Y’know, I have been having a lot of discussions lately with patients about sleep quality and its importance relative to sleep quantity. A crucial part of these discussions, as it is an important part of sleep, is that R.E.M. phase—the time when we dream.We all have dreams, both the ones that happen while we sleep (such as the recurrent dream where you are in a crowd of people, or a classroom, or a shopping mall, and you realize you’ve forgotten to put on your pants—at least that’s the one other people tell me about), and the dreams that are about our imaginings of what our future will look like.We have our personal dreams: mine was of a beautiful, sexy, intelligent, funny, clever wife who challenged me to be better (got that). Another was of great kids who would make the world a better place to live (so far, so good).And then there was the dream of a Ferrari California in the driveway, like the one from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (or, sure, I would even take the new one). This one has not happened yet, nor is it likely to, on the pittance at which we poor pharmacists are remunerated.No, I didn’t get the car, or play in the NHL, or become a rock star, or anything like that. I don’t think most of us did (if you are playing in the NHL or are a rock star, you wouldn’t be reading a pharmacy magazine, and if you were a pharmacist with a Ferrari, you would be far too busy to be reading this).But, like most pharmacists, I did have professional aspirations when I finished school.I think everyone has professional aspirations. For some, it is being retired. For others, it is simply being comfortable. The future for pharmacy, however, is lined up (despite some negativity) for those who aspire to have the biggest impact they can have on the health and quality of life of patients. This dream, like any dreams you want to realize, will take a little work.Right, Honey?Ken Burns is pharmacist at the Diabetes Care Centre at Sudbury Regional Hospital.
