1. Waffles are good for lunch too.
2. Wearing flats is cute - but freezing in winter.
3. Playing with children is the perfect pick-me-up.
4. Sewing is scary.
For the past few days, I've been volunteering in the costume studio in the theatre (my goal is to be hired as a technical assistant). Mostly I've been cleaning things or cutting out patterns and pinning pieces together to be sewn together by someone else. On Friday, I was given a new project - sew a pair of pants. Sure, I've been on a sewing machine, but that was two years ago and that machine was not as fancy as the ones in the costume studio. Let's just say, I was slight afraid I was going to mess up this pair of pants. This was to be worn by someone on stage, in a production - to be seen by everyone.
Life is a huge sewing project. Two pieces of fabric - two souls - are put together, the edges are matched together, and they are pinned together. Then a few stitches are put in and tah-dah! a piece of clothing or whatever it may be. Sometimes the edges don't quite meet or sometimes the stitches aren't as strong or frequent as it should be or the line isn't straight. But those imperfections - no matter how huge - is what makes life. Heck, what sometimes seems like an imperfection turns out to be what is exactly needed. There are a ton of different kinds of stitches - there are tight stitches for a frequently pulled on, there are hidden, loose stitches for hems and so on and so forth. Every relationship we have serves a different purpose - so of course the pattern used, the tightness of the stitches, the placement of the thread is going to be different.
My life right now is full of sewing (literally and figuratively). I am meeting new people, in new places, having new adventures - trying different fabrics that would coordinate well with me. Sometimes it doesn't work, sometimes the line isn't straight, sometimes the grain isn't matched up, sometimes it's crazy-intricrate.
What I'm trying to say is this - sometimes you can't see what the finished product is. You just have to sew along the line and make it the best you can from what you see. Sometimes the end product turns out to be a mess but sometimes, it's amazing.
Keep on sewing away.
Peace!
-Nicole
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Chords
1. Nutella is a great night time snack.
2. Don't slip on snow.
3. Keep the heat on in your room.
4. A single chord can bring so much.
My schedule looks insane right now. Purple is class, green is volunteering/work, brown is play practice, blue is campus events, and red is other. It seems as time goes along, I add more and more events and more colors - it's almost looking like an art project. I love being busy, so I'm ok with it. But the downside is I am missing out on the crazy shenanigans my friends are doing. It's weird not going to dinner with them or spending a few hours each night doing homework or jamming out while Sally plays guitar. It's almost secluding.
Tonight I went to Preston Pugmire's concert. In order for you to know what I'm talking about, check out one of his songs below.
2. Don't slip on snow.
3. Keep the heat on in your room.
4. A single chord can bring so much.
 |
| This was my week. |
Tonight I went to Preston Pugmire's concert. In order for you to know what I'm talking about, check out one of his songs below.
Epic, huh? A few songs into his set, he starts to record/play a few different things...then he played the bass line. A few notes into it, instantly everyone knew he was playing "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5. I found it absolutely crazy how one or two chords could indicate what song it was. Tons of songs have similar chords, but somehow that specific progression makes it unique.
These past few days of having a secluded feeling has taken a bit of a toll on me. My doubts get the best of me when I'm away from my friends; I think they will suddenly not want me anymore or I missed too much to know what's going on. But as soon as I enter their presence - a first chord, if you will - I know it's all ok.
My time away from my usual group of friends has also brought a few new first chords. I just had the first practice for a play I'm in (The Vagina Monologues) and I already know it's going to be a blast being around a cast of all females. Plus, spending time away from my friends allows me to appreciate the next chord with them that much more.
But sometimes that first chord isn't what you wanted or needed to hear. But even so, the song keeps on going and chords change and the key may even change. It all turns out and it resolves. The song eventually ends and another one starts.
So the next time a song starts or your schedule looks like mine, remember to listen for the first chord and anticipate the rest of the song.
Peace!
-Nicole
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
All I Know
1. Learn to love iguanas.
2. Nutella and tortilla chips.
3. There will be good days and bad days.
4. Take a second to notice the ice on branches
Hello there! Megan here and we appear to be back to our regular schedule somewhat. Happy Wednesday.
Oh Socrates. He can actually be really annoying, especially when discussing the nature of piety. I digress. Socrates is excellent because he recognized and understood his own lack of knowledge. The quotation is as follows, or at least what we believe it to be, "All I know is I know nothing." Being faced with all the things we don't know is a little bit terrifying, not to mention uncomfortable. It can be easy to fall into a state of complacency with who we are and where we're at, after all, who wants to face the enormity of what we actually don't know or haven't experienced.
If there is one thing that we have a better handle on, it's ourselves. In my opinion, we know ourselves better than we think we do--though I am very guilty of spinning myself into more than one existential crisis on more than one occasion. It is important to take the time to figure out what makes us tick because ultimately, we can never fully divulge everything to someone else. We can get to know each other very well, but no one will ever know someone else, not completely.
I say this because I have been riding the struggle bus a lot lately, oh boy have I. I seem to be conflicted about everything, ranging from my emotions, to my major, to my goals for next year, and finally, to my career choice. I never seem to find any conviction to back up my decisions, or even the will to commit to a decision. I struggle with a lot of aspects of my own identity really. It's just how I am.
Now, I may not have the greatest grasp on myself, but I think I know what I enjoy, what I'm good at, and what I want for the future. Never in a million years did I think I would be pondering the concept of vocation. I'm a bit stuck in its religious context after hearing prayers for an increase in vocations every Sunday for years. But I think I need to just follow my instincts and go with what feels natural to me as far as major and career, and maybe even life itself. That's what vocation is right? A calling to employ your natural gifts and interests.
So when you feel like you don't know anything, stick to what you're good at, and stick to what you love. I'm a strong believer in that if you have a will to succeed and be happy, you will find a way, all while being able to do what you love. I mean heck, the artist who works on Google's special occasion doodles is probably successful and happy with what he's doing. So maybe I should just take a breath and not question everything so much. Maybe it's where I belong. I mean, I would make a terrible surgeon because it completely goes against every one of my talents, interests, and abilities. Yep, I'll stick to psych.
Cliché as it is, just follow your heart. It may not be right 100% of the time, but I think it's the best you and I have.
-Megan
2. Nutella and tortilla chips.
3. There will be good days and bad days.
4. Take a second to notice the ice on branches
Hello there! Megan here and we appear to be back to our regular schedule somewhat. Happy Wednesday.
Oh Socrates. He can actually be really annoying, especially when discussing the nature of piety. I digress. Socrates is excellent because he recognized and understood his own lack of knowledge. The quotation is as follows, or at least what we believe it to be, "All I know is I know nothing." Being faced with all the things we don't know is a little bit terrifying, not to mention uncomfortable. It can be easy to fall into a state of complacency with who we are and where we're at, after all, who wants to face the enormity of what we actually don't know or haven't experienced.
If there is one thing that we have a better handle on, it's ourselves. In my opinion, we know ourselves better than we think we do--though I am very guilty of spinning myself into more than one existential crisis on more than one occasion. It is important to take the time to figure out what makes us tick because ultimately, we can never fully divulge everything to someone else. We can get to know each other very well, but no one will ever know someone else, not completely.
I say this because I have been riding the struggle bus a lot lately, oh boy have I. I seem to be conflicted about everything, ranging from my emotions, to my major, to my goals for next year, and finally, to my career choice. I never seem to find any conviction to back up my decisions, or even the will to commit to a decision. I struggle with a lot of aspects of my own identity really. It's just how I am.
Now, I may not have the greatest grasp on myself, but I think I know what I enjoy, what I'm good at, and what I want for the future. Never in a million years did I think I would be pondering the concept of vocation. I'm a bit stuck in its religious context after hearing prayers for an increase in vocations every Sunday for years. But I think I need to just follow my instincts and go with what feels natural to me as far as major and career, and maybe even life itself. That's what vocation is right? A calling to employ your natural gifts and interests.
So when you feel like you don't know anything, stick to what you're good at, and stick to what you love. I'm a strong believer in that if you have a will to succeed and be happy, you will find a way, all while being able to do what you love. I mean heck, the artist who works on Google's special occasion doodles is probably successful and happy with what he's doing. So maybe I should just take a breath and not question everything so much. Maybe it's where I belong. I mean, I would make a terrible surgeon because it completely goes against every one of my talents, interests, and abilities. Yep, I'll stick to psych.
Cliché as it is, just follow your heart. It may not be right 100% of the time, but I think it's the best you and I have.
-Megan
Monday, January 23, 2012
At Least I'm Breathing
1. You can never have too much tea.
2. Remember important meetings.
3. Don't scare someone awake - it's not nice.
4. At least you're still breathing.
Today was a struggle. I woke up at 7:15, ended up hitting my snooze and waking up later than wanted. I ran a few errands during the afternoon, but in order to do so, I needed a car...which was covered in 3 inches of snow. I didn't have a brush to get the snow off - I was intending on getting one while I was running errands - so I ended up covered in snow, sopping wet. The roads were quite slippery, which made for a terrible and terrifying driving experience. I nearly locked myself out of my car and I forgot my debit card in my car while I was shopping and didn't realize it until I was checking out. I also forgot I had a meeting for one of my plays I'm in and it lasted longer than I wanted it to.
It's been a rough day. Plus I keep on running into things and in the past few hours, I've slowly started to feel overwhelmed. I am in two plays, trying to get a job (which I need to volunteer for a bit before I'm hired), and oh, I am still a student.
But at least I'm still breathing.
I stopped at home for about an hour and a half today just to relax and drop a few things off. I forgot something in my car and I told myself, "Gah! Everything is going wrong!" But as I was running to my car, I started to list off everything that went right. I woke up - that's a miracle. I had food to eat and I got two meals before 10:30am. I was able to spend a few hours at home. And the best of all - I'm breathing. I am able to fill my lungs with air and feel myself living for just a moment.
After such a rough day, I can't help but laugh at myself. I have so much to be thankful for, even if nothing seems to be going right. So when you're having a rough day, just remember everything that went right.
And at least you're still breathing.
Peace!
-Nicole
2. Remember important meetings.
3. Don't scare someone awake - it's not nice.
4. At least you're still breathing.
Today was a struggle. I woke up at 7:15, ended up hitting my snooze and waking up later than wanted. I ran a few errands during the afternoon, but in order to do so, I needed a car...which was covered in 3 inches of snow. I didn't have a brush to get the snow off - I was intending on getting one while I was running errands - so I ended up covered in snow, sopping wet. The roads were quite slippery, which made for a terrible and terrifying driving experience. I nearly locked myself out of my car and I forgot my debit card in my car while I was shopping and didn't realize it until I was checking out. I also forgot I had a meeting for one of my plays I'm in and it lasted longer than I wanted it to.
It's been a rough day. Plus I keep on running into things and in the past few hours, I've slowly started to feel overwhelmed. I am in two plays, trying to get a job (which I need to volunteer for a bit before I'm hired), and oh, I am still a student.
But at least I'm still breathing.
I stopped at home for about an hour and a half today just to relax and drop a few things off. I forgot something in my car and I told myself, "Gah! Everything is going wrong!" But as I was running to my car, I started to list off everything that went right. I woke up - that's a miracle. I had food to eat and I got two meals before 10:30am. I was able to spend a few hours at home. And the best of all - I'm breathing. I am able to fill my lungs with air and feel myself living for just a moment.
After such a rough day, I can't help but laugh at myself. I have so much to be thankful for, even if nothing seems to be going right. So when you're having a rough day, just remember everything that went right.
And at least you're still breathing.
 |
| Megan's note to me and someone drew an illustration of it. |
Peace!
-Nicole
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Snow
1. Early bird gets the washing machine (or 4).
2. Don't get too frustrated when you can't think of anything to write for a blog post.
3. Be tackled into the snow.
4. Snow is absolutely wonderful.
I hate winter. I hate how wet, dirty, freezing, horrible-driving weather and especially because of where I live, it never seems to end. Plus, I thrive off of sunlight. The more sun there is, the happier I am. I absolutely hate winter.
But I love snow.
2. Don't get too frustrated when you can't think of anything to write for a blog post.
3. Be tackled into the snow.
4. Snow is absolutely wonderful.
I hate winter. I hate how wet, dirty, freezing, horrible-driving weather and especially because of where I live, it never seems to end. Plus, I thrive off of sunlight. The more sun there is, the happier I am. I absolutely hate winter.
But I love snow.
 |
| A snowy world. |
I love the way it sounds underneath my shoes. I love how it covers the trees. I love how lights look when the snow is falling. I love how it makes slip every once in a while, like it's reminding me to stay in the moment and watch where I'm going. More than anything, I love how it covers everything in a blanket.
Think about it - snow is the only type of weather that covers everything in a blanket of anything. Rain washes things clean, sun warms the skin, wind shakes things up...snow is the only thing that covers something in order to allow for change to happen. Underneath the snow, things are shift, changing, moving, growing, dying. After winter, the earth is slightly different than before.
Not only does the earth itself change, but we change with it. Underneath a snowy sky, we discover things about ourselves in the world. I thrive in the sun, but winter allows me to be more pensive and see the world in a different light (literally and figuratively).
 |
| Looks a bit like Narnia. |
Underneath a blanket of snow, things are a bit more close and change happens without much notice. After the snow melts, things bloom and change is truly seen...but sometimes we need blanket of snow, or some sort of protection, to allow things to get ready for spring.
Be tackled into a pile of snow and have laughing fits as a a snowball hits in you in the back. Keep on trudging through the snow. Allow yourself to slip every once in a while. Enjoy the white earth. And love spring even more when it comes.
Peace!
-Nicole
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Story Time with Sally: State Fair
1. Chicken fingers are delicious.
-Sally
2. Make sure you actually know when your classes are or you'll be embarrassed.
3. Watch your head when you get into your bunk bed, or you will hit your head and it will hurt.
4. Doctor Who will give you all the feelings and it will be the best and worst thing to ever happen to you.
Hi everyone! I'm Sally, another friend of Nicole, Megan, and Melissa. I live across the hall in 707. I'm not sure how this works yet, but I think I'm just going to wing it and see what happens.
I'm a new feature on this blog, called "Story Time with Sally"; at least, that's what Nicole tells me. This came up because Nicole and Megan have this strange ability to coax the stories of all of my deepest childhood traumas out of me, and apparently they're the most hilarious stories they've ever heard. Obviously I don't see it that way, but hey, whatever makes them happy. So I guess I'll just start out telling my stories and maybe making you laugh a little, and we'll go from there.
When I was seven, my family and some friends went to the state fair. Sounds like a normal family outing, right? Well, naturally, something ridiculous has to happen because that's how my life works. There was some sort of dancing skeleton display that we were all looking at. It was the most fantastic thing I'd ever seen in my life (at that point; I was only seven). I honestly think I was in love with that dancing skeleton; I remember it so clearly and I remember laughing really hard. So I'm standing there watching this dancing skeleton and I don't realize that my family is walking away without me. I turned around a couple minutes later and my parents were nowhere to be seen. This is the state fair, remember; there are hundreds of people wandering around. Being seven, I followed the rules: stand still, shut your eyes, and count to a hundred. If Mom doesn't show up in that amount of time, then find a mother with kids. Mothers are safe, apparently. So I counted to a hundred and no Mom, so I looked around and didn't see any mothers with kids. I started to cry. And I mean cry, like wailing, wrenching tears. A lady with a stroller was going past and she stopped and asked me what was wrong and where my mom was. I remember our conversation like this:
LADY: Oh, sweetie, don't cry. Where's your mom? Are you lost?
ME: FDJSKLOIHptuqoihjweSDPFHUREW I DON'T KNOW SHE'S GONE AND I JFIDSITHYUTWT
LADY: It's okay, we'll find her. What does she look like?
ME: She's short and has brown hair and she's wearing a blue shirt!
LADY: Okay, what about your dad?
ME: He's short and has brown hair and he's wearing a blue shirt!
It's a good thing my parents had the smarts to come back looking for me a few minutes after that because I'm certain there was no way I would ever have found them otherwise. But I didn't go to the state fair again until I was seventeen, ten years later. I only went then because my friend made me go. I tried to tell her I was traumatized, but she told me I was being silly. I wouldn't let my friend out of my sight the entire day.
I'm a complex individual.
MORAL OF THE STORY: That dancing skeleton was totally worth looking at for two extra minutes, regardless of the trauma it later caused. Don't be afraid to be on your own for a minute; sometimes you get to see something awesome. Other times you get left behind and you feel alone, but in the end someone will find you, and you'll have seen something really cool.
(That would be me trying not to trivialize this lovely blog my friends have created. Sorry, guys. I'm not very good at life lessons.)
I don't know, I think my story-telling loses a little something in transcription. Hopefully this is up to snuff with my philosophical friends.If you're still reading at this point, I admire your fortitude. Tune in next week for another ridiculous childhood trauma!
Geronimo!
-Sally
Friday, January 13, 2012
In Search of a Better Metaphor
1. You KNOW it's gonna be a good day when DS plays Gaga, Evanescence, The Script, and the Goo Goo Dolls consecutively.
2. Sleep doesn't always come easy.
3. Have fun with Plato (and play-doh)
4. Breathe
Happy Friday, and happy Friday the 13th! Megan here--we're just changing it up this week.
All right, so I want you to take a moment and think about something for me. Are you, or do you know, someone you would describe as an emotional rock? Got someone in mind? Good, so do I... and I miss them a ton. The term "Emotional Rock" carries with it a specific connotation of someone very anchored and strong, able to withstand any and all instances of adversity, usually while remaining positive about everything. They essentially give the impression of oozing glue everywhere and are able to keep not only themselves, but everyone else together and united. However, there are a lot of aspects of rocks that really kind of make this an odd metaphor. For instance, rocks aren't alive, and while they change to their environment, it's definitely not quickly enough to mimic what is needed in our human experiences. Rocks don't move or adapt, or do anything under their own power. And so that leads me to the following idea.
Let's find a new metaphor. I propose trees, though... "emotional trees" makes me think of weeping willows... No, seriously, think about trees. Trees have the ability to adapt to tons of various circumstances--they influence and are influenced by the environment, they're alive, and it takes a heck of a lot to knock 'em down. People who are described as the equivalent of emotional rocks need to be able to adapt, to roll with the punches, to be swayed. Being able to adapt to conditions around us leads to our survival--the ability to adapt leads to the survival of every living thing, and since rocks aren't alive, they don't have that problem and thus, can't really serve as our best metaphor. Trees, on the other hand, take some level of control over their own lives. Have you ever seen trees grow towards a light or water source? Mmmmhmm, that's what I'm talking about.
Yep, I like the idea of using trees. I mean, it takes a lot to knock them down, they can be damaged, but they also have the ability to heal. They change and improve the environment by preventing erosion, creating oxygen, and they provide shelter for all sorts of creatures. Yep, we should all strive to be emotional trees instead of emotional rocks. Let's be honest, rocks are great, but they just lock up and sit there. Yeah, they can withstand a ton of assault, but so can trees... and we need something a little more complex, metaphorically speaking. (Plus trees have sap which is really... gluey. It helps things stick together right?)
Strength doesn't come always from hunkering down and putting up walls, it comes from adapting to your circumstances, from influencing what's around you and letting it influence you.
Have an excellent day, you emotional tree you. Watch out for those pesky woodpeckers.
-Megan
2. Sleep doesn't always come easy.
3. Have fun with Plato (and play-doh)
4. Breathe
Happy Friday, and happy Friday the 13th! Megan here--we're just changing it up this week.
All right, so I want you to take a moment and think about something for me. Are you, or do you know, someone you would describe as an emotional rock? Got someone in mind? Good, so do I... and I miss them a ton. The term "Emotional Rock" carries with it a specific connotation of someone very anchored and strong, able to withstand any and all instances of adversity, usually while remaining positive about everything. They essentially give the impression of oozing glue everywhere and are able to keep not only themselves, but everyone else together and united. However, there are a lot of aspects of rocks that really kind of make this an odd metaphor. For instance, rocks aren't alive, and while they change to their environment, it's definitely not quickly enough to mimic what is needed in our human experiences. Rocks don't move or adapt, or do anything under their own power. And so that leads me to the following idea.
Let's find a new metaphor. I propose trees, though... "emotional trees" makes me think of weeping willows... No, seriously, think about trees. Trees have the ability to adapt to tons of various circumstances--they influence and are influenced by the environment, they're alive, and it takes a heck of a lot to knock 'em down. People who are described as the equivalent of emotional rocks need to be able to adapt, to roll with the punches, to be swayed. Being able to adapt to conditions around us leads to our survival--the ability to adapt leads to the survival of every living thing, and since rocks aren't alive, they don't have that problem and thus, can't really serve as our best metaphor. Trees, on the other hand, take some level of control over their own lives. Have you ever seen trees grow towards a light or water source? Mmmmhmm, that's what I'm talking about.
Yep, I like the idea of using trees. I mean, it takes a lot to knock them down, they can be damaged, but they also have the ability to heal. They change and improve the environment by preventing erosion, creating oxygen, and they provide shelter for all sorts of creatures. Yep, we should all strive to be emotional trees instead of emotional rocks. Let's be honest, rocks are great, but they just lock up and sit there. Yeah, they can withstand a ton of assault, but so can trees... and we need something a little more complex, metaphorically speaking. (Plus trees have sap which is really... gluey. It helps things stick together right?)
Strength doesn't come always from hunkering down and putting up walls, it comes from adapting to your circumstances, from influencing what's around you and letting it influence you.
Have an excellent day, you emotional tree you. Watch out for those pesky woodpeckers.
-Megan
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Trust In Life
1. Vanilla tea is wonderful at 8am, especially if it is caffeinated.
2. Re-discover old favorite songs.
3. A class in all Spanish (or any second language) is slightly terrifying.
4. Trust in life.
Yesterday was the first day of classes and to tell the truth, it was rough for me. I loved my classes (psychology and Spanish), but something got to me and I had an anxiety attack. Because of the type of anxiety I have (social anxiety), I tend to shut everyone out. Only when does someone directly ask me if I am having issues with anxiety do I tell them; other than that, I shut down. Anxiety attacks also bring a huge feeling of dread and utter panic.
While anxiety attacks are on the far end of the worry scale, I think everyone has these tendencies at times. Life seems to get to be too much for us to handle - we have a paper due, a test, and a huge audition on one day. It feels like too much and we shut down. It feels like we are all alone and no one needs to experience it with us.
Last night taught me something: trust in what life has to offer - including people. I know I have made friends who will stick with me no matter what, but I forgot it and allowed my anxiety to take control and whisper lies. Life wants to be kind to you and I fully believe that. Life sucks at times, but you have to allow good things to happen to you and for me, sometimes those good things are happening, but I don't see it, or I don't want to see it.
There is so much good in life. Everything is beautiful, even if it is a mess. Don't allow yourself to shut down during times of trouble - allow people to catch you and look for the beauty - even if the only beauty you see is a tear falling on someone's face or a snowflake caught on your eyelash.
Life is beautiful. Trust it.
Peace!
-Nicole
2. Re-discover old favorite songs.
3. A class in all Spanish (or any second language) is slightly terrifying.
4. Trust in life.
Yesterday was the first day of classes and to tell the truth, it was rough for me. I loved my classes (psychology and Spanish), but something got to me and I had an anxiety attack. Because of the type of anxiety I have (social anxiety), I tend to shut everyone out. Only when does someone directly ask me if I am having issues with anxiety do I tell them; other than that, I shut down. Anxiety attacks also bring a huge feeling of dread and utter panic.
While anxiety attacks are on the far end of the worry scale, I think everyone has these tendencies at times. Life seems to get to be too much for us to handle - we have a paper due, a test, and a huge audition on one day. It feels like too much and we shut down. It feels like we are all alone and no one needs to experience it with us.
Last night taught me something: trust in what life has to offer - including people. I know I have made friends who will stick with me no matter what, but I forgot it and allowed my anxiety to take control and whisper lies. Life wants to be kind to you and I fully believe that. Life sucks at times, but you have to allow good things to happen to you and for me, sometimes those good things are happening, but I don't see it, or I don't want to see it.
There is so much good in life. Everything is beautiful, even if it is a mess. Don't allow yourself to shut down during times of trouble - allow people to catch you and look for the beauty - even if the only beauty you see is a tear falling on someone's face or a snowflake caught on your eyelash.
Life is beautiful. Trust it.
Peace!
-Nicole
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Happy New Day!
1. Sifting through old pictures is a great way to spend an evening.
2. Spending time with old friends is a hoot.
3. Being in your element is a great confidence booster.
4. Every day is new.
Happy New Day! Here's to a new day and I have a few resolutions for this New Day. I will be happier, eat as I please, and try new things. It will be better than the one before.
I've never been a fan of New Year's. I don't know why, but it just seems like a lot of hype for nothing but the change of a time. On New Year's Day, I was on Facebook and it was full of New Year's resolutions, such as eating better, moving on from past relationships, becoming more emotionally stable, and living for themselves.
While I agree with some of the resolutions and raise my eyebrows at others, I think it is simply odd we make all of these resolutions on a day that is like every other. Every day has a new date - why should we make the first of the new year any different?
I do think we should celebrate the fact we made it another trip around the sun, but sometimes, it get's a bit ridiculous. Each day we are given a chance to do things differently, to make a bigger and greater impact on the world around us. Every day is like the first of the year. Heck, every moment is like the first of the year. In Buddhist thought, we are never the same person moment to moment. Each new moment, a few cells in our body have died, a new thought is in our mind, different words are being spoken, we are breathing different air - everything about us is different. The only thing we share in common with our 2-minutes-ago-self is our past, but other than that, we are totally different.
Each new year, day, moment brings a new opportunity to change things - about ourselves and the world. So instead of making New Year's Resolutions, why don't we make New Day Resolutions? Why don't we toast each new day with a cup of orange juice at breakfast? Why don't we count down to midnight each night?
We have a brand-new day ahead of us. My resolution is to be happier, eat as much ice cream and cookies as I want, and do crazy, wonderful things. This day will be even better than the last.
Peace!
-Nicole
2. Spending time with old friends is a hoot.
3. Being in your element is a great confidence booster.
4. Every day is new.
Happy New Day! Here's to a new day and I have a few resolutions for this New Day. I will be happier, eat as I please, and try new things. It will be better than the one before.
I've never been a fan of New Year's. I don't know why, but it just seems like a lot of hype for nothing but the change of a time. On New Year's Day, I was on Facebook and it was full of New Year's resolutions, such as eating better, moving on from past relationships, becoming more emotionally stable, and living for themselves.
While I agree with some of the resolutions and raise my eyebrows at others, I think it is simply odd we make all of these resolutions on a day that is like every other. Every day has a new date - why should we make the first of the new year any different?
I do think we should celebrate the fact we made it another trip around the sun, but sometimes, it get's a bit ridiculous. Each day we are given a chance to do things differently, to make a bigger and greater impact on the world around us. Every day is like the first of the year. Heck, every moment is like the first of the year. In Buddhist thought, we are never the same person moment to moment. Each new moment, a few cells in our body have died, a new thought is in our mind, different words are being spoken, we are breathing different air - everything about us is different. The only thing we share in common with our 2-minutes-ago-self is our past, but other than that, we are totally different.
Each new year, day, moment brings a new opportunity to change things - about ourselves and the world. So instead of making New Year's Resolutions, why don't we make New Day Resolutions? Why don't we toast each new day with a cup of orange juice at breakfast? Why don't we count down to midnight each night?
We have a brand-new day ahead of us. My resolution is to be happier, eat as much ice cream and cookies as I want, and do crazy, wonderful things. This day will be even better than the last.
Peace!
-Nicole
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Habits and Patterns
The GOP race is heating up. If you haven't seen Nicole's commentary on politics, go here: http://dormroom718.blogspot.com/2011/12/whats-going-on.html
1. I am a creature of habit and pattern.
2. You don't have to drive down memory lane alone.
3. Find a new perspective.
4. Things are hot when you microwave them too.
Megan here, Happy New Year! and happy Wednesday!
Nicole left this morning and arrived safely home after a very laid back, but very fun five days here in St. Cloud. It was a blast in general, and I hope I gave her a decent taste of my world.
If there's one thing I've learned over the last few days it's that I am definitely a creature ruled by habits and patterns. It's just a lot of little things, like what roads I take, how I eat a Kit Kat bar, and apparently how I make popovers and chop potatoes... Like I said, it's a bunch of little things. However, maybe it's also a bunch of big things, like how I appraise situations, how I perceive threats, and how I respond to people.
Sometimes we stick to what we know: what's familiar and comfortable. The problem with this is that it can be easy to lapse into auto-pilot and become desensitized to everything we encounter on a regular basis. We forget to put ourselves in new situations and see things in a new light which is how we learn and well, how we live a fuller, more engaged life. So, in an effort to change this, I did what anyone would do. I did something differently. I made myself a cup of black coffee and put on some classical music--something I don't normally do. After that, I figured I had changed things up enough and made myself my usual cup of tea and turned on a Skillet playlist :P I'm taking baby steps! For the record, sometimes it's nice to drink something strong and bitter.
I think it's easy to let ourselves fall into ruts with various aspects of life, whether that's creatively, with relationships, with jobs... I mean, what is a rut? It's a path that has been traveled so much and so often that it forms a groove that can be kind of hard to get out of. In other words, when you find yourself in a rut, it's time to do something differently because the usual method won't work. Go find a new perspective, try something new, challenge yourself!
I'm not a fan of New Years' Resolutions, but I am a fan of trying out new things. And I suppose it's a good time to start since we're only four days into 2012. It's a fresh start whether or not we A. like it and B. choose to see it that way. Little things make a difference, and consciously throwing a little variety into each day might help ease that rutty feeling. It's quite easy to just sit around in such a rut, especially during winter when going into hibernation mode is quite appealing. (I have spent way too much time in bed lately.) I'm hoping I can apply this to my creativity... hope it works! Anyways, switch things up sometimes. It might lead to positive outcomes.
I leave you with this link to a song by Skillet... 'cause I like it, and I hope it motivates you to seize the moment. May your new year have more hugs than last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kQ6prkSRFs
-Megan
1. I am a creature of habit and pattern.
2. You don't have to drive down memory lane alone.
3. Find a new perspective.
4. Things are hot when you microwave them too.
Megan here, Happy New Year! and happy Wednesday!
Nicole left this morning and arrived safely home after a very laid back, but very fun five days here in St. Cloud. It was a blast in general, and I hope I gave her a decent taste of my world.
If there's one thing I've learned over the last few days it's that I am definitely a creature ruled by habits and patterns. It's just a lot of little things, like what roads I take, how I eat a Kit Kat bar, and apparently how I make popovers and chop potatoes... Like I said, it's a bunch of little things. However, maybe it's also a bunch of big things, like how I appraise situations, how I perceive threats, and how I respond to people.
Sometimes we stick to what we know: what's familiar and comfortable. The problem with this is that it can be easy to lapse into auto-pilot and become desensitized to everything we encounter on a regular basis. We forget to put ourselves in new situations and see things in a new light which is how we learn and well, how we live a fuller, more engaged life. So, in an effort to change this, I did what anyone would do. I did something differently. I made myself a cup of black coffee and put on some classical music--something I don't normally do. After that, I figured I had changed things up enough and made myself my usual cup of tea and turned on a Skillet playlist :P I'm taking baby steps! For the record, sometimes it's nice to drink something strong and bitter.
I think it's easy to let ourselves fall into ruts with various aspects of life, whether that's creatively, with relationships, with jobs... I mean, what is a rut? It's a path that has been traveled so much and so often that it forms a groove that can be kind of hard to get out of. In other words, when you find yourself in a rut, it's time to do something differently because the usual method won't work. Go find a new perspective, try something new, challenge yourself!
I'm not a fan of New Years' Resolutions, but I am a fan of trying out new things. And I suppose it's a good time to start since we're only four days into 2012. It's a fresh start whether or not we A. like it and B. choose to see it that way. Little things make a difference, and consciously throwing a little variety into each day might help ease that rutty feeling. It's quite easy to just sit around in such a rut, especially during winter when going into hibernation mode is quite appealing. (I have spent way too much time in bed lately.) I'm hoping I can apply this to my creativity... hope it works! Anyways, switch things up sometimes. It might lead to positive outcomes.
I leave you with this link to a song by Skillet... 'cause I like it, and I hope it motivates you to seize the moment. May your new year have more hugs than last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kQ6prkSRFs
-Megan
Monday, January 2, 2012
Lessons Learned In St. Cloud
1. It's ok to stay in your pjs until 6:30pm, especially if it is New Year's Day.
2. Don't drink bleach.
3. Make parodies of songs.
4. Find long-lost family members at parties.
5. Maryland is a female name.
6. In Tangled, Rapunzel hides the crown in a tree stump.
7. Bambi really isn't that great of a movie.
8. Grammar hard at 3am.
9. Things get warm when you boil them.
10. Drive slow on ice.
11. Brush your teeth before biting someone (it's the courteous things to do).
12. Be careful when going down stairs.
13. Stomachs don't have ears.
14. St. Cloud, FL isn't the same as St. Cloud, MN.
15. The sun is bright.
16. It's possible to have a laughing hangover (those are the best kind).
17. Seeing people smack their heads is funny.
18. Denmark is the first country people think of.
19. Kitty!
20. Driving to St. Cloud is boring.
21. Bring sweatpants on trips.
22. It will be purple eventually.
23. Be aware of hatchet murderers.
24. Hound dogs running are hilarious.
25. 6 blankets > a fireplace.
26. Formality? Haha, no.
27. If a vampire bites a zombie, will the zombie turn into a vampire? Or will the vampire turn into a zombie? Or both? ZOMBIE VAMPIRES!
28. Being a surrogate mother is scary (especially in dreams).
29. Don't sleep in contacts.
30. Everyone loves carrots.
31. Watching the ball fall in Nashville is a lot less exciting than watching it fall in New York.
32. Beware the monologue.
33. Ojo bonojo is the best card game ever invented.
34. Learn to play 500.
35. Ancient Aliens is a ridiculous tv show.
36. Laugh and learn.
Sorry for such a long list of lessons (if you can even call them that). I am currently sitting in Megan's kitchen, watching her cut up potatoes for dinner tonight. I've been here since Friday afternoon and as you can tell from the long list of jokes and lessons, it has been a blast being here. New Years Eve, Megan took me to a party with her friends. I met her friends from high school (who I've heard so much about) and I taught them the best card game ever, ojo bonojo (if you want to learn how to play, just ask me). The night turned out to be a success. I ended up talking more with Megan and Melissa's friends than I did with Megan or Melissa themselves. Megan and I stayed in our pjs all of yesterday and today we are preparing for dinner with Megan's aunt Lori. Then on Wednesday, I head back home.
My time in St. Cloud has been an adventure to say the least. The timing of this trip has been perfect: I missed seeing Megan and Melissa and being home for a long period of time is weird and slightly annoying. If I could take one thing away from my time here is that friends make all the difference. Before I came here, both Megan and I were feeling down and bit off. Although being with my mom and family has been a blessing, my friends have become such an intricate part of my life and not having them around has been weird. Sometimes all we need is time with friend to laugh and learn ridiculous things.
Peace!
-Nicole
2. Don't drink bleach.
3. Make parodies of songs.
4. Find long-lost family members at parties.
5. Maryland is a female name.
6. In Tangled, Rapunzel hides the crown in a tree stump.
7. Bambi really isn't that great of a movie.
8. Grammar hard at 3am.
9. Things get warm when you boil them.
10. Drive slow on ice.
11. Brush your teeth before biting someone (it's the courteous things to do).
12. Be careful when going down stairs.
13. Stomachs don't have ears.
14. St. Cloud, FL isn't the same as St. Cloud, MN.
15. The sun is bright.
16. It's possible to have a laughing hangover (those are the best kind).
17. Seeing people smack their heads is funny.
18. Denmark is the first country people think of.
19. Kitty!
20. Driving to St. Cloud is boring.
21. Bring sweatpants on trips.
22. It will be purple eventually.
23. Be aware of hatchet murderers.
24. Hound dogs running are hilarious.
25. 6 blankets > a fireplace.
26. Formality? Haha, no.
27. If a vampire bites a zombie, will the zombie turn into a vampire? Or will the vampire turn into a zombie? Or both? ZOMBIE VAMPIRES!
28. Being a surrogate mother is scary (especially in dreams).
29. Don't sleep in contacts.
30. Everyone loves carrots.
31. Watching the ball fall in Nashville is a lot less exciting than watching it fall in New York.
32. Beware the monologue.
33. Ojo bonojo is the best card game ever invented.
34. Learn to play 500.
35. Ancient Aliens is a ridiculous tv show.
36. Laugh and learn.
Sorry for such a long list of lessons (if you can even call them that). I am currently sitting in Megan's kitchen, watching her cut up potatoes for dinner tonight. I've been here since Friday afternoon and as you can tell from the long list of jokes and lessons, it has been a blast being here. New Years Eve, Megan took me to a party with her friends. I met her friends from high school (who I've heard so much about) and I taught them the best card game ever, ojo bonojo (if you want to learn how to play, just ask me). The night turned out to be a success. I ended up talking more with Megan and Melissa's friends than I did with Megan or Melissa themselves. Megan and I stayed in our pjs all of yesterday and today we are preparing for dinner with Megan's aunt Lori. Then on Wednesday, I head back home.
My time in St. Cloud has been an adventure to say the least. The timing of this trip has been perfect: I missed seeing Megan and Melissa and being home for a long period of time is weird and slightly annoying. If I could take one thing away from my time here is that friends make all the difference. Before I came here, both Megan and I were feeling down and bit off. Although being with my mom and family has been a blessing, my friends have become such an intricate part of my life and not having them around has been weird. Sometimes all we need is time with friend to laugh and learn ridiculous things.
Peace!
-Nicole
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