I can jump {yay me!}

In my scrubs. Ready to save the world one tooth at a time :)

I feel like I work so hard just to get the approval of my instructors
They are great women. Smart and confident. Helpful and skilled at what they do.
but everyday is a battle to impress them, to show them that I have progressed

I feel like some days they focus on the negative
which is understandable since we are there to learn and my instructors are there to facilitate that learning,
but day after day of hearing what you need to improve, and not hearing what you're actually doing well at can be very draining.

Yesterday one of my instructors came to watch me scale my patient's teeth for a kind of competency exam for this semester
I was happy {of course} when she told me I passed and that I did very well. Then she told me the things that she thought needed some improvement.
I walked away feeling happy that I was able to do well on the exam
My instructor came up to me a little while later and said, "I got so caught up in telling you what you needed to improve, I didn't tell you what you did really well!"
She proceeded to tell me all of the things that I did well in detail.

I felt more than just happy that I had gained her approval at the job that I had done, but it made me feel good to have someone finally tell me the GOOD things that I can do rather than only focus on the things that need improvement.

It made me think about how often in the day I am hard on myself because I'm not perfect
I focus so much on the things I need to improve, rather than focusing on all the positive things about my life, and all the good things about myself.

this picture is gross, but funny, so I heart it

I had a patient come in the other day who had a prosthetic leg from the knee down. She said that she had gone in to have knee replacement surgery and, due to the mistake of her doctor, had to have her leg amputated as well.
She is so depressed. She is only in her early 60's and is healthy. She was excited to get her knee replaced so she could play golf, but now she can't even walk.

It made me think about how ungrateful I can be for my healthy body. Grateful that I can run, walk, sit Indian style, stand, dance, JUMP, kick and all the other things my legs can do.

So this week I have been more grateful. Grateful for the things that I have, and for the things that I can do well.
So here's to loving life and focusing on the positive things :)

...like how rad this picture is, because I took it :)

Loves,
Kristin

school = robot brain

I hate the feeling of being so in my own world that I don't stop to think about others
This is what school does to me

I am constantly thinking about my patients.
** I have to reschedule her for that day**
** I have to get the paper work for him by this day or Mrs. So and so will kick me...**
** I don't have a patient for Thursday, What if no one comes and I have an empty night?**
** I hope Mr. what's-his-face is harder than a level 2, or I'm not going to pass this semester**
** She's not going to be happy about coming back for another appointment, but it's not my fault she didn't take of her teeth and now I have more work to do...**
** I have a new patient. I hope their nice. Not like the patient who screamed at Roxy the other day and then left the clinic**
** I'm starting to get overbooked! What if they put too many people in my schedule that I won't have enough room for my returning patients?**

These thoughts and others are always on my mind. Not to mention the fact that I'm constantly thinking about projects coming up, quizzes I need to study for, and oh ya the all important Board Exam in March that I've already started studying my brains out for...
oh ya, and all of this costs money!
anesthesia board -$260
board review - $350
actual board exam - $945
(...the learning experience...priceless?)
UHG!
not to mention the fact that I want, {no NEED} loupes! (magnifying lenses that help you see the crap on peoples teeth. If you don't have them, you need super vision to see or else you are hunched over to see it)
which can range in price from $800-1200 or more!

So now you understand why I have been MIA.
but the interesting thing is, I have been entertaining myself in odd ways for a busy person


i found the time to {FINALLY} pick up the "Hunger Games" books.
Can I just say WOW. So good! I have been forcing myself to only read on the weekends so that it doesn't interfere with school, so I am so excited to start the 2nd book tonight!
At first when I started to read the book, I did think the plot seemed a little dark in the first one, but it's SO good. Trust me.

Also, I have found the most WONDERFUL internet show! It's called "The Girls with Glasses Show". It has Brooke White from American Idol {whom I adore} and it is so cute and clever! It's so wholesome and good.
Click HERE to go to their homepage
and click HERE to see my favorite episode :)
and click HERE to see their theme song music video! it's to die for!

Also, you need to see this you tube video. it's my favorite!
Its Julian Smith - Malk


So that's what I have been doing when i haven't been thinking about school yuckiness.

My point being, is that I need to take the time to think about other things in my day.
Like what kinds of happy things I can do for Nick
What friends might need an uplifting phone call or hug if I see them
I can even think about my needs other than school. Like I really need to paint my toenails {looking a bit rasty}

so anyway, Have a good weekend! I hope you spend it thinking about others, and watching all the wonderful videos I suggested :)
Then I KNOW you will have a good weekend

loves,
K