Reflection

I have come to find that the best time to reflect is when doubting the actions of others. Continuously, I perform this act, not in terms of deceit, but for personal growth. I suppose that my background in the helping professions also poses this constant battle of ethical vs unethical and patient centered care. Then, there is the concept of developing and testing a Gold Standard protocol for all test purposes. At this point, I may have lost you, but the point is that there is always a standard method of belief, testing, performance, etc. However, we will always have the gray region where we don't know the right answer, we debate the best moral decision, or there isn't perfect sensitivity/specificity in detection of a pathology. I like to think about the gray area and what my choices of behavior or methodology where and how a different decision may have altered the outcome.

Complainers. This is the current gray area I have been reflecting. Yes, we all know them and we all have been one. In my experience, there are some individuals who thrive on sympathy and always outdo your worst experience. There are the people who just need to vent on occasion and justifiably so. We can't leave out the aggressive complainers that have no mercy and beat you to a bloody pulp with their words of disgust and not an ounce of regret. Then, there are the poor souls who are stricken with the unexpected, extremely detailed, slightly exaggerated "worse thing that ever happened in my whole life" stories. Well, I must admit, I find myself complaining more in graduate school then I have ever. Maybe it's the sleep deprivation or constant anxiety-oops, there I go complaining and making excuses for my complaining in the same sentence. So, I have been looking into the origin of this habit. Do we live in a world that obsesses over imperfection and feels righteous to all opportunities and objects? Is there more pressure than ever to live up to your own expectations, but also the expectations of an unknown audience? What ever the reason may be, there must be a solution to all of the nonsense, constant white noise (audiology term for complainers) distracting me from my everyday life and positive attitude. Many  times I hear someone complaining and I fall right into the black hole of a trap and have to work hard to get myself out!

Well, I looked further into this and found a great quote:

"When you consistently maintain a positive frame of mind, you'll become known as a problem-solver rather than a complainer. People avoid complainers. They seek out problem-solvers."
Joseph Sommerville


This is a bold statement and truthful in its entirety. I shy away from people who complain all the time or after while, I stop listening to what they have to say. Call me a bad listener, but it can be exhausting to keep up with some one's constant cries. At times, it also makes the listener feel worthless and non existent. The worst complaints though are the ones in which pride and selfish matters take control. It is hard to hear why someone deserves special treatment without consideration of the other side, especially when that kind of energy could be put towards something useful. 


So here are some tips for the morbid complainers out there:
1. Don't over do it-no one likes a complainer
2. End on a positive note
3. Don't verbally abuse the person on the other end
4. Think about both sides and seek out more information before making accusations
5. Along with # 4, if you are going to complain, at least have accurate information
6. Choose carefully who you complain to as it could come back and bite you
7. Avoid complaining all together, life will seem more fulfilling and you might have more friends!


"Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him."

Coming soon-Pictures of my new apartment

Summer's Gone

Welp, the summer is officially over as Fall 2010 courses resume on Monday. I could really use just one more week before classes start though, since really, I didn't have a summer! I've come to learn that even when a graduate student is on vacation, it doesn't mean he/she is free of work. Apparently, I signed on for a  4 year commitment to be at my professors beck and call 24/7. As long as it gets me where I need to be, then I will continue to manage.
Over the summer, I had clinic, classes, and other obligations. First, I helped complete the Healthy Athlete Hearing Screenings for Special Olympics, which I LOVED. Even though we worked 1:30-8:30 M-F and worked the weekend prior, the athletes made it all worth while. It is amazing how they always maintain a positive attitude. I only hope that I took away some of the enthusiasm they exhibit on a daily basis. When the week was over, we screened nearly 1,000 athletes and fit 170 hearing aids-for free! It was definitely a successful week! There is a possibility for a trip to Greece this summer for the International Special Olympic Games. This is something I would absolutely LOVE to be a part of and hope I am one of the two picked.
Once summer break arrived (3 weeks), I was soon haunted by school again. One of my professors approached me regarding an "opportunity for professional growth"-well if you put it that way, can I really say no? I had 3 weeks (my entire summer break) to edit a manuscript that was research based and soon submitted to a professional journal. It took me the entire 3 weeks to complete this project, but I am happy I accepted it as I did learn from it; plus I can add this to my CV.
Many of you know by now that I was asked by a professor in the Fall of 2009 to present one of my class powerpoints to a professional convention in October (so soon!) Unfortunately, I haven't had time to work on that project because I had a summer class project in which I will be presenting on an additional topic! So, I wrapped that up and now I am making my final edits on a newsletter that will be distributed to the patients at the Barkley Center. Whooa! I am exhausted just writing all of that out!
Now, my summer wasn't all work, I did go on a float trip on the Niangua River and then went to California! Stephanie and I were able to celebrate our birthdays with Jymme-Lyn and the boys and have a couple of fun days with Scott. Most of all, we were thrilled to be able to help out Scott and Jymme-Lyn during a difficult week. Scott was out of town and JL was starting a new job. Hopefully the boys are doing great with the new babysitter!

We went to the farm and picked some fruit from the vine and fed some animals

We went to the park and played on the slide

Stephanie and Will playing at the pool

This is where Harrison sat most of the day at the pool-he sure looked good though!

We went to the beach too!

Eclipse

Yes. I am one of those. I remember loving every moment of reading Stephanie Meyers' books: The Twilight Saga. It was that kind of intense reading where you can't put down the book and 1:00 AM comes by so quickly it was like you fell asleep for hours and just woke up. Now, it's been nearly a year since I've read the complete series and I'm ashamed to say that my feelings just aren't the same.
Erin and I saw Eclipse this week as a treat for accomplishing Dr. Honaker's class successfully! Too bad, I didn't get those goosebumps and chills like the first time. (not to mention this movie was a million times better than the first!) I attribute my lack of feeling to distance from the descriptive, trance-like writing throughout all of the books and maybe my instant attraction to Edward's character was dulled by poor acting abilities and his love for Kristin Stewart, uhk!! Now that I really examine this, maybe it was when Edward removed his shirt in the 2nd movie and I actually wanted to close my eyes in repulsion-skinny, vampire pale (which makes sense), and the 3rd nipple didn't do it for me. Maybe I am more of a ware-wolf fan after all ...
You are now aware of my feelings towards this movie, but I must admit that of all of them made, this was the best. I suppose the funds and directing skills have improved substantially, thus producing a more fulfilling movie that better captured my vision while reading the books. I have suggested to myself that the need to re-read all the books and then watch all the movies in order may make for more enjoyable viewing and bring back those old feelings. Or perhaps, I am maturing from the 13 year old vampire/ware-wolf hormone rage. All are possibilities.

Update

Alright, this summer hasn't gone as planned or desired, but it has still been pretty good. I have been keeping busy with summer classes, clinic, and work. Finally, most of my classes are over and I just completed a manuscript, presentation in front of a panel of professionals and students, poster presentation and a newsletter on the topic of noise induced hearing loss. My partner and I entitled our work: If You Can't Stand the Pain, Turn Down the Gain: Consequences and Solutions to Noise Exposure. Clever huh?! I thought so too! Well that was for just one class. One of the greatest challenges has been my time at the ENT clinic. Now, I have really enjoyed being there, much more than I ever anticipated. However, it is really hard keeping up with the pace and everything I thought I was good at doesn't matter any more because I don't get to do it, or my skills aren't fast enough. For instance, my supervisor wants me to get to a point where I can read off a 25 word list, keeping track of which words the patient gets correct or incorrect, while filling out paper work and listening to her story about the weekend. I am not that talented! Everyone says, "oh it will come with time" but I am running out of time and I don't see how it's possible for me. Although the time issue is frustrating because I like to do things correctly the first time and be efficient (where now I feel like a chicken with my head cut off just trying to keep up and not at all confident in my abilities), I have been a part of some really cool clinical appointments. I helped with my first EVER Dix hallpike and head roll, which probably means nothing to you, but I helped diagnose a vestibular disorder and treat the patient for his vertigo! I watched an ENG which is an hour and a half test/treatment for more vestibular problems. I met with a hearing aid representative, helped program hearing aids, observed disgusting objects stored in the ear canal for years finally emerge, and so much more, in just ONE DAY! I know I will learn so much and my supervisor is extremely patient as well as a great guide. In time, I will be confident in my abilities and become an even better clinician!

Disturbing

I recently found out in my Genetics class, that 1 in 20 kids are born not knowing their ACTUAL father. Meaning, their father at birth is not their biologic father. CRAZY! In fact, some students at Yale wanted to test this statistic and one of the them found out his DNA did not match to his father's DNA.

Yes, I asked my mom if there was any possibility of my genetic makeup belonging to some other male, but she denied that it was possible.