From Impossible to Possible

What do we believe? How do miraculous things occur? Can we move our novel ideas, personal pet projects, and organizations ahead with ideas that seem to be impossible? Are we change agents? Can we make impossible dreams possible?

Recently, I’ve needed to push my limits professionally, academically, and personally. Too often, I found myself staying in my comfort zone, living in a neutral zone, and residing on a safe, protective level. I began to settle for the possible things in life that offered less adventure, were safe, and were rather boring. Could I really get more physically fit? Could I prepare myself for a two week epic bike trip through Italy? Could I complete a scientific article on hysteroscopy that would be heavily critiqued and peer-reviewed by esteemed colleagues? Could I imagine new possibilities? Without warning, a significant health challenge has occurred with my husband and truly has upended our rather placid lifestyle. Right now, our uphill health challenges seem impossible. But, together, we must do the impossible…. become our own advocates, so that improved health becomes possible.

The actor, Christopher Reeve, once quipped, “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

As I look from my own vantage point to the AAGL, it is clear that as an organization we have had dreams on topics that some naysayers may call, “an impossible bucket list of ideas.” Without doubt, we have made impossible ideas become possible and tangible. I celebrate our executive administrative office staff, AAGL board, our membership, our residents, fellows, and our legendary leaders who continue to challenge the status quo.

These mighty individuals worked feverishly to transform us from the impossible idea of developing an FMIG fellowship to now the possible, where we boast more than 60+ sites nationally and internationally.  Our emerging transformation from a fellowship that has a procedure driven focus, to the adoption of training our future fellows in complex gynecology, is a revolutionary act and will transform the healthcare of women globally. Yes, this was thought to be an impossible idea 20+ years ago. Today we envision this new possibility. 

Eons ago, we thought that only the most senior members could be leaders within the AAGL. It was impossible, we thought, to include younger members in our scientific programs, lectures, or surgical forums. Could Millennials, Generation X, Boomers and the Silent Generation co-exist? Absolutely yes!  By daring to be different and embracing new possibilities of inclusiveness and diversity, we have grown. By welcoming multi-generational membership we now have 20-20 vision. With this broader lens, we are better equipped to understand current attitudes, technological updates, and life-style changes that are important to our members.

In closing, the AAGL continues to lead courageously and with integrity. Let’s keep imaging and dreaming impossible dreams. Let’s ask our members to dream about impossible topics for future discussion. Let’s ask our board to adopt concepts that may seem foreign and impossible. Let’s move ahead to the possible. It’s been said that “the positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”