Recognizing those who inspire us

Abstract

In association with Inspiration. Who or what motivated you to do the job you are doing today? What event led you to make the decision to become a healthcare professional? And what do you need now to keep you going the extra mile? Looking back on my career, I can confess that as a little girl growing up in South Africa, I became infatuated with physiotherapy under the influence of my aunt, Carol Shrosbree. My aunt, who is a chartered physiotherapist, was always keen to show me how things work and what a person can do to help another to better health. After qualifying as a physiotherapist in Pretoria, curiosity drove me to venture to the UK. I arrived in London, from where I was sent to Llanelli, and it took a few years of floundering around in my profession to find my current niche. I am able to proudly say that I now work with my next most inspirational person, Melanie Lewis. Melanie somehow twisted my arm into joining her team at the Lymphoedema Service in Swansea, and through her passion and enthusiasm to help others, I found myself enjoying my career again and actually looking forward to getting to work! As healthcare professionals we are becoming better at recognising those people who have made a difference to other people’s lives, and you may be able to think of people who have in some way inspired you as well. We are not all going to win awards and accolades among our peers, but I can guarantee that you win the respect and gratitude of your patient each time you provide assistance where others have failed. We aren’t all professors and doctors in this world, but from my experience it is those people who take the time to listen to their patient’s story – because we all have one – and who then go the extra mile to provide the care they know that person needs, that will make the difference to a person’s wellbeing. It is to you that I would like to say, ‘thank you for being such an inspiration’! I have written in the past about looking after yourself, but I now encourage you to think of someone who currently inspires your work and nominate them for an award, be it at BLS or another forum where a colleague can be recognised for their work. In fact, how about nominating yourself? There is no reason why you can’t submit yourself for an award, especially if you are a lone practitioner and feel others could benefit from your inspirational ventures out there in the community! Go on... BJCN