Friday, January 6, 2017

New Year, Same Me (but continuing to grow)

With the flip of the calendar, we entered into a new year. What will 2017 hold for you? I know that 2017 means not only a new year, but also some uncertainties as we also enter into a new political atmosphere. There are many unknowns, as well as some things that have been presented by the incoming leader, which may not be in everyone’s best interest. I also have a few health issues such as fibromyalgia, IBS, diverticular disease, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disorder, and small fiber neuropathy to name a few. 

Some days, my symptoms make it hard to do much of anything, including wearing clothes due to allodynia which is a symptom that is associated with fibromyalgia. I am just glad that I get to work from home, where there is no dress code. Other days, I am able to push through any discomfort present and take the dogs on long walks (between 5-7 miles). However, it is frustrating at times, because on the days where I do not feel capable of moving due to pain and/or fatigue, the dogs still want to have their outings and I know that movement is essential to my mental and physical health.

With all of these unknowns as we enter into the New Year, it is important to identify the areas that you have control over in your own life. For me, this reminder can help to gain perspective and alleviate some of the anxiety that sometimes arises in times of uncertainty. One area of my life that is within my control is my educational pursuits. My newest course opened up today, with the course officially starting on Monday. I have been attending graduate school since 2012 and currently have a 3.828 GPA and have three courses left until I graduate with my MS in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Applied Research. 

I could have graduated a lot earlier, but after completing all of my coursework and residencies that were a part of my previous academic program, I transitioned over from mental health counseling to clinical psychology since my heart and passion truly come alive in the research realm. This term I am taking Multicultural Perspectives in Human Behavior, which is a 10-week course and will require me to complete weekly discussion posts and three assignments, with the final project consisting of a project that spans between 24-30 pages on diversity and multicultural considerations within my specialty of applied research as it applies to clinical psychology. 

I see this as my opportunity to delve deeper into understanding the challenges faced by minorities within the military population. This may include racial, gender, and sexual orientation aspects as they apply to members of the military. I am sure that I will be able to fill all 30 pages by pursuing this topic, while at the same time becoming more aware of the challenges that may exist when providing clinical psychology services and conducting research on this very important population within society.


Although I have said it in the past, this time I will work on the discussion posts before they are due, which will mean carving out part of my time to work ahead, ensuring that no matter how I feel, I will be able to have all of my initial discussion posts ready to post ahead of time. This will also help to ensure that I am not rushed or pressed for time, which is always a possibility when it comes to my life, as I wear many hats: mom to five rescue dogs, housekeeper, freelance writer, graduate student, spoonie, library resource assistant, and an all-around get shit done type of person. There is also a new venture that has presented itself, which is an extension on a project I had worked on in the past. All very exciting stuff and easy to become overwhelmed. Fingers crossed that I am able to pull it all off!

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