Resuming the Journey

“We have paused on some plateaus long enough. Let us resume our journey forward and upward. Let us quietly put an end to our reluctance."
Spencer W Kimball

Dear Ones,

I didn't realize how much I love vacation until I'm back to work. I learned several lessons over vacation and since being back that its taken me a while to compose my thoughts for this letter home.

Lesson 1: When entering cold water, do it all at once.
Arriving at the pool by our condo my brother dared me to jump into the pool. The weather outside was probably in the 50s and both of my younger brothers had put their feet in the pool and decided that that was stupid to get it and maybe they could get me to do it first. Well I'm not one to shy away from a dare so I did it. Without testing the water I ran and jumped in with both feet. Had I tested the water I would have known the kind of pain I was about to experience upon entering FREEZING water. If I had tested the water I don't think I would have jumped in. Now that I'm back in the semester I see how its better to jump into my challenges with both feet rather that testing it to see if its worth it. I just know its going to come with pain, it will be hard but if its anything like the freezing pool I'll be numb to it before I know it.

Lesson 2: Calm is not always good.
Because the pool wasn't cold enough my brothers and I eventually braved the waves. With a storm in the gulf the surf was high and rough. We strapped on our boogie boards and enjoyed being dragged in the undertow, swallowing salt water, and occasionally catching a really good wave. At one point we realized that We weren't catching any waves. They were breaking after they passed us. Looking back at the beach we realized how far out we were and then realized that in this calm place in the water we were slowly being taken out by the tide. We began to swim parallel to the shore to get out of the current and slowly make our way back to shore. I have found that even though I complain about all the craziness of life that calm is not necessarily better. I feel lesson driven to do or to become when life is easy sailing and I have found in calm water it is easier to be slowly, almost unknowingly pulled into complacency. And if I learned anything from one high school soccer coach it is that mediocrity is never acceptable.

Lesson 3: Life is a dance
This last week I went square dancing. The instructor taught us the steps one by one. We usually were in groups of 4 couples. Some come to this activity every month and then there was me. Not a dancer or possessor of any kind of grace I missed some steps and spent the beginning really concentrating on not screwing up verses just having fun. By the end I just accepted the fact that I was going to make mistakes and with each round I could make one less mistake and there were always others quick to correct and get me back in step. I don't think I even have to draw this parallel for yall. As I face new experiences in my classes and in my church responsibilities and with friends and relationships I just got to accept I'm gonna make mistakes and decide to have fun.

This semester has taken off and I spend my hours in a cadaver lab (which I really enjoy....oddly enough) and practicing more clinical skills. We get placed in our first rotations in February but we wont start until May. I may be out of state so hopefully I'll be closer to some of yall. A lesson I learned long ago is that life is sweet and it continues to be so now. Love yall!