What different things did you want to be when you were a kid, and why? What do you do now and do you think it’s related?
I don't remember being a kid who thought a lot about the future. Simply getting by day to day is what mattered to me. I had a lot of responsibility at a young age and from what I recall, I didn't daydream a whole lot, unless it was about Jonathan Brandis or Corey Haim. I do however, remember wanting to be an astronaut. I loved the mystery of outer space and the thought of floating in zero gravity. There was a time that if asked to board a shuttle and head to the moon, I would have jumped at the opportunity, no questions asked. Then the Challenger blew up. We were watching it live on t.v. at school, so excited. At first we didn't realize what happened and then when we heard our teacher gasp, "Oh my God," as she quickly turned off the t.v., the excitement turned to horror. I was 6 years old and that day in 1986, I cried.
I still love Astronomy and science, and although I lost the desire to head to space at the age of 6, at the age of 31 if I were asked to board a shuttle and head to the moon, I wouldn't even think twice. Count me in! I'm not studying Astronomy, maybe had I gone to college at a younger age I could have studied Astrophysics or something of the sort and made something of myself. Right now, I feel it's too late in the game and a trip to the moon will just have to be saved for another life.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Challenge No. 2 / ACTIONS
Do you typically act with your heart or you mind? Logic thinking or emotional? Give examples.
I'm trying harder these days to act with logic. Anyone who knows me knows that I usually act with my heart, which is good and bad at times. However, I think there is a clear difference between acting with your heart and acting out of EMOTION. For example, I know logically, that by giving money to a homeless man on the street, I may be contributing to a drug and/or alcohol problem, but my heart tells me to give it to him anyway because his life, no matter what choices he has made, must not be easy. I know in my heart that he has probably gone through things in life that I, a stranger, am completely unaware of. When looking in to this person's eyes, I can see pain, and in my heart, I hurt for him, so I give him the money.
I cannot find fault in acting from the heart because from the heart, to me, usually involves compassion, passion, empathy, or love. Acting from emotion, in my view, involves rash decisions that can be based on many emotions, including anger. Like I said, this can be good or bad, but in my case, it has mostly been bad. For example, I worked for some people who claimed to be such pious, good individuals. They went to church every Sunday, held prestigious positions within said churches, and often preached their moral views to us employees. However, their actions clearly differed from their words. They treated people so poorly that it was unbelievable, and to defend their actions, they would lie and further hurt innocent people without even batting an eye. I contemplated leaving that place many times, but as we all know, it's hard to leave a job without having another and I was forced to stay until an opportunity opened up. When it finally did, on my way out the door, I sent a scathing email to all of them and to sum it up, told them that being good people took a lot more than just going to church on Sunday. Oy .... Did it feel good to get it off my chest? Yes. Did I mean what I said? ABSOLUTELY. Should I have done it? NO! BRIDGES BURNED.
See the difference?
So yes, I am working on being more logical. The older I get, the easier it is, but I am a passionate person by nature and acting from my heart isn't something I necessarily want to change. However, acting from emotion is. Eh, we live and learn. Will I ever send a scathing email to an employer again? Nope. Perhaps next time I will just say it their face. ;) I kid ....
I'm trying harder these days to act with logic. Anyone who knows me knows that I usually act with my heart, which is good and bad at times. However, I think there is a clear difference between acting with your heart and acting out of EMOTION. For example, I know logically, that by giving money to a homeless man on the street, I may be contributing to a drug and/or alcohol problem, but my heart tells me to give it to him anyway because his life, no matter what choices he has made, must not be easy. I know in my heart that he has probably gone through things in life that I, a stranger, am completely unaware of. When looking in to this person's eyes, I can see pain, and in my heart, I hurt for him, so I give him the money.
I cannot find fault in acting from the heart because from the heart, to me, usually involves compassion, passion, empathy, or love. Acting from emotion, in my view, involves rash decisions that can be based on many emotions, including anger. Like I said, this can be good or bad, but in my case, it has mostly been bad. For example, I worked for some people who claimed to be such pious, good individuals. They went to church every Sunday, held prestigious positions within said churches, and often preached their moral views to us employees. However, their actions clearly differed from their words. They treated people so poorly that it was unbelievable, and to defend their actions, they would lie and further hurt innocent people without even batting an eye. I contemplated leaving that place many times, but as we all know, it's hard to leave a job without having another and I was forced to stay until an opportunity opened up. When it finally did, on my way out the door, I sent a scathing email to all of them and to sum it up, told them that being good people took a lot more than just going to church on Sunday. Oy .... Did it feel good to get it off my chest? Yes. Did I mean what I said? ABSOLUTELY. Should I have done it? NO! BRIDGES BURNED.
See the difference?
So yes, I am working on being more logical. The older I get, the easier it is, but I am a passionate person by nature and acting from my heart isn't something I necessarily want to change. However, acting from emotion is. Eh, we live and learn. Will I ever send a scathing email to an employer again? Nope. Perhaps next time I will just say it their face. ;) I kid ....
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Challenge No. 1 / PARENTS
Describe traits that you think you’ve gotten from your parents. How you look, how you act, weird idiosyncrasies, learned and genetic.
I find it humorous how much more applicable this becomes the older I get. I just commented yesterday that I was turning in to my mother. All my life I have never been in to sweets. When birthdays rolled around and I was asked what kind of cake I wanted, my answer would be, "None, I want veggie squares." (veggie squares are delicious by the way, they are like cold pizza slices with ranch dressing instead of tomato sauce, and minus the cheese) Anyway, I have always gotten on my mom for buying nothing but sweets when she goes grocery shopping. Instead of getting the basics, like eggs, meat, and cheese, she piles her cart with cookies, cake mix, and chips. She's been like this for as long as I can remember, and now that I am 31, I have developed the same type of sweet tooth. I seriously have to refrain from piling junk food in to my cart! Currently, I have self control, but I never had to have it in the past. As I write this, the cravings are taking over and I am literally having to convince myself not to go in to the kitchen and open a candy bar for breakfast. Healthy.
When it comes to genetics, there is another thing that I inherited not only from my mother, but from my grandmother as well-all three of us have a small brown freckle in our eye. I love this. People comment on it all the time, but not in a negative way. I get told constantly how beautiful my eyes are, as does my mom.
I don't look much like my parents, but when I am mad, I look JUST like my mom and act JUST like my dad. I am also tall like my dad, while my mom is a shorty, about 5'2. Unfortunately for my brothers, they got her height. My youngest brother teases me all the time by accusing me of stealing all of the good family genes. Little does he know, he has the kindest heart of anyone I have ever met, which although it may or may not be genetic, in my opinion, is the best trait one could ask for.
Both of my parents have very kind hearts. My mom is so accepting and forgiving. She raised us without prejudice and taught us from a young age that God loves everyone. Because of her, I don't have an ounce of prejudice in me and I cannot understand, no matter how hard I try, people who do.
My dad is sensitive. He may come across as having a hard exterior, but deep to the core, he is a gentle soul with a tender heart. I have seen my dad cry on many occasions, probably not something he would want me writing about, but it's one of the things I love about him so I am going to write it anyway. He likes helping people who are in need, family is important to him, and he is deeply affected by the injustices of the world....as am I.
Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love,
the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for ...
... the suffering of [humankind].
Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.
In the union of love I have seen
In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision
Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge.
I have wished to understand the hearts of [people].
I have wished to know why the stars shine.
Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens,
But always pity brought me back to earth;
Cries of pain reverberated in my heart
Of children in famine, of victims tortured
And of old people left helpless.
I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot,
And I too suffer.
This has been my life; I found it worth living.
-Bertrand Russell
So this sums up Challenge No. 1, what I inherited from my parents. If one thing can be said, it's that I love them. They are both beautiful people that have taught me so much about forgiveness, self respect, and love. I wouldn't trade that, or them, for anything.
I find it humorous how much more applicable this becomes the older I get. I just commented yesterday that I was turning in to my mother. All my life I have never been in to sweets. When birthdays rolled around and I was asked what kind of cake I wanted, my answer would be, "None, I want veggie squares." (veggie squares are delicious by the way, they are like cold pizza slices with ranch dressing instead of tomato sauce, and minus the cheese) Anyway, I have always gotten on my mom for buying nothing but sweets when she goes grocery shopping. Instead of getting the basics, like eggs, meat, and cheese, she piles her cart with cookies, cake mix, and chips. She's been like this for as long as I can remember, and now that I am 31, I have developed the same type of sweet tooth. I seriously have to refrain from piling junk food in to my cart! Currently, I have self control, but I never had to have it in the past. As I write this, the cravings are taking over and I am literally having to convince myself not to go in to the kitchen and open a candy bar for breakfast. Healthy.
When it comes to genetics, there is another thing that I inherited not only from my mother, but from my grandmother as well-all three of us have a small brown freckle in our eye. I love this. People comment on it all the time, but not in a negative way. I get told constantly how beautiful my eyes are, as does my mom.
I don't look much like my parents, but when I am mad, I look JUST like my mom and act JUST like my dad. I am also tall like my dad, while my mom is a shorty, about 5'2. Unfortunately for my brothers, they got her height. My youngest brother teases me all the time by accusing me of stealing all of the good family genes. Little does he know, he has the kindest heart of anyone I have ever met, which although it may or may not be genetic, in my opinion, is the best trait one could ask for.
Both of my parents have very kind hearts. My mom is so accepting and forgiving. She raised us without prejudice and taught us from a young age that God loves everyone. Because of her, I don't have an ounce of prejudice in me and I cannot understand, no matter how hard I try, people who do.
My dad is sensitive. He may come across as having a hard exterior, but deep to the core, he is a gentle soul with a tender heart. I have seen my dad cry on many occasions, probably not something he would want me writing about, but it's one of the things I love about him so I am going to write it anyway. He likes helping people who are in need, family is important to him, and he is deeply affected by the injustices of the world....as am I.
Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love,
the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for ...
... the suffering of [humankind].
Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.
In the union of love I have seen
In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision
Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge.
I have wished to understand the hearts of [people].
I have wished to know why the stars shine.
Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens,
But always pity brought me back to earth;
Cries of pain reverberated in my heart
Of children in famine, of victims tortured
And of old people left helpless.
I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot,
And I too suffer.
This has been my life; I found it worth living.
-Bertrand Russell
So this sums up Challenge No. 1, what I inherited from my parents. If one thing can be said, it's that I love them. They are both beautiful people that have taught me so much about forgiveness, self respect, and love. I wouldn't trade that, or them, for anything.
Blog Challenge
I've decided to do a 52 week blog challenge. I got this list from another blogger and thought the topics were much more interesting than others I have seen. I may do more than one per week since my schedule will soon become pretty crazy, but it will keep me writing, and that's the point! Feel free to join the challenge, I would love to read your answers as well.
1. Describe traits that you think you’ve gotten from your parents. How you look, how you act, weird idiosyncrasies, learned and genetic.
2. Do you typically act with your heart or you mind? Logic thinking or emotional? Give examples.
3. What different things did you want to be when you were a kid, and why? What do you do now and do you think it’s related?
4. List places you’ve traveled and your impressions, likes and dislikes
5. Childhood years vs. teenage years are quite different. Are you where you hoped to be during your senior year of high school?
6. Talk about your first memory of a funeral and how you felt.
7. List guilty pleasures and why you like them.
8. Describe yourself as a child and then call/e-mail a relative and ask them to describe you as a child.
9. Do you give change to homeless people and why?
10. Write about the best thing that happened this week.
11. How did you feel the first time that you shaved, describe it it. How do you feel about shaving now?
12. Write about what you hope to accomplish in life and why.
13. Talk about a person, alive or dead that you respect and what you respect about them.
14. Tell a childhood story about being sneaky, tricky or lying.
15. Take a photo of your house/apt. Post what you like/dislike about it and then post a couple photos of houses that you like
16. What’s something you think you need to work on in yourself?
17. Describe the most embarrassing, funny and ugly clothes that you’ve ever worn.
18. Tell us about your first pet.
19. Ask a relative to tell you about something they loved to do as a teenager/young person, maybe a story.
20. What’s the worst job that you’ve ever had and why?
21. Talk about a time in your life that you felt like things were really bad/sad/unhappy.
22. List things you did for fun as a young child, then as a teen, then as an adult.
23. Do you think having pets as children is important? Why?
24. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
25. Take a photo of your favorite room and least favorite room of your house/apt. Explain why. Put up photos of rooms in other houses that you love and why.
26. Talk about a teacher that made a positive change in your life and how. Talk about a teacher that negatively influenced you and how.
27. Make a list of 3 girl and 3 boy names that you like. Then write what you think of when you hear each name. Now make a list of 3 girl and 3 boy names that you dislike and write what each of those makes you think of when you hear them, too.
28. Talk about a time in your life where you were really happy and things were good.
29. Talk about your childhood best friends.
30. When you were a teen, what was something that made you very upset, or thought wasn't fair and why?
31. Name a character in a book, movie, or Tv that you relate to. Talk about how/why.
32. What’s something hypocritical, that some people do, that upsets you and why?
33. What is the most embarrassing teen date/crush story that you have?
34. Tell about your grandparents and what they did for jobs etc.. when they were young
35. Talk about a wedding, anyone's, even yours.
36. Tell a childhood story about doing something new for the first time.
37. Talk about the most under appreciated person you know, and why they deserve more recognition.
38. Name a book/movie that everyone likes but you don’t. Explain why.
39. Choose someone from your partner’s family and write about them.
40. Talk about a negative experience that you were upset or hurt by, but eventually worked out for the best or had good results in the end.
41. Is there a book/story/poem/painting/song that changed your life or made you think of things in a new perspective? What and why?
42. The first time you asked someone out, or hit on them and were rejected? Accepted?
43. Tell a funny story about public speaking.
44. Tell us any info you have about relatives far back in your family tree
45. Your youngest childhood memory.
46. List 5 admirable qualities about you, then list 5 admirable qualities for 3 different family members.
47. If you were given $15,000 as gift to use only on yourself, but you had to buy (or put a payment on) one item (not pay individual bills) what would you buy and why?
48. Describe traits, qualities about yourself that you hope your children, nieces/nephews , grandkids, cousins etc... inherit or learn from you.
49. Find an article of something you consider to be detrimental to the world or a great injustice. Post why you feel this way.
50. Talk about a moment in your life where you had an epiphany and felt like it changed you.
51. Look around and take a picture of something in your daily life, that you see all the time, that’s beautiful.
52. What was your favorite topic during this challenge and why?
1. Describe traits that you think you’ve gotten from your parents. How you look, how you act, weird idiosyncrasies, learned and genetic.
2. Do you typically act with your heart or you mind? Logic thinking or emotional? Give examples.
3. What different things did you want to be when you were a kid, and why? What do you do now and do you think it’s related?
4. List places you’ve traveled and your impressions, likes and dislikes
5. Childhood years vs. teenage years are quite different. Are you where you hoped to be during your senior year of high school?
6. Talk about your first memory of a funeral and how you felt.
7. List guilty pleasures and why you like them.
8. Describe yourself as a child and then call/e-mail a relative and ask them to describe you as a child.
9. Do you give change to homeless people and why?
10. Write about the best thing that happened this week.
11. How did you feel the first time that you shaved, describe it it. How do you feel about shaving now?
12. Write about what you hope to accomplish in life and why.
13. Talk about a person, alive or dead that you respect and what you respect about them.
14. Tell a childhood story about being sneaky, tricky or lying.
15. Take a photo of your house/apt. Post what you like/dislike about it and then post a couple photos of houses that you like
16. What’s something you think you need to work on in yourself?
17. Describe the most embarrassing, funny and ugly clothes that you’ve ever worn.
18. Tell us about your first pet.
19. Ask a relative to tell you about something they loved to do as a teenager/young person, maybe a story.
20. What’s the worst job that you’ve ever had and why?
21. Talk about a time in your life that you felt like things were really bad/sad/unhappy.
22. List things you did for fun as a young child, then as a teen, then as an adult.
23. Do you think having pets as children is important? Why?
24. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
25. Take a photo of your favorite room and least favorite room of your house/apt. Explain why. Put up photos of rooms in other houses that you love and why.
26. Talk about a teacher that made a positive change in your life and how. Talk about a teacher that negatively influenced you and how.
27. Make a list of 3 girl and 3 boy names that you like. Then write what you think of when you hear each name. Now make a list of 3 girl and 3 boy names that you dislike and write what each of those makes you think of when you hear them, too.
28. Talk about a time in your life where you were really happy and things were good.
29. Talk about your childhood best friends.
30. When you were a teen, what was something that made you very upset, or thought wasn't fair and why?
31. Name a character in a book, movie, or Tv that you relate to. Talk about how/why.
32. What’s something hypocritical, that some people do, that upsets you and why?
33. What is the most embarrassing teen date/crush story that you have?
34. Tell about your grandparents and what they did for jobs etc.. when they were young
35. Talk about a wedding, anyone's, even yours.
36. Tell a childhood story about doing something new for the first time.
37. Talk about the most under appreciated person you know, and why they deserve more recognition.
38. Name a book/movie that everyone likes but you don’t. Explain why.
39. Choose someone from your partner’s family and write about them.
40. Talk about a negative experience that you were upset or hurt by, but eventually worked out for the best or had good results in the end.
41. Is there a book/story/poem/painting/song that changed your life or made you think of things in a new perspective? What and why?
42. The first time you asked someone out, or hit on them and were rejected? Accepted?
43. Tell a funny story about public speaking.
44. Tell us any info you have about relatives far back in your family tree
45. Your youngest childhood memory.
46. List 5 admirable qualities about you, then list 5 admirable qualities for 3 different family members.
47. If you were given $15,000 as gift to use only on yourself, but you had to buy (or put a payment on) one item (not pay individual bills) what would you buy and why?
48. Describe traits, qualities about yourself that you hope your children, nieces/nephews , grandkids, cousins etc... inherit or learn from you.
49. Find an article of something you consider to be detrimental to the world or a great injustice. Post why you feel this way.
50. Talk about a moment in your life where you had an epiphany and felt like it changed you.
51. Look around and take a picture of something in your daily life, that you see all the time, that’s beautiful.
52. What was your favorite topic during this challenge and why?
Happiness
“Happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation” (Author Unknown) .... and we try. It's a lot easier to do with an awesome support system, and I must say that my hubby is indeed, that. Our 6 year anniversary is approaching and those who know us well, know that we travel quite often. It is a passion that both of us share, and as cheesy and sappy as this sounds, this is one of the reasons that I know we were meant to be. Not only do we share the same passion for travel and culture, but Seif always encourages me to step through my fears and become the person I have always wanted to be. Without his support, there are so many things in my life that I know I never would have accomplished on my own. I would have dreamed of them, mulled them over, possibly made plans to accomplish them, but would have wimped out in the end by somehow convincing myself of the various reasons why I shouldn't even try. Sure, once I start something, I absolutely will finish it, and I will finish it right, but often, I need that push. Seif has been that push for me since the day I married him, and this is why I love him.
As my last post mentions, I recently quit my job to become a full time student. I know that with Seif 100% supporting us, we are going to have to change our lifestyle quite a bit. However, he still managed to surprise me with a beautiful trip to Belize, and let me tell you, it was HEAVEN. Beautiful, kind people, crystal clear waters, a secluded island, and constant sunshine. We tried out snuba diving, cave tubing, zip lining, and snorkeled almost every day. We had a great time and created some really awesome memories on that trip. Now it's time to snap back to reality. I run my half marathon on Sunday and school starts on Monday. Here's to rediscovering student life and another year of marriage to the one I love. Cheers!
Friday, July 22, 2011
A Big Change
After talking about it for several years, I have finally put my notice in at work and will be going to school full time. I thought I would be ecstatic, but it's really a bitter sweet transition. I'll miss my co-workers. Work has become increasingly frustrating over the last year, and I have done my best to tough it out because honestly, I work for a great company. However, although I feel that change is good in most cases, the changes that have taken place in my particular position have only stalled important processes. Being that I am in no position of power, there is only so much I can do to voice feedback. The frustration and stress is no longer worth it. On top of that, my goal is to become a nurse, and although I was making progress part time, being a full time student will allow me to focus on my actual career. I'm scared. There will be a lot of sacrifices, but in the long run, there will be happiness, and that's what matters. Connecting with others is what makes me happy, what better of a career for me than to be able to help people when they most need it, not only medically, but emotionally. Like teachers, nurses may be under appreciated by some, but they can most definitely make a difference in the lives of others. I can't wait. 2 more years!!!!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Happy 4th of July
Seif and I had originally planned to go take a vacation for the 4th, but the airfare versus the time wouldn't be financially feasible. I was bummed, but what can you do other than make the best of what you have? I'm actually glad we didn't go. Our holiday weekend turned out to be one of the funnest Independence Day celebrations yet, and all we did was spend it with friends. Sometimes sharing time with those who make you laugh amounts to far more than anything else in the world.
On a final note, this has been a sad day. Let's all say a prayer for little Caylee Anthony and all of the other innocent children out there who have had their lives senselessly taken. My head is still spinning after today, but one must admit, there was a lack of evidence. Not guilty does not mean innocent. It just means that it wasn't proven. Regardless of how it happened or who did it, a little girl lost her life, sadly like many others. May they all rest in peace.
On a final note, this has been a sad day. Let's all say a prayer for little Caylee Anthony and all of the other innocent children out there who have had their lives senselessly taken. My head is still spinning after today, but one must admit, there was a lack of evidence. Not guilty does not mean innocent. It just means that it wasn't proven. Regardless of how it happened or who did it, a little girl lost her life, sadly like many others. May they all rest in peace.
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