As the 2023 iteration of the Sanet Seminar concluded, two concepts have become apparent; retirement has slowed Dr. Bob Sanet down exactly none, and those of us who have spent this year attending his lecture have experienced immeasurable change in ourselves and in each other. Mix in the universal love for our fellow humans floating all throughout the space, and you start to understand why people have been so drawn to this experience.

Finding the best grammatical way to capture the energy in the seminar is a challenge; one which my grasp of the English language will surely fail to meet, but if you’ll humor me, I’m compelled to try. Words that come to mind are ‘energy, love, connection, support, and unity’; these words, and many others, apply accurately. However, finding the syntax which will explain it even in a small percentage is, at this moment, beyond me. We arrived in March as relative strangers, but we left this past Sunday as a family.

Many who have read my blog before know Dr. Sanet and I have a history, having worked together for almost six years beginning in 2002. It was a time in my life where decisions were hard, life felt unfair, and my ability to appreciate those around me was likely not even a fraction of what it is today. Through all of that, though, Dr. Sanet had an understanding of my potential, where I was in life, and worked hard to find good inside of me, perhaps even when I could not find it on my own. In the years since, he has made mention occasionally of the growth he has seen in me, which along with my own efforts, is truly a reflection of his influence. Our relationship these days is one of admiration, love, banter, and support, while our conversations are honest, meaningful, and genuine. It’s a true testament to the man he is, the love he has for those around him, and luckily for me, his ability to hold space for others as they work to discover their own value and authenticity.

Someone asked me recently what is ‘so magical’ about the Sanet Seminars, and why do people return year after year to participate, and my answer is simple – love. Very few places in our lives allow or provide the safety to show up as our authentic selves. If you need to cry, guaranteed each person will be feeling your sadness as you let it out. When you are successful, the genuine excitement for your hard work is palpable within the room. When you are confused, stuck, unsure, or even having a tough time, rest assured each and every person is pulling for you to find the best solution in that moment. It’s as close to the formation of a family as one can experience without biological markers.

As participants in the 2023 Sanet Seminar, we have all grown; some with personal changes, some with professional changes, some have had the courage to share their struggles publicly, and some even decided the only way to get the full benefit of the experience was to put themselves in the most uncomfortable of situations as they seek that elusive growth. Talk about courage; whether they find the success in those moments or not, those people bring it.

At our graduation dinner, I shared with those at my table that 2023 has been one of the more difficult years of my life, both personally and professionally. But it seemed like each time my ability to manage things was becoming more of a struggle, it was time to get on a plane to visit San Diego to participate in the next weekend of the Sanet Seminar. Seeing these people, feeling their energy, compassion, and love became like my salve for the wounds of life – each person in that room helping life to move forward in their own unique way. Each person in the room had a memory to share. Each person in the room has impacted the others. Each person in the room has grown in some significant way. It’s truly been an incredible experience.

Dr. Sanet has announced that next year will be the last year of his lecture series, as the time has come to enjoy his next adventures in life. And while this may represent the end of an era for Developmental Optometry, it also represents an opportunity for those of us who have witnessed his brilliance to carry on his legacy. Our next steps, whether they are as successful as we have hoped or not, will always be taken in the light of a man who emphasized process over product, concept over content, and the importance of committing your full self to a patient when they come to us for help.

After all, if Dr. Sanet has taught me nothing else, it has been that of the amazing changes that can happen when we decide to put our full heart and gratitude into something meaningful, without judgement or trepidation, and commit to seeing it through. It’s a lesson for Vision Therapy, but more importantly, for life.

We are all better because of him.