Meet Lou Purcell

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lou Purcell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lou, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

I really hit the jackpot in the parental department and have been blessed with an amazing mother and an amazing father. They taught me many valuable life lessons including the lesson of generosity. They taught me this through instruction and by example. They are truly some of the most giving people I have ever met. But, beyond what my parents taught me, I learned the value of giving without expecting anything in return. It has blessed my relationships beyond what I could ever have imagined.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

As a 55-year-old pre-med student, I’ve embarked on a journey that makes no sense. ZERO sense! But, I know this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life at this time. I’m going to apply for medical school — even though I am too old even though I don’t know how I will pay for it, even though I don’t feel all that smart, even though people are sure to criticize me, even though…my “even thoughs” go on forever and ever. I have 1,000 excuses, but I read a Facebook post by my friend Laura, and it made me realize that I need to own my truth. While everyone my age is retiring and entering the fall of their lives, I feel that mine is just beginning.

When I announced my plans to go to medical school, I was hesitant and afraid people would judge me for doing something so irrational and crazy. But, I did it anyway because I felt a spiritual prompting to do so. Never did I ever realize the wide impact this would create. I’ve lost track of the people who’ve reached out to me and said how inspired they felt by my choice. I learned of someone (whom I don’t even know) who thought she was too old to go to med school…at age 25. When she heard I was doing it at 55, she decided she was being ridiculous and is now pursuing her dream. We are never too old or too young or too short or too tall or too smart or too dumb. Let’s get up and do what we want to do!

I started my medical journey by becoming an EMT here in New York City. My next step is a little fuzzy. Do I complete a pre-med post-baccalaureate program, which would delay my already late start, or do I just study for the MCAT and apply at medical schools that don’t require all the prerequisites? I am not sure yet, but, in the meantime, I running around New York City as a new EMT. What an adventure that has been.

I’ve been an EMT for about a month and for that entire month, I’ve been terrified. Please let me explain: 1) I’ve taken on a career where, sometimes, people’s lives are literally in my hands. Always, their safety is in my hands. I’ve never had this sort of responsibility before. It’s a sobering thought and can be exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. 2) Learning to drive in New York has been an adventure, for sure. I’ve hated getting into this experience. It’s been stressful for me. New Yorkers are the worst drivers and taking an ambulance down these narrow New York City streets sometimes makes me anxious. 3) I’ve taken on a lot of new things all at once: a new job at a new company in a new industry. Newness can be exciting, but it can also feel as if there is no solid ground beneath me. A new start comes with uncertainty, but three to four to five new starts simultaneously has been a little overwhelming.

I’m happy to say that I’m finally settling in and starting to get comfortable in my new skin. Driving in New York is growing on me. I’m taking my heavy responsibility as an EMT in stride. I’m getting proficient at my day-to-day tasks. I’m not as stressed as I have been these first 30 days, and that feels nice.

We will see what happens with the rest of my journey. I am sure to have more doubts, more fears, more anxiety, but I will push on.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I would surprise my younger self with this answer. In my earlier years, I would have said tenacity, drive, and hustle, but what has actually gotten me quickly and easily along my current career path is persistence, patience, and following my intuition.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

I would say the area where I have grown the most is in following my intuition. I’ve always been intuitive and followed my promptongs, but in the past 12 months, my spiritual impressions have led me to do some crazy things – like going to medical school at age 55, for example…actually, by the time I complete my prerequisites, take the MCAT, apply and get accepted to medical school, I will more like 58 or 59. It just doesn’t make sense, but it’s what I’m meant to do. I was sitting in the back of an ambulance when the impression struck me and I KNEW that was my path. It’s a journey I’ve always wanted to take but avoided because I felt I wasn’t smart enough or disciplined enough. It finally took God slapping me across the face (emotionally and spiritually speaking) to get me to move in that direction.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irwinpurcell/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luhipurcell

Image Credits

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