May 12, 2005
Marinating
So I'm still here... I haven't abandonned my online digs yet. I've continued to read all of my favorite journals; I just haven't had a whole lot to say about my own life. It's been a lot more fun living vicariously through my D-land buddies than writing an account of my own personal adventures. But I haven't left, I'm not dead... just lurking.
By all accounts, I've had a really good month. I finally started my clinical supervision, which means I'm on the track to earn my independent clinical social work license. I have to have 100 hours of clinical supervision and 3000 hours of clinical work over a 2-4 year period - basically, one hour of clinical supervision for each full-time week I work. I've already had five sessions, which means I'm 5% there - whoo hoo! Fortunately, I'm doing group supervision, which is not only more affordable but much more helpful. I get the feedback of two other supervisees in addition to my supervisor, which already has proved helpful in just a short period of time. My supervisor is terrific - she is mostly retired now, but still does one full day a week of therapy. Her credentials are truly impressive - executive director of a child abuse treatment center, psychotherapist, educator... I could not have found a better supervisor. Plus, the price is right! A lot of supervisors charge what they would for an hour of therapy - roughly $80. My supervisor is charging my group $45 a session - just $15 each. AND she comes to the hospital to meet with us during the day - we don't have to go to her. In the world of clinical supervision, this is amazing.
I'm so glad I finally did this - I don't know what took me so long. I put off seeking supervision because I thought it would be too hard to find a supervisor, too expensive, and too difficult to work into my schedule. By the grace of God, somehow, my little group of three found the best supervisor ever, and I am so grateful. I only wish I was going to be in San Antonio for two more years rather than one, so I could finish my supervision with her. Unfortunately, I'll only be a little over halfway through by the time we're set to PCS. The thought of finding a new supervisor, much less a new job, in a new city worries me, but there's nothing I can do about that yet. For now, I just have to enjoy the great set-up I have now, and worry about tomorrow... tomorrow.
Work is going well - our NICU census is picking up, so there's enough to keep me busy most days. I think that's why I haven't been writing a whole lot - I don't have time during the day to write like I did at my last job. In my opinion, staying busy is preferable, but I do miss being able to write. I'm not as diligent about making the time during the evenings, so my writing suffers. There's only so much one can do, I suppose. I've been working out a few nights a week for a few weeks, which is good. I haven't really noticed a difference in how I look or feel yet, but I suppose that will come in time. I'm teaching a couple classes on "Working with Difficult Families" for a local community agency, which has been okay. The money's not great, but every little bit helps, right?
Really, I'm just biding my time until Husband and I leave for our vacation to Italy next week. We leave on the 21st and get back the 30th, and we both need this badly. We're spending a couple days in Rome and then heading off to Tuscany. It should be lovely, and I can't wait! We're meeting Husband's best friend and his wife there, and I can't think of any one I'd rather travel with. Plus, the best friend is super-anal so he's coordinating everything - lodging, day trips, etc. It's like having my very own personal tour guide. I love it. I'll try to post some pictures when we get back.
So anything else... well, there is something else. For some reason I feel hesitant to write about it. I don't know why, because I know all my readers are tolerant and cool. I guess it just feels weird, given that I'm such a liberal, leftist kind of person... well, I'll come out with it. I'm really getting back into my spirituality. I've been doing a lot of reading, including reading the New Testament, and it's just starting to click with me. I feel much more in tune with the world and God and everyone around me. I found a cool, progressive Catholic church that I've been to a few times (although not in a couple weeks), and each time I go, something speaks to me. I'm definitely experiencing a shift in my own spirituality.
Don't get me wrong... I still have a lot of issues with the "Church" and with the way theology has been manipulated over the years. I'm not happy with the current state of the Catholic church and their treatment of minorities (especially women and gay people). I'm certainly not becoming fundamentalist, and I'm still wary of those who use religion as a weapon. But I will say that when I strip away the politics, the scandal, and the human error, when I really focus on the essence of my faith and what is divine... a lot of it makes sense. Plus, I figure that the only way to make change in an institution is to be involved. You can either bulldoze from the outside, or you can get inside and renovate. Right now, I'm standing in the doorway, thinking about entering. Or at least hanging out in the foyer for a while.
So, that's what I've been up to for the past several weeks. A lot of reflection, a lot of questioning, a lot of seeking. It's been all about gaining knowledge, in many areas of my life. Perhaps that's why I've been quiet lately. I've needed to let things absorb before I felt like I could start expressing them. I guess you could say I'm "marinating." I like that.
nesting - September 05, 2006
I'm here!! - August 25, 2006
Finally, some good news - March 02, 2006
The Day That Almost Was - February 26, 2006
can you keep a secret? - February 01, 2006
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