So how did we get to the end of the Tunnel?

     So in my last post I talked about how I was in a good place at the end of the year this year. I also asked how you were doing at this point. Whether you were feeling good like me or ready to scream out in angst at the top of your lungs.  I also gave you a homework assignment. I asked you to look back and see if you can figure out what lead you to this point.

     First of all, let me get one thing perfectly clear. Me feeling great at this point in the year, is not normal.  Usually I am so mentally fried that I am barely able to finish up the year without snapping. This year is different for some reason. The weird part was nothing job related was really any different.  Still the same stresses and challenges.  Still the same unpredictable and at times long hours.  Still the same hurdles in balancing work and family. 

     This was however a personally far more challenging year.  It started with the diagnosis and then tragic loss of a friend and co-worker to cancer at 25 years old. It got more difficult with my mom battling (and currently kicking the butt of) breast cancer. I had shoulder surgery that I had been putting off for 14 years. Then throw in two other very difficult situations at work dealing with serious illness and it was a whopper of a year. 

     I'm not going to lie, there were an awful lot of tears shed this year.  So how am I in a good place at the end of the year? I think what it came down to is the simple fact that I love my job.  I love what I do and where I do it.  So when things got rough I found comfort in the routine and people at work.  

     When weather caused havoc in the school and athletics schedules, I didn't seem to mind. When an athlete was being a pain in the butt, I shrugged it off. When a coach was a pain, I took a deep breath and kept plugging along.  

     It's about perspective and this year gave me an awful lot of it.  So where does that leave you?  Why am I sharing this?  If you want to be happy, if you want to be in a good place mentally,  you have to have balance and perspective. If I did not love my profession, if I did not love where I work, I am not sure I could have gotten through this past year.  

     Hopefully people can find this perspective and balance without having to deal with difficult situations. So perhaps now is a good time for you to sit back and evaluate things and see what you need to do professionally to be happy. Whether that is maintaining the status quo because things are good, or making some changes because they are not. Now is a great time of year to take stock, recharge the batteries and make a plan. 
   

Oh, it also helps to have an awesome spouse and two great kids.  That helps too. 

#AT4EVER

Todd 

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

     It is that time of year.  Things are winding down and wrapping up for many Athletic Trainers at all different settings.  The proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" is approaching us.  So the question is, where is your head at? Mine is going in 20 million different directions.  I am winding down the school year with my teams and preparing for the post season.  I am starting my list of end of the year things to do.  I am trying to get a grip on all the things I have coming up with my own kids.  It is quite overwhelming.
      Even though my head is spinning,  I'm ok.  Actually, I am more than ok.  In fact, I'm great.  I am a few weeks away from year 17 as an AT being totally in the books.  I'm finalizing the last of the summer plans for the family. I'm getting ready for NATA in Indy (blog post coming on that topic).  I'm already starting to think about pre-season in August.  Here is the kicker, I feel great.  I'm not fried, bitter, cranky, angry or miserable. 
    I used to be ready to drop at this point of the year just waiting to be done.  This year is different.  My job is still the same.  Still have a wife and two kids to balance in the mix.  Still the same stresses to deal with as always. Don't get me wrong, I am certainly ready for the year to be over.  The difference is instead of crawling across the finish line, I am cruising across at a good pace.  Perhaps I am little older, a little wiser, a little more seasoned.  I still can't quite put my finger on it. 
     So where are you?  Do you feel as good as I do?  Are you spitting at this post on your screen because you want to run to a rooftop and scream at this point in the year?  I think we all have an mission here.  We all need to sit down and figure out where we are, and how we got here.  If you are feeling as good as I am, lets figure out why and make sure we do that all over again next year!  If you are in a bad place, then you need to figure out why and make sure you change that for next year. 
     Lets make this a homework assignment.  Lets all sit down for a few minutes and write down (or more likely type into your phone while watching a game) what our state of mind is now and see if we can fish out the reasons why.  My next post I will share mine.  Lets see if we can either keep things going the right way, or turn things around if they are not.
    It feels great to cruise along the finish line.  You know what is better?  Sprinting across it. 

#AT4EVER