A few weeks ago a colleague warned me that in the first year of owning and running a new pharmacy I would conclude that I had made a huge mistake.
Yup….that happened well before turning the sign to “open”!
The two weeks leading up to my opening day were chaos. I’ve never slept so minimally, had my “to do”list grow so fast, nor seen my children so little. As I heard repeatedly, “Mom, are you coming home late again today?” I figured I had made a mistake. I am a clinician; I love the “care” part of health care, and here I was, steeped in putting a business together. Spending hours on end away from my family, and even when with them my mind was racing with all the things I needed to handle.
So when I walked into my brand new pharmacy on day one and flipped the sign to open, I wondered whether I had jumped into something I would resent, or at the very least not enjoy.
Then came patients through my door. Just a few at first, and a few more each day, and I found myself in a place of privilege. As I provided health care, I heard their stories. Stories about caring for terminally ill spouses, stories of how difficult it is to live with chronic pain, journeys through chemo and disappointment with the system. Even stories of past jobs and places they had visited in their life time. As I immunized many against the flu I also shared a lot of my own story. How I came to be in this new pharmacy, growing up in Saskatchewan, how I had started a pharmacy in Chemainus when I was very young.
It struck me once again that the connection made and the care given are what brings me joy. Having my own pharmacy means I can structure and set up to practice the way I want. I have control over how I care for the people who walk through my door. There is no one to tell me I must meet a certain quota or promote sketchy treatments or unproven products. In the end, it is worth all the headaches that I am sure will come. So it is to the people who came through my door this week that I am grateful to, for reminding me what it’s all about.
colekPharm 
Marci Laevens
/ October 23, 2012Thanks for this post Carlene! I think I feel this way as a Coach at my school too. Some days after hours away from my family and weekends spent with other people’s kids I think, “Did I do the wrong thing here?” But then I see the “light go on”, the love of learning and the love of volleyball and I remember why I coach. I coach because the sport has given me something and I want others to have it too. There are sacrifices but there are also benefits. I’m so excited for you on this new journey. I know you will be successful!
coleksyn
/ October 24, 2012Thanks Marci! Such a challenge to find a balance. When I think of the teachers who had the most impact on me, some were parents who spent that extra time away from their own children. It indeed made a difference!