I am in a creative mood today, a bit manic even (in a good way, I promise). I have more than a few projects in the works and lurking on the fringes. I feel productive! For most of my "adult" life I think I resigned myself to the you can't do that mentality when it comes to branching out, taking a chance.
So. What the hell am I talking about, right?
I have enough time and enough motivation at this point in my life that I can finally take a giant leap of faith and do something I have always wanted to do. Write. Not blog, although obviously I will do that. But write, write. And even more exciting? I am DOING it, not just obsessing about it, worrying about it, planning to do it, coming up with reasons why it's a bad idea, starting and rejecting it. Doing it. I must say...it feels great. It's like I have kept it all bottled up and now words and thoughts and ideas are just...there.
As bad as I am at being secretive, I'm going to keep things under wraps from everyone, including the most nosy in my life (I'm looking at you!) until I have a workable output that is worth sharing. All I ask for is your best wishes, good vibes, prayers. Whatever you would like to send my way. Actually working towards realizing a dream of what I wanted to be when I grow up - which I won't - is pretty damn cool.
Current inspirational playlist: (on shuffle, obviously)**
Money Maker - The Black Keys
First it Giveth - Queens of the Stone Age
Bell Bottom Blues - Derek and the Dominos
The Catalyst - Linkin Park
Kill Rock n' Roll - System of a Down
Light of the Morning - Band of Skulls (or as Bay calls it, the fast car song)
The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You - My Chemical Romance
U Mass - Pixies
Mekong - Refreshments
New Born - Muse
**disclaimer: Yes. I realize I am quite strange.
16 November 2012
13 November 2012
And I haven't felt so alive, in years
My brain has been all over the map the last week. The election stirred up too much in me, and much of it I can't get out of my head. No, no, don't run for the hills - I'm not about to talk politics and issues. Half the time I don't even know where I stand, so why should I subject anyone else to my rambling?
Mostly, it has made me introspective. Thinking about life, how much things have changed since I couldn't wait to be a "grown up". Thinking about what the near future and the far future hold for me, my family, my loved ones, everyone really. I suspect I am probably not even close to alone in these thoughts.
I had the opportunity yesterday to have two very different interactions with people I have never met and never will. The first was during the course of work, where I get to talk to people all day long. Usually its not personal and not long. Occasionally though, I run across someone who really likes to talk for one reason or another. Yes, it's in the course of work and I should stay professional but as I also like to talk a fair amount, I almost always fall prey to the talkers. This call was from an elderly woman in the morning that still has me thinking. How amazing is that? Someone I have never met shared life experiences and life advice with me that was meaningful, insightful and greatly appreciated. I actually took NOTES while she was giving me the advice.
That conversation made me realize that so many of the things we seek answers and solutions to can't be solved. Answers that we look for can only come from experiences we have and the life we lead. On top of that, why are we even looking? I know I personally do way too much thinking about things that make no difference in the grand scheme of my existence. I have become a lot more focused on the things that I should be seeking answers to lately, Other than that, it seems a lot more important to focus on things front and center.
The other experience was on a blog I had never read written by a man I have never met. I came across the blog after seeing a twitter post about someone who had recently passed away. The man lives in the area and had suffered from stage 4 inoperable lung cancer for the last two years. The blog existed before he got sick, but became his story about his illness and how he dealt with it after he was diagnosed. I spent a good 2 hours looking through this blog. The strength of this man was inspirational. Realizing that he needed to enjoy his life, he spent the 2 years before he died with his family and travelling. He traveled to every single state and part of Canada on his motorcycle, because he wanted to. It took many, many trips between relapses and treatment. He did it with many different groups of friends. He chose to experience life to the fullest.
After marveling at his stories, I found myself wondering if I could do that. Knowing that the end was coming, could I chose joy and turn it around? You know the people around him just wanted to bundle him up and keep him close. I hope that if something like that ever happens in my life (not trying to be morbid, by the way) that I can embrace life and make it count. Sounds cliche but isn't that would we should be doing? Living life and enjoying every moment?
OK. I feel better getting that out. And I look forward to the next time I have an interaction that truly makes me think. I promise to keep it light next time. - S
Mostly, it has made me introspective. Thinking about life, how much things have changed since I couldn't wait to be a "grown up". Thinking about what the near future and the far future hold for me, my family, my loved ones, everyone really. I suspect I am probably not even close to alone in these thoughts.
I had the opportunity yesterday to have two very different interactions with people I have never met and never will. The first was during the course of work, where I get to talk to people all day long. Usually its not personal and not long. Occasionally though, I run across someone who really likes to talk for one reason or another. Yes, it's in the course of work and I should stay professional but as I also like to talk a fair amount, I almost always fall prey to the talkers. This call was from an elderly woman in the morning that still has me thinking. How amazing is that? Someone I have never met shared life experiences and life advice with me that was meaningful, insightful and greatly appreciated. I actually took NOTES while she was giving me the advice.
That conversation made me realize that so many of the things we seek answers and solutions to can't be solved. Answers that we look for can only come from experiences we have and the life we lead. On top of that, why are we even looking? I know I personally do way too much thinking about things that make no difference in the grand scheme of my existence. I have become a lot more focused on the things that I should be seeking answers to lately, Other than that, it seems a lot more important to focus on things front and center.
The other experience was on a blog I had never read written by a man I have never met. I came across the blog after seeing a twitter post about someone who had recently passed away. The man lives in the area and had suffered from stage 4 inoperable lung cancer for the last two years. The blog existed before he got sick, but became his story about his illness and how he dealt with it after he was diagnosed. I spent a good 2 hours looking through this blog. The strength of this man was inspirational. Realizing that he needed to enjoy his life, he spent the 2 years before he died with his family and travelling. He traveled to every single state and part of Canada on his motorcycle, because he wanted to. It took many, many trips between relapses and treatment. He did it with many different groups of friends. He chose to experience life to the fullest.
After marveling at his stories, I found myself wondering if I could do that. Knowing that the end was coming, could I chose joy and turn it around? You know the people around him just wanted to bundle him up and keep him close. I hope that if something like that ever happens in my life (not trying to be morbid, by the way) that I can embrace life and make it count. Sounds cliche but isn't that would we should be doing? Living life and enjoying every moment?
OK. I feel better getting that out. And I look forward to the next time I have an interaction that truly makes me think. I promise to keep it light next time. - S
06 November 2012
Freedom..you've gotta give for what you take
Election Day, in case you were not aware. If you were not, I envy you. I really do. I don't think I am in the minority with that sentiment. Most of us are sick to death of the ads, the dialogue, the endless rhetoric and the coverage. The non-stop endless coverage with pundits galore. I've been joking about moving to Canada to live with a moose.
Obviously I don't mean that. The process is important. Does it need fixing, well yes, of course. But it's what we have to work with. I actually DO understand the electoral college, being the history loving nerd that I am, but it doesn't mean that it is relevant in today's age. And other things, which I do not choose to jump up on my soapbox about.
I grew up in a very politically active family. I learned a lot about it. Enough that now, as a parent myself, my views are dramatically different than my parents. And that is OKAY. That means I learned enough and I have enough confidence in my own opinions that I don't just follow along like a sheep, going with the crowd or the popular kids.
That is not why I wanted to post today. I know it happens every political season, but I have seen an abundance of taking politics to a personal level this year. As in, you don't support my candidate, you are obviously ignorant. (I'm not) You clearly don't love children. (I think the four of them might disagree) You are racist and don't believe in the rights of women. (Well, I come from a hispanic family and I have a vagina, so...)
You get the idea. I know it goes on from both sides. I find it abhorrent. Perfectly reasonable people grow balls to say things they would never say otherwise. We get further polarized and grow legions apart with this attitude. How on earth did it become acceptable to hate or look down on an entire group of people simply because they belong to a different party than you do? Simply put, don't assume you know someone, or even that you know what their politics and views are. I believe most people are not firmly in one camp or another.
I was raised in a staunchly liberal household. Vote straight party line and don't even consider anything else. I am an independent. I am still very liberal in terms of many social issues. I have found myself growing increasingly conservative fiscally as I have gotten older and certainly with kids in the picture. I would also like to see God more present in our country. The party I most mirror in my views is the Libertarian party. Pretty diverse huh? My point is this - don't assume you know. Step back and take a deep breath. The vitriol and nastiness is unwarranted and unnecessary. I think most of us just want our country to be better.
I will close with this. Vote as you will, do not judge others if they don't agree with you. Most importantly, pray that whoever is our next president will have our best interests at heart and help those who desperately need it. We need God's love and justice in our country.
Obviously I don't mean that. The process is important. Does it need fixing, well yes, of course. But it's what we have to work with. I actually DO understand the electoral college, being the history loving nerd that I am, but it doesn't mean that it is relevant in today's age. And other things, which I do not choose to jump up on my soapbox about.
I grew up in a very politically active family. I learned a lot about it. Enough that now, as a parent myself, my views are dramatically different than my parents. And that is OKAY. That means I learned enough and I have enough confidence in my own opinions that I don't just follow along like a sheep, going with the crowd or the popular kids.
That is not why I wanted to post today. I know it happens every political season, but I have seen an abundance of taking politics to a personal level this year. As in, you don't support my candidate, you are obviously ignorant. (I'm not) You clearly don't love children. (I think the four of them might disagree) You are racist and don't believe in the rights of women. (Well, I come from a hispanic family and I have a vagina, so...)
You get the idea. I know it goes on from both sides. I find it abhorrent. Perfectly reasonable people grow balls to say things they would never say otherwise. We get further polarized and grow legions apart with this attitude. How on earth did it become acceptable to hate or look down on an entire group of people simply because they belong to a different party than you do? Simply put, don't assume you know someone, or even that you know what their politics and views are. I believe most people are not firmly in one camp or another.
I was raised in a staunchly liberal household. Vote straight party line and don't even consider anything else. I am an independent. I am still very liberal in terms of many social issues. I have found myself growing increasingly conservative fiscally as I have gotten older and certainly with kids in the picture. I would also like to see God more present in our country. The party I most mirror in my views is the Libertarian party. Pretty diverse huh? My point is this - don't assume you know. Step back and take a deep breath. The vitriol and nastiness is unwarranted and unnecessary. I think most of us just want our country to be better.
I will close with this. Vote as you will, do not judge others if they don't agree with you. Most importantly, pray that whoever is our next president will have our best interests at heart and help those who desperately need it. We need God's love and justice in our country.
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