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Why is it that life seems to be going by so quickly these days? Maybe it’s just me. They say that the older you get, the faster time passes. Do you find that you just don’t ever have enough time to get to all the things that you want or need to? I do. I wonder if it is because there isn’t enough time, or if it is because I want to do more than what is possible.
I think, at least for me, it is more of the latter. I want to do so many things, and I commit to doing so many things, and there’s only a finite amount of time to get them all done. Once they’re done, there’s a long list of other things that needs attention. And then there’s the biggest list of all: the bucket list.
I’ve been attending birthday, farewell and retirement parties, funerals and umpteen lunches and dinners to keep in touch with friends that I have made over the years. We talk about what our mutual friends have been up to; our kids, our parents. We also talk about who’s passed away. In the last year, two Past Presidents of the College, Ron Waller and Marvin Nider, passed away, as well as a classmate, Ray Formosa. Time for pause. Time for reflection on life. I was President in between Ron and Marvin, so I’m wondering if I should be worried! Actually, come to think of it, most of the Past Presidents of the College on the commemorative plaque celebrating the first 100 years are all dead now. The good news is that most of the recent past Registrars are still here!
A repeating theme for conversations is about the need to get on with doing the things on our bucket list while we can. To travel and do all the physical stuff now while we are still able, knowing now that we may not be able to get everything done before we expire. Oh, and we don’t know how much time we have to do it either! Most of us think about this on a personal level, but it applies on a professional level as well. What do we want to accomplish? What is our legacy? Will anyone know or care about us a hundred years from now? Will they say “He’s the guy who...” or will they say “Who?’ Oh, that’s so-and-so’s great-great grandfather?”
What’s your legacy going to be? Do you actually have a bucket list? Most of us pharmacists (and pharmacy technicians, too) are a bit obsessive by nature, so if we have a list, we’ll make sure to get to it. The problem is that we never know how much time we’ll have to get things done. So let’s do the important things before time runs out, eh?
Some of the legacies that previous Boards (and Councils before that) have left for us include PharmaNet, the building we live in, introducing technicians into the College, and new organizations that we have spawned, like NAPRA and CCAPP. Not that leaving a legacy is a motivating consideration; we do what we do, and sometimes it’s a big deal, other times it’s not. The point is that we don’t want to just tread water, we want to keep moving forward and not avoid things that require a lot of energy to accomplish. Energized organizations get lots done; tired organizations don’t. We’ve been getting lots of things done lately, all of which are legacies for the Board. You’ve probably noticed: reduced fees, clinical skills sponsorship, bylaw renewal, new practice reviews - these important landmarks have all taken great energy, time and commitment by the Board and College staff.
Stay tuned for more of the same. Gotta go; things to do, people to see…
Best,
Bob
- Registrar
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