Well hello. My last post was written in december of 2023, and I can't let a full year go by without writing something on this beautiful platform, can't I?
I've had quite a year. Ups and downs. As life is, I guess.
A passing
It started in the beginning of the year. A 5 week planned adventure through Vietnam. We lasted until day 8 before we heard my father in law suddenly was in serious condition in the hospital. Day 10 we made the full 16 hours journey back home. Only to arrive a few hours late - he'd passed away about 2 hours before our plane touched the ground.
Still, we were the last to speak to him: via video call we talked to him in the hospital, a good 11 minutes before the nurses took him away for another brain scan. We hun up, even my mother in law sitting next to hem didn't talk to him, he went for the scan, fell asleep during, and never woke up.
London
A nice trip to celebrate our relationship anniversary - loads of fun memories, food, a class Phantom of the Opera viewing which was on my wishlist for so long (and didn't disappoint), a culinary experience in one of Ottolenghi's restaurants... I love London, and each stay is different as there's so many parts to it. Just pick a different neighbourhood/hotel each time you visit and you'll get to know a new kind of London.
Becoming a therapist
This year was the year I started treating patients on my own. The end of last year I was still begin trained by an experienced therapist, now I got my own patients. A fun and demanding experience, learning how to actually make practical all the knowledge I had collected over my years of studying. I've had some 65 patients this year alone by working 2 days a week. I'm getting in the flow of it and am glad I took on this journey 4 years ago. I still have loads to learn, but the patients are happy, and so am I :-)
The Exam
Wrong order? No, I already started treating patients before I finally had to do the big Exam at the end of November. I had to treat a patient in front of an experienced therapist / examiner, which made my belly turn from anxiety weeks before the actual date. You can treat patients in the safety of your own practice, it's really something else to have some watch you do it. It's like getting your drivers licence: you know you can steer a car, but that one hour in the car with an examiner it's all going to be a mix of the mood of that person, your nerves, some skill, but also a good amount of luck - some random wrong turn or surprise move by a different car on the road can decide you getting a 'succeed' or 'fail'. The same with an unknown patient on that exam. But all went well! I made it! I did it! Which also almost completes my 4 years study, 'just' have to hand in a thesis and business plan, but hey, I will manage that too.
Lovely trip to the North of Spain
This was in October, and honestly such a great experience! I love that part of Spain, the food is the best, the people are nice, the nature is green (thanks to more rain than other parts of Spain), and we had great views, walks and other experiences for a few weeks, which was necessary after my year of working and not having the break in the beginning of the year because of the earlier mentioned circumstances. Will definitely be back to this great part of Spain when time is right, 3 weeks weren't nearly enough to do it justice.
Well, I could've posted more?!
Why? You now know all you needed to know and I didn't take too much of the reward pool last year, you could all learn from me :P
No, I'm joking ofcourse, something I scroll around a bit and am always happy to see the usual suspects still posting. It's a true treasure to see this platform being so exceptionally stable and the community still alive.
I'm truly hoping now the studies are behind and I'm getting in the flow of things 2025 will be a year where I can be a bit more than just 'trying to keep up' with things. Looking ahead, planning for the future, reflecting on life a bit more... I haven't had the time, but am planning to do much more of that. The harder I work the more (quality) free time I need - at least, that's how I feel and how I want to live my life.
Work hard, play hard.
We'll see what 2025 brings.
How has your year been? Any updates I surely missed but you want to share anyway?
Hope to see you a bit sooner than December 2025.
Cheers,
Rosa