Friday, April 19, 2019

When it rains it pours (and opens doors)

I woke up this morning with Train's "When I Look to the Sky" in my head, a song I haven't heard or even thought about in years, as in years. Given this diddy came out in 2003, it literally could be 10-15 aƱos.

Trying to understand why this earworm suddenly lodged itself in my mind this morning seems pretty fruitless - especially since I've been up since 5 am to work out (finally got back to 3x15 pushup sets without wanting to cry) and start writing up paper feedback for a colleague. But maybe that's something I'm also learning: when or how to better pick my battles - and when or how to let things go.

Maybe it's age, maybe it's the PhD program - maybe it's a combination of the two, finally forcing me to take a step back, maybe even two, and carve out time to reflect.

On where I've been, where I am today, and where various paths could take me in the future.

On friendships and relationships lost and gained, and what I can do today to remedy lingering regrets.

On how I want to contribute to the world, and what I'm willing to forgo in order to craft the future I want. I increasingly don't have the energy or interest in working myself to the bone - particularly at the expense of important friendships and/or relationships in my life - even if that means I might not "go as far" in my career.

On enjoying the little things, and making the best of whatever life throws my way.

     When it rains it pours and opens doors and floods the floors we thought would always keep us safe and dry...
     And as I float along this ocean I can feel you like a notion that won't seem to let me go
     'Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me, and you make everything alright
     And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with me, and I can always find my way when you're here...

     Whether I am up or down or in or out or just plane overhead, instead it just feels impossible to fly
     But with you I can spread my wings, to see me over everything that life may send me when I am hoping it won't pass me by... 




Today I learned...
More about the upcoming Bioko Island malaria vaccine field trial - a very exciting development for malaria control and elimination programs! I didn't realize PfSPZ could provide up 100% efficacy (I truly thought someone had said otherwise), so I definitely need to read up more on this intervention...

Today I'm grateful for...
The lessons that come with time, and how life has a funny way of helping you out, helping you out (yes, I'm also bringing Alanis into this 90s-early 00s lyric fest).

Today's best part was...
(Dr!) Sarah Hanson successfully defended her dissertation today! It was phenomenal to see what she's done and to reflect on how she truly was the trailblazer for all of us global health metrics doctoral students at UW. What. a. rockstar.


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