Sunday

What a week! Guess what? I made it through it. I worked hard advocating for patients who need a higher level of care. I worked long hours, then came home and studied in order to take my final one week early in an already accelerated class. I changed my phone number, added international calling, and updated the plan to save money. I found time to do a little genealogy research and came across some new records. I can now look forward to packing for my ten day trip to Italy.

Yesterday, Bill and I followed with our tradition of going to the Old Alehouse for ham & cabbage with a Guinness in honor of St. Patrick's Day. We always take the homemade rice pudding to go. I came home and took a four hour nap, got up, read and wrote, then went back to sleep until this morning. I really needed the sleep.

I do not have to think about school until March 31st when I take my last accelerated classes for graduation. After graduation, I am going to write another book. I have been wanting to write that second book for some time, but never got around to it. Speaking of books, a fellow school mate just came out with two books, which I purchased from him, and he autographed them for my son. I guess I am not the only multi-tasker in the field of Behavioral Health.

I really enjoyed this last class with Professor Baier. What a great teacher! He is also president of the PCB board in which I will be sitting for my certifications and license. My goals for 2012 were to complete my classes and sit for my certifications, get in touch with my spiritual side, find inner peace and serenity, travel and live instead of exist, focus on the things I love and find joy, remove the negativity that has surrounded me, whether it be thoughts or actual people, stand up for what I believe in whether I win or lose. Fear will no longer hold me back. If I ask my patients to face and walk through their fears, then I should be doing the same and I am. There is a great sense of relief and inner peace when one makes that decision and follows it.

I am taking another class with Professor Baier on March 31st called Prevention of Addiction. I thought this class would help give me insight into ways I can present this information on April 12th, when I teach those eighth graders in South Philadelphia. When I go to the school, I am going to make a recommendation that the class be offered to the younger grades. In my experience, most kids by eighth grade have already started experimenting with drugs/alcohol/cigarettes.