Keep Looking Until You Find It. Don't Settle.

Everyone knows by now that Steve Jobs died a little over a week ago. (If you don't know who Steve Jobs is, I'm sad for you.)  In watching all of the coverage of his death, I saw a recording of his commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005.  I have recently been wrestling with a big, life-changing decision, and while watching the video of Steve's speech, I made my decision.  He really spoke to me.  So the purpose of this post is two-fold.  I want to share Mr. Jobs' inspiring words with you, and also to tell you about the new path I have decided to travel down. 

Here is the first part of Steve Jobs' speech I wanted to share. 
"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

Now, I am a very fortunate girl to have found a wonderful man whom I love and who loves me, and have not had to settle in that respect AT ALL. And I loved being a Child Life Specialist, don't get me wrong, but I have never felt as though I am using all of my potential.  I was blessed with a brain that learns and remembers quickly and easily, and I have never challenged it.  And I have recently begun to realize that I am disappointed in myself.  And I'm tired of it.  I'm tired of settling for second best.  I want to feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing with my life.  Because I've found the right man, and now I want to find the right job.  Because Steve is right - my work will fill a large part of my life, and I want to love it.

Here's the second part of the speech I wanted to share:
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

So here's the thing - I have asked the most important people in my life for advice in this, and most of them have encouraged me in my new direction (which I promise, I'm going to share in a second...).  But in the end, I am listening to the little voice in my heart that is telling me that I have finally found my calling.  I am listening to my own heart, and no one else's.  I will be me, and happily.  

So here's the great announcement - I've decided to become a doctor.  I am going to use my love of medicine, my love of children, and my great brain to find a career that satisfies me and makes a difference in the world.  And I'm super excited about it.  It is going to be a long road full of hard work and little social life, but I believe it will be worth it.  And it will be the first time in my life that I've been truly challenged, and that thrills me. 

I would appreciate your prayers as I undertake this new life path.  I know it won't be easy, and there are definitely still some kinks to work out, but I feel so at peace with this decision. 

I guess I want to say thanks to Steve Jobs, wherever he is, for his wise words.  And I will steal his closing -
Stay Hungry.  Stay Foolish. 

(If you would like to read or watch the whole speech, here is the link: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-10-06/tech/30249828_1_college-tuition-calligraphy-adoption )

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

You may be thinking "The most wonderful time of the year? Well, that's Christmas!" but you would be wrong.  At least in my book.  I think October is quite possibly the most beautiful gift that God has ever given me, and it happens every year!  Wondering what my reasons are?  Here's a list....
1. Baseball and Football at the same time!  - Two of my favorite things, and this is the only month when you can find them both.  The Cardinals in the playoffs, and TCU football, and the ever present hope that the Rams will one day win a game makes October wonderful.  
2.  Fall is finally here!  - The weather is cooler, but not so cold that I have to wear a sweatshirt all the time.  I get to drive with the top down on my car, and sleep with the windows open.  The leaves are beautiful and the world feels like its shedding its old self in the hopes of remaking itself into something better.  I always find fall inspiring! And, side note, its the only time of the year I enjoy nature (even a little bit).

3. Pumpkin - Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin coffee creamer, Ted Drewes Pumpkin Pie Concrete, Pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies.... well, you get the picture.  I LOVE pumpkin!

4.  My birthday - I still love my birthday, no matter how old I get.  I love the excuse to pamper myself, the excuse to celebrate.  I love the chance to reevaluate my life and see where I was last year and how far I've come.  I love getting to see my family (This year, the Ruppels!!!) and be surrounded by people I love and who love me.  

So... Perhaps I haven't convinced you, but I just wanted to share my extreme love for the month of October.  I promise that for the majority of this month you will find me in the morning sipping hot coffee laced with pumpkin pie creamer, eating a pumpkin bagel, and enjoying the view of the changing leaves; In the evening cheering on the Cards, or the Horned Frogs, or the Rams, and always thanking God for his yearly birthday gift to me - October.