Growing

 At the end of this month we have ten brilliant paediatricians graduating from our training program (MMed in Paediatrics, USM). I am perfectly sure they will go into careers that make our department and university proud.

Whenever someone graduates from our program, it is a bit like cutting ties that were there for years. They will be no longer directly connected to our institution, except as alumni. And while reflecting on that, I felt I had to write this piece as a few final words of advice.

 

Everything in the world seems to be subjected to a cycle of creation, maintenance and destruction. (quote inspired by Emily Fletcher). This is so clear from history: It only takes to think about what happened to all big empires (Athens, Rome, Egypt,...) and is now happening to the USA (once they want to go in maintenance mode, -xenophobia, only caring to maintain what is there already, no new immigrants, not caring about climate, aka "trumpism"-, destruction is just around the corner). Similarly companies going in maintenance mode are doomed to go down (simple examples Nokia and Blackberry). This deeper meaning is that when we go into maintenance mode, we are one step closer to the destruction mode. 

At this moment our new grads must be enjoying the feeling of a great achievement. They deserve to enjoy the fact of becoming a paediatrician. My simple advice, I wanted to share here, is: after  celebrating for awhile, go back into creative mode. Choose a sub-specialty, make it happen, and keep working towards making a superb contribution to make the world around us a bit better. Do not go into maintenance mode. Keep creating, keep putting personal growth in a priority spot. Allow yourself to grow, not only in the field of paediatrics, but keep on learning about many other things. Keep a loving open mind and enjoy the next and next and then next journey to newer tops each time. Each new top does not have to be higher, but make it more beautiful, more peaceful. There is superb peace and beauty in rendering selfless service. 

I wish all lots and lots of success. Surely to all new paediatricians, but also to each of you reading this message. Keep on growing (not physically because after a certain age we tend to grow in the wrong direction😂, but in terms of knowledge, character, personality, emotionally, happiness, ....).