Rewarding
“So do people tend to make noises during this?”
“Yeah, all the time.”
“Well, I’ve been seeing you for years and never have, so I just wondered. But today might just be the day.”
“Well, feel free. It’s totally normal.”
“Like borderline inappropriate normal?”
So went my conversation with my massage therapist yesterday afternoon. Because post-final class but pre-margarita, I’d scheduled a “reward massage.” Why I feel the need to call it a reward, I don’t know. Why I feel the need for a reward at all may seem a little much, but dang if it didn’t feel good just the same.
Over the last fifteen weeks, any time I’ve told anyone what I’ve taken on with school they think I’m insane. I get strange looks from people, shocked that I’m still standing at all. People that went through medical residencies and intense MBA programs, and went back to school after they had kids are calling me crazy. They could be right. That would certainly explain how yesterday, after that last final, I sent everyone I know (and even many I don’t know) messages saying “This señorita is having a margarita.” Crazy it is.
But last year, when I started all this, a strange thing happened: I felt like it was right. Suddenly, the thought of a goal and the end game became more important than any thing else. More important than doubts and fear. I was more excited about it than anything I’d considered in the past, and the weird thing was, the motivation came from me. Only me. Sure there is support and encouragement, but at the end of the day taking on a massive amount of work seemed completely possible in my mind. Which, I think, is what I’d waited for all along.
It probably is going to drive me crazy. Of course other things will be pushed aside. OF COURSE I don’t know what’s going to happen when I’m finished. But if what remains feels anything like what’s already been done, I’ll be glad to keep going. And as each part comes to an end, I’ll be glad to celebrate it.
This entry (Permalink) was posted
on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 4:21 am and is filed under School, Life is Good.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0
feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response
. Pinging is currently not allowed.


11 Responses to “Rewarding”
May 6th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Even when we think we know what’s going to be the end result, life can usually surprise us. So enjoy the ride! I’m glad you got a massage- well deserved.
May 6th, 2008 at 7:56 am
There is no better feeling than being done with finals. No more tired of a feeling either.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Congratulations! Enjoy your break now, and relax…
May 6th, 2008 at 10:29 am
You celebrate and reward yourself all you want! Congratulations on finishing yet another step : )
May 6th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I love that feeling - when it is right and it is coming from inside you rather than from the outside. It is the feeling that I seek because then I know what I am doing is the right thing for me for that moment!! (And hey, it makes it easier to do what needs to be done and much more enjoyable!)
Have margaritas all week… finishing a semester is worth celebrating!
May 6th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
What kind of massage noises were you making anyway?
Congrats on finishing finals! I would certainly book another margarita for today!
May 6th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
You deserve the margarita AND the massage!
May 6th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
And with each part comes accomplishment.. and more invested.
Very best wishes for celebration time.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Happy margarita señorita. Congratulations on all your hard work. It’s amazing the determination you can summon when you really want something. Well done!
May 7th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Ok, I’m curious too. What “noises” are you referring too? haha But great idea after a weekend of studying to get a massage!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Hey, other than the drink you didn’t reward with food, a massage is much better!! But then you’ve been eating well and losing weight too (is that cause you have no time to eat?). I’m still curious what it is you are working on. Since MBA had been in your mind at first.
Leave a Reply