Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
An Insight on Working
I REALLY am appreciating weekends now as a working gal. I feel like I am holding the proverbial breath all week long during workdays, and then when Friday night arrives I just let out that breath in a sigh of relief. Other things I didn't consider joys during my time as a student but now are finding as real treats? Free time. Reading the news. Blogging. My blog really misses me. I know it. We used to be such good friends. Can you forgive me? < 3
Tonight, instead of staying in as I have been recently on Friday nights in order to R&R, I went to a Jason Mraz concert with my sister and friends. He is so, so good live. I am not a concert person. I have never understood the appeal of listening to an artist who sounds like a dream on your iPod, but sounds like they are piercing your bubble while live. In short, I don't go to concerts. But I'm really glad I went to this one. Jason Mraz must be one of the very few on this earth who sounds just as good, if not better, live as he does on his recordings. I was so entertained. And happy I took the extra effort to do something fun and different on a Friday night, breaking my domestic streak. See what I mean about becoming a very dull person in the working world?
Tonight, instead of staying in as I have been recently on Friday nights in order to R&R, I went to a Jason Mraz concert with my sister and friends. He is so, so good live. I am not a concert person. I have never understood the appeal of listening to an artist who sounds like a dream on your iPod, but sounds like they are piercing your bubble while live. In short, I don't go to concerts. But I'm really glad I went to this one. Jason Mraz must be one of the very few on this earth who sounds just as good, if not better, live as he does on his recordings. I was so entertained. And happy I took the extra effort to do something fun and different on a Friday night, breaking my domestic streak. See what I mean about becoming a very dull person in the working world?
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Staying Healthy
It's not New Year's, but I recently came up with a resolution I am going to follow to the T. I took a blood test recently as part of an annual checkup (everyone should get one) and the lab results came back saying I had rather high blood sugar. My family on my mom's side has a history of diabetes so when I heard this news about my health, I became pretty worried. Then yesterday I was reading an article about the really detrimental effects of sugar and then I became really worried. Increased risk of heart disease. Belly fat. Rapid aging. So then I put my foot down and decided, the only source of sugar I'm getting will be from fruit and food with sugar byproducts.
It's been kind of difficult saying no to sweets and refraining from reaching for those chocolate covered raisins, but I need to put this resolution in practice to the extreme. Otherwise, my immediate gratification will eventually give way to regret. I think this is all part of my realization that my body is starting to catch up with my age and I need to treat it well. Love and nurture thyself. Put things into myself that are good for me, that my body will respond to positively and want. I won't have tight, smooth skin; dark, full hair, strong muscles, and reflexes with the ability to respond and react quickly for the rest of my life. I want to be able to keep it for as long as I can because once it's gone, it's gone. And the only thing I want to be gone in my life right now is gosh darn, troublemaking sugar. Be gone!
It's been kind of difficult saying no to sweets and refraining from reaching for those chocolate covered raisins, but I need to put this resolution in practice to the extreme. Otherwise, my immediate gratification will eventually give way to regret. I think this is all part of my realization that my body is starting to catch up with my age and I need to treat it well. Love and nurture thyself. Put things into myself that are good for me, that my body will respond to positively and want. I won't have tight, smooth skin; dark, full hair, strong muscles, and reflexes with the ability to respond and react quickly for the rest of my life. I want to be able to keep it for as long as I can because once it's gone, it's gone. And the only thing I want to be gone in my life right now is gosh darn, troublemaking sugar. Be gone!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
My Mind is Getting in the Way of my Thinking
This weekend is hosting-my-family-at-the-apartment weekend. It's been a bit stressful, planning things for them to do, making sure they're well-rested and happy, all the while thinking about how much work I have waiting for me on Monday when I return.
This is where my scatterbrain-ness really does me a disservice than any other time. I think my ability to remember things is negatively correlated with my stress level. Even in moments where I am supposed to be in partial or pure relaxation, I find my mind wandering and trying to make a mental checklist of all the things I need to do. I'll be reading a magazine and thinking, what was that ONE gosh darn thing I forgot to put on my to-do list? Or lying in savasana in my yoga practice and thinking about how I'll sequence the ever-accumulating tasks I have for work. I need to prioritize my tasks. All tasks are priority. I'm always thinking about work. I don't want to, but my mind involuntarily starts thinking about it, perusing it. I'm doing it right now. RIGHT NOW, as I'm blogging. I make checklists in numerous spots so I have no centralized checklist and sometimes I'll have to make a checklist to make sure I've remembered where all my checklists are.
Help? I need the Yoga Cove.
This is where my scatterbrain-ness really does me a disservice than any other time. I think my ability to remember things is negatively correlated with my stress level. Even in moments where I am supposed to be in partial or pure relaxation, I find my mind wandering and trying to make a mental checklist of all the things I need to do. I'll be reading a magazine and thinking, what was that ONE gosh darn thing I forgot to put on my to-do list? Or lying in savasana in my yoga practice and thinking about how I'll sequence the ever-accumulating tasks I have for work. I need to prioritize my tasks. All tasks are priority. I'm always thinking about work. I don't want to, but my mind involuntarily starts thinking about it, perusing it. I'm doing it right now. RIGHT NOW, as I'm blogging. I make checklists in numerous spots so I have no centralized checklist and sometimes I'll have to make a checklist to make sure I've remembered where all my checklists are.
Help? I need the Yoga Cove.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Most Valuable
I haven't blogged in a long time, but something happened tonight that compelled me to write an entry.
My friend's young cousin passed away. He was in his early 20s and battling cancer.
I didn't know him, but his tragic death made me think about how fleeting human life is. No matter what stage of our lives we are at, our existence and consciousness are vulnerable. They can be robbed of us in a matter of seconds. I wonder how my friend's cousin felt during the final days of his life. Was he angry? Was he scared? I know how I would feel. If life were something tangible, I would grip it with all my might and squeeze it so hard it may seem to become intertwined and undifferentiable between my essence and itself. I would be so afraid to lose consciousness, the ability to connect with my family, my friends, breathe air, see colors, hear sounds, taste food, have the energy to do everything I planned for myself in anticipation of what I believed was years and years of opportunity.
This event reminded me of all the Janet Liangs in the world. My heart rushed to tell everyone in my world I loved them, I appreciated them, I was grateful for them, I always wanted to protect them, and I cared more about their safety than anything else. Lest consciousness leave me before I had a chance to convey all of this to all my loved ones, I felt the utmost desperation to make sure everyone knew what I was thinking. Because no one knows what happens to you when you leave this world. No one can send a message for you, even if it is the most meaningful one in the universe. No one would ever know.
Let people know. Make people know.
I hope that the Janets in the world can have a precious extension on their time in this world, so that they may lead and teach others how to cherish their own lives.
If you're reading this right now that message was intended for you. You should think about doing this: each day, dedicate time, even if only for a few minutes, doing something that you find genuine enjoyment and happiness from. I've told myself that I am going to start doing this. I will not squander this gift I consider the most valuable, because I don't know at what moment it will be taken from me.
My friend's young cousin passed away. He was in his early 20s and battling cancer.
I didn't know him, but his tragic death made me think about how fleeting human life is. No matter what stage of our lives we are at, our existence and consciousness are vulnerable. They can be robbed of us in a matter of seconds. I wonder how my friend's cousin felt during the final days of his life. Was he angry? Was he scared? I know how I would feel. If life were something tangible, I would grip it with all my might and squeeze it so hard it may seem to become intertwined and undifferentiable between my essence and itself. I would be so afraid to lose consciousness, the ability to connect with my family, my friends, breathe air, see colors, hear sounds, taste food, have the energy to do everything I planned for myself in anticipation of what I believed was years and years of opportunity.
This event reminded me of all the Janet Liangs in the world. My heart rushed to tell everyone in my world I loved them, I appreciated them, I was grateful for them, I always wanted to protect them, and I cared more about their safety than anything else. Lest consciousness leave me before I had a chance to convey all of this to all my loved ones, I felt the utmost desperation to make sure everyone knew what I was thinking. Because no one knows what happens to you when you leave this world. No one can send a message for you, even if it is the most meaningful one in the universe. No one would ever know.
Let people know. Make people know.
I hope that the Janets in the world can have a precious extension on their time in this world, so that they may lead and teach others how to cherish their own lives.
If you're reading this right now that message was intended for you. You should think about doing this: each day, dedicate time, even if only for a few minutes, doing something that you find genuine enjoyment and happiness from. I've told myself that I am going to start doing this. I will not squander this gift I consider the most valuable, because I don't know at what moment it will be taken from me.
Monday, June 11, 2012
YLOO
Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction. Be worthy of your advantages.That about sums it up. One of the best commencement speeches I've seen in a while. A fresh reminder that I should go forth, in all my insignificance, and appreciate and be thankful every day that I wake up breathing air and have the opportunity to enjoy Paris for Paris, climb the mountain, and afford moments of self satisfaction.
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