It's Hard to Say Goodbye Part 1.

Winnie the Pooh said, "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

Celebrating my 43rd birthday with the work family

This phrase sums up the heaviness in my heart when I am making preparations to leave my dental practice of 13 years. Even though the reason of my leaving is founded on a solid bed of instrospection and wanting to create space for the wellness of myself and family, the hardships created makes it feel sticky.

So the something that makes saying good bye so hard is my work family and many of my patients. More specifically, it's what they have come to mean in my life. Let's start with my team, or otherwise known as work family. As one of them said, "Family is literally in our name," meaning the name of the practice. We spend over 8 hours a day, 3-4/days a week together. We hum like an well oiled machine, it's truly magical to watch and experience. But isn't this the case in every workplace? I honestly don't know because I've been in the same office for 13 years. What I do know is that, like any relationship, it takes work and investment of time, energy, listening, empathy, compassion and being humbled all the time. They see me as their leader and I feel a responsibility to make sure their work environment is safe and that they feel valued. In turn, they've made me feel safe and valued! I honestly did not know it would work circular as such and that's how the magic happened. They taught me trust and respect goes both ways. When it does, it's synergistic as f*ck.

It all began, thirteen years ago, after filing for licenses, permits, credentialing the construction began and doors opened three months later. At that time, I had no clue how to run a business, but I was naive. I thought, how hard could it be? I watched my parents run their chinese restaurant throughout my childhood; it'll be like that, but with teeth cleanings instead of kung pao chicken. Now I know better. I know now a large part of a successful business is the team that is assembled. This team is made up of a group of strangers, who will adopt your vision and make it their own, if you treat them with respect and trust them. In times of crisis, this team will look to you to make them feel safe when unfriendly patients belittle them or business partners devalue them. When they know you have their back, they will go far for you and that's how success is built. Success is built on the foundation of mutual trust and from there a business is erected in your vision.

So when I decided it was time to say good bye, I felt like I was not living up to being a good leader. By leaving, I am the one that is creating instability and uncertainty, the opposite of what I've always strived for. For the first time since I started the practice, I could not say, "I got you guys, we'll figure it out together."

So instead of gathering everyone underneath my wing, like I typically do in times of change, I watch as my work family congratulate me on making my decision as they struggle with the unknown that lays before them. The only thing I can do to help is to repeatedly remind them that the success and unity of our team has been all of us and all of them are still going to be together; to find strength and comfort in each other.

No one knows what lies before us. However, I believe in the power of manifestation. By putting it out into the universe of my vision for my work family, I trust that it will come true in it's own way. I envision that the team will grow closer than ever, embrace each other as they lead themselves into many more years of working together. The practice is nothing but a box if it was not for the people in it. I hope I have imparted my sentiments that the practice is theirs and that they do not need to wait for anyone else to come lead them. They have made a home in their work space and together they are family.