The mighty oak was once a little nut that stood its ground.

Some days  I sit down at my machine, and it is as if I am touching a completely foreign object. My fingers are slipping onto the wrong keys, I'm dropping way too many words, my mind is swirling from a lack of concentration, and my body aches that tired, weary ache that comes from too much time sitting in front of a computer. It is on days like this that I feel as if everything I ever learned and practiced has fluttered completely out of my mind and continued right on out the window. I find myself left wondering, how did I possibly end up in this weird, endless land of 180 limbo? Will I ever escape it? Alas, I know I will, but not without a little much needed encouragement. So I dial a c.r. friend, they let me be weary, emotional, and discouraged. After receiving a much needed pep talk, I get back on my machine, for I will never succeed without standing my ground, and mastering my machine. Sometimes success is merely the determination to keep going.

 

This little cycle is nothing new. It happens quite routinely. It really is just part of the process, and it reminds me of how funny court reporting really is, and what an unusual little circle you become part of. One thing I have discovered since I began this journey a little over 3 years ago, is that this is most definitely a career with a lot of heart. C.R.s truly understand how utterly discouraging this program can be at times, and anyone remotely related to this profession is always so wonderful at encouraging you during those ultra low moments (which sometimes seems more often than not). They are pretty much the only ones that truly understand how you feel and what you are going through. Because of that, they always know just what to say to pick you back up off the floor, dust off the dirt off your back, and get you back on your machine. The words that are shared are always heart felt, sincere, and full of a deep appreciation for the amount of hard work and dedication that this requires. There belief and support in you sometimes outweighs the belief you have in yourself. They still, somehow, always remind you that with positive thinking (negativity is absolutely NOT an option), determination, and perseverance, you CAN and WILL succeed. I feel truly blessed to have discovered this little world, and even though sometimes I feel as if I'm still just a little nut, I know that in time, I will be the big, strong tree.

You must do the things you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt