When did mental illness become synonymous with violence?

Heads up: This is one of my touchy subjects.

I'm posting this, because I'm... Annoyed. Yeah, that's a good word.
If you didn't know, I recently earned (and paid the licensing fee for) my PLMHP. Meaning, I've completed the work to get a provisional license to practice in mental health. Including a master's degree.
Yay! And I'm working toward getting a license that doesn't have the "provisional" attached to it. It's a 1.5+ year process for the latter bit, one that picks up where my schooling for my M.S. left off.

One of the groups that gets led at my work is a group on stigmas and stereotypes, with a focus on mental illness - how those with a mental illness are perceived by others, and how they perceive themselves to be.
One of the groups that I lead is a mental health awareness group, in which we go over current events related to mental health.

So as I was scrolling through Twitter after work today (instead of taking a nap... Bad idea, I guess), I came across this from the Huffington Post: Jackkqueline Pogue, Homeless Woman Accused Of Pushing Woman Off Train Platform, Was Schizophrenic.
Now, with all of the events that have happened last year, I have to say I'm annoyed. When something goes wrong, they automatically blame it on mental illness - in general. Now, it appears this woman actually DOES have a mental illness (specifically, untreated schizophrenia, according to the article), and I can understand it playing a part in this particular case. But I mean the past few events, like Boston, and the automatic assuming that people only do these things if they have mental illness.

Silly me, I looked at what people were saying in reply to the tweet with that article. And then I saw... This:
"Just like the people who have committed mass shootings. When will we institutionalize these people?"

I left out his Twitter handle on purpose. If he was that energetic about posting such a comment then he probably doesn't care who sees it, but I don't know that it's for me to share who it is...
It was one of those moments of "... Did someone seriously just say that?"
I double-checked his picture to see if age-related stereotyping was going on, and it very well may have. But I found it interesting that this person claimed to be a historian, a writer, a lecturer... and he was going about it without the facts.

Also, some of my clients are absolutely TERRIFIED at the idea that they may be hospitalized/EPC'd by the cops, concerned they'll be locked up.
So naturally I was a bit... Shall we say, incensed.

And like any, um, good person trying to hold their tongue in a manner yet get the point across... I schooled him. Because that kind of ignorance is unacceptable.
I provided him with information on mental illness from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
I also provided him with information on schizophrenia from NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health).

In the event that you don't feel like checking out the information, let me sum it up:
Approximately 25% of the US population has a MI (mental illness) or had one at some point in their lives  -and that's before the release of the DSM-5 and the controversy that goes along with it, thank you very much. Give or take 1% of the US population has schizophrenia.
Speaking from personal experience with the population I work with, which includes SPMIs (severe and persistent mental illness - major depression as well as bipolar, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorders), as well as the information provided, most people with mental illness would like to be contributing members of the mainstream population. I've got clients who want to go to work and/or go to school - and clients who DO work and/or go to school. I've got clients who just aren't able to work. My supervisor has mentioned to me clients so terrified they'll be locked up that they avoid talking to others for fear that they'll see something wrong with them...
I've got cranky clients, quiet clients, boisterous clients, sweet clients, clients who laugh and giggle a lot. They have good days, and they have bad days. They enjoy watching movies, going on walks, going to the store, playing games, dancing... Laughing at Betty White's antics (we recently watched The Proposal for a laugh in my Stress Management group). We've had the occasional violent/aggressive client (see also: not often at all). Many of our clients are really quite intelligent - one who can school everyone on a certain counseling theory, another who is amazing at math, and who enjoyed science so much he taught it to his peers, multiple who've taught me a thing or two about music (and I used to be a music ed major!), and another who is so amazing at history it's a little scary! We've got one who's such a proud, new papa that he adores showing off pictures of his little one, all you have to do is ask. ☺

How is this any different from the rest of the population?

(The large font was unintentional. It happened that was because I increase the font on my smiley faces... But it worked out quite well, no?)

Mostly we have clients who want to fit in. Who want friends. Who want to be accepted. Who feel left out. Who will offer you support if it looks like you're having a hard time, and who will look out for you.
Some who miss the choices and lifestyle they had prior to the start of their symptoms and their diagnosis. I have a client who, to this day, well over a decade later, grieves the fact that, for her, mental illness means she has no option of even adopting children.

As for schizophrenia in particular, we've got a number of clients who wear headphones and listen to music to help with any auditory hallucinations (that is, hearing voices or other things). Sometimes they play whatever. There are a few in particular... One person loves classical music. There's another who enjoys rap, I believe - I'll have to ask what he's listening to some day. Another person likes a little bit of everything - and when the music is up loud enough, I find myself wanting to sing/dance along to it, because it's music that I also enjoy.

Riddle me this: How can you say that all people with mental illness are violent and should be locked up? Do you even know all people with mental illness? And what about the people who are violent and don't have a mental illness?

Oh, and saying someone is "mentally disturbed" or something to that effect isn't the same thing as "having a mental illness". Just FYI.

Basically: Having a mental illness doesn't mean someone is a bad person, or that they should be locked up. Although if you want to make a case for more mental health services to be available to people, be my guest.
Lumping everyone with mental illness into the category of being "violent" or something else equally unflattering isn't helping anyone.
I can guarantee you know or have met someone with a mental illness, or who has experienced a mental illness with a loved one.
By the way, ADHD, Postpartum as an onset specifier to a mood disorder (as in, the mood disorder started postpartum), and premature ejaculation are in the DSM-IV-TR, people.

Just saying. (Had to throw that last one in there for good measure, you see. haha)

☺

Learning by Burning? Nope, Avoiding Burnout!

I know I just posted a new blog very recently (as in, less than two minutes ago as I type this), but this is an issue important enough to me that it deserved its own post.

Burnout.

So far, it's something I've managed to avoid. But in the last couple months (specifically, February with its crazy test prep and anxiety and everything) it seemed like burnout was something that was going to hit me - and hard.

It's no secret among my friends that I'm a bit of a night owl. But I'm starting to get it together and try to go to bed, uh, BEFORE midnight or one in the morning (see also: No more checking Groupon right at midnight! ... Yes, yes I am that person... Or I was, at least).
I also have to wonder if part of that had to do with me being tired.

To condense a suuuuuper long story, it's been stressful. Super stressful. If you've checked out previous posts, you know about comps. I've also not been working as much as I used to.

Correction: I'm working more, when you add in my internship, I just wasn't getting paid for it.

Nothing like basically working a full-time job and not getting paid for it, huh?

On the same note, because my schedule has been reduced to only weekends for my one job, and my stable client moved to be by other family, I haven't been working much.
See also: three hours every other weekend.
(Mind you, this client I see every other week is such a sweetheart. Love her!)

But the fact remains, I was relying on my husband for income. What I was making wouldn't even cover our gas bill sometimes (No, I will not say how much the paycheck is, or what our gas bill is... But either way, it's a big drop from working 15-ish hours every weekend). And I was sick of it. Sick of it, and worrying myself sick because I just want to make sure bills get paid, and for a while when we first got married we'd had an agreement that I would be the predominant provider due to school scheduling and all. I wasn't used to relying on someone else, but I WAS used to working my tail off.
And after a while, especially as I realized that I was racking up internship hours (BTW, I'm OFFICIALLY done with them! Nearly 200 over my total minimum needed), but I was tired. I was frustrated. I was appreciated, and I knew it, but it was hard. Especially when I'm used to doing the math to make sure bills get paid, even though I KNOW they'll get paid. I can't recall ever having been late on a bill.

But it was always me saying "I'll take care of it", simply for the fact that my family stresses education BIG-time. And I already have my Bachelor's degree, and I didn't want my husband to worry about finances while completing his... And there was no was he was dropping out of school to work. No way.

Eventually it takes its toll on you.

I have to say, I'm super excited that I've been hired on as an official full-time staff at my internship. It's exciting. It's exhilarating, and enjoyable, and it gives me such an opportunity to learn (and grow and be more flexible - it's amazing what having a set of keys can do...). I've enjoyed the staff since I started there - actually, today felt like it was my first day again, I was that excited and happy, and the consumers were excited to hear that I'd be staying on.

However, a small part of me wondered... Is it the excitement getting RID of the tinglings of burnout, or is it the excitement HIDING those feelings?
Either way, I tend to use the excitement to my advantage.

Let's face it, as an unpaid intern working 30-40 hours a week... Who'd already completed her minimum required hours, and far EXCEEDED them... After a while, you start losing the motivation to... Show up early or on time (I know, cardinal sin in the workplace! Horribly shameful, and something I know better than to do). To feel good about going.

One of the things we talk about in the Anxiety and Phobia group that I lead there... Is "Personal Meaning".
I have to say that being hired there... Gives me a sense of meaning when being there. More than before. It gives me a sense of direction. I can learn more about the position. Help out more. Get more into the documentation side of things, learn more about the processes. Not feel like I'm nagging someone when I have scheduled a one-on-one meeting with someone, and I need keys to open the phone room. Be able to meet with more individuals one-on-one.

Oh, and here's a big one: I feel more accepted.

Not that I wasn't to begin with, but when the desire, anticipation, excitement, and determination start waning, and burnout starts setting in... It's kind of hard to be enjoyable to be around, I'm sure, and when it's comes to wondering if someone will be reliable... That shouldn't happen, but I know it's something that happens to many, many people out there in the world.
My head's been churning with ideas, with the possibilities of the things I can do and the ways I can contribute - that was a big thing with me before I switched departments at my internship. I was welcome, until it became apparent that there were many things that, as an intern, I couldn't do alone. Then I became a bit of an annoyance to at least one person. Thankfully someone understood - the guy who was in the program with me, and interned in another department before he was hired. He understood that it wasn't easy, and that it could be terribly limited, and for that I'm grateful.

Ok, enough of my gabbing about burnout and the importance of having a sense of meaning and direction. I think I'm done blogging for the night. Thank you and thank you ☺

Marching away!

Yes, yes, that was my cheesy way of incorporating into the blog that it is now MARCH of 2013. And what an exciting month it has been so far! It's almost absurd how much excitement has been happening.

Also, as a heads up... My brain is working in bullet points in order to sort everything out. So it's all wrapped up in a nice, neat package... That is hardcore sealed with tape in every opening for security (and a little bit for fun, to watch people try to find a place to pry it open... Yes, I am THAT person at Christmas and on birthdays. No paper is left in tact when I'm around! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ok, random maniacal rant over)

• On March 1st (a week ago today) I took the written portion of the test that I need to pass in order to graduate with my Master's in May. I felt SO much better about that portion than I did about the CPCE (160 multiple choice questions). The sections I got were: Careers, Groups, Consulting, and Multicultural. Pretty much everyone I've talked to feels much better about their 4 essays than they did about the CPCE.
• I believe the scores you can receive are: high pass, pass, low pass, and no pass. You're only allowed one "no pass" for an essay, and if you get one then you have to redo that essay immediately. If you get more than one "no pass", well, you have to retake the entire written portion the next time it's offered - and in this case, that's in the fall. Which would delay graduation until December, if that were to happen. But I'm fairly confident in my essays, the only exception being Careers. Seriously, they talk to us about theories in the majority of our classes, but theories specific to Career Counseling?? They were only in that class. Go figure... But hopefully I'll find out soon!
• On March 4th I met with my internship supervisor and my instructor. It's always great to get compliments; my supervisor occasionally remarks that I'm probably the most prepared intern he's ever had.
• On that same token, one of my goals to work on (and one of my biggest insecurities regarding counseling) is theories. More specifically, working to identify my theoretical orientation, and learning more about it. I have a basic idea of the theory I mesh with best (CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) but often I find it hard to put into words. That and I barely got out of Theories with a B-. Originally I had a C+, but I emailed the professor and he bumped me up. If you get two C's in this program then you get put on academic probation. If you get three C's, you're out of the program. You can appeal your grades and all, but even without emailing my professor, I wasn't feeling especially confident in that particular class.
• On March 5th... Well, I went to class. And I spent time talking with one of the girls who works at my internship about possibly applying for the open position at my internship. She told me to think over it that night, but basically have my decision made the next day, because it's a vacant position they need filled and, while they like me, it'll probably get filled fast.
• That day I also went to our apartment complex office about a 2-bedroom apartment. No, nothing like a baby or anything, so don't get to freaking out! Just more space. A girl can only have so many bookshelves in a 1-bedroom apartment without tripping over stuff, right? And then I went and worked out, and I met someone in the fitness room! It was weird, he was nice AND he actually talked to me! Not usually something I get while in the fitness room, that's for certain.
• March 6th... I spoke to my site supervisor about the open position. She told me to get on the paperwork. I forget what else happened.
• March 7th (this being yesterday) my site supervisor gave me a copy of the application, and told me I basically already had the job but that I still had to fill out the paperwork. And shortly thereafter I had a staff member tell me "welcome aboard". Which reminds me, we have a new staff member on my team. She's beyond nice, and she was excited to hear that I was taking the open position.
• Even better! I got home, saw that there was mail from the department at school... The hubs had to open the letter for me, I was so nervous... But I passed the CPCE! Which means that assuming that the essays turn how how I'd like them to, I'm graduating May 4!!!!!
• Oh, and to top it all off, a book I've been waiting on finally came out. It was 2.5 months past the original deadline, due to author illness, but I'm so excited for it. I finished it tonight, and I'm looking forward to when the final book in the trilogy comes out in April or May.
• If I haven't mentioned... I'm a sucker for romance novels. The book I've been waiting on is called Armando Returns, and it's by Reeni Austin.
• Aaaaaaand today, March 8... I turned in my application for the position, as well as a copy of my resume. AT about 10:15 this morning, less than two hours after I turned everything in, I got a call from HR confirming my acceptance of the position, some super basic information, and that my official start date is Monday! See also: I'm going to be getting PAID to do what I've been doing the last few months. Also, more responsibilities, but no big. Bring it on!
• Unfortunately this means that I'll be switching teams and will be working with different consumers than I've been working with the last 4.5 months. That is, I'll be working with the same people, but less intimately with some and more intimately with others. It's disappointing, but I'll look at it as an opportunity for growth. And I know the new staff on my (original) team loves the team, and that she'll be great.

I have my first full-time job! I feel like such a big girl now! ☺

And that's the previous week of my life in a nutshell, basically. Also, tomorrow I'll (hopefully) be attending a counseling conference on campus. I'm excited, they JUST started offering it free to students. I was going to try to go before they announced that, but now I'll definitely be trying to go.

The Liebster Award

I was going through my emails last night, and it appears that the lovely Liz over at 2 Love Birds Building Their Nest nominated me for the Liebster award.

Now I'm sure you're asking yourself, "What on Earth is this Liebster award thingy?" Well, I copied the answer for you, direct from Liz's page! (Hi, Liz!):

"So what is the Liebster Award?

The Liebster Award nomination goes to those bloggers who have a following of less than 200 to promote other bloggers to comment and share - even get to know each other!  I think this is great, because it gives you the potential to gather a larger following!  If you get nominated, you cannot nominate the person who nominated you (No tagbacks!).

The point of the Liebster Award is to answer questions, tell 11 secrets about yourself, and nominate 11 other bloggers who fit the criteria.  Here it goes!"

It's very flattering to be nominated. Really, it is. Sometimes I wonder how many blogs just... Don't get noticed. Not like "I'm seeking attention" getting noticed, but just how many times they get passed up in favor of one that's obviously more popular. You've gotta wonder, because there are so many blogs out there. It's like Aladdin:

He had to become a prince just to be noticed for more than being a, uh, nuisance. And then they thought he was amazing. Hello, he had a song about him!.
When I think about that, I remember reading something on Pinterest (probably their FAQ page, for all I know) that says that if you want to attract more followers, the best thing you can do? Is be yourself ☺

Now on with the questions!

11 Questions (posted by Liz for those she nominated)

1. What is your favorite color and why?
   I don't really have a favorite color. I used to say it was pink. Before that it was probably red and black. I'm rather partial to royal blue and bright orange, because those are the colors the hubs and I used in our wedding. I like a lot of colors, especially bright, fun ones!
2. So, you have a blog.  Why?
   I believe I started it as one of those "fitting in" type deals. I was part of a forum with a crowd of women that I grew to become very fond of, despite being from all over the US and various other countries. I kept it because it was fun to have something that I'd worked hard to personalize, and that I put some thought into.
3. What is your goal for this year?
   I have a few different goals.
   1) get all of the stuff with my mother's estate settled
   2) finish my first half marathon
   3) hopefully get accepted into a PhD program
   4) ... Buy a house. We'll see how that one goes.
   5) graduate with my M.S.
   6) get a "big girl" job. depends on how #3 goes
4. What is the best song to describe your mood today?
   That's a really good question. Sometimes I have songs stuck in my head that really have nothing to do with how I feel - and I don't really even like them! If you'd asked me on Tuesday it would've been "Stay Home" by Self, from the movie Shrek.
   Maybe "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, although I own it on the Rock of Ages soundtrack. Or maybe "Titanium" by David Guetta and Sia. I'm sure if I think long enough, something will stand out. I'm just not feeling it just yet, that's all.
5. Who are the 3 most important people in your life and why?
   Three most important people in my life? Let's see...
   There's my husband. Does that really need explanation?
   There's my dad. I've always been a daddy's girl. If I'm not feeling well, I call my dad. I love my husband, but sometimes I just need to talk to my dad. Our phone calls average about 1:30 long (and by that I mean about a minute and a half), but I wouldn't trade them for the world.
   Third person? Um... Maybe my sister. I'm sure she thinks I'm quirky as can be (that's what big sisters do, right?), but sometimes she just gets me.
6. How did you meet your significant other? (if single, what do you look for in a significant other?)
   My husband and I started dating right after junior year of high school. He actually looked me up on Facebook (mutual friends, all that fun stuff), and I avoided him as much as possible for MONTHS. I mean, seriously, here's this 16-year-old guy talking to me on Facebook. We had art together in 8th grade, but I didn't know him. I didn't talk to him. And we ended up going to rival high schools, although he came to my school for one class a day because his school didn't offer it. But he was persistent about talking to a girl he'd only had one class with nearly 4 years before...
7. If there was a $100 bill laying on the ground, would you take it?  If so, what would you buy with it?  If not, why?
   ... I honestly don't know... I know I'd be likely to pick it up, stare at it for a bit, and look around to see if anyone was looking worried about having lost something. If I was in a store I'd turn it in. I don't know what the person planned to do with that money, or whether or not $100 is something they'd even miss!
   If I were to spend it... I'd probably buy books. Or stuff for my internship... Valentine's Day is coming up, maybe I'd get something for my husband.
8. Compare yourself to your 15 year old self.  What would you tell him/her?
   Oh, good grief. Probably something along these lines:
   "You're in marching band. Enjoy it, and make sure you do it again next year - that's your wonderful director's last year.
   You're going to get braces... As fun as the glow-in-the-dark colors on the retainers are, the plastic Invisalign-style is better suited to your life at this time - band, French class, choir, lunch... And for the love of Pete, WEAR YOUR RETAINER! You don't want to get your retainers back on when you're 21 - right before your first Valentine's Day as a married person, but you do...
   Right now you're in the best physical shape you're ever going to be in. Take care of your body.
   In nearly 8 years you'll be running a half marathon - actually, TWO! Don't let anybody tell you that you can't.
   Your lovely first boyfriend? Yes, the suspenders are hot. When you find the urge to dump him, do it. Listen to your gut - on more than just that boyfriend. He's not right for you. It's not a big deal. The time after the break-up with really suck, but remember it's not a big deal.
   This (sophomore) year you and your best friend will get the chance to attend something that freshmen and sophomores at your school don't usually get to do. When you attend the little conference, SPEAK UP!
   Speaking of friends... That friend you've been wanting to dump? Do it. You fall out of touch anyway, and she's no good for you. She's never going to pay you back, and she's kind of a leech. Can you say toxic? She's known for being a negative, well... you know what the word is. And your best friend? You're going to fall out of touch... Don't let her get away, because she's amazing and you know it. Tell her you appreciate her, and that she's wonderful.
   Also, make sure you say those things to yourself. You're wonderful, but you don't say it enough. You're self-conscious, and you've been dealing with your skin for the last five years (and will be in the future), but that doesn't make you any less of a person. A lot of your papers, and your passion in college, has to do with people, specifically females, and body image.
   Continue sticking up for people, especially those who can't stick up for themselves, because sometimes nobody else will.
   Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Your dad was right when he said that the most you can give someone is your word. Speaking of which, when he asks you what you think of his girlfriend, tell him you hate her. Don't lie to be nice. It'll save you years of grief.
   And tell your mother you love her every day, because you have less than five years left with her, and not telling her as often as you can, even when you're mad and yelling at each other, is the one regret you truly have - the day you fly out to go to that family reunion in 5 years, make sure you're on time to your internship! It's a lot of pressure, but it's important. It's been 2.5 years, you're almost a professional counselor, you've been to counseling yourself (we call it "avoiding countertransference"), but that's the thing that really gets you. P.S. You're going to hate your birthday after all of this, so enjoy it.
   Oh, and music education? You're more suited to psychology. Trust me on this.
   Take care of yourself. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. Don't be afraid to take time to learn who you are, and don't hold on to the people who hold you back or use you without being willing to give."
9. What is your worst vice?
   I hate admitting this, but I've been battling with not-so-hot skin for the last 12 years... When I get upset/nervous/anxious... I scratch. I pick. It's horrible, and a lot of the time it's unconscious. And a huge (horrible) habit...
10. Take your age and double it.  Where do you see yourself at that age?
    Well, I'd be 45 (22.5 currently). I really don't know where I'll be. I have dreams of doing things, like being a counseling who (maybe) has her own (well, JOINT) counseling practice. And/or being a photographer. A really nice photographer ☺ And hopefully the hubs and I will have kids. But where I see myself? I don't really have that image just yet.
11. What is the best life advice you can give your followers?
    The thing I heard my dad tell my mom, the thing I've told my family, friends, classmates, clients, the consumers at my internship... Is that you can't take care of anybody else until you take care of yourself. That means physically, that means mentally, that means emotionally. If you're not taking care of yourself but you're taking care of someone else, you may resent it.
    The thing I often told a person who, unfortunately, just didn't seem to get it, is that you need to love yourself, have a good relationship with yourself, before you start looking for someone else to love you. I believe that a healthy relationship with yourself is important.
    
    Also, as I told my relatives at the family reunion because someone was worried about the already-cooked spiral-cut ham that got cooked (again - and therefore ruined. they tried to decorate it to make it cute - nobody ate it), and because they were stressed that nothing would be done in time: Not breathing is for dead people. 'Nuff said, right?

And before I forget, 11 fun facts about me!

1. I. Love. Disney movies.
2. I also love musicals. Rock of Ages is in my head more often than not. I love it!
3. The Nanny and Friends are my favorite TV shows. My husband watches them with me, and he enjoys them, but I just know that at times he thinks I'm completely off the wall.
4. I'm interning at a mental health agency. It was a shaky start for me, but I love it. I started off in the Homeless Services department but, due to a lack of hours, got moved over to the second facility in the Day Rehab Services program.
5. I despise doing the dishes. Seriously.
6. I'm super excited because I finally got a DSLR. DH gave the ok, and now those photography books I've been buying finally hold some more meaning to me because I can explore more with camera settings. My beautiful point-and-shoot left a bit to be desired due to the limited range of settings.
7. I'll be running a half marathon with one of my college roommates next month. And I'm making tutus for us! It'll be awesome, and you can bet I'll be taking TONS of pictures when we're at Disney World, and that I'll definitely be posting pictures.
8. I am a Moon Jogger. I am one of many many many MANY people signed up to run/walk/jog 1,000 miles this year... Although I'm doing the Ultimate Moon Jogger challenge and am working toward 2,013 miles.
9. I'd already paid for my race registration for the Disneyland Half Marathon. Since I decided to register to run for/with a charity, I now need to defer my race registration to another race... I'm trying to decide if I want to do the 2014 Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge at Walt Disney World and begin training for a full marathon, or if I want to do the 2014 Tinkerbell Half Marathon at Disneyland or the 2014 Princess Half Marathon at Disney World (the link takes you to the 2013 race, as that one hasn't happened yet). Or even the 2013 Wine and Dine Half Marathon, but that's cutting it pretty close to the Disneyland Half weekend...
10. If you couldn't tell, I'm really excited about running. I don't it near as often as I should for someone who is signed up for two half marathons and plans on signing up for more races, but I do it. It really makes me feel good because... Maybe it wasn't so much other people telling me I wouldn't be able to do things like that, as it is feeling that I don't want to hold myself back, that I can do more. That I can BE more.
11. I'm graduating with my M.S. in May (knock on wood that I pass both of my comprehensive exams needed to graduate!). Sometimes it makes me proud to say that I'm the youngest person who is about to graduate from the program at this point. When I started it was kinda scary, being barely-21 in the program. I had someone (who is now a friend) say "You're a baby!" (mind you, she's in her 50s, and I'm about the same age as one of her sons. Just a few weeks younger, I think. LOL).
    Even better, I have a husband who SUPPORTS me doing the best I can in school, supports me joining professional organizations and furthering my career, and hopes that I'll get accepted into a doctoral program. It makes him proud (I think he brags on me more than he lets on. haha), and he also knows just how much education means to me, to my family.

Now the 11 questions for those I've nominated:

1. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
2. What is it that you "get" out of blogging?
3. What is your favorite book? Why?
4. What made you decide to repost this and nominate others?
5. What is your favorite memory?
6. What do you do when nobody's watching?
7. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money, and why?
8. If you could donate to any charity (any specific charity, or a general cause), what would it be?
9. If you could do any job in the world, what would it be?
10. What do you love most about yourself? List five reasons why.
11. Chocolate or vanilla?

And then because I couldn't resist adding this particular question (and couldn't pick a question from above to NOT ask):

Let's see... My 11 nominees are (drum roll please!):

1. Amanda at A Whole Lotta Somethin'
2. Amy at EIGHT is GR8
3. Erin at For the love of Disney running...
4. FrozenOJ's Concentrated Life (no name given ☺)
5. Indeah and Ravi at Girls Rolling 20s
6. Amanda at Laughing in a Beautiful World
7. Maze at Learning by Burning
8. Sarah at Life isn't always a fairytale
9. Dee at My Paradise
10. Jaime at The Unlikely Competitor
11. And finally, Ashley at ....Every Little Beautiful Pieces (I can't see how many followers you have, Ashley, but in the event that it's under 200, I definitely didn't want to miss out on nominating you!)

Have at, everyone!

I am determined to reach my goals.

I did W4D1 last night, and I tried something a little different with it. I stayed around the same speed that I usually do, but instead of walking at 4.0 MPH (which I usually try to do) I decided to jog it!

I tell you, I now know the purpose did sweat bands.
They say that females glisten - or at least that's what they used to say?? I'm a real female, and I was sweating like you wouldn't believe.
But it felt good to have another accomplishment under my belt :)

And I really am excited at the possibility of being able to do a run on the base's runway. I just hope I can work my way up to it (for this year as opposed to next year, I mean).

When one of my friends graduates college next year, we're going to look at starting a photography business. I'm beyond psyched for it! We both love photography. And talk about perfect timing, because I'll have graduated (again) then, too!
We've already got ideas about setting up a website, promotional photographs to draw people in, getting models, backdrops, you name it. I think it would just be a matter of getting everything gathered and getting it ready to go - you know, in addition to working on our Photoshop skills, and working to hone the photography skills we have.
One way or another, I think it'll be amazing.

I started working on one of my provisional counseling licenses, and it turns out I may have to find a new place to go so that I can get my hours.
My supervisor doesn't have any disciplinary action on her license, but the petition for it is there. I'll have to call the DHHS on Monday to see if I should go ahead and find a new place to get my hours.
It's all a little frustrating, and rather daunting. I finally decided to do it, and then found a place to get my hours in (after calling many places). I just hope I can do it. I just may have to branch out a little as far as distance, because I was trying a little closer to home.

You know what? I know I can get it done. It may just take some time, that's all.