I’m starting this on Day 132.
I’m also watching TV shows and movies that JP doesn’t enjoy as much as me, like Sex and the City. I’ve seen every episode at least twice. I own the movies. I have the books – yes, they’re books too, that’s how the show started. This is my idea of relaxing on a Saturday night.
So this year… So far, we’ve celebrated his birthday, my birthday. I’ve made it through the spring semester and finals. I’ve logged about 160 hours of fieldwork. I’ve interviewed for jobs. I’ve napped less than I wanted to and had more late nights than I’ve had in years.
On Day 1 I apologized for Monday’s being held to a high standard and I wrote about my hopes for the year. I quoted Titanic and recapped 2017. I put my foot forward by saying what I wanted to happen in 2018.
Now this list is really a list of reactions I hoped would occur because of my behaviors.
There are some things that have happened, but not how I planned like my activity level. I said I wanted to be consistent with my activity because I knew I would be sitting more this semester. I was consistent by doing something mobile like going for a walk most days and attempting to plan out some lifting. I fit yoga in where it made sense and as of Day 132, I’ve had a new gym membership for two full weeks in which I’ve gone five times each week. However, I thought I would’ve done more towards my strength, but really that’s a goal that has no timeline and I’m getting the opportunity to work on it now.
I wanted to keep up with my running, but it didn’t happen, not even one bit. I felt that I didn’t have the time. However, there’s a lot of year left and we have been talking about running another organized race this summer, so I do know that I will get my butt in gear and get some miles in soon.
Together, we’ve enjoyed more than just Mules, but maybe a little more than we should’ve.
I’ve said yes a lot more than I have in a long time, my writing is becoming more consistent since I don’t have papers to write, and I’m trying new things like golfing – JP wants to teach me proper form.
I’ve learned so much this semester and so much in 132 days. I never thought I would love microbiology or that I would be actually be good at it. Chemistry reinforced my belief that the body is super weird and interesting. I’ve worked on a grant, edited video footage and learned how to write a subtitle file – not as hard as I thought it would be. I’ve learned to analyze research more effectively including determining what makes a study valid or thorough.
On Day 131, final grades were posted and I’m proud to say that while I have one class left, I am graduating on Day 138 with highest honors. Some classes are hard regardless of where you go and what I accomplished in my health science courses is exactly what I sought out to do last January – obtain more knowledge in the health sciences to be better at research and to assist many populations of client I could meet.
I want to help as many people as I can, but it has to make sense. I need to meet them where they are and help them grow.
The work I did in my public health courses broadened my view of health and while I started the program with the objective to be a better health coach, I’m leaving the program with a new path to serve my community in a macro-way.
It’s Day 133 and I’ve gotten so much done today. I feel like I can take on anything this week.
I will say that it has been so weird without classes and homework the past few days. It’s almost as though I don’t know what to do with my time…until I remember the projects I’m working on and other things around the apartment I’ve neglected from finals week. Maybe it’s just weird having time to do things I believe are fun like write and read books that aren’t assigned.
While I’m eager to take on a new career in public health, I’m not leaving coaching anytime soon. I’m excited to have more time to work one-on-one and help others see their potential.
I’ve partnered with a former client on a new goal. We’re taking a year to prepare for her first bikini competition next April. She’s 55 and a powerhouse. She’s feisty and ready to take it up a notch. We’re starting slow because then time is on her side. We can make small changes that will lead to bigger ones. We can focus on strength and developing muscle before becoming concerned about fat loss. There’s a year for changes to be made.
Hearing and seeing a change like this in a client fires me up. It fires me up because she is saying she can do more, she can push harder, she can allow herself to do something few do.
When my clients declare their goals such as “be more active in other ways like biking, hiking and walking” or “maintain the level of health and wellness that makes me feel great while teaching my kids to do the same” I can’t do anything, but cheer. Their declarations are about the life THEY want to lead. While some goals may be similar, motivations are so different.
I can’t wait to see more people take the first steps towards goals they never thought they deserved to think about. The more I see them taking steps forward, the more it encourages me to continue my journey too, where it may take me.
The next few weeks are going to fly by and I really hope I can hold onto them.
Graduation is on Day 138.
JP and I have a date morning on Day 139, followed by an end-of-spring celebration with some of my friends from school.
Day 140 we have a birthday party for a friend at a winery, some time after that we have a friend moving home back to our state.
There’s work and fieldwork and interviews and Memorial Day and a conference.
There’s 18 days left in May and I’m sitting here like I wanted to graduate, but holy crap that was fast!
As I’m thinking back to what I wrote on Day 1 and what hasn’t been accomplished yet this year, it has me thinking I should start planning our first hike of warm weather season and we need to pick a date for our next run so we can train a little bit. So these two things I would like to accomplish soon or at least have a plan in place to do so.
I’m excited and relieved to be back in the gym working out the way that I enjoy. While I loved what I learned in school, it was a huge culture shock and I believe that I finally will have “my life back” so that I can be as active as I enjoy and can lead the best life I can.
We keep joking that I get to be an adult again. That’s how it feels.
I am a work in progress and I hope that never stops. I’m cheers-ing to the new work week.
To graduation.
To always learning.
To always encouraging others to do the same.
<3 Cristina
