Third quarter-only 26 weeks left

Well I am now in my third quarter at UCMT and nearly half way through the program (now week 23 of 50) and I can't believe how quickly it is going.  This quarter we are studying Cranial Sacral Therapy, Sports Massage, Pathology, Anatomy (this is the last quarter) and Movement and I start clinicals on Saturdays at the end of September.  I am loving all of my classes.  If I had to pick a favorite this quarter it would be Cranial.  It is absolutely amazing the work that can be done with that modality.  I will spare you the details of some of the SER's (Somatic Emotional Response) because they have been pretty intense and a private experience for my classmates.  However, I will tell you about the SER that I had in the second class.  We were performing diaphragm releases and I started to laugh uncontrollably.  It was the strangest feeling in the world but so exhilarating at the same time.  I would look at the girl that was my therapist and told her a just couldn't quit but it felt so good!!  The keys to this kind of release is trusting the person that is working on you and trusting the environment that you are in.  Our instructor has told us time after time that she has never had this kind of response in class.

I just love the people I go to school with.  There is a support and camaraderie amongst us that I know I appreciate as do my classmates.  We encourage each other when it's needed whether it be a study session with someone that is struggling in class or a phone call to check on them when they miss a class or just simply making sure someone has notes from a class they miss.  I have great support from my family and friends outside of school but it is very nice to have the support of people that know what I'm talking about when I need to get a different perspective on things.

Comfortable

Do you have a friend or friends...  with whom you are always comfortable no matter how long it has been since you last saw them? Who will always love you and cheer you on even when you are more wrapped up in your own life than you should be?  Who is always understanding when life gets in the way and you just can't seem to make a visit possible?  That is thoughtful and a good example?

I have such a friend and I was blessed enough today to get to spend the day with her.  This is my friend Sandi.  We became roommates in 1998 when we were in Boise.  We lived together for a year and had so much fun together.  I swear that was one of the best years of my life. Sandi was a hair stylist and willing to cut, color and style my hair anytime because she loved what she did.  We went to hockey games together because she cut the hair of the guys that played for the Idaho Steelheads and they would give her tickets to pay for the haircuts... how awesome is that?

Well 10 years later and I still consider her my best friend.  She was the person I called when I contemplating breaking of my engagement.  She called me from the hospital in Alaska when she had her first baby, Andrew and 7 months ago from Layton when she had her second baby, Declan.  I trust her completely.  She is one of the few people in my life that I feel like I can trust completely...no matter what I do or the mistakes I make she will be there for me when I need her.  The same is true for her from me.  

I watch her mother her little boys and admire her so much for that.  She has two of the happiest little guys that I know.  I just loved spending the day with her and her little guys while Jeremy her hubby was off on a hunting trip in the mountains. We decided while we were together today that we are going to take a cake decorating class together at Hobby Lobby in Ogden.  I can't wait for that to happen so we can spend more time together since it seems to be so few and far between lately.

I love you San...thanks for everything you do to enrich my life!

Quotes

I am such a quote nerd.  I have always loved quotes.  I remember when I was participating in Junior Miss and we were practicing for the formal gown portion, everyday I had a different quote that I would use.  I guess I need to watch the video again because I don't remember my quote from the night of the program.

Recently there have been motivational signs being hung up around the office building where I work.  I am especially fond of quotes that inspire me to be better and to look inside myself to find a better person.

Here are a few of my favorites that I have seen so far in my wandering about the office.

** ATTITUDE  Nature presents us with an infinite variety of attitudes- from gloomy mist to glorious sunshine.  Our own moods, whether gloomy or bright, radiate to those around us.

I came across this one last week when I had a dark cloud around me.  I didn't even want to be with myself and I'm not sure how anyone else was able to be around me.  I now have this hanging by my desk to remind me that my mood can affect others around me.

**NEW BEGINNINGS  In life what sometimes appears to be an ending - is really a new beginning.

**THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE   

Tentative efforts lead to tentative outcomes. Therefore give yourself fully to your endeavors.  Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal.  The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths.  Remain steadfast... and one day you will build something that endures; something worthy of your potential. -Epictetus Roman Teacher, Philosopher 565-135 A.D.

I'm sure I will be adding more as I come across them in the office.

Until next time...

Pampered

Last week was a rough one.  It was finals week for second term so plenty of stress there plus some personal life junk I don't want to get into on a public blog.  It involved dating and all things considered it ended well.  Trust me I have recorded it for future "growing" experience reviews.  To be honest, at this point I have usually figured out what the lesson was I was supposed to learn but this time that isn't the case.  I'm sure it will come to me in time and when I need to know it.

Anyway, Saturday morning I gave my friend Cassie a massage at her apartment.  I like giving her a massage because she communicates with me while I'm giving her a massage.  By communicate I don't mean a typical conversation you have when talking to your friends (although this happens too) but she tells me when I am applying to much pressure or I'm too deep into a muscle.  I will post more about that some other time.

Anyway, after I gave Cass her massage we went to the House of Bread by her house and had a yummy treat and got to chat for awhile.  I decided that I wanted to get a massage too so I left and went to UCMT and signed up for a massage.  How great is it that I can get a great massage for $12.50 on any given Saturday because I'm a student there.  So I got a massage and I LOVED it.  That pampering wasn't enough so I decided to use the gift certificate I got from a co-worker to The Kura Door Japanese Spa.  OOOOOHHHH now that is living!  I went in at 7:30 and got a facial.  I love getting a facial and this one was no different.  The environment was so peaceful.  My favorite instructor just left UCMT to work at this spa and I was hoping to see her while I was there but no such luck.  Besides the facial my favorite part was the steam room and sauna that I could go into for as long and as often as I wanted while I was there.  It felt so good to just sit in the steam and relax.  I love being pampered.  I'm not a girly girl, anyone who knows me would confirm that but I LOVE to be pampered at the spa.