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Expires May 22, 2019 250,000 BTU POOL HEATERS** NATURAL GAS OR PROPANE Choose from Hayward, Jandy, Raypak Expires May 22, 2019 Expires May May 22, 2019 6 kg Pucks $31.99 Liquid Chlorine Refills $0.49/L Pool Opening Kit $34.99 $1999* AUTOMATIC SANITIZERS* SWIMMING POOL LINERS* 12x24 any shape $1199* 14x28 any shape $1499* 1 HP HAYWARD POOL PUMP* Super prices on Hayward, Jandy, Pentair Ask about the $400 Rebate on Variable Speed Pumps Expires May 22, 2019 Hayward Aqua Rite Salt Chlorinator Inground Model from $1199* Aboveground Model from $759* ClearBlue Mineral Water From $499* $299* Expires May 22, 2019 16x32 any shape $1699* 18x36 any shape $1999* Many more size available Expires May May 22, 2019 AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANERS* POOL CHEMICALS* One per householdOne per householdOne per household Save $20 on Super Z Pucks with coupon ANIMAL TALES This owl decided to take a break on the roof of the Legault home, just above the front entrance, in Bronte last month. If you have a high rez photo of wildlife in Oakville, send the image and information to Oakville Beaver news editor Kevin Nagel at knagel@metroland.com. Andrew Legault photo It was a sunny afternoon. Sheep-like clouds dotted a robin's- egg blue sky. We were all in T- shirts and jeans. Day after day of falling and faltering, all of a sud-falling and faltering, all of a sud-f den, something clicked. My two oldest boys, wobbly on their bikes, pedalled down the street. Their first bike ride: A nod toward free-first bike ride: A nod toward free-f dom and independence. My heart raced with them in that incredible moment, one that crystallized how far they've come and how far they have yet to go. I looked at my kids and wondered what's next: Their first car. Their first job. Their first love. Universi-first job. Their first love. Universi-f ty and all the amazing things that follow. I look at how hard they'vefollow. I look at how hard they'vef worked to be where they are and I know, life only gets harder. Transitions can be free-falling or taking flight. But it is all an act of becoming something else, some- one else, someone more. Each transition becomes more com- plex, more demanding, more risky and yet the rewards are greater. I spoke recently at a conference about this concept. Like my kids, I'm in transition: My term as presi- dent of the Ontario Medical Asso- ciation is over, and I'm contem- plating what I will do with the next phase of my life. At the same time, I can hear that voice in my head - you know, the one with all the reasons why something can't be done. Poor self- esteem or necessary self-preserva- tion, it's the voice that questions our every move. Particularly moves that require a leap of faith. However, each transition is a leap of faith - that something disas- trous won't happen, that you won't falter, fall or fail. Or even if all thatfalter, fall or fail. Or even if all thatf does happen, you will still succeed because you rise up again and again. You do your best, overcome whatever limitations there are, and become a better version of yourself.yourself.y I'm not the same person I was a year ago when I first started the presidency. Much like my kids, I've grown, changed, become ... more. My perspective has transi- tioned and I now approach things differently than I did before. As I move forward, I'm nervous, yet I am convinced that I must make the jump and take that leap of faith. Courage cannot exist with-faith. Courage cannot exist with-f out fear. As Audre Lorde said, "When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vi- sion, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." Nadia Alam is a Georgetown physician and past president of the Ontario Medical Association. She can be reached at na- dia.alam@oma.org. LIFE TRANSITIONS CAN BE RISKY, BUT REWARDING OPINION COURAGE CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT FEAR, WRITES NADIA ALAM NADIA ALAM Column