just one word...

Opportunity. 

that's it.  you can all go now :) 

today was one of those days that was so full of "opportunity" that i should feel like the luckiest person on the planet.  but it's only when i look BEYOND this planet that i feel even halfway satisfied with today's turnout.  on the surface, i might be crying right now :P

i think i mentioned before how this hospital and some of its employees have taken to using the word "opportunity" to replace the word "problem" and any of its synonyms that fit grammatically into any sentence spoken or written.  basically it is to imply that even with negative circumstances, it shouldn't get us down but should rather inspire us to stretch, grow, think, work through/around it and come out on top instead in a mess.  i really like it- i just had to tell myself this MANY times today.

i was crazy-busy, and for the first time i've had 2 patients dependent on me for all kinds of things.  the nurse i work under was around, but she gave me more responsibility than i've had ever before- liberating, and also downright terrifying.  knowing that real lives were on the line did nothing to calm me down.  combined with my extremely high personal standards, intolerance of imperfection, and strong Type A personality, this was a WHOLE NEW experience.  never before have i had to start the day ridiculously early and ALREADY be "behind."  then to take 14 hours to catch up.  then to talk with someone else who seemed to give me no credit at all, and had expectations low enough she trip over them.  then to take a minute to go through the emotional detox routine with my preceptor.  then to run to my car like a little devil's behind me.

everything, good and bad today, was a huge opportunity.  though alot was annoying, hard, confusing, complicated or easy, routine, and exciting, i will say i learned ALOT.  every new thing is a chance to do it wrong and fix it.  every old thing is a chance to get better and faster, more efficient and patient-friendly. 

when i left the place after 8?  a great opportunity to crank up the volume and belt out those songs because nobody was there to be offended by my voice :P

when i came back at 8:40 and had nothing in the fridge?  totally an opportunity to try that new soup, stick it in the microwave so i had 3 minutes to put on a relaxing movie

when i saw the state of the kitchen and gasped in horror? Mr Opportunity came along and we turned out all the lights, lit some candles so all i could see was my soup and cinny-minny graham crackers for dinner!

and because nobody was within hearing distance?  i could slurp all i wanted; you'd better believe i did :)

no-one out there has any idea how excited i am about a good hot shower and sleeping past 5:15 tomorrow morning.  that, and just patting my pocket with a couple favorite verses on it have pulled me through a hectic day. 

those graham crackers were so good i might have to eat another one… my favorite part of the graham-cracker-eating process is trying to get it out of the plastic wrap thing without breaking it.  and that's really important information which is why i had to share it :)  this box was given to me by my grandmother...even 800 miles away she can make tough days better.  she's that awesome- you have no idea until you meet her. 

tomorrow is going to be a good day- i'm saving every one of those 39570002 dishes until then.  i'm still going to try to learn something really cool, still going to be thankful, still going to be making food, doing laundry, and singing loudly and  obnoxiously the. whole. way. 

the only way to see the opportunities despite the "opportunities" is to recognize that this life...is just that.  and it's going to be over before you know it.  do what you can to make it better for others and pleasing to God, focusing on what will outlast your ECG. 

you guys are awesome.  i love writing despite who does/not read these, and most of the time there's a legit point to it ;)  i hope you can see the point to this one, because to spell it out would just totally ruin the feel :P