Secret reveal… I love musicals! Ignoring regular derision from high-brow critics, musical theatre continues to maintain a strong presence in the hearts and minds of the people. Broadway and the West End thrive with new shows and classic productions entertaining tourists and locals alike. Enraptured audiences empathise with lead and supporting characters as they sink to the depths of loss and then soar high on loving arias, before the ensemble join their voices in the finale to crescendo the hope of a better future.
We recently enjoyed such an epic performance when the Les Miserables arena tour arrived in Glasgow. Despite this being my 7th time seeing ‘Les Mis’ (told you I was a fan!), I was moved anew by the emotion, struggle, humour, sacrifice and hope of a better day, as “even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”
As I contemplated these concepts with my interval ice-cream, I was drawn again to how often main characters need to rise above their circumstances to enable their own revolution to occur. This is as true in modern life as it was in the search for redemption in 19th century France. Standing up and showing leadership can be difficult, painful and lonely, but is essential to break the ground for others to follow. Is there a world you long to see? You may have dreamed a dream, but how do you put it into action? Some difficulties can be overcome with determined effort “on my own,” but it is better to have others supporting you, guiding your actions and sharing from their experiences – we will learn their little secrets, we will know the things they know!
For Eye News Dec/Jan 2025, we have collated a songbook from people we have heard sing their own song and want to share how their life changed beyond the barricades of traditional working life and practices. Bob Gokani had a beating in his heart to help patients use eyedrops better and discusses with Peter Cackett how he survived Dragon’s Den to bring his EziDrops compliance aid to the masses. The colours of the NHS / private world are changing day by day, so Romesh Angunawela provides an update on the modern practice options available to UK ophthalmologists. To supplement this, Rod Solar shares his playbook to help us each build a resonant personal brand, useful in whichever sphere we find ourselves. There is also a new series of helpful lessons gleaned from those overcoming barricades at the C-suite level. However, it is not all rosy-red (or black!), and so Rod McNeil gives a timely warning about predatory conferences (applicable to journals and emails, too).
We also have impactful clinical case reports from MT Monaghan and William Spackman, with trainee guidance on taster weeks and passing FRCOphth exams amongst the industry updates and plethora of educational opportunities in the conference calendar.
My hope is that these Eye News articles inspire you to rise above and light a flame that will never die (for you and your patients). Don’t just drink to days gone by, but embrace the life which is about to start when you identify your own revolution. Through wider engagement with internal and external opportunities, you will have a stronger sense of purposeful direction, leading to greater growth and resilience to enjoy your journey, rather than simply enduring. What to do? What to say? Stand up and take a chance. One more dawn, one more day, one day more! – DL
CLICK BELOW FOR THE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025 ARTICLES
