b) My Motivation for Change

I feel like today is perhaps the most appropriate day to talk about change. Watching the inauguration earlier today, I felt an overpowering sense of hope like so many Americans. In a country where more people tune into watch "CSI" or "American Idol" than vote in Presidential elections, it was truly amazing to see our nation's capital turn into a city with 'standing room only.' As students of public health, and as citizens who want to dedicate our lives to becoming advocates of change, be it environmental, behavioral, or political, it was overwhelming in more ways than one to see our fellow Americans gather in millions and pledge to be a part of the change we so desperately need in the coming years. It gives me hope that as we move from our theoretical realm of books and classrooms into the real world, we CAN create positive health outcomes. The new face of our country is a living testament to changing social norms and the audacity of hope. Pun completely intended.*

On to coffee!
Why do I want to kick the habit? I find it's taken over my life over the years. I used to drink coffee once a week for taste. Most of the time as a treat for myself the days I had 8am class. Then I switched from studying at the library to studying at cafes. It kinf of went down the tubes at that point. Coffee became a study tool. Now I'm conditioned to a point that I can't sit down to study without a cup of coffee, even if I'm at home. More than a psychological addiction, it's a physiological one. More than 36 hours without caffeine and I develop the headache from hell. So, my motivation for change is to regain control over my life. I don't want coffee to control my mornings or whether or not I can read a book for more than 35 seconds. And for the sake of narcissism, I don't want wrinkles for my 25th birthday.

*I apologize for needing to throw all that into this post, but I really feel like the knowledge we gain as students of public health gives us this entirely new perspective on how we view the world. This is the first election in my lifetime where I have been completely involved and invested every step of the way, and I think it's because of my studies that it felt so personal. We talk about how difficult change is in general, today gave me hope that we are fighting the good fight in public health and we can make a difference.