I think a lot of my friends would say that I usually "go with the flow." I'm usually down for dancing or movies or helping with a chore or going to a basketball game at the last minute. I like to be open to any opportunity that arises (plus I suck at saying no to anyone). But although I'm laid back in these situations, I always build up every situation in my head. I imagine that every experience will "awesome" and then am let down when things don't live up to the hype in my head.
I will plan a night downtown and in my head we dance and laugh and have the time of our lives. In reality, it's only two of us and none of the bars have any DJs and we drink too much and then go home and sleep.
I plan to go to a work retreat so I can learn new things for my classroom and interact with new people from other schools. In reality, sub plans take forever. I meet no one new because every school cliques together and the content of the workshop is repetitive and boring.
I planned to go to Scotland and thought I'd meet tons of locals and travel all over the island and meet lifelong friends and maybe even meet a guy. I imagined going to local pubs every night and discovering all the local hot spots. In reality, I had a hard time adjusting, difficulty making any friends, hated the food, and mostly just hit up the tourist areas on my own because I never talked to locals.
Even this past weekend, as I visited Iowa for the football game, I hyped up the experience. I assumed that if I'd be tailgating all day, I would talk to people from other tailgates and play games and make memories. In reality, it was freezing and most of the Iowa fans gave us death glares from their tents even when I smiled at everyone and we sat and waited for hours for what ended up to be an awful game.
I'm not sure if these events are caused by too much optimism or trying to control every situation too much or just bad circumstances. I'm not trying to be depressing. I'm just trying to think this through by writing it out. I guess I just need to stop expecting anything. That way, absolutely any outcome is refreshing and new because it can't be compared to my imagination. I guess that's why they say to "expect the unexpected."
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
What I Have Learned from My Cats
I'm currently living alone with two cats, so I think that officially makes me a cat lady at the age of 24. I can't say it's not entertaining though. And there are some beneficial learning moments.
1. Water is important. If you need a reminder to drink about 70 times a day, my cats are the ones for you. They drink out of the shower and the kitchen sink and any unfortunate cup I leave laying around. With their constant slurping, I can never forget to get my 8 glasses a day.
2. Speak up for what you want. I mean, what they want is always food, but they aren't afraid to speak out even if it is 2:00 in the morning when their tyrant of a master has done the unthinkable and left their food bowl empty for more than a few minutes.
3. Forgiveness is a virtue. I was holding Bowser down on his back to clip his nails today, screaming at him because he wouldn't stop squirming while he yelled back at me since I had obviously gone crazy. It was a sight to behold. But after several minutes of torture on both of our parts, he is now peacefully curled up next to me and purring. I guess it doesn't help to hold a grudge.
4. Alone time is totally acceptable. When I first brought Max to the house, there were many hissing matches between the two, but then they'd find their own spaces and chill out and everything was hunky dory. The choices of places to spend their alone time (on top of the kitchen cabinet, on top of the DVD player on the shelf, squished under a very low bed, or in the bathtub for example) were questionable, but they were much happier after cooling off by themselves.
5. There are many ways to sleep on a bed. After spending years sleeping on the side of the bed furthest from the wall, I had forgotten a whole other side to my bed. Fortunately, Max broadened my horizons when he decided that my usual sleeping spot was his claimed sleeping spot. So I moved to the side by the window. Then Bowser felt left out and starting sleeping on that side. I've spent the week sleeping smack dab in the middle of the bed with pillows on each side to defend that area. It has been proven that every area of the bed has the same level of comfort. Great experiment overall.
1. Water is important. If you need a reminder to drink about 70 times a day, my cats are the ones for you. They drink out of the shower and the kitchen sink and any unfortunate cup I leave laying around. With their constant slurping, I can never forget to get my 8 glasses a day.
2. Speak up for what you want. I mean, what they want is always food, but they aren't afraid to speak out even if it is 2:00 in the morning when their tyrant of a master has done the unthinkable and left their food bowl empty for more than a few minutes.
3. Forgiveness is a virtue. I was holding Bowser down on his back to clip his nails today, screaming at him because he wouldn't stop squirming while he yelled back at me since I had obviously gone crazy. It was a sight to behold. But after several minutes of torture on both of our parts, he is now peacefully curled up next to me and purring. I guess it doesn't help to hold a grudge.
4. Alone time is totally acceptable. When I first brought Max to the house, there were many hissing matches between the two, but then they'd find their own spaces and chill out and everything was hunky dory. The choices of places to spend their alone time (on top of the kitchen cabinet, on top of the DVD player on the shelf, squished under a very low bed, or in the bathtub for example) were questionable, but they were much happier after cooling off by themselves.
5. There are many ways to sleep on a bed. After spending years sleeping on the side of the bed furthest from the wall, I had forgotten a whole other side to my bed. Fortunately, Max broadened my horizons when he decided that my usual sleeping spot was his claimed sleeping spot. So I moved to the side by the window. Then Bowser felt left out and starting sleeping on that side. I've spent the week sleeping smack dab in the middle of the bed with pillows on each side to defend that area. It has been proven that every area of the bed has the same level of comfort. Great experiment overall.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
An Open Letter to My Students...
I know many of you are scared. I know you feel misrepresented or unheard. You may be confused. I sure am. But I want you to know that I still care about you. I want you to know there are millions of kind and loving people in the United States. And even though many of those people lost an election, I truly believe in the power of these people.
I have seen your parents work as hard as they can to give you a better life, even though our current immigration system has made that nearly impossible. I have seen the battles your families have fought. I have seen you work each day to do your very best in school and I know you are a valuable member of the United States, no matter what any immigration status is.
I respect your religion. I love that you have faith. Believe what you want to believe. Pray to who you want to pray to (or don't pray at all.) You still have that freedom in America, no matter what Trump says and I will defend you with my every word and action. I know this doesn't change the abuse you get when you walk into a store. I know this doesn't change the awful words people have said about you. I want so bad to take that fear away from you. Because no child should feel ashamed of who they are. I makes me sick to my stomach. I am literally crying for you right now. I am holding on to the shred of hope that no matter who Trump chooses as judges that they take a judge's oath seriously and give us the freedoms we as Americans have sacrificed many, many lives for.
And please, girls, don't give up on any of your dreams. I know you want to be doctors and CEOs and pilots and judges. You can. It will be extremely difficult because America is hard on women. It never has been "great" for us. It has been getting better, but we are not given equal treatment. Please keep pushing through. Nothing will get better without effort. I will stand with you. Always.
And finally, try to forgive. Don't push people away. Not every Trump supporter is racist. Division isn't going to help. They have concerns too, even if you and I don't fully understand them. Make your voice known, but also open your ears. With an election season with such lack of respect, please remember to be kind even when you disagree. Don't let your light go out. Keep dreaming; keep hoping; keep loving. I love you all, no matter what your race, gender, religion, or language. You are important.
I have seen your parents work as hard as they can to give you a better life, even though our current immigration system has made that nearly impossible. I have seen the battles your families have fought. I have seen you work each day to do your very best in school and I know you are a valuable member of the United States, no matter what any immigration status is.
I respect your religion. I love that you have faith. Believe what you want to believe. Pray to who you want to pray to (or don't pray at all.) You still have that freedom in America, no matter what Trump says and I will defend you with my every word and action. I know this doesn't change the abuse you get when you walk into a store. I know this doesn't change the awful words people have said about you. I want so bad to take that fear away from you. Because no child should feel ashamed of who they are. I makes me sick to my stomach. I am literally crying for you right now. I am holding on to the shred of hope that no matter who Trump chooses as judges that they take a judge's oath seriously and give us the freedoms we as Americans have sacrificed many, many lives for.
And please, girls, don't give up on any of your dreams. I know you want to be doctors and CEOs and pilots and judges. You can. It will be extremely difficult because America is hard on women. It never has been "great" for us. It has been getting better, but we are not given equal treatment. Please keep pushing through. Nothing will get better without effort. I will stand with you. Always.
And finally, try to forgive. Don't push people away. Not every Trump supporter is racist. Division isn't going to help. They have concerns too, even if you and I don't fully understand them. Make your voice known, but also open your ears. With an election season with such lack of respect, please remember to be kind even when you disagree. Don't let your light go out. Keep dreaming; keep hoping; keep loving. I love you all, no matter what your race, gender, religion, or language. You are important.
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