Prioritizing the Things that Matter

So I am in school, specifically graduate school, working on my doctorate in nursing to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

I really don't know why I decided to apply for school two years ago when, at that time, I was severely pregnant and anticipating the birth of my first child.

If I'm being honest, the fear of uncertainty led me to that point. Maybe the fear that if I don't go back to school now, there will never be a "good time" to do so.

So, I began my grad school journey with my 6-week-old son in August 2021.

Fast forward two years, September 2023. I am TIRED, lol

The past two years have been characterized by exponential growth, and growth is painful, uncomfortable, and exhausting.

I've experienced growth in my marriage, as a new mom, as a young woman navigating adulthood, and in my relationship with God.

Over the past two years, I learned how to deal with generalized anxiety, post-partum anxiety, self-love, and body image. I've learned (and I am still learning) how to run to God in difficult seasons. I am learning what creating a different type of community looks like. I'm also learning how to prioritize my peace of mind.

Fast forward to now.

Now, I realize life is too short to sacrifice the important things.

While my desire to further my education and be a Black, doctorally prepared family nurse practitioner is still there, my desire to teach people about preventative medicine, health, and wellness is still there; I need to prioritize the things that truly matter.

This semester, I've decided to lower my school load, unfortunately pushing back graduation for at least another year.

While I'm sad about that, school will always be there.

But son will never be this small again. The relationships we have and are trying to build may not always be there.

I'm learning to prioritize the things that matter.

Coming to this decision was not easy. I struggled with understanding that delaying graduation does not reflect who I am as a person. I'm not "weak" or "lazy' or "giving up."

Some people may not agree with it, but I'm getting to a place where I don't care as much about what people think.

So, shout out to me for prioritizing the things that matter.