The Day After: Rebounding

 

“To be a human being among people and to remain one forever, no matter in what circumstances, not to grow despondent and not to lose heart—that’s what life is all about, that’s its task.”

                                                                    Fiodor Dostoyevsky

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/dostoyevsky-just-after-his-death-sentence-was-repealed-on-the-meaning-of-life?utm_source=pocket-newtab

We are lucky---even IF our much beloved ZAGS lost to Arkansas last night. 

We are always fortunate the day after Gonzaga's final game of the season.

Admittedly, last night's loss, like those in final games in other years, feels like a punch in the gut, only it's a punch to our emotions. 

I can remember two years in a row during the last moments of misery in a ZAGS losing effort, leaving the couch, going to the kitchen and tending to dishes.

Somehow having those dishes to wash and put away provides a bizarre transition into life without "GO, ZAGS" for another six months. 

But it works.  

Along with that, the real lucky part of  Gonzaga final game losses is the time of year.  

Yesterday was nice enough to be nice enough for us to get outside and work on projects, listen to noisy geese fly over and crows cawing and to embrace warmer spring air. 

Happily, today should be the same as will the next few days.  I even heard "68" being suggested as a temperature high this week. 

If Gonzaga had lost its last game of the season in January, we would not feel so fortunate because we are still figuratively and often literally penned up for the winter.

But spring and thawing and green grass and birds singing---all of the above suggest a long-awaited freedom and flexibility with what we can do with our days. 

And, so, as sick as last night's final ZAGS game made us feel, we're okay, and we'll put away the game gear in favor of rakes or bikes or fly rods or whatever. 

Yesterday was not a banner day from start to finish for our family members, and to stick an excruciating ZAGS loss into the mix?  That was a lot to swallow.

It's easy to get down in the dumps,  but yesterday's events for us made it easier. 

Fortunately, one guideline we've learned throughout life, especially living in North Idaho, is to "chin up," call on that well-developed resiliency and proceed on to the next challenge or the next reason to look forward. 

Last night I saw a post on Facebook, written by a young lady I met last summer while doing my "Natives and Newcomers" feature for Sandpoint Magazine.

Her words truly struck a chord with the events of the day.  So, I asked if I could post it today. She agreed. 

This morning I also saw the quote by the writer Dostoyevsky listed above a story about him, telling how he rebounded emotionally from one of the most dire situations one can imagine.  

These items seemed to be speaking to me and to anyone else who's been saddled with difficult emotional times. 

So, this morning, I'm including the Dostoyevsky quote and the story along with the Facebook post by Sara. I'm hoping all who read these people's thoughts, especially ZAGS fans, will draw some positive reminders about approaching adversity. 

I know that I have, and I know it's going to be a better day.  

 ~~~~

First, who is this Sara Glader? 

Well, by golly, I just happen to have a story about Dr. Glader, which I wrote for Sandpoint Magazine to go along with her thoughts.  

Enjoy. 

Sara Glader, Newcomer

When not wearing scrubs and driving her mobile vet clinic to homes in Idaho’s three northernmost counties, Sara Glader, DVM spends days off with her canine pal Jasper, hiking mountain trails, often carrying a fishing rod.

After graduating from Washington State University veterinary school, Sara moved to Sandpoint in June, 2020, joining Sandpoint Area Veterinary and Emergency (SAVE) as an associate vet.

“I had previously worked with Dr. Celeste Grace and Dr. Jenni Grimmett in 2018 and enjoyed my time with them,” she says. “It worked out that they were looking for a new associate veterinarian. I thought I would fit well into the practice.  And, the rest is history.”

Born in Colorado, Sara (30) spent early life in Challis, Idaho, before moving to Coeur d’Alene where she graduated from Coeur d’Alene Charter School.  Her undergraduate work was completed at NIC and the University of Idaho.

Some of her training involved beef and dairy cattle husbandry and medicine.

“The program is no walk in the park,” she says, “and I feel fortunate that my years of hard work have paid off.”

A career in veterinary science has provided a perfect fit for Sara, the daughter of Paul and Deb Glader.  While devoting ten years to the 4-H program and as an adult, she has owned herds of sheep and goats and a few horses. 

The outdoor work as a veterinarian is also appealing.

“I love being outside, which is one of the reasons I chose to become a large-animal veterinarian,” she says. “If I could spend the whole day hiking in the mountains with my dog, it would be an awesome day.”

Each day’s work schedule involves re-stocking the mobile unit, sending out lab samples and completing paperwork associated with horses, cattle, goats, pigs, etc.   

Appointments involve everything from routine wellness/vaccinations to equine dental work.  Emergencies can extend some work days overnight and into the next morning.

Sara describes colleague Celeste Grace as her “spirit animal,” noting that “she has definitely provided a lot of guidance and encouragement to me during a very transitional phase of my life.”  

And, now, Sara's thoughts from her Facebook post published last night. 

One of the things I’ve been working on for myself in 2022 is gratitude. It’s hard to be grateful for everything that life gives us - the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

But that’s just life isn’t it? 

It’s always a little messy and never quite what you expected or intended, but there’s not much you can do other than forge on ahead. 

Sometimes it’s hard to put that smile on your face, but sometimes that’s what you have to do to keep swimming. 

A memory popped up in my FB story today. It was two years ago this day that WSU announced my class was done with vet school. Kicked us out early due to the pandemic. 

It wasn’t the end any of us expected - we still have never seen our regalia and never will. There are friends/classmates I haven’t seen in person and may never again - a strange feeling, given we had spent almost 4 years in the trenches of vet school together (and sometimes those trenches were deep).

Tonight, two years down the road, this was my view from an evening emergency.

                                        --Sara Glader photo

Sometimes you have to just stop swimming, just long enough to take in the view and the amazing world that surrounds us. 

And remind yourself to be grateful for what is good in your life, no matter how small.