Parang meh house

"Look in the mirror, that's your competition."

Determined. One word that I chose to sum up 2015. There was a lot of firsts that happened this year and for that I am grateful. I am still trying to figure out where exactly time went, as it seemed like just yesterday that I was at home in my parents house in our corner of The Bahamas constructing my year in review for 2014 while my mother made tea and offered homemade bread as Christmas hymns played softly in the background.

Another year is making haste to end and as it stands I will be closing it out and ringing in the New Year  in Trinidad and Tobago. Rather than sweet Junkanoo music on the radio, it's Parang and Soca. I will admit I am doing my best to enjoy the culture as I reflect on 2015.

The photo that adorns this post, is from when I ran my first half marathon in Rochester, Minnesota on May 27th 2012-a year before my medical school journey began. Preparing for that race and my feelings during it is the closest comparison of what this year was like.   You see, when you have 13.1 miles to run, it truly is mind over matter.

January 2015 found me hyped, I mean I was ready (similarly as I was on race day). I had survived Respiration and Central Nervous System blocks the previous semester and I was ready to take on all what this next semester and last of second year would bring. My family, personal friends and fellow classmates were all enthused that we were still in the race.

The semester ended, I celebrated my 30th birthday with a day of "high-tea" and ice-cream and I had a summer of research to complete, Vacation Bible School to volunteer at and books to read at my leisure which was a rare commodity during the hustle and bustle of the school year.

In what seemed to be a wink of an eye, I was back in school preparing for Research Day, trying to juggle around the clock studying with classes and clerkships; and before I realized it, my first semester of third year was over.

Now here I am. Still determined as I was on January 1st, 2015 however my overall outlook and approach has shifted. While the parang rings out, despite my weariness after such a tiresome semester I am beyond grateful for the opportunities that presented themselves for me to let go of pride, to speak out against things that made me uncomfortable and allowed me to take a closer look at myself in the mirror-at the end of the day, it is myself who I am competing with. There was a lot of shedding done this year and that's alright too. The future is bright and God is ever merciful.

Have you done any reflecting? What have you found out about yourself? Was 2015 your year? I would love to hear how 2015 shaped you. 2016 is right around the corner, let's all challenge ourselves to be a little more determined and to constantly check in with God to ensure we're living His purpose driven life.

A Brief Hiatus

It's that time of year again! Exam time! As customary here at The Night Owl Chronicles, I will be temporarily taking a brief hiatus as I will be preparing for my end of year examinations.

This semester has been very different for me and I will have tons to discuss once I am on Christmas vacation. Also, the December student feature will be posted before the end of December.

I am wishing you all who are preparing for finals a wonderful exam season and I am sending copious amounts of positive energy your way.

Until December 17th; have a GREAT week ahead!

Sweet Hour of Prayer

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

It is interesting to see  how my life can be off kilter when I stray from my routine, especially my planning for the week ahead. Sundays I tend to make an early morning trip to one of the countless local markets to stock up on produce and supplies for at least two weeks; once that's done I plan my meals, my study schedule and I have tried to take Samara's advice and plan my outfits for classes (which at times requires ironing), for the week. This believe it or not is done by noon which affords me the opportunity to spend at least six hours of my afternoon at the library.  

This past Sunday, however,  I just could not muster the energy to get up before dawn.  I spent Saturday night trying to catch up on on my Immunology that I neglected since the semester began and surprisingly, I somewhat enjoyed reading and learning  the various immunodeficiencies. I found that just a simple understanding of the basics made other areas of medicine so much easier to grasp. 

This morning I had a what's app conversation with my brother (I'm amazed at the advances of technology that allows for the connection despite the ridiculous distance between) which just gave me a whole lot of appreciation for life and for trials and for overcoming them. 

His reminder to daily recommit my life to God and to meditate on the text Philippians 4:6-7 gave me a sense of peace and hope for the week ahead and this is what I would like to share with you today.  

As I read the text, I found myself humming the hymn 'Sweet Hour of Prayer'. It's as if the text awoken something within and reignited my passion for life and drew me closer to understanding my purpose and calling-in this Ministry of Healing (a.k.a. Medicine). 

Yes, I may have sunken into a state of lethargy which resulted in the delaying of my plans; nonetheless each God given day is an opportunity and new beginning to accomplish more and to make adjustments as needed, because after all, life is never meant to go according to our plans and sometimes the smudge on the canvas is the masterpiece we were meant to create. 

Don't fret over not getting enough hours of studying in (if you have been keeping up with your workload throughout the semester) rather accept the delay, make the necessary adjustments and get back to work! 

May you have a great week and be comforted by the lyrics of the hymn below:

1. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   That calls me from a world of care,
   And bids me at my Father’s throne
   Make all my wants and wishes known.
   In seasons of distress and grief,
   My soul has often found relief,
   And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
   By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
2. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
   Of those whose anxious spirits burn
   With strong desires for thy return!
   With such I hasten to the place
   Where God my Savior shows His face,
   And gladly take my station there,
   And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
3. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   Thy wings shall my petition bear
   To Him whose truth and faithfulness
   Engage the waiting soul to bless.
   And since He bids me seek His face,
   Believe His Word and trust His grace,
   I’ll cast on Him my every care,
   And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
4. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
   May I thy consolation share,
   Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
   I view my home and take my flight.
   This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise
   To seize the everlasting prize,
   And shout, while passing through the air,
   “Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”