Lab Scientists are Fun ...

Hi everyone!

Last Friday I travelled out to gorgeous Harrison Hot Springs where I was scheduled to present the ending Keynote to 200 Lab Scientists at the 2009 British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science Congress. I checked into my room at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and was so happy to see that I had a lake view and could open the window, smell the freshest of fresh airs and take in the beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains (one of which was blanketed with snow the next morning!).

After setting up my room for ultimate comfort (snacks/water, my own pillow cases, books, room service carafe of hot water for my nurturing teas) I journeyed out for a long walk along the beach and lakeside. The water was sparkling in the sun and I felt like a million dollars (I’m not quite sure what a million dollars feels like but I’m sure I was feeling at least that great, maybe even better). I kept thinking “I’m living my dream”, “I’m living my dream”. There is nothing I want to change or get better right now. This is lovely, magical, and perfect just as it is.

Then, just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, it did! I noticed two empty swings just waiting for me to hop on, pump away and savour the fun of vertigo. And then along came one of the conference attendees which gave me the opportunity to meet a Lab Scientist first hand. This may sound funny to you but I was feeling a little daunted by the prospect of speaking to 200 Scientists. After all, in college, I remember scanning down a list of chemistry courses, knowing that I had to sign up for at least one, and feeling enormously relieved when I saw “Chemistry for the Non-Scientist” on that list. Yes, I thought, that’s definitely me – a non-scientist. Now, skip to 24 years later and here I was, the closing act for a large group of scientists after they’d experienced three days of presentations with titles like “Blood Gases and Electrolytes for ICU: Why send to the Lab?” Can you imagine? I had no clue why.

Thankfully, whenever I noticed some anxiety about this, I reminded myself that two members of their organizing committee had personally seen me present the year before and obviously liked what they saw or they wouldn’t have requested my presence. I also reminded myself of the mantra that has calmed my soul time and time again ... “I don’t need to be special, I just need to be myself and enjoy these folks”. So true. As Joe Kennedy told all his children, "Do your best and then the 'heck' with it".

So I jumped off the swing and enjoyed meeting my first conference attendee, “Mary”. And Mary was just lovely. And of course it turned out that pretty much everyone I met was lovely. And more than that, they were FUN. Along with the blood gases and a host of similar issues, they also joined together for laughter yoga Saturday morning, and when I met attendees and told them what my topic was (The Power of Wellness & Fun), most would regale me with stories of what fun meant to them and how they seized it, especially in the work place. I gained a couple of great stories to share in my talk!

And, what do you know ... the closing act was full of fun. We talked, shared ideas, shared a 1 minute standing ovation for all attendees, gave and received a little massage, laughed and twirled at the same time, handed out treats and did some solid and refreshing deep breathing (otherwise known to many of you blog readers as the Relaxation Response). In short, we had a load of fun. We found common ground – the need, desire and appreciation for connection and laughter. And I was joyfully reminded, once again, that we are all more alike than we are un-alike.

On Sunday I travelled home, feeling refreshed and invigorated like never before – after a weekend of work. Living your dream is a good thing.

Call me grateful, as we approach Thanksgiving, and always!
Lee

PS: I realize that it’s a lie that I’m not a scientist. In fact I remember now that my graduate degree is an M.S. (Master of Science!). Funny. I think we’re all scientists in our own way, just as I know we’re all artists in our own way. There’s no one to impress – we simply get to be our own, wonderful, unique, self. What a relief.