1. i spent some time reflecting on my job and how much i love it and feel more like a social worker than ever, which feels counterintuitive since my role has become more medical since integrating into the clinic. i absolutely LOVE working with kids who have CP. i’ve done a lot of really good work lately: helping families appeal to insurance, facilitating better communication between providers, advocating for providers to submit referrals or orders, coordinating for DME.

2. i received some really kind feedback from a coworker which was nice and validating.

3. i got the guts to e-mail my manager to find out what kind of opportunity i’ll have to stay in this clinic/population when i graduate with my MSW in a year. i’ve been really trying to figure out what i want to do and the reflection i mentioned in 1. helped solidify this is where i want to be. hopefully as a MSW-care coordinator rather than a BSW-support staff!

4. not really today since it’s something that’s been unfolding the last week or so but i’m so very excited to move into our new home 💕

5. i enforced some good, healthy boundaries with my mom. i love her and know she means well but it’s important for my own sake that i stand my ground in a firm, gentle way.

Rules: answer 21 questions & tag 21 people you want to get to know better

i know we haven’t even made it close to the darkest, coldest, snowiest days of winter, and i know there’s still room for me to go into a bad place. but right now, i’m happy and hopeful. i feel calm and at ease. i don’t feel myself spiraling downward like i’ve done in the past this time of year. 

this is the first november in years where i’m not going through a major life change. this time in 2017, i had just moved in with caleb. i was adjusting to a new job, a new home, a new city, a relatively new relationship that had transitioned from long distance to cohabiting. this time in 2016, i was going through anticipatory grief for my previous relationship - months before it actually ended. i was also experiencing the first holiday season not living at home. holidays are a big deal to my mom, and it was difficult not being there to help hang decorations or put up the tree or spend the days before thanksgiving prepping food with her. i lived three hours away and came into town basically for the thanksgiving and christmas weekends. 

this year, i’m stable. no changes. although i hate school, i’m surviving my first semester of grad school. my relationship is thriving and i am fulfilled in every possible way. 

i was tagged by @infoglute to share 10 pics from my library that describe me, and just like her i couldn’t stand having 9 perfectly lined up pics with 1 extra floating by itself so i also did 9.

Cherry blossom - do you believe in love at first sight?: I don’t think so? I believe in a gut feeling, for sure. I believe in just *knowing* that somebody will have an impact on your life. 

Iris - favorite 90′s song: I answered this in another post a minute ago :)

Orchid - favorite fruit: Raspberries!!! I also really like oranges but only when they’re super juicy and not stringy. 

there’s only handful of people on my follower list who also follow me on other social media and would know if pictures exist outside of tumblr. i feel like i have a good enough relationship with those people that they wouldn’t feel the need to ask this anonymously.

i also have several mutual that i interact with regularly, reblogging/liking/commenting on each other’s posts. i can’t imagine any of them leaving an anonymous comment like this, questioning me multiple times about something as unimportant.

i feel like this is just really weird and invasive. i’m sorry if that wasn’t the goal.