I had the opportunity to attend the Spear Visiting Faculty Meeting. Mary Osborne was the featured speaker. If you EVER have the opportunity to hear and work with Mary, please do yourself a huge favor and take advantage of it. We talked about how people impact others' lives. It got me thinking about something that had just happened in my office. A couple had come for their hygiene appointment and informed us they would be leaving the practice. They had been with our practice since I had started in Florida in 1993. They were going to move to the Orlando area, which was going to be over two hours away. The interesting thing was they had been driving between an hour and an hour and a half since 1996. They told me I had been a huge part of their lives but now the distance was just too far. Goodbyes, mixed with tears, were exchanged and the end to an era of the practice had taken place.

What type of impact have you had on others? Whether you realize it or not, you are ALWAYS impacting and influencing others. It's up to you how you do it. I have a saying next to my lab bench from a ProSynergy Workshop that I try to live up to. It says: Make your values and purpose so clear that your work is a reminder of what you like best about yourself.

What is your purpose in dentistry? Remember, you are ALWAYS impacting others, those you treat and those you work with. Be aware and have your work positively impact others.