We are not living in eternity.
We have only this moment,
sparkling like a star in our hand
and melting like a snowflake.
Let us use it before it is too late.
-Marie Beyon Ray
-Marie Beyon Ray
I think Starbucks has the official say as to when the holidays actually begin. And if not I'm not mistaken, the Peppermint Mocha and Eggnog Latte made their fashionable reappearance on November 1, so the holidays have clearly begun folks. I'm all about extending the holidays out this year. The holidays are definitely on this girl's mind as evidenced by the not so stellar study session this afternoon. I was secretly toggling back and forth between low-fat Thanksgiving meal recipes and my "Systems Thinking module for Health Policy and Management" class. Malpractice insurance reform....or...ginger-pear crisp with vanilla ice cream? Continuous Quality Improvement for Physicians with Mandatory Quality Reports .... or.... Cider glazed carrots and parsnips?
The month of October pushed me to the edge of my capabilities as a mere mortal. :) I was wishing for some superhero powers or to morph into that cartoon of my childhood: Inspector Gadget. Needless to say, it was a true challenge to keep a grip on all my projects and work engagements. Between working an average of 3 days/week as a health consultant in LA and 3 days/week as the Community Outreach Program Aide for the Medical Center and then staying afloat in my 15 credits of grad school, I was close to losing my cool on several occasions. I definitely felt as if I had lost all semblance of a personality and became completely devoid of humor and recreation. Endless hours of dog-eared research articles, my Itunes, and non-fat, extra hot caramel macchiatos at Fox coffeehouse were my salvation.
The secret is admitting the enormous stress load and that grad school is kicking your butt and then to reclaim your life...with a vice grip. That can be translated into breaking away for a weekend in Yosemite...have your pick. Yosemite in Autumn with 70 degree days, sparse crowds on the granite faces, and shimmering golden foliage. Now that's a getaway. Settling into Camp 4's Granite Giants' paradise, with campfires late into the night at search and rescue's site swapping "whipper" stories with a whole different caliber of climbers. Tangerine Trip...Generator Crack...Snake Dike...Sentinel Rock...Lost Arrow Spire...Goodrich Pinnacle. I love talking this rock rat subculture's language. Life simplified by late mornings lengthened for a plentiful cup of coffee while flipping through the beta for the day's climbs.
