25/09/2026
You never know what's behind a smiley face.
I'm genuinely having a nice relaxed time at the beach today, 3 days before going back to the UK for my week of crazy night shifts.
Years ago, I would still be smiling, but inside the anxiety was eating away at me.
I'd be worrying about cases that might not have gone so well, or worried I'd have to see patients I wouldn't be able to diagnose, or about being judged, and what ifs...
The problem with all of us smiling away and never telling others what's going on, on the INSIDE, is that we all think everyone is doing so much better than us.
Everyone else seems so put together and happy, so surely I'm the odd one out?
I shouldn't be feeling like this.
I'm inadequate.
I don't really know what I'm doing and it's terrifying to have to hold it all together, with the constant threat of "being found out".
On one hand, I wish l'd known from the get go that I was indeed NOT the odd one.
On the other hand, it's made me so, so prepared for speaking to other vets and knowing that no matter what they're showing me, their inner story is very likely highly different.
And it's made me a very good coach for vets that feel like l used to.
Do you know the relief of realizing you're not the weird, underprepared vet you thought you were?
Do you know the relief of shining a light on that inner shame of never being enough, and see that it was actually never truth?
And that EVERYONE ELSE FEELS THE SAME?
That's why I created The Thriving Vet Collective.
A group coaching program where for one hour a week you can either surface your own worries and issues and be coached on them, being an example for others, or see others do it, and be inspired.
We start on October the 1st, and there's 2 spots left for founding members at 19$/month.
Don't stay in the shadows, thinking you're the only one that's not smiling on the inside.
Come and join The Thriving Vet Collective đ€
Comment THRIVE and Iâll send you the link (since Meta doesnât let me stick it in here đ€Ș)