Thankful Thursday | one more week!
This week, I am thankful:
that I have one more week left until part-time life
Today is my third shift for the week; next week I have three, and after that, I'm down to two shifts a week.
Woohoo!
I'm very hopeful that this will be the sweet spot, especially while I am still in school.
that I got approval to do the CLEP test
To take credits outside of my BSN school, I have to secure prior approval. And yesterday, the approval came through for the Spanish CLEP test. Yay!
Now I just have to get really good at Spanish. 😉
that I finished all of my assignments
My class isn't officially over until August 23rd, but I have submitted all of my assignments! The only things left are three replies to classmates' discussion posts, but I can't do that yet because no one else has posted in the final discussion board.
Sooo, I feel slightly like I am on a brief school break, and I am grateful for a tiny reprieve.
that my advocacy paper went so well
We had an assignment to choose a nursing topic for an advocacy paper, and I chose sexual harassment of nurses. In addition to the paper, we had to actually DO something to advocate for our topic, so I wrote a letter to the director of my nursing residency program, sharing relevant data and suggesting that the hospital add a residency session on addressing sexual harassment.
(The studies I read reported that 91% of nurses are sexually harassed during their careers, but at the same time, less than 17% of them have received education about how to stop it/deal with it. This is a pretty big oversight, so no wonder this harassment goes unreported (and thus does not get handled properly).
My professor really liked my paper, and she is going to share it with the director of residency at her hospital as well. Yay! Now maybe two residency programs will consider adding some material on this topic.
that September is less than three weeks away
In three weeks, it'll be September 3rd, actually. Yay! I'm hanging onto hope that the weather will get a little bit better because I am sick to death of sticky air. Gross.
that part-time starts near the end of summer
I have spent a lot of these steamy summer days inside the hospital, which is actually kind of perfect. On days that I work, I am barely outside at all.
So, the sticky air is fairly irrelevant for me.
But part-time life will coincide with the change of seasons, and that is also perfect! 🙂
that my shoulder is still feeling good
Last summer, my rotator cuff was really bothering me! But now that I've been through PT, I'm doing well, and I am back to doing everything at the gym.
I used to get into accidentally painful positions while sleeping too, and now that doesn't happen.
Yay for PT! And yay for not needing surgery.
As with driving a car, you need to keep an eye on the road further away to steer steadily. You've done that throughout and now you are at -1 week from part time work. I hope you will bask in the prospect of more time to yourself!
Your advocacy paper shows appaling figures. But change starts with awareness, well done for bringing this to attention.
This week's thankfuls:
For meeting up with youngest in a nearby city, for dinner;
For the luxury of a hobby room where I can leave unfinished projects lying around;
For eldest cheerfully helping us on diy that requires younger muscles;
For having comfortable hot weather office clothes, I definitely had my wear of them this summer;
For the wildlife we see around the swimming pond;
For the fun of doing puzzles;
For the gift of learning languages easily;
For my siblings and cousins.
I am very aware of finding things to be thankful for of late, as I received a terrible diagnosis of TNBC recently and will be starting chemotherapy soon. Nevertheless, I have many things to be thankful for in my life.
* My extremely helpful, supportive husband. There isn’t a thing he won’t do for me and I can’t imagine my life without him.
* For the 2 weeks I have had with my daughter and her family in Germany. I’m nearing the end of my visit and I have had so much fun with my grandsons here.
* For health insurance. My health care would bankrupt us without it.
* For a comfortable, reliable vehicle that is good on gas and will get me to my destination without worry.
* For my many friends who have already come forward with offers of help. We were a bunch of retired nurses who worked together for decades and have helped each other through so many big life events. Their support is so appreciated and heartfelt.
* For my sisters, brother who provide humor and a safe space to sound off. So lucky I am to have them.
* My children, always my children. It was so hard to share bad news with them but they always rise to the occasion with help and encouragement. I’m blessed to have them!
So sorry for your difficult news, and so grateful with you for all that support!
I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I'm so glad that you have such a rich network of family and friends to help you through it!
I am very sorry to hear this, Brenda. I'm glad you have support.
That is terrible. I hope that your chemo will go well! and am glad that the people around you are supporting you.
This is a lot for you to go through Brenda. So glad that you have such a large network to support you <3
This is a lot for you to go through Brenda. So glad that you have such a large network to support you <3
Brenda, I add my sympathy and best wishes. And it sounds as if you have a large and dedicated Team Brenda!
Great work on your advocacy paper. An important topic.
I'm thankful
- That even though our power is out this morning, I can figure out how to get myself fed and get to work ok enough.
- For a good first day with students yesterday.
- For frozen meals when they are needed.
- That my car is fixed and paid for.
- For the ability/opportunity to learn, grow, and improve my mindset.
You are doing so well, Kristen! Congrats on the CLEP test!
Thankfuls:
1. I went to the beach to see the solar eclipse last night. I wasn't able to find a pair of glasses but someone kindly lent me a spare pair. I went for an eclipse swim in the sea afterwards!
2. I enjoyed a cinema trip with a friend. I had mixed feelings about the film (Disclosure Day) but it was fun to go and see it, especially as I hadn't seen my friend in a while.
3. I enjoyed going to a writing group a few days ago and got a lot of writing done.
4. Our new manager has been flexible about us working from home, and this was not the case in the past.
5. I got a lot of things I needed from a charity shop the other day, including a blouse. They forgot to take off the security tag and I foolishly didn't take a receipt, but I went back the next day and explained and they removed the tag. I also got a brand new cooking pot which I was hoping to find, as my current one is starting to get scratched.
An eclipse swim! I do envy you.
What do you like to write about Sophie (applying the way questions can be phrased, as per yesterday's post 😀 ) ?
I like writing fiction! 😀 I took a creative writing module a few years ago and wrote a portfolio of short stories, but my current piece is longer (or will be, hopefully!).
- Also, the writing is usually inspired by things which have happened in my life and/or things I've observed. So, realist fiction!
Good Morning! Kristen, it's wonderful that you have created your own school break! Enjoy!
Thankfuls:
For everyone's comments to me yesterday about the overnight oats, protein powder, and Sophico lids. I always appreciate and enjoy hearing from you all!
For a fun weekend visit in NYC with my son. He's been living there for almost a year, and is an excellent tour guide. We logged in over 24,000 steps on Saturday!
Last night my husband came home from work and spontaneously suggested we have an easy dinner and go play bocce. Our church has two bocce courts that seem to go largely unused. We take advantage of that when we can. It was a fun time!
For mine and my family's health. And health insurance. My adult son recently experienced sudden, unexplained hearing loss. Thankfully after only a few days he went to urgent care and they very quickly referred him to an ENT. Basically he had a neurosensory episode, was treated with prednisone, and his hearing loss has been/will continue to be restored over the next few weeks. If he and the medical team had not acted so quickly, this could have been permanent. Also, he had am MRI to rule out a brain tumor, which thankfully there wasn't one.
That Fall is around the bend. I'm team Kristen on this subject lol. Have a good day everyone!
This week I am thankful for:
1) a difficult situation is going more smoothly than anticipated;
2) my wonderful, fun friends;
3) my mother's birthday yesterday - I am very fortunate to be in my 50s and still have my mom around. She's in pretty good shape for 81!
Fellow Spanish learner here: after that much Duolingo, I would think you'd be able to pass a basic Spanish exam. I've been using Pimsleur to strengthen my speaking/conversation skills.