How Readers Responded to My Story, “Repurposed Person/Doctor for Sale”

Wild replies to a “wild proposal”

Themes of praise, regret, envy, confusion and more greeted my story highlighted below.

In short, “Repurposed Doctor for Sale” deals with my desire to remain fully engaged in professional life even though I’ve recently retired from emergency medicine practice. The story goes on to ask its readers to suggest alternate career paths for me if/when I “grow up.” It’s slightly tongue-in-cheek, like much of my material.

Many responded to the story with suggestions, some of which are discussed below. The story’s theme, of a search for engagement after the seeming close of one’s professional life, should resonate with many since almost all of you will face this challenge.

You should become a psychiatrist

We had a little Facebook conversation about this, my “adviser” and I. She opined that since I was obviously a good listener and an empathetic person, psych would be a good fit for me. Realizing that my well-intentioned advice-giver didn’t understand the complex world of graduate medical education, I explained that to become a psychiatrist I’d have to complete a second four-year residency training program, an impossible feat as a 65-year-old retired emergency doc. She persisted. “Yes, but you’d be good at it. Why don’t you want to do it.” I then tried a more lighthearted approach, noting that after a lifetime of “action” it’s hard for me to sit still for an hour, let alone all day long. Then the convo derailed.

My adviser’s vision for me, as a repurposed modern-day Sigmund Freud sprang from her numerology knowledge of me. She had apparently taken my birthday of 6/21/55 and stirred it up with special numerology juice and concocted that I was at once a traveler, an empathetic person, a good listener, semi-dependent and semi-independent and so forth. Hence her advice that I re-train in psychiatry.

So far I’m zero-for-one on the advice spectrum. I really don’t want to be snide, but I’m hoping a phrenologist or an astrologer doesn’t contact me next.

I shouldn’t have retired so early

I felt a kinship with my “responder” here. Our careers both spanned about the same length of time, and she questioned whether she had retired too early even though she felt ready to do so. She indicated that I was not alone in my search for what’s next. Additionally she alluded to an “underlying restlessness” that we share.

She also went on to write that she felt positive about my future, and hoped that I would continue to share my journey via Medium.

I could feel this person through her writing. If ever our paths crossed, and who knows, they may, I could see us sharing ideas over a glass of wine, a snack and a long look into the distance. We’d both be better for the meeting I’m sure. Here’s hoping that happens.

Praise, support and awe

Some wrote in to offer kind words and positive vibes. I loved it. Heartfelt hopes for new sources of satisfaction for my next ventures. Awe for my spirit in “going for it.”

Praise came flooding in too. One reader thought my idea was “cool” and offered to reach out if she had good ideas to share with me. She gave me a :-) too.

I felt supported and pleased. The sense that several people wanted to follow my lead came through in the messages … if I read between the lines correctly.

It’s not easy being green (with envy)

This respondent came just shy of signing on and running away to join the circus (with or without me, I think). She was super positive that I’d find something fascinating to do with my golden years as well. She went on to express a subtle envy for the wide open vistas she sees/imagines lying before me.

Here too, I longed to converse face-to-face with this individual. I wanted to ask why she felt she couldn’t do what I am about to. Reinvent, re-purpose, re-energize and engage in the next great venture in her life, why not?

Even though some came at me with untenable suggestions arrived at in ways I can’t comprehend, I felt gratified. Total strangers, hearing of my vague discomfort and longing for something more, reached out to me, discerned something about me through the words I’d put up on the big screen that is Medium, and gave me positive suggestions and support for my next venture, whatever that may be.

I’ll let you know how it all turns out, once I figure out what that looks like for me of course.

Meanwhile, dream, dare and imagine for yourselves.

This story seems like it’s about me but it’s really about all of us. I’m not so bold or wise as to suggest what you might do next or later in life when you reach a personal juncture. Instead, I tell my tale and let you make of it what you will, adapting it for your own needs as it suits you.

Peace. Enjoy your journey.

If you enjoyed this sojourn consider reading the next chapter.

Thank you!