3.5 miles: Today was Friday and as I was running this evening, I came upon the very words which appear in my title-We have come a long way. And this conversation continued with my husband when he got home from work later in the evening and we embarked on our annual "night out"-something we look forward to every week. The conversation continued as we quite literally spent the entire dinner just reflecting on how far we have come. Coming from long distance relationships and travels to Duke followed by medical school applications and the whimsical acceptance into Pitt, followed by five long years of medical school with one year of research and weddings and festivities and family happenings in between following by our back and forth decision going into residency and then the final Match Day and a day later-our wedding. I suppose we are constantly reminded of just the importance of the words: "Meant to be." And as cheesy as they sound, they never sound cheesy to us-because if you look back on how many things had to have aligned for us to be together-well-the fact that the journey ended up this way...it was certainly meant to be. And as we continued to sit through dinner, we listed off our feelings of gratitude towards residency here and the fact that the people are wonderful, the hours aren't too bad, the mentorship has been excellent, we have both been able to establish ourselves and grow through relationships in a city we love, surrounded by family we love whilst watching other relationships blossom around us. And though technology connects us in various ways-we both are in understanding that time away from this city would have resulted in a lack of growth in certain relationships we currently have. And so we are filled with gratitude with our decision, with no regrets in the city we live in-in the cozy apartment we plan on calling ours for at least a few more years. All this to say-we've come a long way. And truly-I'm sure you have too. Living your life in gratitude really does create joy and put a hope back into your heart when you realize that despite how lost you may feel-you have made the best of where you are and what you are doing. And if you are willing to follow the journey-thinks will be okay. They always work out in the end.