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