Opportunities

To start, I wish I had more interesting things to take pictures of, so that my entries are not just blocks of words, but my views these days consist of my foot and the various seats I take throughout the house!  And so I write:

I had a very fulfilling Skype conversation with my special someone last night, and the discussion centered, indirectly, about opportunities that could have been lost.  The idea has been oozing through my brain (this is how I imagine ideas to move through an extraordinarily relaxed person's mind) and caused me some reflections.

It seems like everyday presents itself to me with new opportunities and I have to make the decision of which to take and which to leave.  some are smaller than others, some open more future opportunities than others, and some weigh heavily.  Someone offering help is an opportunity.  It gives you the chance to heal if you need it.  It gives you the chance to bond further with someone.  It gives you the chance to learn more about yourself and grow.  I love opportunities.  I love them being presented to me.  They are new experiences.  But they can be scary to consider sometimes.

If multiple opportunities are offered simultaneously, I get awfully stressed out, but the thing we should all keep in mind is that any opportunity taken is going to provide the future with so many new experiences.  Take an opportunity that is in front of you.

Avoiding opportunities can be tempting too, especially if you are afraid of change, or if it is the opportunity to sell drugs or something in which case AVOID.  I am glad I have taken opportunities recently that I was initially resisting.  I'm glad I took the opportunity to come back to the US to finish my schooling (I was fighting against that pretty hard).  It opened up so many positive things for me.  I'm getting all sappy now!

Consider what opportunities lay in front of you and which you can create for yourself.

Crutches

I have to say that my time forced to "chill" has been much better than I thought it was going to be.  I remember my time n Switzerland when I was stuck with a broken ankle in my dorm with nothing to do.  I got rather down for a long time, and just watched TV shows a lot.  It was such a horrible time period.  That is what I thought this time would be like.  It is not at all!  I don't know if it is just because I am in a better place mentally, or I have people (my wonderful family) surrounding me, or if I have more productive distractions.  Life is feeling pretty good.

The hardest part for me is admitting that I need an extra set of hands to help me.  I want to be able to do it all by myself, but I know I can't and even if I try to I generally fail or increase the likelihood of falling over and hurting myself.  Looking back (reflection time!) I was a girl who wanted to be strong and independent in an almost isolating way.  I am so very glad that I have learned over the years, and even more through this experience, that it is good for people to help each other, that I enjoy helping others, and people will help me if I need it.  It is not shameful to ask for an extra hand, or just to help make life a bit easier.  I love the people around me who have been helping me while I've been physically weak, and it acts as a reminder that they will be there for me when I am emotionally or situationally in need too.

Yay love and friends, and communal help!

The End of School

A picture of the sunset in Newport RI

Maaan!  There has been a whole lot going on recently.  To begin with, I have completed my time in Providence at Johnson & Wales.  Woohoo!  I definitely have many reflections on my time there.  It was more of a growing experience than I expected.  I met some really wonderful people, understood humanity more, opened my eyes to social justice and society, created relationships, ate amazing food, volunteered, helped animals, was able to foster my relationship with Miguel, and, of course, was able to finish my degree.  Now technically I am not done with my schooling as I have 2 weeks left of an online course, which keeps me on my insurance ;)

I was able to get the majority of my stuff out of the apartment and brought it home to CT.  My parents were also just moving when I got home, which has been fun, we are still in the process!  I had my bunion surgery on July 29th, which is such a relief to have finished.  I'm just waiting for my foot to heal now.

The move is interesting because we have really moved to a smaller home.  It is one floor on the 2nd floor of a building.  It is quite spacious actually, surprisingly so, but it is still too small for our stuff!  This comes as something of a reality check to my mom, and I'm sure my dad too, that we really do need to downsize.  We don't need 5 mixing spoons, or 4 cheese trays, or 3 pasta makers, or 10 bread pans.  We really don't need so much stuff.  It is nice to see the THINGS finally being donated or removed from the house.  It gives me inspiration to reduce my stuff again.  I have done some rather large overhauls in the past, but I think it is time for another since I will be moving after my foot heals.

The surgery was something that needed to be done.  I've had a painful bunion on my right foot since I was about 9 years old.  I did everything from wearing orthodics for years to sleeping with strange contraptions that were supposed to align my toe.  Nothing worked and I love being active.  the hospitality industry, and anything else I want to do with my life will involve plenty of time on my feet.  So, once school finished this was the best time to do the surgery.  If not now, then later, which would be more impractical.  I was building it up so much in my mind and I can't believe it is finally done.  The procedure itself was smooth.  The worst part was getting the IV stuck and that just felt like a blood test.  They knocked me out and I don't even remember being asked to count backwards, but apparently I made it from 100 down to 93.  Next thing I know I'm dreaming of green juices and smoothies and rambling about it too when they wake me up.

So now I'm laying down out of the way of the moving activities and letting my foot heal.  Elevated with ice on the ankle.  I've been 2 days now without the pain meds, they make me ill, and I've been feeling good.  I give credit to my high raw vegan diet I've been focusing on.  Lots of leafy greens, fresh fruits, and mommy's lentil stew :D as well as tea, coconut water, and green smoothies!  I've had plenty of time to relax and I'm already getting antsy to run around outside.  I'm trying to do little exercises and learn Swedish so I don't completely waste away!