In 2011, our family finished up six official years of this journey, from med school to internship and finally, into residency. There have been a multitude of good times and for us, the year also brought on many, many challenges. It was a year that will be cemented in my memory for both extremes.
Back in 2009, we were graced with a guest article by Jayne the Wise. When I read this, I "got it." I loved the advice that she had to give and I wanted to share her wisdom with all my friends and readers. It is all too common that many of us can get caught up in the negative. We become bitter with the every day hassles of training and annoyed with the long hours of being on our own, without our partners, awaiting the day until this training is complete. The fact is that times can be hard and we can get "stuck."
At the beginning of 2011, bad news came with the ringing of the new year. To name just a few ... no dryer for three months (imagine line drying laundry in your basement for this length of time for a family of four!), identity theft, and a tornado sweeping through our neighborhood (thankfully, we did not experience any damage, but many only blocks away were not so lucky). Then, I lost someone very close to me after a wicked battle with cancer. BUT, amongst all of this, I had an opportunity fall into my lap that has left me with a changed state of mind and helped me to recover. For the past four years, I have been writing here on this site and more often, on my blog about books. Writing has always been a part of my life in one way or another, but I never considered it more than just a hobby. This little opportunity turned my little hobby into a little paycheck, and I am now writing part-time as a freelance writer. My secret little dream of becoming a published author one day became a not-so-secret little reality.
As I reflect on this past year, I came to realize that this little dream of mine would not have been even a remote possibility UNLESS we as a family were on this journey together. I never could have imagined that this journey of achieving my husband's dreams could have brought me a bit of my own. As I began to think about more than just this past year, I came to realize that so many other positives have come from this journey . . . Two gorgeous children that are learning so much and becoming so resilient thanks to our hardships and successes. Traveling the country and living in places that I never would have otherwise, and consequently, meeting so many amazing people that have made me a better person and my life richer. I have been exposed to jobs that have helped me to grow in my profession and assist in figuring out where my next step should be. And, of course, I have come to discover that my words can matter and my ultimate dream of becoming a published author of a fiction novel may one day also become a reality. Over these past six years, I have come to discover that this partnership has achieved so many dreams ... some that we have always had and some that have only lay hidden in our subconscious until the opportunity arose and allowed us to see that there was more to this journey then we have ever imagined.
Two years ago, Jayne the Wise shared her advice and I "got it." Today, I truly understand it more than I ever have before and I only hope that this understanding continues to deepen as we finalize this journey and move onward to bigger and better dreams!
Your Turn: I want to hear about your dreams and aspirations! What dreams have you seen come true on your journey? What do you see coming in the future (if you are feeling up to a bit of prediction)?
2 comments:
i think it's amazing you've seen your dreams of writing come true... I too have *always* had the dream of publishing since I was a little girl. It's so heartwarming to read about how many joys & dreams have come from this medical journey.
Sara ... Thank you! I really had no idea that my little hobby would ever become a reality and this journey is what has changed that! Good luck to you! :)
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