Thrown for A Loop

Hi All,

Thank you for your comments ~ I am happy to hear that you are enjoying following my Blog. I owe you an apology, I have been negligent lately in that I have not been posting regularly ~ I'm sorry. I will not offer you any excuses as to why because that is what the reasoning would be, excuses...

January of the New Year 2009 is almost over and I have no idea how that happened or where the time went! Today is a big day in history ~ Obama, the first black President is being sworn in and I am so excited! I am Canadian, Caucasian and in my early 30's and this is the first time I have ever taken a real interest in the Presidential Inauguration! Why is that I wonder? Perhaps it is because I am finally at an age where I can see first hand how much of an impact the United States has on us in Canada. I am also excited to see and listen to a President who can formulate a proper sentence! I heard on the radio this morning that his speech writer is a 27 year old kid ~ can you believe that!?! I think it's great because it shows that Obama has faith and believes in the talents of the younger generation!!

Anyways, back to the topic that I intended to write about. My best friend has thrown me for a loop! I met her 8 years ago at a job and we have been friends ever since! We have lived together, traveled together and I served as the Maid of Honour in her wedding! Her husband is a great guy and she, her husband, my boyfriend and I have a lot of good times together! They have been married for just under 3 years now and it seems that many of the times we have been together over the past year all she has spoken is of babies, when she's pregnant, etc. She would always say though that they weren't trying and if it happened then so be it!

Well it's happened...She wrote me last week to tell me that she's pregnant! Of course I'm over the top excited for her but already it seems as though I don't know how to relate to her. I have two close girlfriends in my life. One, my younger cousin, is married. The second, my best friend, married and now pregnant. My Mom will not leave me alone about asking when I'm getting married etc.! I can't help but feeling like I'm being left behind... I realize that this may sound selfish but it is what it is.

Don't get me wrong, I am extremely happy with my boyfriend and I am thrilled for our house to be ready for us to move into at the end of March! My hope though is that we get engaged shortly after moving in and I'm just not confident that that's going to be the case... He keeps saying to me that he's not yet ready to get married and I keep asking him what the difference is between how we are now and being married...? For me, the difference is a solid commitment, knowing that we are together forever (Divorce is not an option for me) and I will not have children until I am married and given that I am in my 30s I would like to start having my children within the next 5 years... I'm pretty sure he knows that part of my plan!

And so it is, life is constantly changing and evolving. It seems to happen so much faster now that I am in my 30s...

Back to School!

Well I am in my 30's and I have finally made the decision, and the commitment, to go back to school! I did graduate University with my BA in Psychology in 2000 and I have taken the odd course here and there but I have not committed to a post-graduate program until now! I have to say, going back to school when you're older, more mature, however you want to look at it is much more fulfilling than going to school when I was younger. Back then I felt as though I had to go to school and now I am choosing to go to school. I know I keep saying this but I am much more committed!

I was stuck in a trap for a while of thinking that I had my degree and I had to work with my degree within the work world. Well I can't even say that is true to a fraction of a degree! It's my life and I am free to do whatever I want to do! It's amazing how many years it takes to come to that realization ~ I wonder why that is...? Yes it's true that the people who do the hiring may have criteria that they'd like you to meet, so if it's a job that you want to and obtain the criteria and credentials that they are looking for! Just get up and do it! The year or two that it takes to update your skills and education will pass whether you are going to school or not so you can't look at it in terms of "this will take me too long"... Well, you can look at it like that but you'll only be holding yourself back.

I am taking my post-grad course part-time via distance education. I work full time and need to continue to do so in order to pay my bills and enjoy certain things in life. Yes, part-time will take me longer to complete the program however it works with my lifestyle so it works for me! It also allows me to pay for the courses one at a time rather than in a large lump sum.

So, if going back to school has ever crossed your mind I say go for it! Take the plunge and the opportunity to do what you want with your life. This year is going to pass by one way or another, won't it be nice to look back at the end and realize all that you've accomplished?

Good Luck!