C'est La Vie: A List of 20

"And the world spins madly on...."
- The Weepies

Yes it does indeed! The world keeps spinning, the wheels in our minds continue to turn round and round all while time continues to tick away. Does this excite you by filling you up with thoughts about what the future can hold? OR does it freak you out for the same reason? For me, it's an interesting combination of both. Humanity and society can excite me and completely depress me, both feelings usually occur within the same day. But The Weepies (band) are certainly correct! The world does spin madly on and there is nothing that we can do about it!

 Sometimes I just want to freeze moments in time, and replay them over and over again. And even copy certain aspects from those moments and paste them into other moments that aren't so awesome..., just to make life a little easier. But life is hard and hopefully, it makes us stronger. Besides, who has ever been entitled to an easy life?

So with this, I thought that it would be an interesting idea to ponder and write down the things I truly appreciate.  Like I've said before I'm a list person, but this list is different because it's not crossing things off that's exciting- it's adding things on. And sure, you will have your "staple" items like your parents, family, friends, significant other etc.... but try to come up with random ones. Those are always fun. Ergo, here is a random drawing from the list I made a few months ago- for your reading pleasure, enjoy!

1. God: He was, and is, and is to come
2. Music: "Music to me is like breathing- I don't get tired of breathing, I don't get tired of music." -Ray Charles
3. Pictures: attempts at capturing beauty, inspiring creativity, and saving memories
4. Moon: have you ever read the book "Goodnight Moon" as a child? Of course you have! I experience this almost every night, I tell the moon "goodnight" because I can, and also because my bedroom window is at the perfect position (most nights) for the moon to shine through. It's quite peaceful. Especially during wintertime.
5. Google: self explanatory
6. Laughter: translates across cultures and is the same in all languages
7. Remote Control: I never have to move when I watch TV. Except for when I am hungry. Or changing the channel. 
8. Tiger Lilies: My ABSOLUTE favorite flower! (the orange ones!) I saw some on my drive home today, and really wanted to pull over and cut some to bring home with me. But they were on private property. And that's probably not appropriate. 
9. Christmas Lights: can make any room look magical! I love them! My kids will probably have Christmas lights hanging in their room all year round- that's the only way to do it! :)
10. Friendship: "No one looks back and remembers the nights you got lots of sleep."- Pinterest
11. Life: so hard and so beautiful at the same time. "Live the life you love." - Bob Marley
12. Great Books: "After I read a good book, I have a hard time coping with reality."- Pinterest
13. Humor: (read: sarcasm)

14. Duct tape: for a while there, I thought that it was spelled "duck" tape. You know, like a "duck swimming in the lake."  I thought that the correct spelling of "duct" was me over complicating it. Anyway, the stuff is useful for lots and lots of things. 
15. Road trips: because they are awesome!!!! Best way to travel.  Unless you need to cross an ocean.
16. Coffee: coffee, coffee, coffee!! Sleep is for wimps!!
17. Different cultures: best way to learn is through the eyes and perspectives of others. 
18. Humility: something to pursue - I get doses of this daily.
19. Awkward situations: makes us humble. Or more awkward.
20. WIFI: because let's be honest- I wouldn't use my computer or smart phone nearly as much. It should also be everywhere and for free. 

Who's Sitting on the Strawberry Swing?

Sometimes I'm too lazy to imagine. To really let my ideas take flight and to mentally invest in my ideas sounds tiring. How can someone be too lazy to imagine? Quite honestly, it takes a lot of effort to develop a new idea and make anything worthwhile come out of it. But one thing I absolutely love and respect is when others inspire an imagination within me. The best imaginators inspire creativity in others. But before I delve to deeply into this concept, let's look at the definition:

Def: imagination- the mental power of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses (or rather- things that are not physically present or developed yet). 


Ideas that we imagine are things that do not yet exist- or exist in the context of which we are imagining them. Interesting to ponder? Difficult to wrap your mind around? Being an internal processor, these are the things that I love to sit around and think about. 


I remember back to my junior year of high school (referencing high school like this makes me feel old), when my World Literature teacher made us do this homework assignment.  We had to listen to a classical music piece, in a dark room, laying down with our eyes closed. After we listened to the music, we had to write down what we saw or what the music made us imagine. Some people would see this as a pointless waste of time and others would be all over it and excited to complete the assignment. I was the latter. (Go figure). My point is, I think we should give our imaginations more credit. 


So, lets try an exercise. I know I'm referencing a lot of Coldplay, but have you ever heard of their song called "Strawberry Swing"? What the heck does that mean, 'strawberry swing'? What does that song make you think of? If you haven't heard of it, here is the song: 

Try it, listen to it, close your eyes for the short 4 minutes and 10 seconds and let your mind go. What did it make you think about? What people might come up with can possibly be similar or distinctly different. No two imaginations are the same! And that's so awesome when you think about it, really. 


After listening to this, look up the official music video, and see what the band thinks about their song. it's pretty awesome! Strawberry Swing Video 


Getting down to it- why is this talk of imagination even important? Who cares? The point is, that a tiny thought can grow and manifest into something so much more! But there are three main barriers to allowing these great ideas to grow: fear, lack of confidence, and not allowing the imagination to form. These three things keep a lot of people from actually doing something with their ideas. Fear of what others will think of you if they heard your idea, or rather fear of rejection of your idea. Lack of confidence in your ability to do something with the idea and seeing your own ideas as frivolous. This is not to say that everything will go well when you are fearless, confident, and put blood, sweat, and tears into making your idea a reality. But how would you know unless you try? It's fun and safe to keep your great ideas in your head, where they are safe from being scrutinized by others, or from any real risk. But then you are always living with a giant neon "What If?" sign flashing in your mind. 


I'll end with this; one of my favorite examples of someone turning an imagination into something so much more is the author of one of my favorite book series, J.K. Rowling. Whether you like Harry Potter or not, the fact that an idea that came into her head on a train ride to London exploded into 7 New York Times bestsellers and 8 blockbuster films is amazing! She seized the idea that formed in her mind's eye, wrote it down, and ran with it. Not everyone's story will end up like Rowling's, but if she let her fear, lack of confidence, and squashing the idea get in her way, the world would not have the Harry Potter books and I would be very sad and bored most summers. 


So many great (and ok, not so great) ideas flow through our imagination and if we pay close enough attention to them, we can weed out the ugly and focus on harvesting the good ones to help them grow. :)

In My Place

"In my place, in my place, were lines that I couldn't change..."

- Coldplay

Def: serenity- the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled
or
Serenity- a title given to a reigning prince or similar dignity. ex: Your Serenity, His Serenity.

Interesting. Obviously I'll go with the first definition, but I feel like a person would have to exude an impressive calm and peaceful persona before I'd call them "Your Serenity". But honestly, isn't this a quality that you would love to have? To be known as the calm, peaceful and untroubled dude/lady? People would just love to be around you in hope that your essence of "calm" rubs off on them.

Cynically, I do not believe that this state of being completely serene exists, at least not on this side of heaven. But more optimistically, I think that we can (and should) experience moments of serenity, and more often than we allow ourselves to. I have this weird delusion that if I am not stressing out or worried about something, then there is something I MUST NOT be doing. Luckily..., hopefully, most normal people have a balance between being stressed versus not being stressed.

I think that we can experience moments of serenity in many different kinds of places. For me, usually it is at your typical hipster coffee shop. I think that this is mostly because I feel really cool in these kinds of places. But also because, for me, the coffee shop is a great place to go if one needs to get stuff done. "Stuff" includes: reading for fun, studying, homework, facebooking, and catching up with friends, among other things. Usually when I leave a coffee shop I feel calm, peaceful, and untroubled. Then I get back to my room and I am suddenly reminded that I still have a lot of crap left to do. But that's not the point- the point is that I still feel a sense of being at peace when I am in the middle of my visit to the coffee shop. Especially when I am just about to cross off something else on my to do list. You list makers know what I am talking about- the awesome sensation felt when you cross something off of your list, like "YES!! I've been waiting for this moment!!"- it's pretty much amazing. Sometimes I put things like "showering" and "wake up" on my list just so I can feel great about crossing something off.

Anyway, there it is, a coffee shop bringing sanity and serenity. Weird? Some know exactly where I am coming from. For others, a noisy, cramp, dim-lit, $5 dollar- a -day habit would drive them into the arms of stress and despair. Totally understood. The hipster coffee shop experience isn't for everyone.

Coming home feels like I have to re-establish my self in the places around here. So naturally I began the search for another  place to bring upon moments of serenity and accomplishment. Last summer I found this really awesome place! I had an internship in Ann Arbor and somedays after work I would go down to the Huron River, sit, and relax at one of the picnic tables close by. Being by the river is so beautiful, vibrant, and unbothered. I don't think that I can really describe it. Sometimes when I think and talk about different places in nature, I find that typical words like "beautiful"and "vibrant" are so lacking. Sometimes you just have to be there. So I was there.  A few times a week I would go; it was just one of those places that I've experienced some peaceful and wonderful moments. Like God sent me down there because those moments would be felt.

Back to this concept of serenity, defined as a "state of being...", because we are humans and are constantly changing, as awesome as pure serenity sounds, it never lasts. This world won't let it and we ourselves won't let it either. Sooner or later all of our issues come flooding back into our minds and we are back in freak-out mode, frustrated mode or I don't give a crap mode... etc. This doesn't mean that we still shouldn't take the time out to breathe, and focus on something other than ourselves - it's good for us.  If you can't change some things, try to enjoy other things. Really, from a mental health perspective, its good for you to take a moment away from your own thoughts. It's not a profound concept, and it's been said before in some self-help book probably.... but the reminder is nice- so take it to heart. :)

Across the Universe

So here are some pictures of a few of my favorite places! Places that I have had the opportunity to visit and others I am daydreaming (and am dying) to visit!!

1. So Cal. My favorite place in the US is probably Laguna Beach. Not that it is the best beach in the world but out of the handful that I have been to on both coasts of the US, this is hands- down my favorite.

                                                   me, Nov. 2011
                                                                                           
 2. London, England, UK. I have always, always wanted to go to England. Probably why my favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice and why I love shows like Downton Abbey and North and South. This is at the top of my travel bucket list.

                                               google images

3. Maine, New England. I actually haven't been to this part of the US. The closest I've gotten was New York City. There is something very beautiful and quaint about the idea of being surrounded by lighthouses, Martha's Vineyard, and lobsters.

                                               google images

4. Northern Lights, Alaska. Or Norway, really I'm not picky- I'll go anywhere to see this! This one is probably a reach on my bucket list of things to see/do. But if I did that would be totes awesome!!!

                                                google images

5. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland. Wow. Just beautiful! If I ever get to England I would definitely make a trip to Ireland. This part of Europe intrigues me! I wanna see it!!!!

                                                google images

6. CA-101, California and the Pacific Northwest. So I've been to So Cal but never north of LA. I absolutely LOVE road trips! If gas wasn't so expensive I would encourage them more! My dream road trip would be to start in San Diego and drive up the 101 to Vancouver, BC, Canada! Lets just pretend that regular gas isn't $4/gallon out there (or more) and that this trip wouldn't be a fortune. K thanks! :)

                                                     google images

So there are the top 5 places that I often daydream about going to (places 2-5). I'm determined to make this into a reality!  Just maybe in a few years.... when I'm not a recent college graduate & flat broke. 


This world may be screwed up in many ways but in many others, it's quite beautiful. :)

precious is the flow of...

precious is the flow.... a line from a very popular hymn "Nothing But the Blood," yes but when I thought about it, it really can be applied to much more!

precious is the flow of: words, thoughts, ideas, water, music, sound, light, [insert word here].

I think that it is really cool that this title can be applied to so many things! Flexibility like this is important to me and mainly because I'm so indecisive!! I know it is a bit frustrating to those who know me well but it's frustrating to me too!

Like starting this blog for example. I probably have made twelve pro/con lists in my head before actually doing it. I'm such a huge internal processor- I think and re-think about EVERYTHING. Especially decisions. And for some reason I made this one more complicated than it had to be. I truly believe that my decision making skills are less than favorable because I have a huge "fear of man" issue. Sometimes I can care way too much about what people think about me. And not to say that I shouldn't give a crap at all but often it's hard for me to find a balance. I truly love, care and empathize with people deeply but sometimes that manifests itself into BIG time people pleasing. Now that I am an adult I feel like it is time to find this... balance.

And thus this blog! "Just do something!" my mom says, such wise words. Even after talking to her about this throughout the past week, she still lovingly encourages me. (not always without frustration, haha.) God bless her!

So we will see how long this will last. Hopefully for a while- writing has always been a hobby of mine! (Reminder: writing is the hobby, not grammar - for all of you who already have the fifteen grammatical errors I've made mentally pointed out.) I truly hope that you enjoy reading some of my thoughts! :)