would I give up something I loved for the sake of my family? For the chance of to live a more fulfilling life? Some vocations do not leave much room for other things. Medicine is a bit like that and although I had wanted to be a doctor for as long as I could remember, I knew that whatever decision I made at that moment, my life would never be the same again.
What decision do you need to make today that could change the course of your life forever? Yes, it is scary, because whichever way you choose to turn, there will be consequences. And you will have to live with those consequences whatever they may be. But of equal importance is the question, ‘what if you choose not to make a decision?’ That in itself is a decision, one that is not without ramifications. For if you don’t decide, then the decision will somehow be made for you, and you would have lost the opportunity to take responsibility for your own future.
There is no better time than the start of a new year to make a fresh start. You can put the previous year behind and look to new opportunities, new horizons, and new relationships. What is it going to be? Will you stick your head in the stand and let life or others decide what your year is going to be like? Or will you take the bold step and make the decision that will set on you a new course. Perhaps it is time to start looking for a new job; end that relationship that has been such a drain; start that business you have been putting off; enrol in that course that will improve your skills and marketability. Will you take a moment to think about where you are headed?
In case you are wondering what I decided in my own moment, I chose to leave Obstetrics and retrain as a General Practitioner. I knew that it would mean I had my evenings and weekends to give to my family and to do all the other things I wanted to do. And yes, my life changed forever. I have had the most amazing, challenging, exciting, stretching twelve years since then. And yes, I do miss delivering babies and performing surgery.
But I would do it all again in a twinkling of an eye, because I believe I made the right choice. Over to you.
Wishing you the very best always,
