A lot has happened in four years. The minute it all started, it engulfed my entire being and has been a roller coaster ride of experiences and motions. In June 2015, I started a three year Doctoral program for Physical Therapy at Midwestern University. This was the most stressful and time-consuming experience of my life. In June of this year, I finally graduated. Five years of school, this tumultuous experience - FINALLY over! In July, I sat for and passed my board exam as well as the AZ Practice Law/Jurisprudence Exam. I almost immediately started working for HonorHealth Hospital as an Acute Care Physical Therapist, and just completed my third full week on the job (hooray for a paycheck!).
While I am so proud of myself for accomplishing this goal that I risked everything for, one of my biggest fears came true: my health got put on the back burner. There are just not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needed to happen; something had to give. At first, I beat myself up for it, but then I finally gave myself permission to let go. I was doing the best that I could. But, I paid for it. In the six months leading up to the NPTE exam, I felt my absolute worst. The stress was killing me. All of my digestive issues and food intolerances resurfaced with a vengeance. I stopped being able to sleep due to abdominal pain and esophageal spasms, acid reflux, and heartburn. I was back on prescription meds three times a day with a bland diet in order to combat the symptoms, and still found myself popping TUMS before bed so I wouldn't have to sleep sitting upright, AGAIN. I stopped exercising completely because I was so tired from not sleeping well, couldn't justify taking the time out of studying, and honestly feeling pretty depressed. I was sequestered in my house studying all day with no human contact (just the cats) and my life lacked a regular routine (and the people in it!). But once I passed the exam and secured a job, suddenly the "fog" that had taken over my brain cleared... suddenly I was both physically and mentally prepared to start focusing on something else for a change - me. I've started sleeping better, and while I am still taking meds, I find myself forgetting them which makes me think that soon I will hopefully be weaned from them. I'm back on a consistent schedule with a normal bed time, alarm clock, and shift at work.
Finding this blog again had interesting timing. It's September in Phoenix so obviously I am feeling cooped up and staring out the window daydreaming of cooler temperatures. I have eased back into running 3 times a week (run/walking short distances) but the heat is brutal so it's very difficult. Runs have to be completed early in the dark, which means I need a running partner to meet me since I loathe the treadmill. In addition, my cardio sucks these days - last year I was pretty much out of the running game after an accident while attempting to complete Tough Mudder with inadequate training (strained hamstring at it's insertion on the hip, FOOSH injury to my right wrist, and a hairline fracture on yet another rib, all as a result of a muddy slip on a giant wall). But rediscovering this blog was the best thing I could find at this moment. It's like my mind knew that I needed a reminder of where I started, how many lessons (and injuries) I had along the way, how little I knew about anatomy back then (ha!), and how that all got me where I am today. This blog, encapsulated with all of the fears, triumphs, and memories created when I started crushing goals and got to a place where I was strong and injury free. It inspired me to start again and gave me the confidence to know that I went through all of this once, I know I can do it again! It also made me so thankful for all of the support and encouragement that Jay has given me along the way. This November we are coming up on our first wedding anniversary (almost 9 years total together); we have so much to celebrate.
I am inspired again. Meal plans made, exercise schedule created, goals set.
Let's do this.
