Back to School at Almost 40

While on bed rest from my myomectomy, I was forced to do something I seldom have the time to do: Be still and think without interruption. I was looking forward to the time off, even though it was not ideal circumstances, it was still a mental reset for me.

While I was in the prep room getting ready for surgery, I was on the lookout for the Anesthesiologist. At one time in my life, I was hell bent on becoming a physician but life didn't work out in such a way that would allow me to attend Medical School. When the Anesthesiologist walked in, I had questions for him. I wanted to know, where he went to school but not for the reason one might think. I wanted to know how he did it and was it possible that I too could still do it. It was just a question in the back of my mind. What I found out surprised me.
He explained that he was actually not an Anesthesiologist, he was an Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). He also told me that before he went back to school, he was an accountant and hated the corporate world. My eyes opened up. If I was a dog, I'm sure my ears would have propped up as well. We had a brief conversation about what it took for him to change career paths and even though he knocked me out 30 minutes later, I remembered our conversation.

Yesterday was the first day of the Fall '13 semester and here I am, back in school as a 2nd degree student. I'm excited and more focused than when I went for my 1st degree (English Lit). I figured, if I'm not going to have children, I might as well take advantage of the freedom that comes along with it.

If I don't like it, guess what? I'll quit and keep searching for something that I enjoy doing. I want to get up in the morning and look forward to making a difference, otherwise, what's the point of going to work? I can't carry stuff with me to the grave when I'm gone, but hopefully I can leave my mark on the world after I'm gone. That's my goal and I'm open to wherever that leads me.