A wise woman from a 1954 movie entitled "Sabrina" once said: "I found myself in Paris." I, on the other hand, found myself by getting really, really lost. I've never been much of a..."know-where-I-am" or "know-where-I'm-going" type of person anyway, so it's no surprise. But I'm sure a lot of you can relate. It's like junior year of high school, when you had no idea what the heck you were going to do with your life. It's like today, right now, way after high school, either in or out of college, exactly where you left off. No sense of direction. No map telling you where to go. No one forcing you to go anywhere. And so you just stand there, literally in the middle of nowhere, waiting for some kind of sign...anyone?...ANYONE?!
A funny thing happened on my way home from work today. I usually give my boss a ride to the train station, and we usually have pretty interesting conversations during the ride. Every day since I applied for dietetic internships last September, she's been asking me if I've heard anything. Today she confessed that she has a gut feeling that I'm getting in, and that I should plan accordingly. Plan is, once I find out (which is in less than a month), I'm putting in my 2-week notice so I can "relax" before going back into full-time school mode come January. It's funny how that glimmer of hope, coming from my boss, gave me a sense of direction. Made me believe in myself again and know that I can conquer the world...well, at least my own.
The minute I get home, I get a call from one of my old roommates telling me to apply for jobs out-of-state with her "just in case we don't get in." I definitely didn't say "no."
All I'm saying is that standing still isn't half bad. That something WILL happen to you that WILL change your life and give you that sense of direction you've been waiting for. You just have to be patient, and hope for the best, even if you get hit by something unexpected.
WELCOME to Middle of Nowhere
"Getting Busy" Does Wonders
A lot has happened since we last spoke.
Yesterday I graduated as a Breastfeeding Support Counselor from the CEDA (Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc.) Training Program. I can't even begin to explain to you the look on my grandma's face when I showed her my diploma. Still in bed, she offers me her hand, shakes it enthusiastically, while looking at me straight in the eyes and repeatedly saying: "Congratulations" with a huge smile on her face. I can't even begin to explain to you how that made me feel. How such a small gesture instantly made my heart smile. How I felt someone else patting me on the back, for all my hard work. It really made me feel good about what I've accomplished.
CEDA BSC Class of October 2008 - Photo by: M. DominguezMaybe because it's all I know...to "do me" that is. Maybe it's because it's all I've ever done, or rather, all I've been fighting to do. I've lost count of how many times I've let other people influence the decisions I've made, and for the first time in my life, I really feel like I'm doing what I want to do. And that right there?...is a huge accomplishment. Gigantic.
So, in continuation to last week's blog... like I said, GETTING BUSY really does wonders after hitting rock bottom. ;)
People and/or Little Things that have inspired me this week (because I'm sure other people can relate):
- watching Jordan Sparks' "One Step at a Time" music video
- listening to Danity Kane both to and from work
- conference calls with my highly-motivated health professional classmates
- support from friends/family/coworkers at my BSC Graduation
Rock Bottom #10385934
Every now and then, we merge unto a bumpy road...run into a brick wall. And as much as we try to avoid it, it's inevitable. You can't eat, you can't sleep, you can't seem to get your mind off of certain things. We've all been here, it happens to the best of us. The question is, after you have hit rock bottom (or at least, what feels like it), how do you get back up?
Answer? I have none. In fact, I'm still trying to figure it all out myself. But I do know one thing: GET BUSY. Sure you can write about what you feel, and lock yourself up in your room for days, but it's only after you've taken a hold of the present, will you get over your past. We all know dwelling in the past doesn't ever do you any good, and neither does beating yourself up over something that you have absolutely no control over.
Take the summer of 2004, for example. The summer after my grandfather passed away from pancreatic cancer. Maybe I was in denial, maybe I really didn't know how else to handle it. I worked, full-time, and booked every free day with things I've always wanted to do. I surrounded myself around positive people. My friend even commented saying that I was handling it all really well. Little did he know, I was crying inside, and I still am. But we've got to take control of our lives, it's the only way.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Rock Bottom #10385934, Monica Edition. I don't even have to tell you exactly what happened, because it's all relative, and we've all been here. But I will tell you that, there is hope. And if I can say that right here, right now, it must be out there.
First step? Visit chicagononprofit.org. Find something to invest some of my time in. Find an opportunity to inspire others. Find myself, all over again.
I've never been so excited in my life.
The Presidential Debate: Behind the Scenes
The Presidential Debate. We all know it was on. We all heard what they had to say. But that's not what I'm here to talk about. After all, to be completely honest with you, I do not know much about politics. I'm gradually educating myself, but don't know enough to hold a firm opinion about anything. So, for now, I'll be mutual.
There is one thing I'd like to know. How exactly did Obama and McCain end up at the same place at the same time, on television anyway? Let's go behind the scenes, shall we?
The answer?:
The Commission on Presidential Debates aka: CPD.
Their mission?:
- To ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners.
- To sponsor and produce debates for the United States presidential and vice presidential candidates.
- To undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates.
Non-profit...is...everywhere. You don't have to be working in a rural area of a third world country to be considered "non-profit."
For those who missed it...
Previous debates that have helped define elections...
Photo by debates.org
