Empowered Spirit

As I sit accompanied by boxes and scattered books and winter sweaters, I think about this ever fleeting moment, captured so well in Richard Linklater's new film, Boyhood .  The changing faces of Ellar Coltrane I got to Philadelphia on September 2nd, 2013 with not much of a clue of what my life would look like moving forward. And as my year reunion of residency in this beautiful, dirty, and historic city approaches, I am yet again jumping on a flight, east bound, to imbibe on more adventure. On the itinerary: Israel, Greece, Turkey. With my beautiful lady, Erica, and many strangers.  I couldn't be happier with what I have continued to learn, each day during this Philadelphian road, and I plan to continue being a part of this community come post-Columbus day. In the last scene of Boyhood , a now 19-year old Mason sits on a rock in the wilderness of Texas, with a newly found friend at college. They're talking about life.   "You know how everyone's always say...

As I admire my shiny cassette and newly wheeled hybrid bicycle, I think about mechanics. Much like the human body, when the parts of a bike are placed correctly, they function properly. However, when the system is not in place, conflict will arise. As a premed student, I was keen on following this western path into medical school and am now faced with an ultimatum. What do I really believe in... in regards to health, healing, and mechanics? And which path should I embark on? I'm a new doula, trained to support women emotionally and physically during pregnancy and during their labor. It's the most beautiful process I have been able to take part in, even as a bystander (birth coach aside!). But now that I get to take part with many women and families as an active assistant, I have become outwardly obsessive over this outrageously breathtaking process.  And as a stepping stone into my future as a health care provider, I have been playing around with the idea of my fut...