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Lauren Powell's avatar

I have really enjoyed this pivot series Louise - thank you for sharing so generously! It's been both encouraging and inspiring to read /listen to how you're thinking through it all, and giving me lots of ideas!

I think it's also felt like one big permission slip - for you and for readers.

Excited to see where this path takes you next! X

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Louise Morris's avatar

Thanks so much, Lauren! It's been quite the journey. It means so much that you found it helpful in giving you permission to take your next right step too. Hopefully I'll see you at the next live event and you can tell me about it? x

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Lauren Powell's avatar

Yes would be lovely to catch up more! x

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Susan Harley's avatar

Gorgeous to read of your creative adventures Louise, I wish you many more . We don’t need more qualifications or to read another book, just find your zone of genius..great advice.

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Louise Morris's avatar

Thank you! It's so tempting to hide behind needing to go and study something else for a dose of validation that I'm not sure I'd ever find, so I've decided to just jump and start doing what I want to do, a little messily, probably, but it's the next right step :)

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Susan Harley's avatar

I know that one, yes to jumping in and learn from the messiness . I do that all the time x

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Nirja Joshi's avatar

I needed to read that you dont need another qualification! We absolutely do collect them like pokemon! When your whole life is geared towards exams, it feels strange to say "this is my last".

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Louise Morris's avatar

It's ingrained in us, isn't it?! I did my last surgical exam a week before I turned 37 (the FRCS), with a just-turned 2 year old at home. Revision was grim. Fellowship and consultant interviews are almost like another exam. Even after I left I did the coding exams (for fun! What's that even about?!). Well, for now at least, no more. Scary as it is not to hide behind studying for the next piece of paper... Now I have to actually be the grown up and do the work...

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Safe Space for Wobbly Humans's avatar

Hi Louise, I loved listening to your voice... I don't always have the time or energy to read long form writing but it was inspiring to hear about your vision. Fantastic news about lemon jelly press... I already subscribe there. I write for children but I have got a long way towards self publishing so I didn't submit. But it's a scary process and I could do with a bit of hand holding...

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Louise Morris's avatar

Thank you so much! I only recently started recording the voice overs because I realised lots of people do prefer to listen rather than read (and I know my articles aren't the most concise...) so it's lovely to hear that it's worth it! Congratulations on your children's books! It's such an achievement to have got to this point, can't wait to see them in print!

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Safe Space for Wobbly Humans's avatar

I hope you continue with it 💖

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Joanna Milne 🏺's avatar

Only just managing to look at this now. Some really beautiful extracts on the value of art especially which I will be re-stacking after dinner. Was so good to meet you all and I hope there’ll be another event where we can meet up v soon. X

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Natasha Scullane's avatar

Loved reading this Louise. I know we're just getting to know each other but I feel really proud of you for your reflections and realisations. Your future is bright, I'm sure of it! ☀️

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Louise Morris's avatar

Thanks so much lovely, that really means a lot! The last few months since I found Substack have been genuinely life changing, so you've had I think a front row seat to the melting phase of my caterpillar. Hopefully I'll end up a butterfly... or at least a pretty moth... :) I'm so glad I get to go on this journey with you x

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Alexander Lovell, PhD's avatar

Louise, this really hit home, especially the part about gathering qualifications like Pokemon. I confess, I’ve done the same thing! There’s this constant feeling, isn’t there, that if we just have one more certificate, one more line on the CV, then that's when we’ll finally feel ready. It’s a strange sort of security blanket we create, trying to prove our worth to ourselves and maybe to the world. But like you said, it often just postpones the real work of getting out there and doing what we truly want. It’s as if we’re preparing for a race that never starts, instead of just running the damn race. Your honesty about this is so refreshing, and it makes me feel less alone in my own qualification-collecting tendencies. You are amazing!

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Lyndsay Kaldor's avatar

So brilliant and beautifully detailed Louise, thank you for allowing us to share in your process. The transition you are in is extremely rich in potential, it’s so inspiring to see you take these steps towards a new way of living xx

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Maïlys Ray's avatar

I enjoyed reading this series and I look forward to seeing you embracing this new phase. From what I’ve witnessed so far I’m confident that great things are waiting for you.

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