When Meggie was little she loved the movie, Finding Nemo and would watch it repeatedly on our dated portable DVD player. “Just keep swimming” soon became a common phrase not just in our home, but everywhere. At some point we all face a difficult situation. We may feel overwhelmed and we may want to give up. But then a friend says, “Just keep swimming,” and it gives us the hope we need to reach our goal – to finish strong. This movement to continue to propel forward or to just keep going in your life is critical even during the greatest of gifts and adventures. I have recently embraced the idea that these moments of discomfort and being pushed out of your comfort zone absolutely makes you stronger.
Currently, I am going through a very intense and concentrated version of pushing myself further and harder than during the norm back home. And the cycle is really noticeable: Should I do it? Yes, I should; OK, I’m signed up to do it; Oh shoot, now what did I sign up for? Oh no-I don’t want to do this; OK-I guess I am doing this; I did it! Oh wow, look at what I just learned! Sweet, that was a cool experience…and so on to the next challenge.
This cycle is experienced on a daily basis from being brave enough to cook something new like squeaky cheese, to diving into contacting a well respected researcher from yet another country about their work, or even agreeing to have lectures recorded by the University.
Fulbright has given me this chance to push myself whether I want to or not. So as soon as the next cycle hits, my family reminds me to just keep swimming…