Very special card

I have been in somewhat of a daze recently, regarding my admission into the nursing program.  It is quite something to wrap one's head around a dream starting to be realized -- a dream that has been a lifetime in the making (but more on that later!).  I'm thinking I'll probably appreciate being a nurse much more doing it as a second career, than I may have ever appreciated it had I gone directly to nursing school from high school (but more on that later too!!!)

Earlier, I had mention that my beautiful daughter Bec had spontaneously made me a congratulatory card the day I received my acceptance to nursing school. 

Here are photos of that card -- in case it is hard to see (the front page is OK, I think), but it shows a picture of me as a nurse (nursing cap and all -- LOL! -- won't be wearing that!!!).  On the inside she wrote, "Yer in nersing school now. Good job Mommy!" and "We all leve you very much but we might miss you, Sweet Roses".  I asked her why they might miss me, given that they'll see more of me when I start 'nersing' school compared to my working full-time and having a long commute.  She explained that they'll miss me when I have a night shift.  Awwww.  And as for the 'Sweet Roses', that is her new nickname for me.  I love it!!!  And her picture on the inside show my new work clothes (including scrubs, lab coat, stethoscope, gloves and comfortable shoes -- that last item alone is worth switching careers for!)  Lol!

Scrubs Cake!

Well, the news is sinking in that I have been accepted into the nursing program, and that this dream is really coming true.  I guess it is a combination of being thrilled and terrified.  The thrilled part is easy to explain -- dream coming true.  The 'terrified' part is more complicated -- it is the reality that I am leaving my tried, tested and known job and career, the reality that I am going back to being a full-time student (will my brain still be able to learn so much at this point in my life?) and the unknown of discovering a new career field with a new network to be made, new skills to be learned, new shifts to be experienced, basically new everything.

I am so incredibly grateful to be able to make this change at this point in my life.  As my dear hubby said, when I was fretting about all the upcoming changes, "You've been given this great opportunity.  Stop worrying, grab it and run with it."  Amen.  Words to live by.  So simple.  I love simple rather than complicated.  Simple is good!  :-)

Dear hubby popped a bottle of champage the evening of my acceptance, once the kiddies were all in bed, to celebrate.  He made mine into a 'kir royale' -- champagne mixed with cassis -- it is a divine drink that I love.  Also on Thursday, my sweet daughter "Becs" made me a congratulatory card, all on her own initiative (I'll post a photo of it here soon)  My dear son "M" hugged me and jumped for joy when I told him the news, and said, "Oh Mommy, I'm so happy for your."  My beloved littlest one, "Sunbeam", who doesn't quite understand it yet, started calling me 'nurse', saying, "I can tell everyone now that my mommy is a nurse."  Not yet, but she knows there is a shift towards nursing in mommy's life.

On Saturday evening, the family surprised me with my 'scrub cake' -- who knew such cake decorating talent lives in our house???

I am so lucky, blessed and grateful.  So grateful and happy.

Cheers,
Future RN

JUST.GOT.ACCEPTED.TO.BScN.FOR.SEPTEMBER.2011...

...and am still sitting here in shocked silence, trying to process the fact that this is real, and that my lifelong dream will come true, and I will truly be a medical professional in a few years.  Wow.  Wow.  Wow.

Wow.

Future Nurse -- for REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow.

Daisies (indirectly related to mid-life career change!)

Here is a poem, musing (not quite sure of its genre!) that I read recently, that very, very much resonated with me.  It contains much wisdom in its relatively few lines, and is applicable to almost every situation in our lives, and very much so as related to making a mid-life career change decision.

It was written by 85 year old Nadine Stair, and I am very happy that I came across this gem before I hit the glorious age of 85....  I LOVE the line, "I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones."  And daisies happen to be my favourite flower.

Enjoy!!!  (And for Lent, I think I'll give up worrying!)

******************************************************************

I'd Pick More Daisies
By  Nadine Stair, age 85

If I had my life to live over, I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have on this trip. I would be crazier. I would be less hygienic.   
I would take more chances, I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would burn more gasoline.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.


You see, I am one of those people who lives prophylactically and sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day.Oh, I have had my moments. And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments,one after another.
Instead of living so many years ahead each day.


I have been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, and a parachute.
If I had to do it over again, I would go places and do things. I'd travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would play hooky more. I wouldn't make such good grades except by accident.
I would ride on merry-go-rounds.


I'd pick more daisies!

Inspirational quote

I very often come across quotes that inspire me greatly.  I read them, think that I should write them down somewhere and then promptly move on to doing something else. 

So I've decided that this blog would be a good place to write the quotes that I find inspiring so that they are not lost and forgotten, and may even be enjoyed by somebody else. 

For the quote below, I particularly like the last sentence.

"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway."
- Mother Teresa

How to be Happy in Mid-Life

I came across a great website today, called "How to be happy in mid-life"  (http://www.happyhalfway.com/)  I'm not quite sure I like the "half way" idea, but I guess that's the way it is!  Lol!

I must admit that I haven't looked at the entire site yet, but only the part of it that deals with mid-career change (http://www.happyhalfway.com/mid-life-career-change.html)  The owner of the site had an area that indicated readers were free to share the site, with the inclusion of the above links.  So here it is!

The article is thorough, and seems to cover all the main areas of concern that I've faced in my transition year leading up to nursing school, including limiting beliefs (i.e. I'm too old to start over) and the plethora "what if" scenarios.  The article also points out the opposite, positive outcomes from the negative ones people seem to naturally generate, such as "What if you succeed? What if you wake up in the morning and look forward to the work day ahead of you?"  I like that it seems to address the common issues faced by someone facing a mid-career change decision, and shows both sides of the decision.

Happy reading -- I'm going to be exploring the site further.

Still waiting for the university to start reviewing applications (mid-March -- it is coming soon!), and to start sending out acceptances (likely end March - early April -- not coming soon enough!!!)

Cheers,
Future RN