kids let me bestow some wisdom upon your inexperienced minds
1) Never stash your pants in a tree on a run that you don't want to carry it. From personal experience I know that all this brings you when you get your pants on the way back is a very real fear that possibly every small living creature in an 4.3 mile radius has decided to live in your pants while you were gone and will now attack you on your way back home.
2) Don't pay $5.00 a day for iced coffee at Starbucks. Listen closely. Brew any kind of coffee. Its actually better if its yesterday's coffee because then its already room temperature. Get a cup with ice. Pour your coffee in the cup about halfway up. Fill the rest with milk or half and half if you like to go big. Put in flavored creamer or flavored syrup if you wish. Add some sugar (Splenda dissolves best in cold drinks) And taa-daa! Delicious flavored iced coffee!
3) If you feel sorta blah, bloated, achey, or tired-drink more water. Your pee should be clear except for in the morning, when it should be light yellow and basically odorless.
4) Your grades do not define you. Your grade is not a letter value placed to judge your value as a person, and sometimes they aren't even an accurate representation of the effort you put forth in a classroom. The older I get, the more professors I have, the more I realize just how subjective grades are. Grades are just a letter put forth from a human to attempt to put an objective value on your understanding of that human's teaching of a subject.
5) Do not turn on the radio to a "hit" radio station. You'll have nothing but regrets. And besides, this is 2012, get an ipod plug in for your car.
6) Don't shower everyday, or at the least, don't wash your hair everyday. Or if thats still gross to you, just don't shower in hot water. Hot water ruins the protective cuticle around your hairs. Which opens it up to damage, and then you get split ends. Cooler water keeps the cuticle nice and sealed. Washing with the shampoos they make nowadays can also dry out your hair. Your skin will be softer from either not washing everyday and from using colder water as well. Both hot water and soap dry out your skin.
7) If you want chocolate chip cookies, do not make the nestle tollhouse bag recipe. Seriously, theres better chocolate chip cookies. Have you ever gone to a restaurant or bakery where they make really good chocolate chip cookies? Does it ever look like the cookies that that bag recipe makes? No. Not even at the Nestle Tollhouse restaurant!
8) Also, if you're on a diet.... Great! Wonderful! I'm proud of you! I have a couple of DOs and DON'Ts for ya though.
DON'T use facebook as a public record of your diet. Nobody wants to know that you wish you could have dessert. You wouldn't be on a diet if you didn't want something else MORE than the dessert (to lose weight). So don't discourage yourself like that.
DON'T obsess over what you eat. Its sort of a miserable eating situation for everyone around you if you babble on and on about everything you eat. And even if you don't voice it, still I say don't obsess over it. If you mess up move on.
DO exercise. No, your diet will not make you lose a bunch of weight that you will keep off if you do not exercise. Bottom line of losing weight, you need to burn more fuel than you are eating or eat less than what your basal metabolic rate is. But scratch the latter because that's not safe or sustainable.
Bottom line- eat healthier, real foods and work out. And, if you actually work out, you'll require more and more calories and then you can eat whatever you want. Ahhh, the life of a runner.
9) Please drive safely. Lately, I've been paying more attention to my driving. Thinking of other people's motive for doing what they do on the road, good or bad- rather than just my own motives. I realized how selfish most driver are because they feel like they are alone, when in actuality they are interavting with other people in a very important way. Lives are at stake. Why is that lady laying on her horn and being so mean? Maybe she has a child in the car. Maybe she's going to lose a really important client if she's late. So why not let her go first? No rush, no grudge against another driver, no important event, no red light is worth the risk that YOU driving like a maniac brings. So, I don't care what douche bag cut you off, how bad you have to pee, how long your trip home feels. It's not worth your or anyone else's lives. Don't make risky moves driving. YOU be the responsible, safe one. I promise to do this too.
The Only Way to Go is Up
the only way to go is up
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
time
There's this funny thing called time, and I have to figure it out.
Because I run a workout and the last mile feels like its never going to end, but
it was 8 minutes.
Because I blink and I am 20 years old, working on a career plan-on my own life-when yesterday I was an eighth grader madly in love with these two new little nieces, and now
it's been 6 years.
Because I sit there counting seconds, doing homework for what feels like forever, and
it's been 30 minutes.
Because I spend the nights planning what I'll do in college and now,
it's been a year and a half.
It's because of all this, that I wonder about this tricky little thing called time. I wonder what time will do to my face as I grow old. I wonder what time will do to yogurt thats 5 years old. I wonder where time will take me after a while. I wonder why I feel the way I do sometimes.
I had my two youngest nieces with me this past week and I thought a lot about time. But it wasn't like I usually think about the time. When I usually think about time, I mostly plea for answers about where the time has gone, but this week, I thought about first times and last times.
You see, my nieces and I are sharing some firsts.
This is my first time to affect someone's life from the very beginning. And I am their first and only shot at a single, adult aunt, free from most real-life obligations. Some of their interactions with people, some of their choices, and some of my characteristics will be because of my behavior. I think its a really special privilege, and also a really huge one. My persona of "Aunt Andi" is one of the things I am most proud of. I like seeing the part of myself that I know doesn't love them for what they've done, or who they are, but loves them simply because they are. But I need to take a closer look at how they see me. As they get older they'll see new things about me, and understand more. I hope I stand up to the scrutiny they begin to develop. I want to be someone that they gain only positive things from, even if its only that they learn to NOT do what Aunt Andi did. :) It will only be a finite amount of time that I will be family-free, career-free, and completely wrapped up in them. I pray I cherish every minute of it.
This week was also my first time to be instructed on how to change a diaper by a two year old.
Before I put Julie's new diaper on, she demanded that I say "Ew shoooo-ieeee" and plug my nose and air dry her bottom with the new diaper. I obliged with a laugh.
This was poor Katie's time to throw up with just me to take care of her. I withstood the challenge and only gagged once, but more than once, sad, sick little Katie had to throw up holding a baggie while I was carrying her to a convenience store restroom, with a toddler in tow. Sigh. That trip also felt like it was much longer that it was.
I'll spend the rest of my life figuring out this time stuff.
In other news, this happened! I'm so glad its an Olympic year and I'm so glad Kara gets to go!
Because I run a workout and the last mile feels like its never going to end, but
it was 8 minutes.
Because I blink and I am 20 years old, working on a career plan-on my own life-when yesterday I was an eighth grader madly in love with these two new little nieces, and now
it's been 6 years.
Because I sit there counting seconds, doing homework for what feels like forever, and
it's been 30 minutes.
Because I spend the nights planning what I'll do in college and now,
it's been a year and a half.
It's because of all this, that I wonder about this tricky little thing called time. I wonder what time will do to my face as I grow old. I wonder what time will do to yogurt thats 5 years old. I wonder where time will take me after a while. I wonder why I feel the way I do sometimes.
I had my two youngest nieces with me this past week and I thought a lot about time. But it wasn't like I usually think about the time. When I usually think about time, I mostly plea for answers about where the time has gone, but this week, I thought about first times and last times.
You see, my nieces and I are sharing some firsts.
This is my first time to affect someone's life from the very beginning. And I am their first and only shot at a single, adult aunt, free from most real-life obligations. Some of their interactions with people, some of their choices, and some of my characteristics will be because of my behavior. I think its a really special privilege, and also a really huge one. My persona of "Aunt Andi" is one of the things I am most proud of. I like seeing the part of myself that I know doesn't love them for what they've done, or who they are, but loves them simply because they are. But I need to take a closer look at how they see me. As they get older they'll see new things about me, and understand more. I hope I stand up to the scrutiny they begin to develop. I want to be someone that they gain only positive things from, even if its only that they learn to NOT do what Aunt Andi did. :) It will only be a finite amount of time that I will be family-free, career-free, and completely wrapped up in them. I pray I cherish every minute of it.
This week was also my first time to be instructed on how to change a diaper by a two year old.
Before I put Julie's new diaper on, she demanded that I say "Ew shoooo-ieeee" and plug my nose and air dry her bottom with the new diaper. I obliged with a laugh.
This was poor Katie's time to throw up with just me to take care of her. I withstood the challenge and only gagged once, but more than once, sad, sick little Katie had to throw up holding a baggie while I was carrying her to a convenience store restroom, with a toddler in tow. Sigh. That trip also felt like it was much longer that it was.
I'll spend the rest of my life figuring out this time stuff.
In other news, this happened! I'm so glad its an Olympic year and I'm so glad Kara gets to go!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
get used to it
It wasn't easy. And it took a while to get to this point. But I did and I am here. Shamefully posting on here after a dreadful lack of commitment to this blog that a very small number is likely to care about.
But, the semester wasn't easy either. I was driving back to school late one night by myself, and I had the absolutely treasonous thought of "I would rather be a B student that gets to go home and spend time with family and go to concerts and have fun, than be an A student that doesn't." Ideally I would be able to have both but how often do you get to have it all? Not very often. But looking back, I can honestly say that I'm glad I can pull B's and do most of what I want to do (I do have to restrain myself in favor of studying sometimes). If only my post grad school of choice will see things my way. I'm hoping that I am able to keep my sanity and make a more well rounded person of myself by having diverse interests and trying to have fun.
I skipped a lot of journaling this semester. Something I've been doing since I was eight, consistently. I write my journals to the Father and this semester my prayers and thoughts went unwritten. Somewhere along the way, it lost priority and I wanted to go into my Cornerstone class, where we talk about being a Christian and a Scientist and scream, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?! I STUDY FOR ALL THIS CLASS CRAP AND NOW I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WRITE TO GOD!" But I knew the fault was my own, so I didn't. It just seemed like what was required to make a good grade in my classes was not conducive to me being a balanced, polite, patient, and well-rested individual.
Enough whining about this semester. Its over. As can be clearly seen from the lack of nursing majors complaining on my Facebook newsfeed. Peace. Sweet, sweet peace.
Now, the great big fat point I want to make...
I guess the point is more of something I want to reiterate to myself more than any of you but,
Get used to taking the long way. The hard way. The road less travelled.
Just get used to it. Don't spend so much time fretting over how awfully long and hard and treacherous your "way" (whatever it may be) is. Because "easy"only comes to those with endurance and strength to take on a task. That's why its "easy" to them. Their strength and endurance came from taking the difficult road, probably repeatedly. Does that make sense?
I was being incredibly profound one night and thought of this because of what else? Running!
I was on a particularly crappy run where my foot was requiring too much limping for any kind of run to be successful. I sputtered on though. I started lengthening my stride which made the foot pain more intense initially, but it kept me from babying my gait. It eventually got to where it was tolerable and I kept on until I got back to the entrance to my neighborhood. There's two streets that lead to my house. Essentially its a longer way and a shorter way. Not like miles, probably less than two minutes difference running. I wanted to stop. To be instantaneously home. Really bad. My foot still hurt, and my lungs weren't used to the new speed my foot was allowing me.
But then I remembered my story. My story so completely full of mediocrity and failures. But really its my story of my Savior turning it all into a story of redemption and victory and grace. The story where I'm supposed to suck, for Him to be glorified. My story where I stink at defeating sin and give up and then stick my tongue out in defiance to anyone who thinks they're better than me. The story where I feel like I'm at the bottom, humbled and begging for help, but then I come to a choice. A choice I have in any sort of circumstance, where it hurts. It hurts so bad.
Its hard, so very very hard.
I don't want any more of any of it. I'm done with difficult.
And something in my heart asks, "Are you done here? Are you going to quit? Are you going to snap back at this person or are you going to show them love? Are you going to fight this even though its hard or are you done?"
Friends, too often. I tell the voice I'm done. Its. Too. Hard.
And I know its so entirely stupid because the battle has already been won and I am deemed victorious.
So why do I stop short? Why do I expect easy, when I want nothing more than to be strong and endure?
That's the entire point of running after all. I'm switching back and forth between running and life, I know, but bear with me. My running story is the same way, that's why I drew the parallel while I was running. Ask anyone if I'm actually a good runner and they'll probably laugh and ask what your definition of "good" is.
But I've had the health issues, the mental psyche issues, and now injury issues with running. In other words, I'm at the bottom. But, I can still tell you that when I'm on a run- hurting and wanting to die- that if I can push it aside and just keep going. Something happens. Where your mind and body get on the same page finally and they both start exuding victory. Your mind finally says, "Okay, the body's got this, so I can calm down the alarms that scream STOP YOU'RE HURTING ME!" And the body just pounds out this wave of power. Victory. No matter what. Even the bad runs.
When I remembered my story, I took the long way back. And then I looped around again and again. And I didn't die like I thought I would. I didn't feel my foot anymore until I finished. I took the long way, went inside caught my breath and then thought, "There now, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
Because, duh, nothing seems hard to do when you've already done it.
Boom. Roasted. There's my point again. So just do it. And then the next thing isn't so hard anymore.
Jesus told us to take the long way. Go one step further. Actually He says that if someone forces you to go with them a mile, go with them two. And a mile is a lot longer than a step.
But He knows you can do it ;) Victory.
I didn't write down a resolution but I guess that would be it. I'm going to take the longer, harder way, in running and in my Christian walk through this life. To God be the glory.
But, the semester wasn't easy either. I was driving back to school late one night by myself, and I had the absolutely treasonous thought of "I would rather be a B student that gets to go home and spend time with family and go to concerts and have fun, than be an A student that doesn't." Ideally I would be able to have both but how often do you get to have it all? Not very often. But looking back, I can honestly say that I'm glad I can pull B's and do most of what I want to do (I do have to restrain myself in favor of studying sometimes). If only my post grad school of choice will see things my way. I'm hoping that I am able to keep my sanity and make a more well rounded person of myself by having diverse interests and trying to have fun.
I skipped a lot of journaling this semester. Something I've been doing since I was eight, consistently. I write my journals to the Father and this semester my prayers and thoughts went unwritten. Somewhere along the way, it lost priority and I wanted to go into my Cornerstone class, where we talk about being a Christian and a Scientist and scream, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?! I STUDY FOR ALL THIS CLASS CRAP AND NOW I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WRITE TO GOD!" But I knew the fault was my own, so I didn't. It just seemed like what was required to make a good grade in my classes was not conducive to me being a balanced, polite, patient, and well-rested individual.
Enough whining about this semester. Its over. As can be clearly seen from the lack of nursing majors complaining on my Facebook newsfeed. Peace. Sweet, sweet peace.
Now, the great big fat point I want to make...
I guess the point is more of something I want to reiterate to myself more than any of you but,
Get used to taking the long way. The hard way. The road less travelled.
Just get used to it. Don't spend so much time fretting over how awfully long and hard and treacherous your "way" (whatever it may be) is. Because "easy"only comes to those with endurance and strength to take on a task. That's why its "easy" to them. Their strength and endurance came from taking the difficult road, probably repeatedly. Does that make sense?
I was being incredibly profound one night and thought of this because of what else? Running!
I was on a particularly crappy run where my foot was requiring too much limping for any kind of run to be successful. I sputtered on though. I started lengthening my stride which made the foot pain more intense initially, but it kept me from babying my gait. It eventually got to where it was tolerable and I kept on until I got back to the entrance to my neighborhood. There's two streets that lead to my house. Essentially its a longer way and a shorter way. Not like miles, probably less than two minutes difference running. I wanted to stop. To be instantaneously home. Really bad. My foot still hurt, and my lungs weren't used to the new speed my foot was allowing me.
But then I remembered my story. My story so completely full of mediocrity and failures. But really its my story of my Savior turning it all into a story of redemption and victory and grace. The story where I'm supposed to suck, for Him to be glorified. My story where I stink at defeating sin and give up and then stick my tongue out in defiance to anyone who thinks they're better than me. The story where I feel like I'm at the bottom, humbled and begging for help, but then I come to a choice. A choice I have in any sort of circumstance, where it hurts. It hurts so bad.
Its hard, so very very hard.
I don't want any more of any of it. I'm done with difficult.
And something in my heart asks, "Are you done here? Are you going to quit? Are you going to snap back at this person or are you going to show them love? Are you going to fight this even though its hard or are you done?"
Friends, too often. I tell the voice I'm done. Its. Too. Hard.
And I know its so entirely stupid because the battle has already been won and I am deemed victorious.
So why do I stop short? Why do I expect easy, when I want nothing more than to be strong and endure?
That's the entire point of running after all. I'm switching back and forth between running and life, I know, but bear with me. My running story is the same way, that's why I drew the parallel while I was running. Ask anyone if I'm actually a good runner and they'll probably laugh and ask what your definition of "good" is.
But I've had the health issues, the mental psyche issues, and now injury issues with running. In other words, I'm at the bottom. But, I can still tell you that when I'm on a run- hurting and wanting to die- that if I can push it aside and just keep going. Something happens. Where your mind and body get on the same page finally and they both start exuding victory. Your mind finally says, "Okay, the body's got this, so I can calm down the alarms that scream STOP YOU'RE HURTING ME!" And the body just pounds out this wave of power. Victory. No matter what. Even the bad runs.
When I remembered my story, I took the long way back. And then I looped around again and again. And I didn't die like I thought I would. I didn't feel my foot anymore until I finished. I took the long way, went inside caught my breath and then thought, "There now, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
Because, duh, nothing seems hard to do when you've already done it.
Boom. Roasted. There's my point again. So just do it. And then the next thing isn't so hard anymore.
Jesus told us to take the long way. Go one step further. Actually He says that if someone forces you to go with them a mile, go with them two. And a mile is a lot longer than a step.
But He knows you can do it ;) Victory.
I didn't write down a resolution but I guess that would be it. I'm going to take the longer, harder way, in running and in my Christian walk through this life. To God be the glory.
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