Its January. I should be saying,onwards and upwards. And maybe you should do just that. But as a matter of principal, I categorically despise all January editorials.

I cant bear to read the call-to-arms puff pieces full of tips on how to reinvent myself or how to make this year a better year than last year.

As part of my refusal to contribute to the inspirational nonsense littering the presses this month, I promise not to encourage you to change anything. In fact, I urge you to do the opposite: Take a look back at your history before you make any resolutions about what you want to change.

As you can see on the cover, this months focus is on optometrys roots and on how the profession has matured. These facts are well known. The more important message in the cover story is the one told by Irvin Borish, O.D. He recounts the meeting he had with his colleagues, some 38 years ago, to map out the future of the profession.

Optometry has since reached the destination that Dr. Borish planned. The big question now is, where do you go next? Tell me. I urge you to write in: Where is optometry headed?

Based on the feverish arguments brewing in much of the optometric press, and based on the disagreements about legislative efforts within the profession, I fear that, in some circles, optometrists are running blindly at an unknown, invisible goal.

They are not, like Dr. Borish, mapping out a clear plan. Or, if they are, have they thought it through to its completion? Have they thought about what they love about optometry and what will very likely be lost if they continue the stampede in the direction of the land of ahead?

Please dont misunderstand: I dont secretly hope that optometry stays put. I dont hope that youll sit idle and not seek expanded scope of practice or defend the rights that you fought hard to earn. But I would find it a little worrisome if you couldnt draw me a picture of where you want the profession to be in ten years.

This picture should detail the road youll travel, what youll pass along the way and whom youll leave behind. It may sound arduous, but doing so is important because it will change not only your life but also the course of the profession for generations to come.........