We all want to have a better diet and exercise a bit more. We all want to manage our stress better and have greater balance. But how often do we succumb to a sheer lack of will. “I’m too tired; there’s not enough time; i couldn’t be bothered; or it’s just too hard” are some of the excuses. Let me tell you a little story from last week. I was in a pickle, because I had to do an emergency case around 9.30pm on a Thursday night and needed an anaesthetist urgently. I tried my regular helpers but everyone was busy. That’s ok, doctors have lives too right?

Finally I got a return call from one of my regular gasmen. He’d had a massive day and was just getting home. He hadn’t seen his kids and his wife and he hadn’t had dinner. He was training for a triathlon and was planning on a run before dinner. But when he saw that I needed help, he said he’s do a U-turn and come straight in. I told him to go home, see his family, have dinner and come back. I was so grateful. Patients never see the behind the scenes logistics that goes into organising an emergency after hours case. The operation went well and I closed up the patient around midnight. 

When I saw my colleague a week later for our regular list, I was gobsmacked to hear that he got home and went for his scheduled training run at 1am. Now that’s what I call commitment. I won’t mention names because he’s a very humble soul and doesn’t need the limelight, but all i can say is “I salute you”. Service came first in helping a colleague and patient in need. But to follow up with his regular training run at a ridiculous hour shows me how committed he is to completing his goal. 

We can all learn from people who are that committed that nothing will get in their way. It’s fierce; it’s ferocious; it relentless; it’s unstoppable.

Pick your goals and don’t let anything stop you.

In Health and Wellness