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Easter is almost upon us and I hope that, like me, you are looking forward to the long weekend out of the rat race (perhaps a longer vacation).

There has been a house rule at Chez Barrow/Bradley for some years, to stay off the roads of Britain during the festivities, for fear of an endless morning or evening staring at brake lights and surrounded by frustrated drivers and passengers.

Apart from one visit to a close friend, it will be home for us.

I’d love to visit the countryside further afield than our usual haunts but I’m not prepared to pay the price physically or emotionally.

Which brings me to a bigger point.

I have recently reviewed the 100 tips (to running a great practice) booklet created in one of my earlier Bowie-like incarnations and, with the help of the lovely people at ApexHub, we are going to make an updated version available FOC from our new web site in a few days time.

Whilst proofing, I spotted a sentence written many years ago – and forgotten – about creating an “emotionally cost-free practice”.

When I read that again in Starbucks last Friday morning (before day 2 of the BDA conference) it stopped me in my tracks.

I realised that a lot of the changes I have been making in my personal and professional circumstances over the last 12 months, have been about creating an emotionally cost-free life.

Perhaps its my age….

But I’m finding that the situations, things and relationships that I dislike the most are those that bear a negative emotional price every time I engage.

You will know what I mean about relationships that carry an emotional price.

How many hours do I spend listening to my clients bemoan the spouse, team member, clinician, business partner, supplier or patient who drives them to despair?

Answer = plenty.

We have talked before about removing tolerations and roadblocks from your life.

I’m realising more and more the heavy price we all pay when we tolerate the performance and behaviour of others, especially when it ignores or even denigrates our own brand standards at work or ethics at home.

Strange to be musing about this as we approach a religious festival invented by a group who proclaim universal love.

I’m all for the golden rule – “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – but all this “turn the other cheek” business has always seemed a bit weird to me – especially when said group then embark upon Crusades (both ancient and modern) to destroy those of differing belief – but then I’ve never quite understood that paradox in most of the world’s religions (best perhaps to stay off that subject).

Anyways – before I’m denounced as a heretic – I have been reminded in recent days that we are under no obligation to accept, agree with or tolerate the performance or behaviour of those who do not agree with our standards (especially those who then depend upon us for a job or financial support of any kind) – they are all free to get off the bus anytime.

Sometimes we need to give them a shove.

That’s my Easter message.