This past weekend, I took advantage of the calm before the storm (meaning no exams yet) and I ventured to downtown Chicago.

After more than two years, I am finally feeling like I am getting my life back! I work only two mornings per week, and with classes starting (the earliest at 7 p.m.) and no clinic, I have time for things that I missed. I have time for dinners, shopping, even makeup and manicures. I have been reading books that have nothing to do with oriental medicine, and I am catching up on new movies, shows, meeting friends, and so much more!

It feels amazing — so if you see me smiling more than usual, it’s not you, it’s me 🙂 and I’m happy to say I’m in a way better place than I was six months ago.

Downtown Chicago was still beautiful under all that fog and wind, and after an Ethiopian dinner at Demera, I parked the car and took a walk on Michigan Ave. to Chicago Symphony Center.

If you didn’t know, as a student you can get $15 tickets to certain shows at the Chicago Symphony Center. This past weekend, they had a special showing of “Singin’ in the Rain” (I must confess to being a nerd when it comes to old movies) with live orchestra — and the place was packed.

It was a nice, relaxing weekend but I’m also happy to say I’ve started studying for my herbal classes (the first time in eight trimesters when I actually manage to start studying and don’t cram everything in to one week!). In two weeks, first exams will be upon us, but until then I’m set on taking the time to breathe in and remind myself that first: “physician, heal thyself”.