Where are we Going? In Circles..We are really good at these

So, a couple of weeks removed from my 48 hour getaway to Lisbon/Sintra Portugal, that still makes me laugh! We really did wander in a lot of circles....but in the end, we always ended up just where we needed to be. Kinda like my life sometimes..I feel like I am going in complete circles and then, seemingly, all of the sudden I am right where I need to be...so I wonder if our "circles" really aren't circles, but rather another path with endless possibilities to get us to one of our stops along life's journey. (Because if you think about it...circles don't end and neither does the journey of our life;-) ) I have to say, it makes me excited to see what other circles I can find, travel in, and experience. So, here are my observations from the circles of Portugal....

When I travel to a new place, I always spend time looking up the place, figuring out what there is to see and trying to develope a loose itinerary as to how I am going to spend my time. Well, there is just too much to see in 48 hours in a place like Lisbon. (Or Madrid, or Salamanca or Skein, or Edinburgh for that matter) You can start to feel guilty that you aren't seeing every single thing, every single minute of the trip. I admit I do have an insatiable appetite to experience new things and this can lead me to utter exhaustion at times. I made the command decision to NOT do this with Lisbon. Frankly, I wanted to get out of town, get some place warm, eat, drink and soak up some sun....Lisbon and Sintra seemed perfect for this endeavor. I am here to tell you..that is EXACTLY what happened! Sure, I saw some AMAZING things but I ate wonderful Pasties in Belem, drank REALLY good and cheap Portuguese wine and took a train, then taxi out to a wonderful place called Praia Das Macas (Appl Beach) near Sintra and just vegged out...with some more wine of course! I realized that sometimes just relaxing in a beautiful place you have never experienced is all you need to see and do. I have made a vow to travel like this from now on... relax, enjoy and see some stuff but not stress too much about seeing everything there is to see...I think that is real gratification comes in!

I was also struck by the truth in the statement that communication is 90% HOW you say something as opposed to WHAT you say. I learned this our first night in Lisbon. We went for dinner and ordered a meal, joked around, and laughed with our waiter...ALL without really speaking the same language to eachother. I was truly amazed at this whole situation as it unfolded! Through pointing, nodding and gestures, full communication was achieved..what we wanted to eat arrived with no problems, the bill was paid and a wonderfully enjoyable evening was had. Again...another shift in perception on people. the more I travel and the more places I see with all the different people, the world just seems smaller rather than bigger. Our similarities seem much more evident than differences we have. It is truly amazing to start to see the world through those eyes instead of always looking for differences between people and cultures. It was quite incredible to share laughs and jokes with someone you weren't even speaking the same language to...what an experience.

I read a quote that said "Only the curious have something to find" and I truly believe this to bbe true. You can ask my mom and dad or anyone else that has watched me grow up, I have always been a curious girl...wanting to know as much as I can about all sorts of things. Well, I am finding loads over here. But I am also learning to not put expectations on anything and that leaves the door open to EVERYTHING... all sorts of possibilities lie ahead and again, I am so excited to experience what is coming down the road or whatever circle I fling myself into next. I have at least another year over here as my visa has just been extended and so I say...bring on the curiosity and circles... I am ready!


PS....for those of you who asked..I had a wine baby and it was a red....lol!!!

ONE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
— Howard Thurman

(Pics... Inish Maan, Innish Maan, St. Patty's Day on Shop St, Me and a cannon in Edinburgh castle, Mysister and I at a wedding)




ALIVE..now there is a word! How many of us actually get to live our lives feeling truly ALIVE?! As of today, I have lived in Ireland a full year and this past year has been the one in which I felt the most alive. Where does a person begin trying to explain the weight and weightlessness of that?! In retrospect I believe that it is better to not have known the absolute level of insanity you are operating on when you do something like this with your life. What a crazy, sometimes scary, sometimes lonely but always exciting level of living. I really moved to another country, not knowing anyone here, never even having visited it and just decided to leap! Well, a year later, I am here to say that one hell of a net has appeared for me here in Galway. In the broad and cliche sense, I followed my dreams and heart over here. I didn't realize the level of courage that takes, I just thought that I had the opportunity to live out my wildest dreams and had to do it so that I wouldn't wake up at 80 and wonder what it would've been like to have taken this chance. As I sit here and look back at my first year here, so many wonderful people, places and things have come into my life. I can't help but think that I have changed in many ways but yet I know at the end of the day, I am still the same Sally that left in many ways. It makes me wonder if we really ever "change" or are we just continually evolving and developing the truest and best possible version of ourselves? I would like to think the latter... So on that note..here are some thank yous, observations and reflections from the past year....


THANK YOU'S

Thanks to my Mom and Dad: You always let me be Little Miss Independent and look where it has taken me. Mom, I will always be grateful that you were one of the first people to experience this amazing place with me and for ALL of your support in my decision to do this. Dad, I am indebted to you for the experience in your office, but I am even more grateful for the support you have given me in letting me find my own way and letting me find that I can do this outside of your wonderful and loving shadow. I wouldn't have had the confidence in myself or my ability to pursue this dream with out the two of you.

Thank you to my sisters and brother for keeping in touch with me, keeping me up to date with my nieces and nephews and giving me just enough crap to keep me grounded:) I love you guys!

Thank you to my extended family for all the facebook posts, letters, packages..etc... I love you all and love the support!

I have been blessed with wonderful friends back where I come from and to list what each friendship has meant to me, well, we would be here well into next year. Tracy, Jenny Jen, Scott V., Steve, Trish, Robin, Chuck, Jason, Kelly, Mellisa, Matt, Jess, Jenny W. and many others I am sure I have missed...thanks for keeping in touch and welcoming me back on my visits with open arms and cold drinks ;-)

My Iowa family: (Jo Jo, Mikee, Herman, Scotty, Josh, Brad, Caitlin, Tracy) Not moving nearer to you was more difficult than it may appear. You guys were there all through Palmer and these years following and I was quite excited at the opportunity to be so close to all of you but.... I am full of gratitude for your unconditional love, your efforts to bridge the geographic distance and keep in touch with phone calls, visits, emails, facebook and all that..I can't wait to see you all in August!

Tomas and Laura Hemgren: I know I have said it numerous times, but thank you for the opportunity to practice here in Galway. I truly love the patients, this profession and the opportunity here to serve the people of Galway. Thank you for all you do for us!

Nick and cacee: thanks for being such wonderful and patient roommates!! Thanks for Coffe and Banoffee, Cacee and for the great craic at work, Nick!

Annie Johnson...I can't thank you enough for your friendship over the past year and for all the help in getting settled here! Thanks for all the "tips" on Irish life and helping me feel more comfortable as I settled in!

For my "new" Gals, Gillian, Mary and Kate...thank you for letting me be the 5th! I have had so many laughs, late nights and good times in the last couple months and I am truly thankful for your friendships. I look forward to many more laughs, bubbles and the like!


OBSERVATIONS And REFLECTIONS

The glaringly obvious one is that I am one hell of a lucky gal to be doing something I LOVE with my life, in a place I love, surrounded by wonderful people here and in the States. I firmly believe that we create our own happiness and we have to actively seek and follow our heart to make that happiness manifest in our lives. I decided a year ago not to live my life in fear of the what if's, but rather pursue a life of why not's! The why not's have proven to be more fun anyways:) Travel all around Europe..WHY NOT?! (So far Norway, Madrid and Salamanca Spain, Edinburgh, various places in Ireland and next up LISBON PORTUGAL) Tell people how I actually feel about them, a situation, etc (with tact in some cases of course..lol) WHY NOT? Not let some else's ideas of what I should be doing dictate what I am actually doing....WHY NOT? Follow my instincts and listen to my heart..WHY NOT?? So many more why nots are encountered on a regular basis....I just like looking at life this way much better than cowering in fear in a corner and watching that life pass me by.

I have always believed in not settling for less than what you want. But now I realize it is also about not settling less than for what you deserve in this life. Who are we NOT to deserve the best, seek the best and be the best version of ourselves we can be?! I think when we acknowledge that we DO deserve all the good that can possibly come our way, our happiness comes and we come alive. So, Mr. Thurman....I HAVE found what makes me come alive and I am doing it! I wish that for all of you! Until next time......


Full of gratitude and grace...
Sally