Friday, March 12, 2010

DAY 215 Challenge Over & Last Unknown Fact


Hi Journal & Friends,

 Hot diggity dog! I made it!! Today is the official ending of The Perfect 10 Challenge, which has run for 10 weeks. Whew! 


I loved this challenge... we got to choose our own goals, and report in each Friday. 

My goal: to exercise 6 days per week, split up between exercise DVD's, and a stretching routine (I actually started with using my rebounder, but my legs/knees became too painful, so I switched to the stretching).

This week I made my goal, but barely. Yesterday it was 7pm... I hadn't done my exercise DVD yet, and my mind was desparately scrambling for a legitimate excuse! Alas, none could be found... and I sucked it up and just did it. Naturally, about 1/4 of the way in, the fun kicked in and I started to enjoy the music,  bouncing around with Richard Simmons.


Thank you, Steve, for starting this challenge. I know this has been an extraordinarily hard time for you, yet you didn't give up. Bless you.

The other part of the Challenge was that each week we tell an Unknown Fact about ourselves. Here is the last one:

I was once a Medical Assistant.


For those not familiar, I worked for a general practitioner in a small office, and did all the nursing duties, such as blood draws, shots, EKG's, BP's, histories, suture removals, ultrasound therapies, assisting with acupuncture procedures, and so much more. He was an Osteopath, and a wonderful man. Really, an old country doctor at heart. 

My favorite duty was assisting in minor office surgeries. I only passed out at the first one.. after that, I was good to go, LOL!

We were located in historic Jacksonville, Oregon... the first doctor available as you come out of a forested area. I'll never forget the day Doctor was gone for lunch, and in rushed a bunch of loggers. One had cut open his leg with a chain saw!! People were sitting around, waiting for Doctor to return, and these big burly guys come in, and calmly sit down, with the injured guy bleeding all over my rug!

I thought it might be prudent to wisk him into the back office stat!! LOL! I was not a "real" nurse, and they were expecting ME to do something...yikes! Fortunately--for me AND him--Doctor came back shortly after I got the guy in back and cleaned up a bit.  Yes, it was an eventful job at times. Lots of stories like that. :-)

But the thing that CHANGED my life, was not the job, but the preparation for the job. 

I never went to college, because I had been convinced by a high school teacher that I was not smart enough (another sad story!). But my sister, Karen, and I attended the Bryman School for Medical Assisting together. We set a record as the two highest scores EVER in the schools history, with Karen beating me by tenths of a point on our final grade. 

Honestly, that totally changed my view of myself. I astounded myself at what I had been capable of... I worked full time all night, and went to school during the day, graduating as Salutatorian. Karen was Valedictorian. After that, I no longer felt too dumb for anything!!!

It was hard work, but I am so thankful for that experience. It truly changed me for the rest of my life.


From Dr Phil's book: "Be very careful not to let others deter you from your task of managing your weight."

My verse for today: "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."

My quote for today: "If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves." --Thomas A Edison
Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta
=^..^=

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Congrats on making it to the end of the P10 challenge. It was fun and nice to meet a whole bunch of new people.

Wow, medical assistant - I would have passed out not just the first time I think.

Anonymous said...

You know, Loretta, your story reminded me of my own experience.

A teacher once told me that I "was not college material." Material, as though I was something bought in a dry goods store. I believed her--much to my father's indignation. (I truly thought he was going to get her fired!)

As I sit here, I have THREE college degrees, so I know how you felt when you had your own academic success. It really does change how you see yourself. I was so surprised at what I was able to do!

Isn't it a shame that we have to prove to ourselves that we are what we are? We so easily believe the negative assessment. But isn't it wonderful that God has known all along what He created us to be--what's in us, what we're capable of doing? We just have to catch up to how He sees us!

I think that is part of what this journey is doing for us both.

Deb

P.S. Thanks for your comment on my post. I felt the patient breeze! :D Ok, maybe not, butI'm doing well. We're gonna get there, we are!

Juneau Rebecca said...

Wow, Loretta! I never knew that about you OR mom! That is so awesome! I think for me, it has been only myself telling me that I can't finish college. I know I CAN, I know I SHOULD, and I have no excuse not to. Ah well, we'll add it to the list of things to do when I hit the 'restart' button!

Christine said...

Great job loretta, you did awesome on the exercise.
As for not being 'college material'.
I think someone should have told that woman she wasn't 'teacher material'.
I had ayoung man in my car tonight...I was driving him and my daughter to a school dance.
He told me his stepfather doesn't believe he can be an author.
I told him he can be anyone he chooses to be...then my daughter laughs and says...oh no, here goes mom's spiel.
Well, ugh.....he can be.
It always floors me the sheer number of moronic idiots in the world.
always.
have a great night.

The Brown Recluse (TBR) said...

it just makes me mad that a teacher told you anything at all to make you feel inadequate! Seriously.
I'm glad that you were able to prove to yourself (and everyone else) that you are more than capable!
~M

Kat said...

Congratulations on completing the challenge. It has been fun getting to know you. It amazes me that teachers can get away with some of the things they say. Your positive attitude is contagious, in a very good way...:-)

Leslie said...

Excellent job seeing the challenge through to the end. I love your positive attitude.

Your job sounds like it would have been a dream! My favorite job of all time was 14 years at an allergy and asthma practice where the nurses got to do lots of clinical things like you did. I loved it. I also worked one time for an old general practitioner and it was great. Amazing how many things he could do without referring everyone out to specialists.

That teacher should be strung up and shot. How could anyone tell another human that they weren't college material. I have a friend who got told the same thing, and it's affected her forever, even though she eventually did go to college. You are bright, articulate, creative and write well for starters. Have a great w/e!

South Beach Steve said...

What a story! Wow!

Great job on finishing The Perfect 10. I might have stuck it out from a hosting perspective, but I really dropped the ball on my goals. Life is getting back to normal though. Again, great work Loretta!

Shelli Belly said...

We made it Loretta! Perfect 10!
Great Job

M Pax said...

Well, first congrats on meeting your goal, even when you didn't feel like it. That's some serious stick-to-it-iveness there.

sounds like an interesting job. Teachers like that should not be employed as teachers. I believe anybody can achieve whatever they are determined to. Sometimes they just need some encouragement.

Wendy said...

Congratulations on rocking the challenge Loretta. I know you'll enjoy those minibells!

Stay the course, your journey is awesome!

Related Posts with Thumbnails