Little Moments of Win

I was not in a good mood when I came to work tonight. I sulked and pouted and griped and groaned. Then I stumbled onto this site called It Made My Day (itmademyday.com). On the banner for the site it says "Little Moments of Win." And I loved that. There are a lot of sites today where people are able to complain and talk about how their lives are terrible and will never go right and it was nice to see that people still get to win.

My favorite story of the many I read was this one:
An elderly man came into the shop where I work in wanting to place an order. While I was working we got to chatting and he told me that he was one of the oldest students at the nearby university. I asked him why he decided to start studying again and he said, "I just thought, what does one do between now and death? Might as well learn Turkish!" IMMD [It Made My Day]

That is such an inspiration to me. Sometimes I feel like I'm just taking what life throws at me. Good and bad (complaining about the bad and being ungrateful for the good). It's nice to remember to seize every moment between now and death. Have fun as much as possible. And maybe even learn Turkish!

Every day has the potential to have little moments of win.

And by the way...I'm not in a bad mood anymore.

Words are the one powerful thing that most everyone has access to. And of course with power comes great responsibility. But I don't know if we apply that words often. We get lazy and self absorbed. It's not that we mean to do that but we usually do. We don't usually notice the subtle hints that people are giving us. And maybe we're the ones giving subtle hints when we should just come right out and say what we mean.

With all this confusion it's amazing that we are able to live and function together, even if it's not always well. In all of this mess it's very important to remember who you are. People may ask you to be more or less or different, but it's always best to just be you.

Here's a tip for living in this mess we call home: Be the one that controls your attitude. If someone hurt you, you choose how to respond. If you're upset and want someone to make you feel better, stop that. You be the one to make yourself feel better. Who knows, maybe the person that upset you just didn't pick up on your hint and doesn't even know why you're upset.

Crunch Time

I love the way it feels after it rains. It feels like the only time that the air is really clean (although I'm sure there is some study out there that completely shuts down that idea and tells me that there are more impurities in the air after it rains than any other time). The water is still on the ground and at night the street lights make it shine. This makes the road incredibly dangerous (at least for my terrible depth perception) but gorgeous at the same time. I feel like the earth is so proud its beaming.

It's crunch time for me...which is why I titled this blog "Crunch Time"...in case you were wondering. Yes, I should be writing papers. Or working on my script. Or possibly my miniature set. Or drawing. Or catching up on reading. Basically, I shouldn't be on this site. But I haven't been here in a while (sorry, Mom). And I really don't want to do any of that. Plus I'm dizzy. I think one of these should justify the fact I'm procrastinating.

I'm not worried though (I'm a little worried but only because I keep having the bouts of procrastination...this one has lasted for the entire semester. Oops). I have no choice but to get everything done. So I will. I will. I will? yes. I will.

I'm trying to be positive. I think my last blog said that. I'm actually doing it this time though. I've started this new thing. I'm calling it "21 days to be a better me". Actually, I just made that up because I've been calling it "21 days to not be uptight" but I didn't want to post it on here that I'm ridiculously uptight, but it's the truth. I still like "21 days to a better me" better though.
Here's why: I don't like being uptight. Uptight people are not happy people. They do not make other people happy. They may be "go-getters" but the fact is they don't believe in themselves enough to go or get! They are too worried that something will mess up and then they will be worse off than when they started. I don't like being that. I see older women in Wal-Mart or the mall and they have frown wrinkles that are more noticeable than their faces. I don't want that. I don't like the idea of being the person everyone avoids. So! In 21 days (how long it takes to make a habit) I will be uptight free. Or close to that. I started last week and had to restart earlier this week. But I will complete this!

And my homework...which I should probably do right now.

But before I go I would like to make sure everyone understands that when I find out what age you can be a crab for no reason, I will still be that lady. Mainly because I think it will be funny. As long as we're clear on that...

Do you ever have any "I left my oven on" moments? Mine seem to always happen right when I'm going to bed. Those times when your mind seem to wind down, your muscles begin to relax, and then suddenly, "Did I lock the door? I turned off the oven right? I wonder if I forgot to do any assignments for tomorrow. Was I supposed to call in to work today? I put the laundry in the dryer, right?" Just an idea of the thoughts running through my head right now. Why this made me want to blog I don't know. I think that it's just another example of uptight Americans. Even when it's time to rest it rarely happens.

I'm now off to hopefully sleep. To sum this up: always double check your oven before bed.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe I haven't posted in 2010 yet! It's weird to say, 2010...
Of course I must review 2009 since it is my first post of year. Last year was amazing. My resolution was to have more fun, and that certainly happened. Okay! Review done!

I went to Barnes&Noble tonight. I love that place. I got a new book, "The Pessimist's Guide to History." Amazing, right? I love books because they're adventurous and fun. They help achieve goals, answer questions and help you learn more about life around you and life before you. I want to learn to speed read (I decided tonight) and I also want to get a really cool organic cook book (you know for when I can afford to cook organic things...okay for when I dream about being able to afford to cook organic things).
I also love the notebooks they have there. They aren't just your average notebooks. These are special, different. They just look like they should be used when you're on an airplane heading to an amazing land or when you're fulfilling a life-time goal. They are just made for writing about adventure and spectacular days. I have two of their notebooks. One meant for adventures and one meant for everything theatre. Both only partially used. I feel like I have to save them for things that outrageously important.
I think I still want to buy other notebooks from there every time because I want to be able to fill them quickly. I want to be able to have such adventures everyday that the notebooks just spill out information. I think everyone wants their lives to be like that. Why do I think that? Because the isles most crowded tonight at Barnes&Noble were "Finances" and "Self Help." There is nothing wrong with either of those isles, nothing at all, but it shows people aren't satisfied. People want more money or the knowledge to balance what they have better. People want to be better. They want to feel better about themselves. People want to live adventurous lives and not just read about them.

I don't have a lot of money...Okay, I barely have any money. I can't afford the gas to drive all over the U.S. (although I am saving up for a road trip in May). I can't afford to go to Ireland, England, Switzerland, Greece...Everywhere! But I suppose I can be adventurous here. I can still fill up my notebooks about little Ol' Springfield. I can still have the time of my life, just living my life.

Of course, I will always be a pessimist, so we'll see how this goes.
Happy New Year.

Growing up, Christmas time, the Glory of rest

It's been quite awhile since I've been able to curl up with my computer and a cup of hot cocoa to write a blog. I realize that this reaffirms my lack of life but I'm okay with that. I find that there is a good balance when it comes to blogging. Perhaps my gaps have been a bit long, but blogging 17 times a day is also not the greatest idea.

Anyway, on with the blogging... This has been quite the year, and there is still time left. Growing up is an odd thing, though. It's not really something that you realize while it's happening. Yet, when you look back, all of a sudden, you're a bit "older" than you were before.

I hung Christmas lights in my apartment yesterday. If I don't have a tree to hang them on, I will at least hang them in my apartment. O don't get me wrong, I have a Christmas tree - only it's three feet tall with about four branches and one large red ornament causes it to bend over. Yes, my friends, it is a Charlie Brown tree. I'm so lucky.

Well, to wrap up this random mess of jumbled words, I'm loving the break this week. It's amazing how good it can be to simply do nothing (and by nothing I mean work and catch up on homework). O well, such is life...an easy life, too, I'll admit. But it's mine... and I'm good with that.

I feel like it has been ages since I have updated to inform...well my mom (lets be honest no one else really reads this) on my my life. Since my last post, my life has been pure chaos. O the wrinkles that my face has begun to sprout and the gray hairs that have made themselves known.

In all honesty, life has been hectic. Fall has somewhat been passed over here, a fact that makes me more sad every day. The few true fall days have not been as magical as they should be. I'm not sure why that is, but it is true. Not just for me either, it seems to be a fact for everyone I speak with. O well, there is not much anyone can do about it except carry on as best one can.

I realize that I should be doing homework right now, or working on things for the play (the joys of being half manager). Yet, I cannot do it. I am behind. I am staring at my books right next to me. And here I sit, on my blog. I justify it as I need a break. Or I need to pace myself. Or I don't feel well. Or.... I guess the list goes on and on and on and on and...you get the idea.

I truly am just procrastinating and not wanting to be doing homework. But since thats a bad habit I guess I shall go now...