If I am supposed to be revisiting the issues that I have been dealing with since my adolescence - I will be stuck in this place forever. I seem to procrastinate everything to such an extent I don't think that I will ever really get to dealing with my issues. Such is the state of my blog. And for those who are vigilant in checking in to see if there's anything new in my life - thank you. I guess there really isn't much. OK. That would be the easy way out.
I am back in school again. Yeah. So I really am revisiting things that I've been dealing with since adolescence. School is always fun - but even more so when you're trying to juggle it with a full time job and a family. I've decided that I can't stomach the idea (or the reality) of working in a high-stress, low-paying job, doing something other than what I really want to do. There's also a part of me (I really discovered this after my 10 year high school reunion) that really just wants the satisfaction of being able to say I've put in the work to earn a degree and I did it! So I'm back at it. I fluctuate in exactly how I want to obtain my long-term goal but here's what things look like right now:
Immediate Goal: Higher paying job, more flexibility (IE: shorter hours), job satisfaction.
Means to achieving (smaller goals):
a) Continue working to utilize tuition benefits from current employer.
b) Continue taking classes at SLCC so I can get qualify for AA upon completion of PTA program.
c)) Fall 2008 enter PTA (Physical Therapy Assistant) program at SLCC (Salt Lake Community College). Graduate program Fall 2009.
5 Year Goal: Earn Bachelor's Degree in Exercise and Health Science from U of Utah
Means to achieving:
a) Work as a PTA part-time or full time.
b) Continue taking classes at U of Utah until Bachelor's is obtained.
Long Term Goal: Earn DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) from the U of Utah
This is a 3 year program. The degree in Exercise and Health Science will satisfy the pre-requisites for this program. The DPT is the standard degree for Physical Therapists in the future. It will be great to work as a PTA and get into the field I want to work in but ultimately I want to work as a Physical Therapist.
One of the classes that I am taking right now is a Physical Therapy class. It has helped me to be very introspective about my motives for wanting to go into this work, my commitment to my education, and my beliefs and decisions about what kind of a practitioner I want to be. I hope that some of the things that I am thinking about will show through in my blog. It was actually taking this same class last summer that helped me realize that I was not in a position with my health to fully commit to the PTA program at that time. I think that one of life's greatest challenges is being honest with oneself. Often this means having to go back on what one has said one wants to, or intends to do. I am glad I have found the strength to do what is best for myself. I hope that means that I can do so again - should I ever need to.
So I am trying to be present and to live my life as fully as possible. One of my favorite movies is Strictly Ballroom - and a great quote from the movie is, "a life lived in fear is a life half-lived". I think one of the things about fairy tales that we forget is the the hero and heroine are never sitting on their butts waiting for good things to happen to them. They're living life fully and usually making the best of where ever they're at and what ever is going on! So I'll keep you all as up to date as possible on my progress. Here's to meeting procrastination head on! Oh wait - that's what I've been doing. Here's to kicking it to the curb!
Pitchapalooza ends tomorrow...
9 years ago
3 comments:
I've been reading a book about Procrastination ....for about five years now. It says that there are a lot of reasons that we put things off. Sometimes we are afraid of failure, sometimes we are afraid of success and sometimes we are just not utilizing our time. I also believe that sometimes what we think is about the goal really becomes more about the process. Remember the power of each moment and embrace the opportunities that are right in front of you. I haven't put off reading the rest of that book because of procrastination, I've just been busy with life and the opportunities I have found there.
I agree with what Dorothy said. I also think that sometimes procrastination can manifest because we've chosen goals that are not realistic for where we're at. You've done a great job at identifying your goals and breaking them down into attainable "chunks", which will lead you to greater confidence as you accomplish the smaller interim goals that eventually lead you to the big long-term ones.
Another thing to keep in mind is that no matter how much the end result is desirable, a lot of the things that must be done to get there are not so much fun. You've got to be willing to pay the price, which requires an ability for delayed gratification. All easier said than done, but YOU CAN DO IT!
And I loved the quote from "Strictly Ballroom"--one of my personal faves, too!
What Dory said about the process is so true, especially in our family. Even when it's not about procrastinating, all of us are in the 'process' of whatever is going on.
"Go away Dad, I need to process my feelings."
He never likes that one.
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