Acceptance

Friends,

It is with great joy and much relief

to let you know

that I was accepted today into the Masters of Occupational Therapy Program.

I will begin grad school May 31^st, 2011.

One day soon, I will be an:

This would not have been possible without some very important people:

My Parents—who continue to encourage and support me with unconditional love.

A friend and former love-interest—Brad. Without your encouragement I doubt I would have even attempted such a feat as early in my recovery as I did.

To my wonderful sponsor and second Mother—Libby. I would not be who I am today without you. I am eternally grateful I have you in my life!

To my brothers—Clint and Brian. and my Sister—Caroline and precious Nephew---Irwin.

To my many WONDERFUL friends who are really too many to name…but here goes—Cathy, Lydia, Eric, Mac, Jessica, Denise, Vasch, Tara, Scotta, Rachel, Richard, Hawmi, Sarah, Leslie, Malcolm, Bill, Cleve, Kelly, Chris and if I left your name out, forgive me. I’m a bit tired. Big day.

I am very excited about this new chapter in my life.

I believe that

 I am filled with SO much

In other news, I’ve gotten moved into my new place (well, mostly moved in) and it already feels like home.

 Come visit! 

WINNING

Today was one of those days that make me both grateful and elated to be alive.

You know the days when everything comes together and you feel connected to everyone around you??

Yeah, I agree. They rarely happen. But when they do, MAN, is it good!

I am proud to inform you that I made a 90 on my Physics test I took this morning. From an F to an A baby! Now, THAT’S what I’m talking about!

I had an extra lovely yoga class with the beautiful Tara Blumenthal.

I went to the gym.

My sponsor gave me my 18 month chip this evening.

I attended a meeting in which unity and brotherhood abounded.

I didn’t eat any sugar. Or white flour (those are the things I gave up for Lent).

I’m collecting boxes.......as I’m MOVING THIS SATURDAY!

 Unlike my previous plans, my parents have decided to move me this weekend. Yikes! Just thinking about boxing this place up makes my stomach churn.

There are a few things I will miss greatly about living here:

 The Trace that I run on every morning.

And my roommate.

(she's gonna kill me for posting this pic! but Mac, I love you and will miss you more than you know!) 

I will miss her greatly. But, luckily we will still see each other plenty!

Winning.

That would be the word to sum up my day!

*Thanks, Charlie Sheen.*

The 3 A's

Yesterday I had a bit of a freak out.

It was one of those days when I was convinced the sky was falling.

And everybody was against me.

And that I just wasn’t going to make it.

The reason?

Physics.

My Physics class seemed unbearably daunting.

I wasn’t understanding it.

I’ve never taken Trig.

It would sort of be like taking French 4 without having French 1, 2, and 3.

I felt that feeling of impending doom.

I HATE that feeling.

It also didn’t help that I had only gotten a few hours sleep. When I am hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, I always feel as if I’m just not gonna survive.

Silly, I know.

After class I went for a long run.

I never wanted it to end.

And while I was running, the voice of my yoga teacher was loud and clear,

“remember the 3 A’s!”

Ahhh….the 3 A’s.

Attitude

Alignment

Action

And I started focusing on the first one:

Attitude

Anusara yoga incorporates the principles of the 3 A's—Attitude, Alignment and Action—into every asana. Attitude encompasses the yogi's quality of emotional, mental and spiritual expression through the body when performing an asana. In the highest sense Attitude is the balance between an openness to Grace and the aspiration to reawaken to our divine nature.

I started thinking or re-thinking, rather, my attitude.

I noticed, at first, that I was being highly critical of myself. Telling myself that I wasn’t good enough and I just wasn’t going to get anywhere.

And then I caught myself doing that and started doing the opposite.

I started telling myself that God did not bring me this far to fail me now.

That I CAN do whatever I set my mind to.

I told myself that I’m bright and capable and worthy of good things.

And by the end of my run,

my circumstances regarding my Physics class hadn’t changed,

but my attitude had.

I cleaned off my desk back in my room and am now using it as my place of study and solace for this semester.

As I was cleaning out my drawers,

I found this little card that I had bought a while back but never sent.

It is now a permanent fixture on my desk.

Thank God for yoga.

and my yoga teachers.

and my friends.

and sponsor.

who continue to encourage and teach me.

The paragraph in Italics comes from here.