When I sit down to write one of these messages, I challenge myself to try to follow in the footsteps of Dr Burkgren or the other astute editorial authors in JSHAP. They seem to always be able to provide something deep and thought-provoking or at least instructional. They often recount how they read an inspiring book or drew inspiration from a lifetime of experience. I am pretty sure I am not that deep. I am not sure I was ever very good at deciphering the “hidden meaning” or grasping the profound references highlighted in the Cliffs Notes that I credit with my ability to eke out a passing grade in undergraduate English literature. I think I am way too “basic” for that kind of thought. I rely much more on the obvious.
A few weeks ago, I contracted COVID. I ran a high fever for the first two days and just generally felt yucky. At one point, it occurred to me that reclining in a hot bath might make me feel better. Now, let me digress from my story to make a couple of points. First, I am a shower guy. I do not take baths. And second, while I am by no means a “clean freak,” I do take the time to clean the house (including the bathroom and the tub) on a reasonably frequent basis. Also, just to further define the scene, I have one of those soaker tub/shower combos with an acrylic surround and built-in shelves to hold shampoo and soap. One end of the tub is angled backwards to facilitate reclining should one be so predisposed. Now that I have set the scene and provided the necessary backstory, I can get back to the story.
As I reclined in the tub, I happened to notice that from that angle I could see the underside of the shelves molded into the tub surround. I was shocked, nay appalled, at the build-up of soap scum and other “dirt” accumulated on the underside of those shelves! I do not think I had ever bothered to actually wipe the underside of the shelves. The tub surround looked perfectly (well, acceptably) clean from my perspective standing in the shower. I realize my recounting this tale may not cast my cleaning abilities in the best possible light but I am willing to sacrifice my self-respect to make the point that what you believe to be reality is determined by your perspective.
If you think about it, altering our perspective is what continuing education is all about. It is the key to why we attend the AASV Annual Meeting every year. It is why the hallway talk is always such an important part of the meeting. We like to talk to other colleagues who are experiencing similar challenges and learn how they address those challenges. It gives us a chance to look at things from someone else’s perspective. The same is true for the scientific sessions. Science challenges our perceptions. When we make the effort to seek out a different perspective, what we learn might just change our reality.
Ok, so maybe this was a bit of a stretch to encourage you to attend the 2023 AASV Annual Meeting. I do, however, hope you will make the effort to join us on the mountaintop in Colorado this year. While you likely will not find an old man with a white beard wearing a diaper issuing thought-inspiring proclamations, you will hopefully come across a new perspective that will challenge your reality. Although, on second thought, given our AASV demographic, an old man with a white beard wearing a diaper may not be that unlikely!
Harry Snelson, DVM
Executive Director