Reflections

It has been a long time, but something had to give with everything going on in my life. I have missed blogging quite a bit, so I'm happy to have some time to write again. I'm in no way going to try to catch up on everything that has gone on since the last post in early April. There are also things better left unwritten as well. Anyhow, here are the random thoughts...

I'm beginning to reflect upon all that has happened since about Novemberish. That is when a lot of major, yet good changes were happening to both the hubs and me. He got a good job in his field (after receiving a PhD the previous May) and close to home. I applied and got accepted to graduate school. The adjustment to it all hit me hard, but I got used to our new life.

When I first started going back to school (grad school, not work school), I was so happy. It felt great to read, learn, apply new things, and grow. I met other people who are in in similar situations and who I consider friends now. The thing that struck me in the first few classes is how right it was to be going back to be a counselor. The professor would talk about "typical" traits or behaviors that many counselors have, and I would think "Hey, that is so me." I remember thinking that this is where I belonged all along.

Lots of reading...

and writing.

In January I really got on track with losing weight and was feeling great about myself. I had lost 15 lbs in less than 2 months. I was working out consistently. I even got sassy and cut my hair short for the first time ever in my life. I got compliments on the weight loss and the haircut. I was working full time, cooking/eating healthy, working out, and taking two grad classes. I somehow achieved a busy, but balanced life.

Looking good and feeling good.

I tripped up a bit at the end of February, but kinda got back on track for part of March. Then I pretty much fell off the weight loss wagon in April. The stress of all the assignments, readings, and group projects (especially the group projects) started getting overwhelming. At work I became stressed out trying to plan the best spring program that I could. I poured my heart and my whole being into work and grad school. In the process, I stopped taking care of myself.

I stopped planning meals and ate junk food or fast food. I stopped working out and then ended up with an injury anyway. Instead of getting into the doctor for my injury, I just but on my "boot" from five years ago since the injury felt like the same thing. Then I just kept plugging along at work and school. It got to the point that I did next to nothing fun or for myself. I was stress eating and eventually got to a point I was so stressed that I didn't want to eat and my stomach hurt.

Many of the stressors have been resolved and my first semester of grad school is done. I am finding it strange to have time to myself again. Now is the time to meal plan and figure out some kind of work out I can do until my injury is healed.  Speaking of injury, I finally went to the doctor for that and am still in the process of getting it figured out. I get to go in for an ultrasound on my ankle next week. I plan on blogging more often again as well.

I guess since this post has next to no point, I will call it a reflection post. A "hey, I'm still alive" post and I will be back on track again post. There is so much I'd like to write about. I would love to start posting my grocery shopping trips, meal plans, food for the week, workouts, my injury, and some stuff I learned in grad school (I'm thinking personality types and Meyers/Briggs related). I guess that is where I'll leave it for now.