I can't write for long. I have a date.
With Edward.
I learned something very important this week: Humor yourself. But, I think it's more than that-- you have to be able to laugh at yourself, love yourself, and then humor yourself and support yourself in all your stupid, quirky, little passions that keep life interesting. In my case, I'm trying very hard not to judge myself, because I just started reading Twilight.
Actually, I started reading Twilight yesterday. Today I'm reading New Moon. That's how bad it's gotten. :) Don't worry, I'm not going to start wearing Team Edward or Team Jacob t-shirts (Team Edward), or waiting outside movie theatres for days. But, forgive me if I make a detour on my trip home to stop at Borders and pick up the next installment.
I think we all have things that we love that aren't particularly flattering. Maybe you're a football player who actually likes the ballet classes you're forced to take. Maybe you're a physicist who doesn't actually like science fiction. I happen to be an English Major at an Ivy League university who's in love with so-called trashy plebeian literature (don't get me started. I took all the courses, I will tell you why they're not trashy or plebeian). If I have to tell the truth, my two favorite authors are Sophie Kinsella and J.K. Rowling. Try telling that to your Poetry and Poetics class.
And so I advocate-- let's humor ourselves. We don't have to jump out of the closet just yet, (although I seem to be outing myself online) but the very least we can do is stop feeling guilty about what we truly love. If we're worried about what everyone else will think, at least we can not think bad things ourselves. Go take that ballet class. I bet they have a night courses after football practice.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Mini-Pigs
Sometimes it's important to think about the things that really make you happy in life:
Just a little something to brighten your day. :)
Just a little something to brighten your day. :)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Set Your Intentions
What's the difference between an Intention and a Resolution?
I've spent the past month struggling to keep a series of resolutions, per the advice of Gretchen Rubin, but every time I go to yoga, we close our eyes and "set our intentions" for the class, and for our lives. It's so calming, and it feels so centered that I couldn't help but wonder if this was a different path that I should explore. So I've been wondering lately, what's an intention, really? And how does it differ from a resolution?
I felt like I knew the answer intuitively, but when I tried to verbalize it, it didn't make any sense. So I looked it up. My dictionary of choice is always the Oxford English Dictionary, online.
Resolution: 1. Physical conversion, dissolution, separation. Conversion to pus (rare). Death. 2. Breaking up or conversion of a non-material thing. Problem solving, logic, musical dissonance, and math problems. 3. The action or an act of resolving; determination, resolute temper. A fixed or positive intention. Determination, firmness, steadfastness of purpose; possession or resolute and unyielding mind. The elimination or easing of doubt.
Intention: 1. General Senses. The action of directing the mind or attention to something; mental application or effort; attention, intent observation, regard; endeavor. Ultimate purpose; the aim of an action. The way in which anything is to be understood; meaning significance, import.
The definition of "resolution" really hit home. It's a "physical conversion" of the self, a separation of the desirable and undesirable attributes. "Determination." "Firmness." A "resolute and unyielding mind." A resolution is a course of action that rewards the good and weeds out the bad. It's tough and it takes a lot of will power. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I couldn't help wondering, will resolutions really make me happier?
An intention is softer. It's a mindset, as opposed to a concrete action. It focuses on aspirations, the meanings behind why we do what we do. Technically, intentions (unintentionally) come before resolutions-- they're what drive us to make resolutions in the first place-- but we're often not conscious of what our specific intentions are.
For a happiness project meant to fit into the crazy-busy life of a working student who already has stress problems, perhaps intentions will be better than resolutions. Resolutions, as great as they are in certain circumstances, are not always necessary. Perhaps all it takes is a simple mantra: "This is how I want to live my life. This is who I am going to be and how I'm going to act." Whether you set your intention to be more loving; to be more responsible; to be a better friend, sometimes just by telling yourself you're going to be that person, you will be. You don't need a laundry list of actions to check off every day.
I've spent the past month struggling to keep a series of resolutions, per the advice of Gretchen Rubin, but every time I go to yoga, we close our eyes and "set our intentions" for the class, and for our lives. It's so calming, and it feels so centered that I couldn't help but wonder if this was a different path that I should explore. So I've been wondering lately, what's an intention, really? And how does it differ from a resolution?
I felt like I knew the answer intuitively, but when I tried to verbalize it, it didn't make any sense. So I looked it up. My dictionary of choice is always the Oxford English Dictionary, online.
Resolution: 1. Physical conversion, dissolution, separation. Conversion to pus (rare). Death. 2. Breaking up or conversion of a non-material thing. Problem solving, logic, musical dissonance, and math problems. 3. The action or an act of resolving; determination, resolute temper. A fixed or positive intention. Determination, firmness, steadfastness of purpose; possession or resolute and unyielding mind. The elimination or easing of doubt.
Intention: 1. General Senses. The action of directing the mind or attention to something; mental application or effort; attention, intent observation, regard; endeavor. Ultimate purpose; the aim of an action. The way in which anything is to be understood; meaning significance, import.
The definition of "resolution" really hit home. It's a "physical conversion" of the self, a separation of the desirable and undesirable attributes. "Determination." "Firmness." A "resolute and unyielding mind." A resolution is a course of action that rewards the good and weeds out the bad. It's tough and it takes a lot of will power. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I couldn't help wondering, will resolutions really make me happier?
An intention is softer. It's a mindset, as opposed to a concrete action. It focuses on aspirations, the meanings behind why we do what we do. Technically, intentions (unintentionally) come before resolutions-- they're what drive us to make resolutions in the first place-- but we're often not conscious of what our specific intentions are.
For a happiness project meant to fit into the crazy-busy life of a working student who already has stress problems, perhaps intentions will be better than resolutions. Resolutions, as great as they are in certain circumstances, are not always necessary. Perhaps all it takes is a simple mantra: "This is how I want to live my life. This is who I am going to be and how I'm going to act." Whether you set your intention to be more loving; to be more responsible; to be a better friend, sometimes just by telling yourself you're going to be that person, you will be. You don't need a laundry list of actions to check off every day.
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