Tonight is Jewish New Year’s Eve; we welcome the year 5768. Although I’m not too religious, it’s pretty amazing to think of they year being 5768 as opposed to 2007. When Judaism is viewed in its totality, its staying power is inspirational. As with most new years traditions, on Rosh Hashanah, Jews are asked to both reflect on the previous year and meditate on goals for the upcoming one. One of my goals is to do well in my job, and to continue to develop a network of friends and colleagues. As this celebration coincides with my first day on the job solo, I am inspired not only to do well for the sake of those who are depending on me, but also for myself.
My life has taken an interesting path, especially in the past few years. I have been challenged immensely, and I have grown. But still I am not all I wish to be, and sometimes doubts and insecurities win out over logic and rationality. However, I know that to be entirely rational, dispassionate and uber-Randian is not the answer. That middle ground, though, between what you currently are and that which you would like to become, is elusive and ever-changing. Just as events in the world change, so too do our own expectations and priorities. To be unsure is not folly in and of itself, rather, the loss of curiosity regarding ourselves and our world is what poses the greatest threat to our personal and collective evolution.
So on this new day, if you care, share some of your thoughts on your process of becoming, and the definitions your seek.
I suppose we are all striving and working towards some goal, but many times in life, for whatever reason, those goals become modified.
I remember when I was younger I dreamed of becoming a doctor. I have always been fascinated with the brain and its intricacies. For example, I would look at pictures of the brain and marvel at all of the little sections that control different areas. I marveled at how an injury in one area can affect multiple functions.
If you know me today, you would know that I am not in medical school, but on the road to becoming a Clinical Neuropsychologist/Clinical Neuro-Health Psychologist. What I never realized when I was younger was that which appealed to me about the brain is very much in line with what these professions do as opposed to a medical doctor. So, I have spent my time taking neuroanatomy classes, physiology classes, doing an internship with a Neuropsychologist, and learning about as much of the brain as I possibly can. I am still a fair distance of reaching my goal, but I am closer than I was this time last year and will be even closer one year from today.