thank you for your new posts.
there is so much more to this story that is possible on this post
pushing through pain is not advisable in the end.

and I do not agree that stress from school (as a dentist told me) was the cause of this injury.
Chronic pain is unpleasant, and stressful, .. and can contribute to a lot of things. I'm not sure we are defining stress appropriately here..the
"stress" of how the injuries (yes, I do not know the full extent of all injuries) happened, without not remembering what happend, or how, is "stressful = and should be recognized as well.

hello, All
I would like to get some insight into how you all choose your dissertation topic. I'm coming from an entirely different background from my undergrad degree, and thinking about changing research interests for my phd. I feel like my advisor is giving me too much room for the decision (I understand it's my phd) but feel like i'm sinking instead of swimming. How close was your previous research interests to your current? Is there some kind of unwritten law that you should choose projects that are close to your background, or where your heart is?

Hi!
I don't believe that the actual topic matters, but what does matter is that you like it enough to finish. Take a look at the academics in your department (at least in mine): hardly no one is researching exactly what they did for the PhD thesis. If you like the topic and can see yourself still wanting to keep writing on a Saturday night/holidays, go for it. Remember though, that no matter how much you love it- at one point during the process, you likely will not.
Good luck! :)

This discussion is exactly how I've been feeling for the last couple months. I finally did snap out of it, and I agree with Xeno. I realized yesterday that I was talking myself out of the challenge, "just being too tired to keep going". My parents & friends actually helped me realize that I would feel even more depressed and disappointed at how far I have come, and how much I wanted to be here in the first place. I would feel great regret if I didn't keep going too.
I really love what I do, and found that again. So, here I am, Saturday morning, back at the work that I put off for weeks ;)

So how did we all do? I will be honest and provide some excuses, but honestly this was such a bad week!

1. get up at the first alarm (hahaha)

- started out good...but I was not able to get up at the first try. I DID however get to the office around 8am everyday! that counts?

2. revise comprehensive paper and submit to committee members

-Nope, guess what? Spilling water on my laptop - it completely died on me. I was able to get the IT guys to retrieve my files, including this paper...you could only imagine the panic. Guess who is buying a new computer this week?

3. submit abstract to gerontology conference
-YES!

4. set meeting with advisor
-YES!

5. smile, smile, smile
-YES, but I admit, I wasn't smiling when my laptop would not turn on and I knew it was broken.

Hope everyone else had a better week!

TomFinlad, what a great idea. Here are my resolutions this week:
1. get up at the first alarm (hahaha)
2. revise comprehensive paper and submit to committee members
3. submit abstract to gerontology conference
4. set meeting with advisor
5. smile, smile, smile

i should have mentioned mine was to wake up when my alarm first went off in the morning...at least i set my all time record....6 snoozes.

Hello, All
I remember a thread months back about all of our resolutions.
So how did we all do?

I'm the first to admit, I did not keep any of them...

writing away, but rented a few movies with the parents and will have the laptop with me so I can "feel like I'm being productive".

congrats!

Hello, has anyone ever witnessed or done a career limiting move?
How did they or you try and recover?

Hi Lindsay....I'm from Ontario...you? Funny, I have a friend with the exact same name....

Granola with yogurt and berries...
Tim Horton's coffee (double-double)

But my secret favorite is Ketchup-flavored chips....I heard once from a US friend that this was a "Canadian flavor", and looked at me appalled that I would eat such a thing!

Thanks-It is nice to know you are never alone...

I'm trying to stay busy and focussed (we all know how busy we are, I have my defense coming up in under a month) and I booked a TMJ massage with a very good doctor over here. All I can do is keep smiling...thanks again for all your suggestions!

My supervisor is supportive in his own little way, he doesn't have much time for us (always away at a conference/meeting) but when I do get the time, it is absolute quality. I agree.