39:52 {conscience}

Motivational Monday

There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.

-French Proverb

Nadia is also soft.  Her whiteness is as pure as as clear conscience.

Anita

38:52 {act your age... or not}

Motivational Monday

The older you get the more important it is to not act your age.

-Asleigh Brilliant

While I have in nearly all cases asked permission to post pictures on the blog this is one case in which I have not.  This is not acting my age.  Age would tell me that it is the best thing to ask a brother if you can post a possibly embarrassing photo of him on my blog before doing so, but I didn't.  Although it was not from lack of attempt... he didn't answer his phone.

Adam does not act his age, always.  This is partially what makes him such a unique individual.  He still will come up behind me, pick me up, and spin me around.  Age would tell him that he should probably ask before doing so but he doesn't.  

Age should also tell you that eating directly out of the serving salad bowl at a wedding reception is not appropriate unless you are two and don not know any better... but that is exactly what I did this weekend when my sister got married.  In this case, it was excusable and allowable.

thought for the day...

Act the songs of your heart, not the age of your brain.

ANITA

37:52 {learning}

Motivational Monday

Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask a questions, never know too much to much to learn something new. 

-Og Mandino

I've asked many questions in the past week.  Many questions specifically about how I can access the technology I need to best serve my students.  My student ages are a bit different this year.  For the past 11 or so year my students were between the ages of 0 years to 6+ years old.  My students this year are young adults.  Teaching at the University level is a bit different that E-12 level.  If I'm too big to ask questions I'm sure not to have a job in the future.

My new setup

I observe my students during their clinicals, I can speak to them from my office through technology and see their every movement.

Linking to ANITA

36:52 {memories}

Motivational Monday

You never know when you are making a memory.

-Rickie Lee Jones

In my experience it has been more often than not that the best memories come from unexpected circumstances.  Photographed below are pictures from an expected trip to Anitgua.  I'm sure the color of the flowers that awed me and other small details will fade from my memory at some point.  There is one memory that I hope stays with me forever.  It is the memory of a feeling.  The feeling of snorkeling in a small tropical storm, feeling the cool rain drops on my back but having the rest of my body immersed in the gloriously warm bath water of the ocean.  I knew we had scheduled a boat tour which included snorkeling but I did not expect this boat tour to continue in spite of a very small tropical storm.  There are plenty of other memories from this trip.  One significance is that these are the first memories made as Mrs. Robinson.

Mr. & Mrs. Robinson

Robert

I could have stayed in this hammock for hours. 

Flowers were everywhere in Antigua

I found this one to be particularly beautiful

Horseback riding: I was very concerned about the horses.  I didn't want to go if they didn't take good care of their animals.

Wonderfully warm relaxing weather, never once did I feel it was too unbearable.

On a side note, one other thought that comes to my mind in considering this quote it to always be cognizant of the words we chose to communicate with, because we do not ever know when we are making a memory.  That memory could be someone else's memory of their impression of you.  Cheers!

Head on over to Anita's

35:52 {Change}

Motivational Monday

If you don't like how things are, change it!  You are not a tree.

-Jim Rohn

This quote makes me laugh.  I read ahead on our blogging quotes a few weeks back, so now when I find myself having a hard time accepting a change or when I find myself not liking something, all I can do is picture myself as a tree; then I laugh.

Change is something I have come to be accustomed to over the past two years; but even more so within the past 8 months.  And no doubt change is HARD at times.

October 2012: I started a Master's Program in Forensic Psychology

January 2013: My dog Nadia and I moved to our own place after living with wonderful roommates for a number of years.

April 2013: Diagnosed with C-diff after having two months of GI difficulties without a known reasons, and multiple trips to the ER. The infection hung around for 6 months.

August 2013: C-diff was finally cleared.

March 2014: Engagement to Robert Robinson.

March 2014: Due to leasing agreements or rather lack of flexibility with lease agreement Nadia and I moved in with my sister and her family- as our wedding was planned for August.

May/June 2014: Pondered for a very long time about a very hard decision regarding my job at the Minnetonka Schools.  In the end I was granted a leave for a year as I would be moving to Duluth, MN following our wedding.

June 2014: Started the last semester for a Master's in Forensic Psychology.  Continued plans for our wedding.

June 2014: Started research for my final project.  Interviewing and Interrogations specific to false confessions took up a lot of my time.

June 2014: Accepted a position to be a tele-therapist in Arizona.

July 2014: Applied, interviewed, was offered, and accepted a position at the University of MN-Duluth to work as a clinical instructor.

July 2014: Quit the position as a tele-therapist before I even started.

July 2014: Continued my research on Interrogations and Interviewing

August 2014: Wrote and passed a seven day comprehensive exam for my degree in FPys.

August 2014: Travelled to San Marcos Texas to watch my sister Jodi graduate with her PhD.

August 2014: Finished a 50 page paper on False Confessions as a result of Interviewing and Interrogation Methods.  Heard from the professor that I have successfully completed all requirements for my Masters.  In October I will participate in a hooding ceremony for my second Master's Degree.

August 2014: Continued planning for the last minute details of the wedding.

August 2014: Moved the rest of my belongings to Duluth, MN where Robert and I will reside.

August 2014: Started work at UMD 5 days prior to my wedding.

August 30, 2014: Married Robert and became Rachael Robinson.

Throughout this entire process I faced many instances where the change was overwhelming and I found myself being negative or doubting my decisions.  I could write about this but I won't.  Instead I want to say how fortunate I am to: 1) have Robert, 2) have friends and family, and 3) have the ability to recognize when I need to change my cognitive thought processes to be positive.

We are not trees.  And yes, if we want something to change, the change agent needs to be us.  Below are pictured three of the wonderful women I have in my life who add to my life, support me when I decide to pull up roots and move.  These three women helped make August 30, 2014 special, even after my hair fell apart and went flat from the rain.

Jodi (sister) aka Doc

Nicole (bestie friend) AKA The Angel

Greta (sister) AKA My heart twin

Change is a lot easier when you are surrounded by your support system.  Bottom line is you can't change the change, but you can change your perspective and attitude towards the change.  Cheers!

Go see how Anita experiences change