It’s not that long ago that a patient of mine in her 70s lost 30kg and I light-heartedly said, “It’s time you got a tattoo.” The next time I saw her she flashed her arm, and there it was, the butterfly she always wanted. We high fived. What a blast!
Lives, businesses and nations – they all go through periods of evolution, and periodically, revolutions. Presently Atticus is going through a revolution. Although still a small business, you may be surprised to hear that we employ over 250 people. What that means is that Atticus now needs the help of people who are much more organised and logical than I ever have been or could be. And I’m most grateful for that team.
So, coming back to the question, is it ever too late to start a revolution? It’s not. The reason being is that with a revolution the biggest thing to change is your state of mind. Let’s look at a few examples of what goes on out there. Given I’m a doctor, I’ll loop back to see if anything about this story has a link to health. Take the ride for a moment though. Here goes:
The change of job
I know people who’ve gotten sick of the big corporate world, and went out and did their own thing. We all know these people. Or, they moved into a field that resonated more with who they were. Sometimes that involved further education, sometimes it didn’t. My own story is somewhat along those lines. I started my career briefly in banking, before realising it wasn’t me, so committed to becoming a doctor.
The change of partner
Some people realise they’re just not with the right person, and they make a break. That’s a big step, but if you’re in the wrong relationship, and you really think you’ve given “love the one you’re with” a really good go, something’s got to give.
The change of pet
Recently, I’ve met a few people who’ve lost their dogs. In all cases, they ultimately died of old age. Irrespective of the cause, the impact was very significant. For example, one person who used to walk their dog twice a day, started to get bad back pains. We put two and two together and worked out that those walks meant a great deal. It may be time to get a pet. It sounds so simple, but getting a new pet, can change a life dramatically, no matter what stage.
You get the drift
Somewhere in these changes, there’s a quiet revolution. And a revolution usually links closely to a person considering who they are or want to be, then being it, and doing it. This may involve honestly considering their strengths and weaknesses, and typically running with their strengths. On this note, I remember in the very early days at Hastings, we held a local forum about the issue of increasing drug use among youth. Attendees included parents, paramedics, ex-users and those involved with rehab. What came through to me after that was that many young drug users never really identified any particular strength they had whilst growing up. They never got to the point of believing they were “great” at something. That’s a really important part of self-identity.
Finally – About Health
Coming back to the point of revolution and health, it’s a very satisfying and healthy way to be – to live true. True to who you are and what you believe in. When we don’t get or give ourselves the space to do this, it creates a lot of mental anguish that only builds. Helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety and depression can follow. The good news is that if you make a change, and it doesn’t work out, well you had a red-hot go, and in the annals of life, that’s all that really matters.
So it is, on any given day, rather than forever living in the regret of what could have been, we all have that chance to start a revolution in small and big ways. And take heart that nearly all of it begins and ends in the quiet of our state of mind.
Where will your life take you today?
