Day 98: People Are Listening + Spring!

Today I learned...
...that people are listening to what I say, even when I think they're not.

Today I am thankful for...
...this beautiful (warm) spring weather and the clothes and shoes I can now wear because of it!

Day 88: Closeness + Orange Juice Cheers

Today I learned...
...that closeness breeds more closeness.

Today I am thankful for...
...an omelet and biscuits for breakfast, and an orange juice "toast" with Rick. We clinked cups and he said, "Here's lookin' at you, kid." :-)

Day 59: Final Moments + Honorable Mention

Today I learned...
...that people can hear you even when they are minutes from death. I sat with a patient today who was imminently dying. He was unconscious, breathing in a labored fashion, and unresponsive. And he was alone. So I sat there for almost an hour and I talked to him. It's a little embarrassing even to say here, but I told him that he didn't have to be afraid. I told him that his angels were with him. I told him that he didn't have to wait for anyone or anything. And then, because some people wait for someone to be near and some people wait to be all alone, I told him, "I'll be right back" so he would know I was leaving, and I went out. He died within 5 minutes. I truly believe he heard and wanted to take his last breath in peace.

Today I am thankful for...
...this email I received!

Dear Arielle,

It is with pleasure to inform you that you have received an Honorable Mention for the Polizzi Award for this year. Congratulations! Phyllis & I nominated you with the attached nomination write up. Voting was done via all faculty from all of our MSW programs at our last meeting. Your honorable mention recognition will be presented to you at the Spring Field Colloquium in Scranton on Wed. March 27th & you will be recognized along with the MSW Polizzi Award Winner at this year's Graduate Hooding Ceremony. We are honored to have you as the honorable mention recipient of this award! I am hopeful that you will be able to attend to receive the recognition that you so deserve at each venue! Congratulations! I am copying your field liaison and current & past field instructors on this announcement as well to share this good news! Thank you for all you do as an MSW student & soon to be social worker! Congratulations!


The Polizzi Medal is awarded to a graduating MSW who overall in the SSWAS stands out in class, in field, and in the social work profession and community, etc. The award recognizes the student for outstanding educational performance and service in the filed of social work. The Word document that was attached to the email (the nomination essay itself that was composed by the faculty) was so long and touching and so filled with kind words that it brought tears to my eyes. I am not sharing it, because I'm too embarrassed and it made me blush. The person who won the first place award goes to school in Scranton (a couple hours away) so is unknown to me...as I was unknown to many of the faculty up there who vote on this recipient of this award. As per a conversation I had with Dr. Black a few days ago, I think Dr. Black (Phyllis, the director of my social work program) was a little upset that I did not win, because the instructors on the other campus don't know me. BUT I WAS SO HONORED JUST TO BE NOMINATED let alone win the honorable mention. I tried to impress this upon her. I really am blessed.

Day 54: Powerful Happenings + Immense (International) Friendship

 

Today I learned...

...that extremely powerful things can happen when so much good energy is together. 

Today I am thankful for...

...the fantastic opportunity to meet the beautiful women in the above photo. Each one of them is so pure in her own way, so creative, and so inspiring. I sense SO MANY good times in our future and I feel so blessed to have been able to enjoy a full day of magic with Jenn and Rachel, followed by a dinner of laughter with them and Lisa, Kendra, and Caroline. I will never forget the day!

Day 45: Valentines + Sisterhood

Today I learned...
...that leaving valentines for strangers is loving, special, and meaningful. There's a first time for everything!

Today I am thankful for...
...a powerful movement called One Billion Rising. I intermittently bawled and got chills while watching live streams and videos of women all over the world dancing to demand an end to violence against women. I made my own video of dancing in solidarity with the movement since I could not be part of an organized event.

Day 39: Thanks in Advance + A Weekend

Today I learned...
...that saying thank you for an outcome in advance really takes away from all the time I used to worry about something. Like, instead of saying, "I hope this won't happen" or "I wish it wasn't going to be this way," I say, "Thank you for the amazing resolution to this problem" or "Thank you for this working out so well!" And here's the trick: I really mean it. And then it's almost like I KNOW it's going to be resolved and wonderful and I'll be thankful, so I don't have to bother worrying needlessly. I didn't come by this trick on  my own, so I'm not taking credit for it, but I have recognized the benefits of it in a big way.

Today I am thankful for...
...not having to get up for work in the morning. Normally I work on Saturdays all day, but we're supposed to get lots of snow, so I'll be home. Even though I'll be shoveling, I will be able to sleep a little longer and get more things done around the house. Knowing that when I go to bed tonight is bliss!

Day 33: Driving Ease + a Magical Day

Today I learned...
...that driving in the car with a really good friend makes driving to new places SO much easier.

Today I am thankful for...
...a magical day of adventures with my dear friend Jenn. She came to see me via bus, and from the moment I picked her up at the bus terminal, I was giddy. We had a day of fabulousness, which includes her meeting all of my family members - every one of them! She met Rick, my mom, my dad, my brother, his wife, my little niece, and even my Mom's best friend - my other mother - Barb! And of course - she met Juice and Tumbler! Many good talks and hugging and squealing and smiling ensued. AND THE BEST PART IS it's just the first of many visits in our future!

Day 19: Teamwork + Niece Love

Today I learned...
...that the promise of teamwork makes a task seem significantly easier. Something difficult will still be difficult, but working on it with another person is enough to ease my worries and make me feel more confident.

Today I am thankful for...
...speaking to my little niece on the phone. It was her 2nd birthday and she had many things to tell me, some of which included: "I love you, Auntie A," "Uncle Rick is so cute," and "I'm TWO!!!" I also found out that apparently "Uncle Rick is cuter than chocolate milk," which I hear is a pretty big deal.

Day 18: Weddings + An Early Night

Today I learned...
...that if I ever did my wedding over again, I'd keep it simple and do things in a completely different way. That's not to say my wedding wasn't fantastic (and my wedding day was a beautiful time), but the more I hear about people's weddings, the more I realize that it's hard to know what you'd want sometimes until AFTER you do it. Which is unfortunate, considering you don't do weddings over typically. :-) I have no regrets, but I surprise myself these days by imagining that if I got married to Rick NOW, I'd wear a simpler dress, not get married in a church, and have less people involved in the craziness. In fact, if I got married NOW, there would be no craziness. It's not about the wedding, it's about the marriage. I thought I knew that then, but I know it even better now.

Today I am thankful for...
...an early night with Rick. No to-do list, no attention to grad school work or eating disorder activist commitments, no housework. Just me, Rick, and the cats...in bed by 9 pm.

Day 17: Death + a Thank You

Today I learned...
...that death can mean so much more than pain and tears...that it can in fact be the best gift of all. At hospice, I met a dear, sweet, very elderly woman with one specific wish: to dance with her husband again. He has been dead for several years and she is more than ready to be with him. She has no regrets, no unfinished business, and no worries. She loved her life and she embraces its final chapter. Death has escaped her these last few days, though she is very weak and very ill. At her extreme age, it's amazing her body has held up through her terminal illness. She longs to die and this makes me happy, not sad. I mean it when I say that I hope she will be dancing with her husband very soon.

Today I am thankful for...
...the chance to tell a particular person that something she suggested changed my life for the better. By chance, this particular woman (whom I first met in October) popped into my life today and I was able to thank her sincerely as well as marvel at the full circle beauty that has since transpired.

Day 16: Perceptions + Being Chauffeured

{http://shirae.etsy.com © 2007-2012 Shira Sela} 

 Today I learned...

...that this new project/blog of mine seems like a lot of work to most people. But...happiness is an inside job. This new blog is just an outward display of what's already going on in my own heart.

Today I am thankful for...

...Rick driving us to work in the snow/ice, even though it wasn't all that bad. So glad I didn't have to do it! And that we were able to take one car, rather than driving separately.