the journey

It's great being back home. Oh, how I've missed my family, my house, my bed... my big, comfy, perfect bed! Last night was the first in five weeks that I've had uninterrupted sleep, and boy did it feel pretty darn awesome. And although I had planned on spending the day studying for my OSCE tomorrow, I ended up bumming out with Kirsty (hardly surprising!) doing hands down one of my favourite things ever -- watching West Wing. :))

I'm already on break mode, despite having this awful oral exam tomorrow as well as a few assignments still due in within the next week which is kind of a downer. But what can ya do, huh? Life is life. Med school is med school. But I really am looking forward to the three weeks of holiday ahead. Much deserved I like to think.

Yesterday I was reflecting somewhat on the past five weeks and the experience it's been. Overall, it was pretty great. Just thinking purely about the progress I've made in my clinical skills - it's exciting. Call me a nerd but when learning, studying and working pays off, it really is... fulfilling. I had my one-hour long case yesterday where I took a history from a patient, did examinations and orally presented to my consultant, complete with differential diagnosis and a management plan, and it went well. But what's more, I had fun! I wasn't nervous at all, and I knew I'd pass so right from the get-go it was just this great learning opportunity. And to think I wasn't any where near being able to do that five weeks ago... a real sense of personal achievement.

I know it's cliche but life is truly about the journey, not the destination. And every year, every week, every day is in itself a real adventure. :)