How Accomplishing a Semester of Grad School Makes for Happy Holidays

Last updated on July 27th, 2014 at 10:18 pm

This painting was my last assignment for this semester’s still life class.

I chose to honor the fifth night of Hanukkah and used our menorah as the focus. My mother in law brought this menorah back from a trip to Israel and I have always loved its intricate detail.

Tomorrow our home will be filled with my husband’s family to celebrate.

I am so happy to have completed this semester!

I feel like I was able to overcome so much more then just finishing a semester.

Two years ago I started grad school then hit a marriage crises and left abruptly halfway into the first semester.

The winter of 2007 was a miserable one. In addition to martial strife I developed a new symptom – panic attacks.

My first one bowled me over and I actually called an ambulance.  Then came the slew of medical check ups to rule out any physical causes.

After all physical causes were ruled out, I just had to learn how to breath through them. They were painful and extremely scary.

I am happy to report after six months of marriage therapy, two years of passing time and a semester of grad school, almost all my panic attacks have subsided.

I do still get them in crowded spaces.

So today I celebrate.

I do not have any homework deadlines looming over my head.  I have not had to renew my medication for the attacks in almost a year and I know I am  stronger.

Thank you 8 women dream.

I believe part of this healing process has been being with this supportive group.

I am looking forward to focusing on my 2010 dreams of going to Italy and participating in the Wildflower mini triathlon.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Wendy

(Wendy’s dream is still to become a influential international artist, but she left 8 Women Dream in March of 2010 to complete grad school.  She is still a strong supporter of 8 Women Dream and you will see her in the comments on the blog.)