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