2017 Reflections / 2018 Aspirations

2017. So much has happened.

I began the year in the Army in Oklahoma and ended it as a free civilian in Los Angeles. I watched a solar eclipse in totality, and then watched the SpaceX rocket launch from the Los Angeles freeway while driving in traffic.

Everyone said that you may get a little depressed when you leave the service, and I really thought that was just bologna, but with any life changes there is discomfort which takes adjustment. I never thought in a million years that I would miss the Army, but their are some aspects of the machine that I do miss. I miss the camaraderie of being in a team. I miss the early morning workouts outside. The morning fog lifting up and the sun breaking through the clouds was majestic. I thank Uncle Sam for those beautiful moments, getting me up that early to “work on my fitness”. The rest of the world was still sleeping, but us soldiers we were outside sweating it out and yelling even if it was below 0 degrees. It was liberating running those two miles in under 18 minutes at age 30. I kept thinking ‘I can still keep up with the 18 year olds.”

It was an adjustment the first few weeks of freedom especially when I decided to take my first trip to Seattle, Washington, and then to Portland, Oregon to watch the Solar Eclipse.  I just went.  I did not have to put in paperwork to “request for permission” to leave the area.

Seeing the Eclipse in totality was a beautiful moment. It represented the closing of a chapter  and starting another--life outside of the Army as a civilian dentist in Southern California. Seeing the ring of light around the moon and directly looking at the sun was magical and helped me to put things in perspective. Earth, Moon, Sun. We were all in alignment.

I am thankful for my experiences after working on the soldiers for over 4 years. The Army gave me my autonomy. I am able to pick and choose where I want to work instead of being driven by my salary. This is a true blessing and one that was provided by my civic service. In a way serving gave me my true freedom as a civilian.  

I took a sabbatical after I left the Army to be with family.  I was able to focus on things that I truly value such a my relationships.  I took a break from the GYDO blog, but recently this Christmas I received a nice email from a reader which encouraged me to write a 2017 reflection, 2018 aspirations post.

Change is difficult, but transitions happen slowly over time. I have re-adjusted to the fast pace lifestyle that Los Angeles inhabits with the ebb and flow of the freeway congestion, as well as brushed up on my Spanish.

I hope this reaches anyone that has had any life changes.  It takes time and it is truly an adjustment.  I look forward to a wonderful 2018 where I can make my own decisions as a civilian.

To all of you out there reading and prospective dentists- make this 2018 year productive and fill it with intention towards a bright future.