Well thank goodness...

Life has been pretty eventful over the past year, with some really amazing things (the birth of my daughter) and well as somethings I'd rather not have happened.  As much as life has been piling it on, I'd like to think that I'm doing great all things considered. 

Now the goal of this blog has been to share some of my experiences as a veterinarian to both educate cat owners and to promote what I think is a really great clinic with an amazing staff.  I'm not quite sure that I've succeeded in a different goal, which is to share a bit more about myself just so clients have a better frame of reference.  So, here we go...

I'd like to quote an article from the cover of this past week's New York Times Sunday Review section.  "The brain is constantly rewiring itself based on daily life.  In the end, what we pay the most attention to defines us.  How you choose to spend the irreplaceable hours of your life literally transforms you."

This article really resonated with me because it offered some clarity as to how I've gotten to this point in time, and what I should be truely thankful for.  One of the defining moments of my life involved the loss of my only sibling back in 1996.  While that tragedy paid dividends with my grades (likely as an escape, I dove into my studies and was awarded the Gathright Scholar in 1999), I was also fairly unhappy because I focused quite a bit on my brother's absence.  While time helped heal some wounds, I'd say things changed mostly back in 2003 when I finally connected with the person who is now my wife.

The biggest thing I learned through her example is that there is just no point in getting upset.  Being mad about something not going my way only leads to unhappiness.  I've seen her experience some pretty big challenges and move on like a champ.  Somehow, I think that Amanda figured out what is written in the above quote all on her own, and has benefited from it.  I am in awe, and I am greatful, because it is by challenging myself to focus on the positive that I can write this today.