The Drive to Belong

Kensington stepped into the sleek medical clinic with an air of quiet confidence. Her cream coloured blouse and tailored trousers whispered professionalism, while her soft smile carried a hint of warmth. She was there as a temporary clinician’s assistant, filling the gap while awaiting her new position as lead doctor at a prestigious practice.

The Miami clinic was busy, bustling with energy but steeped in cliques. It wasn’t her natural environment. Kensington preferred spaces where ambition and oppenness thrived; but it was a useful pit stop to occupy her time while she prepared for her next chapter. The team greeted her politely but with a touch of distance, the kind that suggested she wasn’t meant to fit in. She noticed it, but didn’t let it faze her.

It wasn’t long before the cracks in the clinic’s dyanmics became apparent. The senior staff were polite, but Kensington sensed a quiet undercurrent of unease. Perhaps it was her presence, the way she carried herself with poise and an effortless elegance that stood out. The other assistants, many of whom had been there for years, exchanged glances when she offered ideas to streamline patient intake. Their tone with her was overly polite but tinged with hesitance.

One afternoon, as Kensington calmly managed a delicate situation with a patient in distress, a colleague commented, “You make this look so easy”. The words seemed kind, but the tone suggested something else. Kensington simply smiled and offered a gentle, “It’s all about perspective.”

As the days went by, she formed connections with some patients, especially with a young boy who came in for regular check-ups. He was shy, withdrawn, but when Kensington sat with him and showed genuine interest in his favourite stories, his face lit up. “You’re his favourite,” the head nurse mentioned one day. “He doesn’t sit still for anyone else.”

The warmth of these moments was overshadowed, however, by a sense of resistance from her peers. One morning, Kensington arrived to find an email asking her to speak with the clinic director. The meeting was polite but firm, they no longer required her services. “We’ve decided to move in a different direction” he said, avoiding her gaze.

Kensington didn’t flinch. She thanked him gracefully and walked out with her head held high, knowing this was simply a detour, not a destination. She had handled trauma wards in New York and London, after all – a clinic in Miami couldn’t shake her.

A New Beginning

A few weeks later, Kensington found herself driving along a tree-lined road in her newly purchased Tesla, the sleek white finish gleaming under the spotlight. She had named it Vienna, a nod to her elegant and grounded nature.

Vienna glided silently down the road, much like Kensington herself: powerful yet understated. The car felt like the perfect partner for this new chapter, a reflection of her drive and independence.

Ahead of her lay a new chapter, a leadership role at a prestigious clinic that had sought her out specifically. The role was everything she had dreamed of: the chance to lead, to grow, and to thrive in an environment that celebrated her expertise rather than questioning it.

As she pulled into the driveway of her new workplace, she paused to take it all in. The staff greeted her warmly, their smiles genuine and their enthusiasm palpable. Kensington felt the weight of the Miami clinic experience lift off her shoulders. She had arrived where she belonged.

In her first week, she met families who expressed gratitude for her kindness and professionalism. “You have such a calming presence” one mother told her. “I feel safe knowing you’re here”.

Kensington knew she had made the right choice. The challenges she had faced; the resistance, the doubts – had prepared her for this moment. She had learned that grace under pressure and faith in herself were the keys to navigating life’s twists and turns.

With Vienna parked outside, her elegant blouse tucked into her trousers, and a sense of purpose guiding her, Kensington felt ready for whatever came next. She smiled to herself, a quiet confidence blooming within her.

The road ahead shimmered with promise, and she knew she would meet it with the same grace and determination she always had.

What would you name your own ‘Vienna’ – your very own symbol of a fresh start or a new chapter in your life?

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The Drive to Belong © 2024 Victoria’s Bubble Blog. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the author.