My Heart

I have spent my summer thus far, lazing about, watching tv, and overall avoiding too many responsibilities. But today was my first day of volunteering. It was absolutley incredible. Perhaps i was burned out from doing nothing all day and my brain rotting away from television. But today was by far the most enjoyable day i've had in a while. Healing Hands Physical Therapy has grown exponetially since i volunteered there last. going from 1 or 2 patients an hour to 4 patients every hour. And because i have worked there in the past they are now treating me as a Physical Therapy Aid, and i actually get to work and help treat patients instead of being mainly an observer. I'm allowed a lot more responsibilities and have already learned so much and i've only been there one day. 9 hours just flew by and i cant wait to go back tomorrow. All the doubts i had of, if Physical therapy was actually what i wanted to do, If it was worth the work. They were put aside today. I couldnt be more thrilled to do this with the rest of my life.

honest to blog?

Ever have those times when you remember what its like to let go and have fun again? You know like we used to before life got complicated? Today i had a thoroughly adult day. One that entailed getting up, going to the gym, going to my doctors appointment, getting stuck in traffic and then going to class...late. ugh what a drag, i have gotten into such a sadly tedious routine, where i feel the need to be constantly entertained by technology or consumerism and I've been discusted by it. But tonight, tonight was different. Tonight my boys called me up around ten and asked if i wanted to kick around a kick ball. umm...sure? it was an unusual request being that our normal evening activities entail watching numerous movies in a row. accompanied with large amounts of junkfood. but off we went kickball in hand to the tennis courts to play what i've now dubbed kick tennis, three square, and a makeshift game of volleyball, or whatever various games we made up to play. it was fabulous, running around making up rules, reminding myself of my horrible foot eye coordination and why i never played soccer. (which i almost spelled socker) Laughing when Nate fell or when i failed to get even close to kicking the ball. It was a refreshing kind of fun, and made me so happy. I hope that this is something that we can do more of.

Opportunity Knocks

On the way to church yesterday I was talking with my dad about something thats been on my mind for the past couple of months. Taking a year off and traveling abroad after graduation, and as i was talking i realized how specific of a trip i wanted. I wanted the ablity to choose for how long i went, i didnt want to go with a christian organization, I wanted to working with Physical Therapists in order to get work experience and volunteer hours and i wanted to be in a radically different culture out of my comfort zone but but at the same time have a comminuty around me so that i would not be too alone. All my research towards this goal had thus far been unsuccessful, i found either mission trips, solo internships, or work for certified physical therapists. Nothing for a person with an undergraduate degree looking to be a physical therapist. But this was all before talking with my father. . . We talked and i told him all of my desires and hopes for my year off. Of course he expressed interest and concern but said that we should look more into it and see what we could find. Later on in the day while i am on the couch doing my math homework and Dad come and sits down next to me. I am slightly irritated at this as i dont work well with other people around. Then he starts talking...great... But i dont really want to be doing math anyways. So he excitedly tells me to go to www.projects-abroad.org, i look it up. I could not have been more astounded and excited. It was everything i'd been looking for, a volunteer based program that allows you to live abroad, and I can work with physical therapists. I'd have a job working with and learning from physical therapists, I'd live in country with a host family near other volunteers, and would get to experience the culture while getting valuable work experience that will help in my grad school and future job applications. I could leave whenever i wanted and stay for as long or short as i wish. Everything is included and planned for, It looks like an amazing organization. This particular program goes to Mexico, Moldova, India, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nepal, Bolivia, Ethiopia. Certain places have specialty clinics you can work at, others are more broad field. I'm so excited that this opportunity has opened up for me, both my parents are really supportive, provided that i still apply for grad school this year. If i get in, I'll defer acceptance, if not I'll go and apply when i come back. Right now its just deciding where to go!