Monday, June 14, 2010

Approach PA school with positivity

Hey gang!

Not much time to blog today (I'm taking it easy this evening, and I want to make it last!), but I just stopped by to say that PA school can be tough. Lots of reading, lots of assignments, and lots to learn. PA school can be stressful. PA school can wear you down. But here's the good news...it's all relative.

Isn't everything in life. Throw two people into a bad situation...I mean a situation that is so bad, so challenging, it makes your head spin. One person could view the glass and half full, while the other sees it as half empty. The point is, both parties have a choice! How would you choose to see the situation?

The same goes for PA school. Yep, there will be days when a professor switches test days and screws up your plans to go out on that hot date. Yep, there will be days that that student continues to ask the most irrelevant questions. Yep, there will be days when everything that everyone does just gets on your nerves. There will be times when you wonder why you continue to come to class. Attitude is EVERYTHING! For me, this is becoming more evident and school progresses. A positive attitude can make the worst of times the absolute best of times. A positive attitude is contagious. A positive attitude demands attention. A positive attitude is a winning attitude!

Sure, I have my moments when I grow tired of the mundane, day in, day out PA school routine. But two thoughts run through my mind: there are lots of students that would give ANYTHING to be sitting where I am, and...I signed up for this, not because I was forced to, but because this is what I love doing! I suck it up, put on a happy face, and keep plugging along. I love being here. I love doing what I am doing. I am blessed to be here. I want to see only the good in all things. I trust this attitude will serve me very well.

Monday, June 7, 2010

O Happy Day!

Today I feel good. No, I feel GREAT! Why???

No particular reason. Doesn't it feel good to feel good, for no real, tangible reason? That's the best feeling in the world. Truth be told, I can look around and find lots of things to be happy about. Let's name a few:

I had a virus on my computer last night, and this morning I figured out a way to get rid of it.

I'm having a good hair day.

Today is "Dress Up Monday" and I am dressed well.

I had a few minutes to listen to Hab mir's gelobt this morning and it brought a smile to my face.

I spoke with my husband and my mother this afternoon.

I'm having a good hair day.

I'm all caught up with my notecards for Patho and Clin Med.

I self installed an Air Conditioning Unit in my bedroom. No more night sweats!

My car is in great working order, and looks great! (I need to wash it, badly.)

I just had a great bowl of oatmeal, and a sweet navel orange.

I could keep going....but you get the point.

There is much to appreciate, so many free gifts in this world. Never will I let another day go by without taking some time to focus on the many things that are going right in my life.

We just concluded a 4 hour class. Only one more to go. Then I have the rest of the afternoon and evening to myself. Yipee!!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Great First Day

Just returned from the first day back at school. Today was an easy, laid back day. It felt good to be back in the swing of things. Four hours of lecture before lunch, and two hours after...plenty of powerpoints, but the material is very interesting. Tomorrow we begin Procedures and Diagnostics, and by next week I will be sticking someone! Sweet!

I'm glad that the weekend is just a day away. This will give me ample time to get all this new information down in a study guide format, and rest up before we begin our first full week of class. I'm still feeling quite sluggish after such a restful 2 week break. I haven't slept well since I returned, which explains why I yawned my way through class today.

Well, our class tomorrow has been moved from 8am to 10am, so you know what that means. Salsa time! I promise, I won't be out too late!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Summer Break: Done...

...but that doesn't mean my brain isn't still on break.

Hey folks! Words cannot express just how PHENOMENAL my break was. I feel so rejuvenated, rested, calm, and ready to embark on the next step in the PA school process. I got chance to see lots of family members, salsa friends, and I spent lots and lots of time with the detective and Linc. It was exactly what I needed. About half way through the break I felt my brain turning to mush, but I forced myself not to read any textbooks or medical-related literature. Difficult, but doable.

I'm eager to return to school and get back into the books. I've spent most of the day restocking the kitchen, cleaning, throwing old papers out, and reorganizing my binder to make room for the new stuff. I'll be in class tomorrow morning at 8am...sharp! And the countdown begins again; only two months until we get another HUGE break.