At the beginning of the year, I like some of you chose a “word for the year”. A word that would guide me and keep me on track. A word that I reference and try to center my life around for the year in hopes that it will passively continue in the years to come. My word is balance. I know that I have a lot of irons in the fire and my goal is to refine them all. However, as the year has progressed, I have found myself struggling to do the very thing that I set out to do, balance.
This leads me to the secret that I have been keeping from most of you. I originally did not say much about it because I optimistically yet naively thought that I could maintain it without having to spill the beans until my mission was complete. Well, part of working to balance things is being honest with yourself when things become out of sorts. It occurred to me that my original plan was not going to work, at least not how I originally envisioned it. The time has come for you to know what I have been keeping under wraps.
If you have been following along with me since the beginning, you may recall me sharing parts of my educational journey and aspirations. (Why I Became a Nurse Practitioner) Last year, I decided that it was time to act on what I have known that I wanted for many years now. I decided that no time was going to be the perfect time so I needed to stop putting it off and get it done. So at the beginning of 2021, I embarked on the next phase of my educational journey. I began my doctorate program in nursing.
I confidently yet cautiously hoped that I would be able to add school to my life without too much of a hitch. I knew better but I wanted to try anyway. I can be senselessly optimistic and take my superwoman qualities way too seriously sometimes. The demands of a doctoral program are immense and are compounded by career and family. By the time you add continuing to build a blog and brand, it may not surprise you that the regularly scheduled blog posts have dwindled and that social media interaction is up and down.
So I have been toiling about how to make it all work together; about how to balance it all. How to continue to do what I am passionate about while furthering my education all while maintaining and thriving in my family and career life? I needed to find a way to continue what I have started even in the midst of obtaining other goals. I have been praying for guidance and I talked to a few close friends and my husband about the challenges. I finally decided to have a meeting with the dynamic leader of my women’s writing community, Javacia of See Jane Write. Before I knew it things were coming together. After our discussion, I gained clarity and ideas started flowing. Sometimes, you just need an objective ear and a fresh perspective. She had ideas that made so much sense and helped me realize how I could continue what I have started while being a student again!
At this point, you may be wondering what this has to do with you! Well, it has everything to do with you, because you, my friend and reader are coming along for the ride! Get ready to roll into class with me to learn a portion of what I learn while continuing to learn about some of the subjects that brought you here in the first place! There will still be pertinent health topics discussed, including cancer and pregnancy loss. You will also gain insight into special projects including books and speaking engagements that may happen! I am excited to have you join me! The ride may be bumpy and I will no doubt work up a sweat. Nevertheless, it will be rewarding and fun (I think, lol)! I am glad to have you come along and see how I “balance” it all!
What have you been putting off until the “right time”? What can you do to achieve your goals sooner than later? What is/was your word for the year and does it still apply at this point?