Thursday, November 24, 2011

Day 208: Snoopy




- love others
- make everyone you meet feel worthy of your time
- tell people how you feel
- trust
- be open to other's ideas
- be understanding
- focus solely on the people that are physically present 
- never forget those that are far away
- think before becoming angry 
- be patient
- let people cry on your shoulder
- be there for the people in your lives with whatever they need (food, hugs, someone to listen)


Life is fragile. Show compassion and love others. Always.
They may be struggling with experiences and feelings more complex than you could comprehend.

xo

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Day 207: Bear & Clouds

In class tonight I was handed a paper where I was given 1 out of 3 possible marks for grammar, spelling, etc. Normally I would take the "meh" approach and move on with my life, however, the professor started an in depth discussion with the entire class about paper-writing skills. It was interesting to hear my peers describe the struggles they have when writing papers. Commonly, we were frustrated with the University Library website for having conflicting referencing information (such as APA format stated in two different ways). Most of us haven't received terrible grades before while at University, even if our papers had a myriad of errors. I completely agree with the professor that this shouldn't be acceptable.

If someone hands in a paper that is strewn with spelling and grammar errors, they should fail the paper. How frustrating do you think it is for a professor with a PhD to read a paper that should be at University level, but appears to be written by someone in grade 8?

Obviously people make small mistakes. Myself included. I often put commas in the wrong place or use a semi-colon inappropriately. If my professors don't call me out on it though, I may never know what I'm doing wrong.

While I think that a harsher correctness policy will be hell, I truly believe that it would make me work harder to ensure that everything I hand in is of highest quality.

My prof. tonight was telling us that some industry contacts she has have told her that they often hire grads from my school for junior to intermediate level positions. For management or senior level positions, they will be more likely to hire from the more well-known, prestigious Universities nearby. This was disheartening. I realize we just became a University this year. The transition from College to University could be a long, tough process, but I don't want to be painted with the brush of only being good enough for intermediate level work.

I'll be taking this as a challenge. All of my papers for the rest of the semester will be edited with the utmost attention to detail. I'm going to see if I can change my usual A papers into A+ papers by being more careful and attentive.

xo

Monday, November 21, 2011

Day 206: Only the Ocean and Me

Ridiculously honest post:


After 5+ years of not being in a serious relationship, I don’t really remember what it feels like to be in love. I don’t remember butterflies in my stomach. I don’t remember what it feels like to have my heart broken. Seriously broken, by just a few words from the mouth of someone I care deeply for. 

What holds me back from relationships? I’m realizing, it’s me. Myself. I.

As soon as someone shows interest, I usually internally pick them apart for all their small quirks or think about all the reasons why it would be impossible with them. I essentially talk myself out of giving them a chance. I sabotage my own shot at love. At hurt. At feeling.

I want to love. I want to hurt. I want to feel. But, my own internal dialogue is making this impossible. I think my heart is scared, so my brain takes over and rationalizes my heart’s feelings. My brain tells my heart that it’s understandable, even admirable, to be scared. It tells my heart that the pain of being hurt isn’t worth the love that brings it, so why even bother? It tells my heart that no one I meet is worth the fight and that couldn't be further from the truth.

My brain needs to stop. My true heart, the heart desirous of love regardless of the consequences, likely needs to be more open.

Work in progress?

xo

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Day 205: Hannah Montana


These socks were gifted to me by a very dear friend. Obviously because I love Hannah Montana (aka I've never seen it) and because I love Miley Cyrus (aka can't stand her except that one song that I forget the name of). So, yeah, I'm a big fan!!!!!!!

I've been spending some time today thinking about how awesome it would be to live in the olden-days. And I don't mean the 1960's where I could wear bell-bottoms and tube tops and rock long hair and flip flops. I don't mean the 1920's where I could wear sparkly flapper dresses and fun headbands with feathers and nylons all the time. Thankfully! Nylons are the worst. No, the olden-days I would love to have lived in are around the late 1800's era. The long dresses. The curled hair. The bonnets. The adorable shoes with buttons all up the side. The "dances" that people attended. The lack of really doing anything all day but reading and learning about the world through books and other people. Maybe I appreciate the perceived simplicity of the time. However, I'm totally against the idea that the women were basically oppressed, had no rights, and were essentially on Earth to be wives and mothers.

I wonder if I lived in those times if I would go along with life the way it was "intended" and be a silly girl, obsessed with boys, get married to the richest man my family situation would allow and have as many children as possible, possibly daydreaming all the while that my life was different - or would I fight it and try to be independent and prove my worth, despite being a woman? Would I travel? Read? Learn to write? Play music and sing?

I'd love to think that I would try to read and learn and explore as much as possible. I imagine my wanderlust would probably still be a part of me, even if I was living in an oppressive society.

Hmmm...hoping for dreams of big dresses, tight corsets and cute shoes tonight!