I am currently stuck in a recliner because my cat decided to fall asleep on my lap. My dog is snoring on the chair beside me and her leg keeps shaking so she must be dreaming. It smells like pine needles, but only because of a candle on our end table since we have a fake Christmas tree this year. I love the sound of the keyboard as I type, especially when the rest of the house is so silent. Even when my family is all at school and work, it is good to be home. :)
As I was sitting here, I realized that I wrote a note to myself over a month ago to write a blog post about something and I never got around to it, so I'll do that now. For my Meryl Streep movie class, we watched a movie called Adaptation with Nicholas Cage. I know this movie has very high ratings on almost every website and someone reading this may love the movie, but I personally found it more bizarre than funny. I thought I'd like a movie about writers as a writer myself, but I didn't. I'm not here to review the movie though. I'm only here to discuss one quote.
"You are what you love, not what loves you. I decided that a long time ago."
Although this is probably just a rewording of something that many people have said, it was something that I mulled over for quite some time before writing it on my "to blog" list. I know I often decide my worth by that people that love me and the reasons they love me. Even if it's the little things. A comment like "I love talking to you" makes me feel like a good listener. I am also very prone to thoughts like "that teacher hates me" or "my sister hates me" and I make myself feel worse about myself.
But I am not what others tell me I am. And neither are you. Maybe your music teacher thinks you can't sing. Or your mom and you always fight. Those things don't define you. You are the only person who can define you.
I love dad's hugs and my brother's smiles. I love laughing with my sister and playing games with my friend Sarah. I love Husker games with Hillary and cruising with Ashley. My mom is my best friend in the whole world. I love all of my pets unconditionally. I love reading a good book or getting in the car and driving somewhere new. I love chocolate, pink, and Christmas morning. That is who I am. I know and I don't need anyone else to confirm that. So who are you? What do you love?
Hope some of you are having a wonderful holiday break! Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Destressing Over Break
Do you ever sit or lie down for 10 minutes and do nothing but take deep breaths? If you answered no, don't worry...neither do I. I have found this simple exercise to be much more difficult than imagined. I am a person who is easily stressed. I have been known to pop my fingers, chew the inside of my lip, pull my hair, pick at my fingers, clench my teeth, or rub my palms together, all habits caused by anxiety. Recently, I have been going to the chiropractor because of constant back problems and every time I go in, he tells me my back muscles are in knots. I get stressed and my whole body has to suffer for it. Something he suggested was the exercise above. Taking time out of every day to breathe. That was a month ago. I still haven't done it once.
I did try, believe me. I closed the door to my bedroom and turned relaxing music on. I sat on my bed and closed my eyes and starting taking long, deep breaths. Two minutes later, I found myself considering what time I needed to get up in the morning and if I should study more for an upcoming test, having completely forgotten my breathing. Other attempts ended the same. One time I even got distracted by the paint color of my wall. I have no attention span. I have no idea how I even sit through class.
Now I am home for the semester. Every assignment is turned in and there is no more classes to worry about. Today I looked up information about deep breathing. Did you know it not only relaxes muscles, but also lowers blood pressure, increases endorphins, and releases toxins from your body? And it only takes 10 minutes a day. I just need to find my inner determination I guess. I have 3 weeks in Franklin. I have time. Wish me luck!
I did try, believe me. I closed the door to my bedroom and turned relaxing music on. I sat on my bed and closed my eyes and starting taking long, deep breaths. Two minutes later, I found myself considering what time I needed to get up in the morning and if I should study more for an upcoming test, having completely forgotten my breathing. Other attempts ended the same. One time I even got distracted by the paint color of my wall. I have no attention span. I have no idea how I even sit through class.
Now I am home for the semester. Every assignment is turned in and there is no more classes to worry about. Today I looked up information about deep breathing. Did you know it not only relaxes muscles, but also lowers blood pressure, increases endorphins, and releases toxins from your body? And it only takes 10 minutes a day. I just need to find my inner determination I guess. I have 3 weeks in Franklin. I have time. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
What a Few Words Can Do
Has someone ever complimented your outfit and it made you happier the rest of the day? Or have you heard someone whisper something about you behind your back and you've never forgotten? No matter how much we say that others' opinions don't matter, they often impact the way we think and feel.
This semester, I have had some instructors that impacted my work with their comments. I have always prided myself on being a good student, so teachers' opinions matter, probably more than they should. I currently am in a theater class and a reporting class. In each of these classes, the professors have continually torn my papers apart.
I don't mean to sound arrogant, but this has never happened before. Writing has always been a strength of mine and I have become used to praise on my papers. I'm not saying I've never been corrected. But it is usually minute things that are easily corrected. Now I am suddenly not explaining myself and papers aren't flowing. Because of this, I have stressed over every word of every sentence of my final papers over the last few weeks.
Yesterday, I had a presentation for my Instructional Technology class. This is a class I have an A in and with all the stress I've put on myself for the other classes, I didn't try very hard in this class at all. At the end of the class, my teacher asked me to stay after class and I assumed she wanted to reprimand me for my late assignment the week before, but instead she smiled and said, "I just wanted to let you know that your presentation was one of the best of the class. You have a great speaking voice."
I was taken aback but I thanked her eagerly, still confused about why she needed to tell me this. She went on and said, "I know you're going to be a great teacher. I know you are trying to figure out your path in college, but I think you're on the right track. I thought you should know that." Suddenly, my worries throughout the semester went away. I told her truthfully how much I enjoyed her class and I saw her face light up in reflection of my own.
So, at the end of the semester, as everyone is filling out course evaluations, I am evaluating things myself. Just because one teacher doesn't like your work doesn't make you a bad student. Have confidence in yourself. Also, your words to others do make a difference. If you like something you see, tell that person because it might make their day. Or their whole semester.
This semester, I have had some instructors that impacted my work with their comments. I have always prided myself on being a good student, so teachers' opinions matter, probably more than they should. I currently am in a theater class and a reporting class. In each of these classes, the professors have continually torn my papers apart.
I don't mean to sound arrogant, but this has never happened before. Writing has always been a strength of mine and I have become used to praise on my papers. I'm not saying I've never been corrected. But it is usually minute things that are easily corrected. Now I am suddenly not explaining myself and papers aren't flowing. Because of this, I have stressed over every word of every sentence of my final papers over the last few weeks.
Yesterday, I had a presentation for my Instructional Technology class. This is a class I have an A in and with all the stress I've put on myself for the other classes, I didn't try very hard in this class at all. At the end of the class, my teacher asked me to stay after class and I assumed she wanted to reprimand me for my late assignment the week before, but instead she smiled and said, "I just wanted to let you know that your presentation was one of the best of the class. You have a great speaking voice."
I was taken aback but I thanked her eagerly, still confused about why she needed to tell me this. She went on and said, "I know you're going to be a great teacher. I know you are trying to figure out your path in college, but I think you're on the right track. I thought you should know that." Suddenly, my worries throughout the semester went away. I told her truthfully how much I enjoyed her class and I saw her face light up in reflection of my own.
So, at the end of the semester, as everyone is filling out course evaluations, I am evaluating things myself. Just because one teacher doesn't like your work doesn't make you a bad student. Have confidence in yourself. Also, your words to others do make a difference. If you like something you see, tell that person because it might make their day. Or their whole semester.
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