April 30, 2021. It’s 2:00 on a Friday afternoon and I find myself in a place I’ve never been.
Today I saw my last patient and did my last surgery as an active orthopedic surgeon. I am now “in transition.”
It ended with little fanfare, though I did choke up a bit when I walked out the door. When I got home, my wife and kids greeted me with streamers and my favorite cake.
On the one hand, I’m sad about leaving a profession and an occupation that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. It has provided income to provide for my family, daily connection with different and interesting people, and intellectual stimulation.
On the other hand, I’m excited about the future. I now have the time to pursue new goals and projects. I can still serve, but it will be in a different way. Most importantly, I can sleep again!
So, this might be a reasonably schizophrenic article. Be nice to me. I’m conflicted.
It’s the strangest feeling. Everybody says, “Congratulations!” but I don’t honestly feel like celebrating. I am not escaping something uncomfortable, and I didn’t repeatedly, or longingly visualize my retirement during my surgical career.
I enjoyed medicine and never really thought about leaving it. I’m eternally grateful to have had this experience, but it did not define my life or my identity.
It was passive income and the drive to control my own life that made it possible for me to thoroughly enjoy my profession. Thirty years ago, I chose to create passive income outside of medicine. Little did I know that it would give me a fulfilling career and the choice of whether I worked or not.
I think it was that choice that allowed me to fashion my professional world into something that was pleasant and fulfilling. The fact that I eventually didn’t need my medical income gave me the latitude to eliminate things that were not in line with my goals or made work uncomfortable.
It allowed me to expand my world.
I was blessed.
Though I enjoyed medicine, I’m excited about the future. I plan to cultivate my life and germinate the seeds of a better me every day. As one of my friends and patients said, “We are either green and growing or ripe and rotting.” I don’t want to spoil!
I want to contribute. My hope is that, as I extend my boundaries, I can help you visualize a limitless future. I will now spend more time creating content that will help YOU buy your time back and control your environment.
Though I’m no longer actively relieving physical pain, I hope to facilitate your ability to choose the life that’s right for you. If you want to enjoy your job more, we can do that. If you want to quit, we can do that too.
I will now serve you.
I’m not sad, but a bit melancholy. My identity was never wrapped up in being a doctor, nor will it be defined by not being a working doctor. It is defined by the cumulative effects of my experiences, which have created who I am today.
That’s what excites me! New experiences, adventures and failures will help me grow into someone who is different than I am today. That gets my juices flowing!
However, I’m ready for the next chapter. I have an idea what it might bring, but I’ve been around long enough to know that there are plenty of surprises and new exploits out there waiting for me.
So, now that my mornings are free, I’ll spend more time with my trainer and more time thinking about how to bring you useful information and motivation. For now, I’m headed to Peru with my family to relax.
Who knows what the next thirty year will bring?
Maybe I’ll write another book.
Maybe I’ll play some golf.
Cheers!
Tom
