I had to leave work today at 11:30am to go to class. I hate leaving work at that time. First of all, I’m hungry, so the fast food places I pass are always extremely tempting. Secondly, the thought of a midday freedom nap is sometimes too difficult to reject and I end up face down in pillows… drool slowly leaking out of my mouth…cat sleeping in the divet where my back meets my butt. Oh yes, these naps are good…

Anywaaaaay, today I walked outside and it was perfect weather for a girl like me. The sky was overcast and showed a perfect shade of grey as far as the eye can see. The temperature was very mild and there was a breeze that kissed my exposed skin. When I got to my car, I closed my eyes and took in that beautiful moment. It made me wonder if an overcast day is supposed to feel as good as this one did. Taking in another energizing breath made me feel a bit demented because aren’t days like this supposed to bring people down?

If so, oh well… give me polka-dotted umbrellas over sunglasses anyday. Bring on the storm, I’m ready for a challenge. (=

Comments(0)

I was listening to a cd today that I had made years ago and a song came up by Incubus, “I Wish You Were Here”. The line that held my attention was “…and in this moment I am happy… happy”. It described exactly how I feel right now.

I am happy

I am excited. I am pumped. I am thrilled. I am waiting. I am happy.

Nothing has made me this way… I just am. I’m beginning to learn the importance of living in the moment and really being where you are. Right now, in this moment…. I am happy.

I have no deep thoughts to share with you, no questions to pose, no ‘what if’ situations to make your mind wander. Just that song lyric…. do whatever you want with it, but “in this moment I am happy…happy”

Comments(3)

One of my favorite sounds in the entire world is an acoustic guitar. I love it. How when changing chords sometimes you can hear your fingers sliding across the strings, the slow steady strumming of a ballad, how six separate strings can work together to form one sound. I love listening to someone who really knows how to play and how fast their fingers work to pick the song that they’ve been carrying around in their head for while.

The simple sound of strings vibrating over hallowed wood just seems to connect me with something that’s beyond this world.

It moves me, makes my stomach twist in knots, it makes me want to dance, or at very least bob my head to the beat. I don’t even realize this at first…it just happens. Isn’t it crazy how something so small can have that big effect on you? It just sneaks in and plants itself under your skin.

It reminds me of how sometimes we can be that for others. For example, when you smile at someone you don’t know, you plant just a little seed of happiness in them, and eventually it will grow and maybe, if they’re open to it… they’ll smile at someone later in the day.

Dear God, please use me to be Your sneaky little henchman and spread Your love to those I come in contact with today. (=

Comments(2)

You know what I find odd. How people usually are either the extreme of one thing or another. I work in the customer service department of an auto insurance company and I deal with extremes all the time. Extreme rate increases, extreme excuses, extremely late bills and extremely angry customers. I deal with extremes pretty well, I think, after all I still have my job and am doing rather well.

I just got off the phone with a gentleman who was an extremist. This man was extremely lost. He knew he had to accomplish something, but he didn’t know what department to speak to or even how to ask for what he needed. My job is to help people like this. I determine their needs and take care of them. When it so happens that I am unable to, I make sure I get them to someone that can. I do this day after day and this type of extreme still amazes me.

It reminds me of a child breaking their favorite toy and taking the pieces to their mom with tears in their eyes. That child doesn’t even have to say anything except hand the pieces over to Mom and Mom knows what needs to be done.

It actually got me thinking about the people in my life that can fix things without me describing what specifically is wrong. For example… no matter how bad my mood may be, both my brother and brother-in-law can always make me laugh and pull me out of the slump. My sister is the best listener I’ve found so far. Her face might as well be one giant ear. My niece can tell something’s wrong within the first 2 seconds of seeing me.

This has to do with vulnerability, I think. I’ve allowed myself to be open and vulnerable with them and in turn, they have gotten to know me better than I would like, sometimes. There is so much in this world to be extreme about, but the people who really matter, are the ones who willingly put up with your extremes.

Thank you Christopher, David, Tina and Emily for putting up with my extremes.

Comments(1)

I’ve been thinking about sleep a lot lately. Maybe it’s the lack of it that I’ve been getting or the deep desire that I have for it that’s caused this upsurge of thought.

Anyway, I went to bed at 830 last night. That’s right, kids, 830. While you were probably deciding what to have as a snack or even trying to finish your homework, I was delightfully snoozing away on my massive bed filled with pillows and all the blankets I own. And I must say that today I can say or the first time in…. well a long time, that I actually feel rested.

Did you know that according to Stanford University teenagers need at least 9hours and 15minutes of sleep a night to function properly? Children need 10hours and adults can function on 8hours and 15 minutes. So you guys need 9 hours and 15 minutes, however, most teenagers only get 6 hours and 30 minutes.

No because most of you aren’t getting enough sleep, you guys are more prone to irritability, lack of self confidence, and moodswings… not to mention depression, the inability to concentrate, and endangering your immune system!

So, my point is this…. we all need to get more sleep!

Comments(5)