Happy birthday to me...
Yeah, it's my birthday. Yes, I'm still overwhelmed with school. Don't get me started - I could procrastinate on my homework even more by spending hours describing just how much homework I have. Endless classes, way too many readings, required activities, meetings, required volunteering.... ugh.
So today instead of hunkering down in my corner and spending my whole birthday reading about Meaning and Occupation or writing a paper about being client-centered, I went to the Catholic Student Center's Grad School Day of Reflection. It was basically a mini-retreat focused on surviving and staying sane (and staying grounded in your faith) in grad school. It was a very good decision for my mental health, especially because it taught us one of the keys to being generally more happy: gratitude. If we only look at and expect the negative, that is all we will see or remember. For example, I was all annoyed this week because I was mindless enough to leave my nice, new, expensive, CamelBack WashU water bottle on my bike, and some idiot stole it. In a weird gesture, s/he also left a (very crappy) water bottle in its place on my bike.
Today's reflections made me remember a lot of positive things and a lot of things I'm very grateful for, especially for the opportunity to be where I am and for the people in my life. I get to go to (albeit, extremely demanding) classes about Occupational Therapy. My most stressful experience, studying for a big test, is truly no more than sitting in a air conditioned room and reading about something I profess to like. I have a fun roommate Amy who puts up with my quirks, and a wonderful new friend Julie who likes to go on walks with me and who took me out to dinner tonight. I have loving parents who sent me things today and called me to tell me they love me. I have a Fairy Godmother (no joke - there is no return address and no signature except "Fairy Godmother"!) out there who loves me and occasionally sends me cute little notes (and a birthday card).
So yeah, thanks. :-)
