The End of Intern Year

You guys, I can finally see the light at the end of the intern year tunnel!  I can’t believe it’s been 11 months since we moved to St. Petersburg, and that in six short weeks we’ll be on our way to Chicago.

My last post about intern year was brutally honest.  This year has been both lots of fun and very challenging.  Like every season of life, it came with its ups and downs.  That particular post was mostly about the downs.

I laughed a little when I reread my thoughts because not much has changed between now and then.  Vishnu’s schedule has been just as crazy and unpredictable, I still don’t have many friends here, we didn’t go on a real vacation this year, etc.

With all of that being said, I can see how much I’ve grown since September.  While our situation hasn’t changed much, my mindset is different than it was then.  For one, our time in St. Pete is coming to an end, so that helps a little.  But more than that, I put effort into making this town my own and tried to enjoy it as much as possible.  I also put more effort into getting to know Vishnu’s co-interns.  I was on a Thursday night trivia roll for a while!

I guess you could say I learned a huge lesson.  And it’s about more than just positivity and looking on the bright side.  It’s about taking the lead role in shaping your situation into what you want it to be.  For me personally, it’s about first changing how I think about things and then actually taking steps/actions to get me closer to my desired outcome.  It’s so easy to sit on the sidelines and wish things were different.  But we all know that life doesn’t work that way!

On a slightly different note, it’s also funny how bittersweet this move feels now that it’s almost time to pack up and leave.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m so excited to move to Chicago and start the next chapter in our lives.  However, I find myself getting emotional over the silliest things.  For example, we put our dining table up for sale on Craigslist, and earlier this week a woman came and looked at it.  Well, not only does she want to buy our table, but she also wants to buy the couch, the chair, the bed, the nightstands, and the bookshelves.  Great news, I know!  But every time I think about the furniture Vishnu and I bought together being in someone else’s house, I feel sad.  Hot mess express over here!

I also get emotional when I think about not living in Florida anymore.  When we first got married, all I wanted was to move somewhere else.  And now that it’s time to do just that, I can’t help but think about the amazing weather, the beaches, etc. and how we won’t have all of that in Chicago.  AND Florida is near and dear to my heart because it’s where Vishnu and I started our life together.  We’ve lived in three different cities in just under four years.

With all of the above being said, I do feel lucky and blessed.  Medical school and intern year really tested our marriage in some ways, but ultimately, the often crazy and chaotic experiences brought us closer together.  We’re much more of a unit now than we used to be!  And from a Parita perspective, I can truly say that our journey so far has shaped me into a stronger and much more independent and confident person.

With that, let the countdown to Chicago begin!

No question today.  Just a big thanks for reading my rambles. 🙂  Have a wonderful weekend!