New Year, New Goals, New Adventures

It's a brand New Year with a bunch of blank pages just waiting to be filled with stories, adventures, and (hopefully) personal growth. But before I talk about the new year and what I'm looking forward to many weeks ago I started a blog post that I never got around to finishing and it's important to me to share this little bit that I wrote at that time.

"On rare occasions at the end of the day I feel completely defeated. I question my abilities and how good I'm going to be at this. This past weekend, I had the worst day of residency I have had so far. I felt defeated by noon and by the time I left for home all I wanted to do was lay on the couch and cry. When I got home, I did just that and to my complete surprise I heard a knock at my door shortly after the crying commenced. I unwrap myself from my blankets, shuffle to the door, and look out to see 2 of my absolute best friends standing out there. One who had worked a 12 hour call all day and one who was supposed to be having date night with her love. I opened the door to hugs, Thai food, desserts, 2 bottles of wine, Dr Pepper chap stick, fall candles, flowers, and other various things. These girls completely know me. They get me. I realize in that moment how truly blessed I am to have these friends who drop everything to be with me in my moment of need."

 There has never been any doubt since the moment I settled in here that I had hit the lottery in the friends department. These people are what keep me going here when I just want to crawl back in bed and let the world pass by.

It is unbelievable to me that it is already the new year, but then again the weather in Little Rock has certainly taken a downward turn and it has been awfully cold this last couple weeks. I spent my New Years Eve and morning working in the Emergency Department with some great people. But it was a week of work and I never got to sit down and make goals for the year, so I decided my New Year would start on Sunday so I could write down what I wanted to accomplish first. One of the main things I am focusing on this year is taking better care of me. Having days where I unplug from the world completely and just enjoy what's around me. Slowing way down when I come home at night and not having so many things happening at once during every moment of my day. Focusing on all of the positive things that happen every day around me and spend less time worrying about the stresses. My main financial goal is just to keep better track of my spending account like I promised I would.

I am starting this year out with a month of Medicine. It is going to be a lesson in patience for me and a lot of hours, but a good time for studying for my inservice exam. The big adventure I'm looking forward to that is just on the horizon is my trip in March. I am going to have a couple of weeks off and I am splitting that time. The first week I am going to be going home and I can't wait to have more than just a couple days to spend with my family. I will have time to just relax and really see everyone. Merideth with be turning 4(which I just can't believe) and I will be doing family pictures with both sides of my family. After a weekend of birthday excitement, I will be hitting the airport with my grandparents for a trip I have been talking about taking for years. I have decided that this year is the year and I am pulling the trigger and going. I am doing a Seattle/Portland trip. Exploring the cities and doing some hiking in one of the most beautiful places in the country. My grandfather grew up in Seattle and so I am so excited to be sharing my first Seattle experience with him.

I know that 2016 will be my best year yet and that there is so much to look forward to. Here's to new adventures, time with family, nights with friends, positivism, hard work, and the unknown. Happy New Year!