I Get To

This was something I initially learned when I was in network marketing. And while I am not in network marketing at this given time, this has resurfaced again as I think about the journey of medical school and soon to be residency. The leaders of my company wanted us to try and find the blessings and positives of not just life, but our businesses too. Never did more than try it once or twice, but that’s it.

While it is easy for me to complain and stress about all the things that need to get done before Geoff starts his residency, my father in law reminded me that we should enjoy and be thankful for this journey. There are so many that wish they could be a doctor and be in our spot. Not only that, but it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, only focusing on that next step/stair that we forget that we need to also enjoy it along the way.

So I have taken some time to reflect on my blessings through this journey.

GET TO

GETS

GET TO

GOT TO

GET TO

There were some of Geoff’s classmates that were not as lucky to match in the first round and they had to scramble the week of to find a home for their residency. Most, if not all, of who had to scramble found a home and I could not be more excited for them! Now they too get to say ‘I get to.’

I challenge you to think about the blessings in your life and make a list of the things that you ‘get to’ do because of either your job, your business (brick and mortar or network marketing), your family, whatever it might be. Because life’s most amazing blessings aren’t always big, sometimes the smallest blessings have the biggest impact.

Xoxo

Cloud 9 ☁️

Today was/is Match Day. It has been the day that we have been waiting for since we started medical school. Geoff and I FINALLY know where we are headed for residency.

WE ARE HEADED BACK HOME! Home to the Pacific Northwest. 💕 We are so excited and CANNOT wait. Here are some photos from earlier today. Congratulations to everyone who matched!!

Peace Amongst the Storm

How can one be at peace or be peaceful amongst the storm? Amongst all the chaos that is life?

I’ve always admired those who were able to be positive and optimistic when life seemed to make a 180 degree turn. They seem to see the silver lining and keep moving ahead when they have every right to throw a tantrum. Sure, you can say that ‘this too shall pass’, but right now it certainly doesn’t feel like it. Kinda feels like it’s spiraling more and more out of control as time goes on. But it feels selfish to be feeling the way I do, when I know that it’s hard for everyone else too. I’m not the only one having a hard time dealing with this….my whole family is having a hard time dealing with this, but all in our own ways.

Snow Storm 2019 at my parents house

I’m sitting at the kitchen table in my parents house and it’s quiet. Peacefully quiet, but at the same time it’s far from quiet. There is so much noise and so much going on, I just want to hide away. No, I’m not trying to get sympathy comments or hugs or words from people, I’m also trying not to come off as some motivational speaker/person. Unfortunately, this is how I feel at this given moment in time. Sorry for how sporadic this post is….I’m just writing down what I am feeling and what I am thinking about. If you know me in real life or have spoken to me recently, then you know what I’m going through. For personal and private reasons, I won’t divulge it on the blog yet. Maybe one day I will, but that day is not today.

Xoxo

Adult Summer Vacation

My old coworker Brandon said it first. But it really is the best way to describe my time off of work so far or what it will be by the time I have to move for residency. It’s only been a little over a week since I’ve been laid off. A week. Yet I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the fact that my stress levels have just decreased significantly since being let go. My shoulders aren’t as tight and I feel like lots of stress has left my lower back. It’s hard to even entertain the idea of bringing that back on.

However, if I am being honest – I am bored out of my freaking mind. I am working out at least once a day for at least four days a week. Soon I will be trying to do two-a days. I am maintaining my household chores – laundry and dishes and vacuuming to name a few. I miss keeping my mind busy and challenging it. I miss seeing my coworkers on a daily basis. Sure, I could (and should) look into free-online classes. There are tons out there to choose from. But do I wanna sit at the desk in our study and do this? Ehhhhh not really.

I’m sure I will find some other things to fill my time. Maybe I’ll become a personal trainer. Maybe I’ll learn Chinese (again). Who knows what I’ll end up doing. But I’ll figure it out. Eventually. Slowly but surely.

Xoxo

I Don’t Want to Hear It

There is so many comments that are said to us that make us cringe or make us furrow our brow. Something we hear a lot is “Oh, you’re married to a doctor, you’re going to be fine” or “He’s going to be an [insert specialty here]? They make bank.” Yeah, those might be true…BUT it’s more than the money. It’s so much more. Because what you don’t see is the hours of work put in studying. The hours of work put in to bring in an income (if you’re working). The endless support emotionally and mentally as a S.O. The sacrifices that are made daily to ensure your S.O.’s dream is supported. The amount of loans that has accumulated over the course of 4-years.

Behind the title of ‘doctor’ there is so much more. It’s like that image of the iceberg in water. On the surface people see one thing, but beneath the surface they don’t see (or always understand) the work that has been put in. It takes a strong person to want to stand with someone and support them through medical school. It takes a strong person to want to become a doctor!

London Bridge

London Bridge is falling down my fair lady. And there I stood; standing in the middle of a plan I called life. Crumbled all around me; the pieces of my glorious bridge. Damn what a beautiful structure. Meticulously built, labored over and held together with love. The med school bomb just exploded. I tried, I really did but the tears spilt over, rolling down my cheeks. He was serious and the more I tried to talk him out of it, the more I realized there was no going back. My stomach sank and that very moment I knew life would never be the same. Perhaps I should’ve stood my ground, maybe threw an absolute bitch fit but in the end who I am to deny a man his destiny. He took the MCAT, applied to med school, and before I could even catch my breath we packed up and moved to Vegas. Welcome to year one.

Go ahead, search high and low for information on first year and being married to medicine. I did. I read every blog post, drowned in YouTube videos but nothing truly prepared me. Plain and simple, med school takes over. It will dominate and redefine every aspect of your existence. Choosing to go into medicine is not just a job. Year one exists to show you medicine is life; medicine is a calling.

Our medical transition is different than most. The best case scenario a med school candidate is young, single, has financial support and ready to take on the world. Med school year one, we’re in our 30’s, twelve year marriage with older kids, two dogs, couple of parakeets, fish and a partridge in a pear tree. So let’s just say I haven’t handled it the best. I try but…

Long story short love, become one with change, breathe in change, breathe out change, obtain peace with change. And by change I mean the sooner you can deal with feeling alone the better. The loneliness will eat at you, don’t let it. Time to suck it up buttercup, you’re a med school spouse. Year one is meant for you to build a support system. You’re going to need this for the rest of med school. Each year is more difficult. Truly invest in things that bring you peace and emotional support. If at all possible stay close to family during med school and if that isn’t an option reach out and make friendships so strong they become your family. Year one I spent watching him study. Don’t do that. Get out, do you boo and when you can connect with your S/O, go out and have a good time!

Year one will rock your world as will year two, three and four. Each year is a different hurdle but year one is about studying and labs and studying and lecture and studying more…did I say studying? My hubs spent hours studying, sometimes 16 hr days. Undergrad is like water hose of information being sprayed at you and med school is like a freaking fire hydrant. So when your S/O has to study don’t take it personally because they’re literally treading water, trying not to drown in information.

You got this! YOU GOT THIS! Be gracious with yourself during this transition and realize there’s no perfect way to do it. Most of all know you’re not alone!

xoxo,

naomi