Be human...

"Aim for success, not perfection. 

Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. 

Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. 

Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make yourself a happier and more productive person" 

-unknown

Confronting fears is something I seem to be doing on a regular basis these days. It's called Clinic. It means I am treating patients just about full time now. & it means I have a fluttery nervous/excited/scared feeling in my chest just about every day now! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to actually DO dentistry now, but my blood pressure is still adjusting to the adrenaline rush I still get almost every time I pick up a hand piece (or drill as some of you like to call it- for future reference I and the rest of the dental world prefer hand piece so it will here after be referred to as the trusty HP). I have had some great learning experiences so far and am loving every second of it!

We found a house to rent! It is so cute and so perfect and the landlords are great. I am extremely excited and can't wait to move in July. I have also decided we are organizing EVERYTHING from the get- go when we move in and have been scouring blogs and collecting ideas for organizing everything from kitchen appliances to linen closets to the laundry room and the office. I can't wait to put my searches and findings to good use in the new house!

We have started training for a half marathon. This is another area where I am confronting my fears and challenging myself and I am actually really excited about it. I have been getting faster and stronger (thank you bootcamp for kicking my butt twice a week!) I can't wait to improve on time for this one! I have also discovered that Lady Gaga is AMAZING to run to. Seriously- try it. Born This Way about 10 minutes into a run is like a turbo boost. Her entire Born This Way CD will get anyone moving, Trust me. 

Happy Wednesday- get out there and confront your fears! 

Finals week food for thought...

Sometimes, a little bit of perspective is good. It is easy to get caught up in things and forget to be grateful during weeks that involve 5 exams and 2 patient appointments. But I am so blessed for this opportunity. When I stop to think about that, it literally astounds me. I don't have to take these finals- I get to take them. If I wasn't here, pursuing my dream, I don't know where I would be. My purpose is here and God is quietly revealing his plan for me. I am humbled and grateful for that. 

On that note, I have also spent a lot of time this week following the relief efforts that are going on in Alabama after the tornados that struck there last week. The devastation is beyond what one can truly imagine, yet people are amazing and awe-inspiring. If you have a minute, take a look at this website, or follow Toomer's for Tuscaloosa on Facebook. Y'all, these people are incredible!! They have stepped up to coordinate efforts all over the place and make sure that people have the items and information they need in a time of great struggle. Some of their posts have actually brought me to tears on more than one occasion and I wish that I could physically go and help! I will continue to pray for all of those affected by the storms and hopefully find a way to contribute to the relief efforts soon. 

Side note: My sister lives in Alabama, but she is safe and Auburn was not effected. Thank Heaven. Our friends and "family" in Huntsville are safe and getting their power back as well. Prayers of thanks for that! 

So, if you are in the middle of finals, or just starting finals, or facing some other tribulations in your life, take a moment to be thankful for what you do have and the opportunities you have been blessed with....