Inspiring places, inspiring people

Every now and then there are a few days which make a difference. Over the last two weeks I've had several experiences I found inspiring.

I spent three days in the Lake District attending a course run by Ashley Latter. I've attended two of Ashley's courses before, so I knew it would be worth it. On the first day Ashley and some of the delegates met for a walk. We'd expected poor weather, as the last time we'd attempted this, but were blessed with warm, sunny and dry weather, and treated to a fantastic view from the top of Wansfell.

The Lakes is a beautiful place, I love the unspoilt beauty of it and standing at the top of a fell after a hard walk up makes me glad to be alive and lucky to live in this amazing country. I think we all felt invoigorated afterwards, we certainly deserved our pint in the pub!

Ashley had worked really hard with orthodontist Richard Jones to present a programme we all learned from and enjoyed. Not about how to do orthodontics, but about how we can relate better with our customers and referring dentists whilst still running a successful business. The material was interesting and engaging and we've all come away with lots of ideas to put into practise. Ashley is not a dentist but really understands our businesses, and is one of those people you can't help but like.

I have to also mention my fellow delegates, some of whom I had met before, but many I hadn't. Running a practice can sometimes be a bit lonely and isolated so the chance to talk and socialise with colleagues is brilliant, we all shared a similar vision and gave each other ideas. The orthodontists there came from a range of different types of practices, but I particularly want to mention Sheila Chauhan who has a practice like mine, of a similar age and size but located in Windsor. We managed to snatch some time where it wasn't raining to get a group picture by Lake Windermere. Some of us have already exchanged emails which is helping to keep me inspired and motivated and I hope we will continue to inspire each other.

I can't write a blog on the subject of inspiration without mentioning the Olympic Torch relay. I took my children into Wetherby last Tuesday to see the torch coming through the town and I was delighted to see a great turnout in the town. We saw 13 year old George Stocker carrying the torch past us, he's a brain tumour survivor who has raised a lot of money for charity and is a bit of a local celebrity.

I should also mention some other torch bearers, including my friend Simon Buckden (who also proposed to his girlfriend as he carried the torch!), Ben Parkinson the severely injured soldier whose father built my dental cabinets, my friend's brother Dan Porter and the 13 year old Aaron Bell we saw light the cauldron at Temple Newsam on Sunday evening. The torch relay is full of people like this who have done amazing things like raising money or inspiring others, often whilst facing difficult times themselves. We can all learn not be be so self-centered and that whatever adversity we may face there are others having a harder time.

So this week I am concentrating on my long 'to-do' list after Ashley's course, remembering to count my blessings, and hoping that I can inspire others in some small way.