Day 23: hope

Today I am thankful for that glimmer of hope that is spring break. 

This semester has been almost more than I can handle and I haven’t had a week where I could relax yet. It’s definitely needed. This week has gone by so slow and so fast at the same time, just because of how excited I am. I can't wait to see my beautiful sister and play in Seattle, then I get to go camping in Leavenworth with some pretty great friends, then I am going to Boise for the WNATA conference where I am presenting original research.

Needless to say, it won’t be dull. But it will be a much needed break from the daily grind. There isn't anything that motivates you quite as well as knowing you just have only one more day to get through. 

It quite resembles the feeling of being kid on Christmas Eve.

Yep, spring break is pretty much Christmas for college kids. The presents just come in different shapes; like bikinis, beverages, and sleeping until noon.  Or, in my case; rain, bratwursts and beer, and still sleeping until noon.  

Sounds pretty perfect to me.   

Day 22: conservation of energy

I have been studying the conservation of energy and other problems related to physics for the last 6 hours.

Losing.my.mind.

But I am thankful that I have a smart and helpful friend who came come over immediately after the first panicked math related text he received from me in order to help me study for my physics exam tomorrow. That's a conservation of energy if I've ever heard of one: three weeks of lessons shrunk into one night of teaching, and it actually kind of making sense.

David, you're a champ. Thanks for teaching yourself the stuff super quick then somehow finding a way to teach it to me! I now have a glimmer of hope in the form of a passing grade on this test.
#Ioweyou.
And yes, I hashtagged for you. That is how thankful I am.
 

Day 21: happy people don't kill their husbands

"Exercise produces endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands. They just don't!"
                         -Legally Blonde

Today I am thankful for the mood boost from my first TRX Force class.
It was quite the experience. Basically the score is:

TRX: 1
Amber: 0

If you haven't heard of TRX, look it up. It;s basically doing a workout using ropes and your own body weight. Not as easy as it sounds. But I won't deny it, the feeling you get after completing an exercise, especially one you didn't think you would be able to finish, it's a pretty good feeling. Best natural high there is.

Get out there and try it.
In the words of the physical therapist I work with,

"let's get movin' and groovin"

Day 20: I can do anything good

Yes, I know, that is grammatically incorrect. But watch this video and you will understand the reference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qR3rK0kZFkg

I am thankful for this video. No matter how many times I watch it, it still makes my day!

Day 19: indecision

Today I am thankful for multiple things: friends, chivalry, and good music.

And because I am indecisive, I want to share all three.

1.

“Friends are the family you choose.” I've chosen some great ones. And luckily for me, the best ones still put up with me. J

Sometimes it takes bad moments to recognize the good, and I think that happens often with friends. It’s so easy to forget how lucky you are for those friends who are always there for you, who always support you, who are kind and good and always know how to cheer you up and make you laugh; friends who always understand. But there are moments of clarity, moments that make you appreciate more than ever the true friends you have.

2. 

Today my roommate and I went out for breakfast. As we were waiting for a parking spot, we saw a college student open the car door for the girl he was with. The way he did it and the way she responded made it seem like this was a completely normal and natural occurrence. But how many guys do you know that will go open your car door for you? I’m not saying I am not capable of opening my own door because I absolutely am and I do not expect a guy to do it for me, but it was such a sweet gesture. It was a small reminder that chivalry isn't dead, and it made me smile.

3. 

You know that moment when you hear a new song and it seems to describe the exact feeling inside? It somehow feels like it says everything that you wanted to say but didn't have the words for? I found one of those today. I related to it simply because of a few versus.

Let her go by Passenger.

Because you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know your lover when you've let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home

I loved this song instantly because this is the mentality I don't want. Instead of only seeing the good until it's too late, I want to realize what I have while I have it, and revel in it. 

I don’t want to wait until its gone.

Day 18: family

Short, sweet, and to the point. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for my supportive parents who listen to my crazy plans every time I call. I am thankful for my two beautiful and motivated sisters that inspire me to be the best version of myself. I am thankful for my grandma, who has such dignity and grace and shows me the type of person I want to grow into. I am thankful for my aunts and uncles and cousins, they’re all so different and together we are so dysfunctional but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am thankful for my greek family. I have an amazing big who has been there for me since the beginning, and has never once judged me and always supports me. I have one little who is a free spirit and reminds me not to take life so seriously, and I have another little who is so focused and motivated just like me and is always down for a study date. I have a beautiful fun loving twin who, even though I am always MIA, is still there for me.

I am thankful for my athletic training family. They are crazy and hilarious and weird and amazing. They drive me crazy but at the end of the day we’re family.

I am a lucky girl. 

Day 17: the road home

Today was my last day at my clinical site. On Monday, I will start at a physical therapy clinic. Which I am very excited for, don’t get me wrong, but I will miss where I have spent my last 7 weeks, I truly loved it. I really am so very lucky; lucky to have the opportunity I have through my education program. Yes, there are days where I feel overworked and under appreciated. There are days that I wonder if the end goal will be worth all that I am putting in. But I don’t think that is specific to my career path, that’s just life.    

Sometimes I look back and it amazes me that I got here.

It was hard to pick up and leave my hometown and everyone I've ever known to move 1200 miles away. I left some amazing people, and I lost people I cared about as a result. There are days where I have questioned my decision to leave. I don’t know if I was running from my past or if I was chasing my dreams. Regardless, I got lucky. When I first moved here, I hated it. After leaving Arizona, I felt homeless and lost. That feeling is gone now.

I wake up each day looking forward to my life. I have amazing friends who love and accept me. I have an amazing program that challenges me and pushes me. And I have an internship that gives me the freedom to be creative and make a difference. I get the chance to work with some pretty amazing people; athletes, physicians, athletic trainers, educators, and students. Each one has had an impact on me. I learn and grow each day. I am so thankful to have found my home. But my home isn't a physical location. My home is with the people and experiences I have been blessed to have.       



Also, in honor of National Athletic Training month :) I always knew I liked March.