On Holding On and Mylo Xyloto

What do you do when you don't know what to do?

The past two weeks have been intense and filled with examinations of all sorts. Physiology, calculus, biochemistry, physiochemical principles of medicine...I have learned so much and I am feeling grateful and relieved to have a few "test-free" weeks. I love learning, but I know I will have to challenge myself to stay motivated and dedicated in the upcoming month.

Somewhere amidst the chaos of the past two weeks, I have also started my volunteer rotation as part of my university program. I am loving it. This is something I did not think I had time for at the beginning of the year, but now it is turning out to be my favourite part of the week. I have been given the opportunity to help out at a special care home for seniors. Already I have made some connections and I am looking forward to getting to know the residents more. I even got a few hugs from some of the residents today. Grandmas give the best hugs, don't they?

My time volunteering has provided me with a chance to serve and use my gifts and a chance to examine myself. I find it so easy to just get caught up in my own life and my own problems (and I think this is the case for a lot of people). But my job as a future health care provider is the provide the utmost care to my patients - to see beyond my own needs and reach out into the community to help in whatever way I can. Talking with residents who have lost their husbands, been taken out of their homes, and cannot perform some of the most basic daily tasks for themselves anymore has made me realize how much I have to be thankful for (as cliche as that is). But really. So many of these people are so thankful, even though they have been taken out of their homes and away from their families. I live at home with my family, and they love me (most of the time)...even though I am restless and tired of being at home and wanting to go away and adventure. I need to be more thankful for my now, and make sure others know it.

The other major event of this week for me was the release of the new Coldplay cd, "Mylo Xyloto." I have been waiting on this album with high hopes, and I am not disappointed. I am crazy about it. Somehow, no matter what Coldplay ends up writing, it has a way to permeate into the depths of my being and diffuse into the recesses of my soul.

The ninth track, U.F.O. is my song tonight:

"Lord I don't know which way I am going
Which way river gonna flow
It's just seems that upstream, I keep rowing
Still got such a long way to go
Still got such a long way to go

In that light, it's your eyes
I know, I swear, we'll find somewhere the streets are made of gold
But let's fly, split the sky,
But that's all right, sometimes, sunlight comes streaming through the holes"

If you haven't listened to the whole album yet, give it a chance. It's great.