When I was a kid our house lived at the top of a hill. I would ride down the hill so that I could cross the backyards of our neighbors by the river and head into 4500. This was the neighborhood next to ours with sprawling properties including a Victorian mansion with a widow’s walk and a zip line that went on forever.
The way home was daunting because I was already tired and I still had to make it up that hill to get home and get to dinner. Sometimes I had to get off of my bike and walk it at the very end but after awhile I learned that the secret to making it all the way up the hill on my bike without stopping was to keep my eyes down on my feet pushing the pedals until I felt the road give way and I was at the top. If I looked up sooner I would see how far I still had to go and then I would give up. If I looked up too soon, I’d never make it.
Later in Al-Anon I learned that this was a way of taking it One Day at a Time. One push on the pedals at a time. One step at a time. That’s what I’m doing now and as long as I can keep my head down and breathe deep, it’s ok.
I got off track with grad school thrown by my flu and the GRE not happening when I wanted and then happening when I was sick and my total abject stage fright whenever I thought of my personal statement. I just sat there looking at how far I had to go and not doing a damn thing to get there. It was all too scary and overwhelming and I didn’t even know what questions to ask to make it easier so I just sat there and thought about how stupid I’d feel if I missed the deadline.
On Saturday, Becca had what my dad calls “a come to Jesus talk.” (Which is funny when you realize that my dad, Becca and I are all Jewish.) And it worked. I got her email. I cried a little bit. I sent one back and then I went downstairs and got to work.
Yesterday I hit “submit” on my grad school application. Next week I’ll hit “submit” on the next one.
Thanks Becca! I needed it.
This is hard going.
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Congratulations! I, too, a late bloomer, hated the personal statement. But, I am so glad I did grad school. It was a great experience (LOTS of work!!!). Because of it, I have had so many experiences – it opened all the doors to my current work in attachment. I wish you the best of luck!
Sincerely,
Arleta James
http://www.perspectivespress.com/blog
You’re welcome!
Congratulations! When I was applying it was terrifying. Kudos to you for pushing through it and getting your apps done.
Good for you!
Good for you for sending the application in. Keep going, one footstep at a time.
Oh dear… things seem to be really tough for you right now, but I’m glad you have the support system you need in place. I’m thinking of you a lot, OK? (It’s all I can do, unfortunately).
Way to go! Like you say, you can’t do the whole thing at once — you can only focus on the *next* thing. Just keep chewing that elephant!
…and any grad school would be lucky to have you, IMO.
Congrats Dawn– such wise words. Thanks
Yeah, don’t look up, just keep on inching forward…and yes, grad school will be happy when you’re there.
Good for you! Fingers crossed on the application process, too.
Not sure if it’s a mistake or not but I lOVE your first sentence
“When I was a kid our house LIVED at the top of a hill.”