Bittersweet and Big

I am so excited to announce that I have accepted a position at Riverton Hospital on the Med/Surg unit. I probably literally danced around a whole bunch the day I found out. I'm so excited to continue in my career and learn more of what being a nurse is about.

I have loved my job at Heritage. Really and truly, most days I would come home and I would think about my patients and really care about my job. At first my job was so stressful and I would come home and just dissolve into tears, wondering if it was worth it. Then it became worth it once I knew what to do and how to do most things.

We had a nursing class reunion a few months after I started my job and I was able to talk with a bunch of people in my class about our jobs. I was THE ONLY ONE who could honestly say that I loved my job. I was so nervous about telling people I worked at a Care Center while they all worked at fancy hospitals. But guess what? I actually loved what I did. I felt so lucky.

Of course I didn't love every day. Some days were too stressful to remember and others were boring. There are things I wish I didn't have to worry about (like water heaters, supply deliveries, putting admits in the computer, answering phones, etc.) but I have learned to figure things out very quickly.

I always thought it would be the end of the world to work at a care center when I was in nursing school. But now I couldn't imagine a better start for my career. I have learned so much, used almost every single skill I've ever learned in school, and I've learned to rely on my team, my knowledge, and really care for patients. I've also learned to handle stress better than I ever have in my life.

What I'll miss most of all are my co-workers. I had the best managers, the most amazing CNAs, and some of the funnest conversations ever. I hope we'll all see each other here and there and I hope we'll work together one day. I met the best people ever. Like LaChelle, Sarah, Rebecca, Valeriia, Andrea, Chad, Jennifer, Greg, Nate, Aubrey, Brandy, Mandy, Lacey, Q, Val, Amy, and so many more that I know I'm forgetting. Amazing people. I can only hope that my new co-workers are half as awesome as these ones were.

I'm sad to leave. But I'm happy also. It's bringing a lot of thoughts and emotions. But all in all, I'm excited for my life. This is a huge change. Huge.

:D And I'm happy.

 

Dear Mindy

Dear Mindy of January 2012,

Oh hey! How's it been going? Oh yeah, I totally remember.
You were SO ready for 2011 to end. I think it was one of the most stressful years. You ended that year not feeling like yourself and feeling a bit lost.
Well, I'm happy to report that you will become a lot better. In fact, this year is fun. It flies by. But you do a lot and learn a lot and love a lot of experiences.
Work towards your New Year's resolution of going out of the country. But, if you don't succeed, it's going to be okay. You'll do it next year for sure. (I sure hope so, Mindy of 2013.) You sure do try though.
Visit Cyann in February. Take pictures. I know you think you will, but it would be the pits if you came home and realized you only took a few pictures and never got any of you, Annalie, and Cyann together. So, take pictures. Other than that, just enjoy your best friends and their adorable kids.
Go to church. I know you like to sleep, but church is really important. You always have a great testimony, but it helps to keep going to church and trying. Read your scriptures. It'll give you strength because a lot of things in life sucks.
Work takes up most of your thoughts, time, and worries. It's tough some days, and some days you come home wondering why in the world you do what you do. Hang in there, remember to breathe, and find comfort in your co-workers. They are awesome. Welcome change. Don't hold grudges or take things personally. Do what you know you should do and do it your best. You might even learn that so many people depend on and appreciate what you do. And you might even be employee of the month. Don't get discouraged when you think you're not good enough. You are doing the best you can. Love every day even if you don't want to.
Make time for trips. You are going to have a lot of fun exploring the west coast. CA, WY, ID, UT, NM, AZ.... You get around! Be open to new experiences, get excited about going places, and make it a priority. It's important for your sanity.
You buy a car!! You finally figure out you can do it and you make the plunge and buy a very amazing and cute car. It's pretty, it's awesome, and it's your favorite thing ever. Make a good choice.
You move quite a bit this year. Out of Provo, some where not expected, and then to a really good place. Moving gives you the opportunity to start new and bring about change.
Change is good. You become a different person than you were last year. It's a really good thing. The important things about you stay the same, but you're smarter and stronger.
You can handle a lot of things that you didn't think you'd have to handle alone. Find peace in your strength, don't dwell on the things you don't have, and have faith that things will turn out for the better.
Your family is amazing. Take time to get to know them better individually. It will truly add to your happiness.
And when you and Annalie decide that running 50 miles next year is actually not too unrealistic, don't let anyone tell you otherwise and get out there and run! You LOVE running! Miracles happen. And next year, when Mindy of 2013 tells you about the race, you will not be surprised at how it went.
Keep on keeping on, love yourself, take time to go on adventures, and have faith.
2012 was so much better than the year before. And it can only get better from here.

Love,
Mindy of January 2013.

music

i've been thinking a lot about music lately.

maybe it's because i got to spend 5 days with brittni in the last two weeks. (!) and maybe it's because her boyfriend and her together make up this awesome music encyclopedia. 

and also, its because i listened to my brother's podcast. the episode "defining moments" talks about a theory relating to music that garit has. he thinks that the music you listen to at certain ages (between 4-10? something like that) shapes the kinds of music you will like for the rest of your life.

and although i know that tastes in music can change, the more i think about it, the more i believe it.

i was sitting with brittni and adam this weekend hearing them name off their top 5 favorite bands and talking about albums and concerts and things, and i was just LOST. i hardly knew what they were talking about. or if i had heard of the bands, i wouldn't have been able to name one song that they played.

since when did i become so out of the loop when it came to music? before my mission, music was my obsession. seriously. i always listened to music. always checked out new bands. always bought and downloaded songs and albums. dan and i would talk about our favorites and spend hours listening to things. 

then i couldn't listen to music for two years.

and.............. here i am. still lost in this big world of music. begging for someone to tell me what to listen to.

OR! maybe i'm just in to different types of music. thinking about that music theory all week, i've figured out a few things from my childhood that shaped my music love. here were my favorite songs as a child. among others, i'm sure.

celine dion- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZNOUrB2aUY

billy joel- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g&ob=av2e

journey- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysTjJaYX0WA

depeche mode- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBKykEr1UcE

the cure- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS_ux2H473I

erasure- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uttV1VZUgQQ

boys to men- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N9opF-PK5k&ob=av2e

gloria estefan- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et9C32GMJQ4&ob=av2e

beck- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSPaXgAdzE&ob=av2e

weezer- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHQqqM5sr7g

i think this sums up my musical love all in one.

a lot of it comes from my dad, my older brothers, and my mom. 

anyway. just something to think about.

memories- age 1-3.

i want to blog about interesting things.
you know, not just what's happening in my life.
although, to be completely honest, i kind of consider this blog my journal.
i need to get better at journaling too....

anyway,

i once had this idea to write down things that i remember from certain times of my life.
the other day my mom asked me what my earliest memory was. i listed off a list like this:

(these were all in new york)
naming my doll, baby biscuit. 

i LOVED this doll. LOVED it. the velcro hands, the squeakers... <3

dad making baby biscuit eat a cracker. (it was MAGIC, i swear. amazing.)
our laundry room in the basement.
sitting in front of the washing machine when baby biscuit was being washed.
our back yard, and the gap in the fence i used to squeeze through.
our basement where the tv was. (we liked watching rescue 911)
the time davy pretended to pass the sacrament to me and kevin in the front room.
having the chicken pox.
washing my hair in the bath tub.
aunt phyllis combing my hair.
mom combing my hair with "no tangle" spray. (i had super tangly hair. still do.... hmm...)
lauren being born and visiting her at the hospital.
sticking that button up my nose. the nurses laughing at the hospital. and me asking mom if i could have the button back.
getting lost in the store.
my first dream ever. (my family was shocked that i remember this. but i do. very vividly. i was sitting on my back porch watching my dad mow the lawn when a GIANT bee started to chase me. I was terrified. so i ran into our house and sat down to watch davy and kevin play video games. i remember telling my mom about the huge bee the next day and her telling me that it was a dream.)
grandpa calling me "mindy peanut."

that's about it for new york memories. it's funny the things i remember. and that most of them included baby biscuit. haha.

what were your earliest memories??