As humans, we’re naturally inclined to have a negativity bias. And while that’s considered to be an evolutionary advantage during times of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, it’s easy to slide down the slippery slope of doom and gloom.
This month, my negativity bias has been flipped on its head thanks to the good fortune of talking with, and listening to, some outstandingly positive people. You’ll find their stories in this issue.
First up, I was fortunate to interview four young Indigenous people – a med student, two ophthalmology registrars, and a doctor applying for fellowship. What was originally going to be a quick chat about the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference turned into an in-depth conversation covering history, culture, attitude, and their ambitions to reshape the delivery of eye care; and not only within Indigenous communities.
Then, across the month, I was contacted by four individuals, each of whom had recently participated in outreach programs throughout Asia and the Pacific. They’ve travelled with colleagues to teach and provide eye care to people who cannot easily access optometric expertise within their local communities. The rewards from programs like this flow both ways.
And finally, I was invited to attend the sold-out ProVision conference in Surfers Paradise. The weekend weather was glorious, and it was hard to pull myself away from the window of my 29th-floor apartment, looking straight up the beach. But it was worth it to hear from big thinkers in sport, business, and life – people courageous enough to face the headwinds and work out how to not only break through them but also achieve some absolutely mind-blowing results, like surfing a 21-metre wave in the middle of the night.
I hope you enjoy this issue of mivision. As well as these motivating stories, we’ve got some great clinical content on ocular allergy, dry eye, geographic atrophy, glaucoma, cataract, and NAION. Plus, some sound business advice, a feature on sustainable eyewear, and some sensational fashion news to get you thinking about stock decisions for the coming season.
Take care.
