4 months.

Today is January 11th.  I graduate with my Master's on May 11th.  That means only 4 more months of reading, studying, assignments, and all other school related stuff....I am SO excited to almost be done.  I start my final semester on January 14th.  Bring it on!

Here's too 120 days left, being excited and nervous, and trying to remember to enjoy these final moments.

-s.

bye-bye 20-12...hello 20-13.

2012. When thinking about what has happened over the past year I find it hard to pinpoint any major events, tragedies, or accomplishments I have encountered.  For me, 2012 was a very mellow year.  And what I mean by mellow is my usual "burning the candle from both ends in order to get everything done" mellow type of year.  However, even though I say it has been mellow I feel like I have achieved a few accomplishments that are worthy of notice.  These include:

• finishing 3 more semester of grad school (I have now finished 5).
• Starting my internship and counseling "real people" 
• Loosing 15lbs (this isn't entirely true anymore =[....darn life, stress, laziness getting in the way).
• Feeling more secure with my independence.
• Becoming more mindful and understanding with my needs....basically learning to put "me" first.

 These are not the most exciting things to report...however I believe that we need to relish in the little things so we can continue to grow.

Now it is January 1, 2013.  Time for fresh starts, setting goals, and simply approaching new situation bright eyed and bushy tailed.  The typical thing to do is to set resolutions that we want to achieve over the next year.  Many of these resolutions will go unmet and may weigh heavy on our minds as promises we were either unable or unwilling to keep.  I have fallen into this trap for the past few years.  I make lists of things I want to improve or change.  I stay strong for about 2 months and then I find other things that take precedence or I catch a cold, or I get a splinter in my pinkie and because of that I am unable to walk or function.  I want to achieve the goals I set for myself and I wish I could find the drive that others have that keep them moving in the right direction. 

 So instead of setting written resolutions this year I decided to do something a little bit different.  I decided to put together a vision board.  These boards were very popular a few years back when the book "The Secret" came out.  The whole idea is by putting dreams, hopes, and ambitions on the board and put it where I see if everyday I will be more likely to achieve each item.  What I have on my vision board includes:

• Getting a 4.0 my final semester of grad school (so far I have maintained a 4.0 the past 5 semesters so that should be a breeze to achieve).
• Finding my dream job in either Utah or Colorado. 
• loosing 20lbs----or a better way to put it is "becoming fit and healthy"
• Getting back into the world of dating (this one is going to be hardest)
• Yoga everyday
• Staying mindful in all decisions and activities I do.
• Simply being happy.

I am planning on putting this board above my bed so that I see it when I fall asleep and when I wake up.  This will hopefully keep me motivated and working at achieving each item. I started strong with these goals already...meaning I finished my board, worked out for 45 minutes, and starting making flashcards for my National Counselor Examination that is happening in April.  Now lets just hope I am this driven in 2 months from today.

Here's to a mellow/busy 2012, a positive outlook for 2013, and keeping my visions in the front of my mind.

-s.

Everyone needs a mustache.

With all this free time I have decided that it is time to get crafty.  I recently saw a post about putting mustaches on mugs and thought it was such a fun idea!  I mean who doesn't want a lovely black mustache while drinking hot apple cider :).  

It cost less than $1.25 for each mug and are SO easy to make.  The only problem I ran into was when I would add to much paint and it would bleed through the paper stencil....however, nothing that a q-tip and water can't fix!  Here is my finished project!

Here's to being creative, hot apple cider, and having a removable mustache.

-s.

time flys when you have no time to think about it.

The date: December 10th

The year: 2012

What am I doing: nothing.

That's right.  I am doing nothing.  I am all done with the semester.  No more papers to write, chapters to read, or things to discuss.  All that is left is about a week at my internship site and then I am off for almost 3 weeks.  

This can only mean that I have  finished my 5th semester of grad school.  Only one more to go and I will have my Masters.  I honestly did not imagine it would go by this fast.  This next semester is going to rush by and before I know it I will officially be done with school (well at lest for a little bit)  Then it's time to take the big step into the  "real world".

 ahhh!!! 

can someone please figure out a way to have time slow down!!!! 

Here's to 5 semester completed in a blink of an eye, one semester to go, and trying to remember to take deep breaths and enjoy the time that I have left.

-s.

A tough reminder.

Today was the one of my toughest day at my internship so far.  I can't say much; but I can say that I am thankful for what I have learned and what I continue to learn.  Still, all this learning did not prepare me for what has happened and for what is to come.  When it comes to dealing with situations that are beyond my control all I want to do is to grab it and tell it to stop....I want to be a voice for ones who have no voice. My heart ache's today.  I hope these moments only make me stronger, wiser, and more open to what is to come.

-s.

Where's motivation when you need it!

I should be working on a project that I have due in my assessment class on Monday.  I should be reading articles to find info about reliability, t-scores, and validity.  I should be making a hand-out on what these things mean so that I can hand it to my classmates on Monday.  But what am I doing instead?  Watch and learn:

It's amazing I have made it this far in school.

Here's to no motivation, trying to convince myself that I have motivation, and adorable fur-balls.

-s.

Even when you think you can't....

This past Saturday I completed my first 5K.  It was the "Color Me Rad 5K" down in the Denver area.  Going into the race I was sure that I was not going to feel up to running or even finish in under an hour (I do not have high hopes for my running ability); however I surprised myself the entire race.  First, I was able to run for at least 15 minutes of it and I finished the race in under 43 minutes!  That means I ran about 1/3 of the entire race! During the race there were stations where they would throw colored cornstarch and watered-down paint on you.  So by the end of the race you looked like a walking tie-dyed easter egg!

Moment's like this make me feel like I can do almost anything I want.  Since my knee surgeries I have been SO careful with my what I do and how I push myself because I am afraid of them getting hurt again.  But is that a way to live?  I guess I am showing myself one moment at a time that it isn't.  I hope to continue to work at running and to do many 5K's in the future.

Here's to doing the impossible, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment, and getting colorful in the process.

-s.