Alan shares a personal milestone (achieving a fitness age of 50!) and dives into his love for mountain biking – an exercise that feels like playing. He uses his experience to draw a powerful analogy between the often extreme portrayal of mountain biking on social media and the curated "highlight reel" often seen in the dental world online. Alan discusses how comparing ourselves to these curated images can lead to feeling "less than," whether it's watching downhill racers pull off impossible stunts or seeing dentists showcase only their most complex cases. The core message? It's okay to find joy and fulfillment in your version of biking or dentistry, even if it isn't "Instagram-epic." You are enough, and your "bread and butter" work is valuable.
Key Points:
- Alan's journey from reluctant runner to avid mountain biker (including surviving being hit by a truck!).
- The joy of finding exercise that feels like play.
- The danger of comparing your "insides" to others' curated "outsides."
- Finding contentment and value in your current practice style or skill level is valid and important.
- While pursuing new skills is great if you want to, don't feel pressured by online comparisons.
- You are enough, just as you are.
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