A couple years ago, I worked with a guy who was REALLY into Crossfit. He was one of those super extreme type A people who talked incessantly about "the box" and a paleo lifestyle. He was also really good at his job.
Anyway, one of the tools they used at his Crossfit box was the 30 Day Challenge. Each month, the members would pick a challenge that they pursued for 30 days. At the end of the month, the successful participants would get their name up on The Board.
I thought that was a great idea. After all, I am a super-big fan of goal setting and Challenges, be they 14 day, 21 day, 30 day or anything else.
I was not, however, a fan of this guy when he was doing a 30 day challenge.
The first challenge of the year was "No Complaining" for 30 days. A decent challenge- certainly well intentioned and good for self improvement. The challenge went pretty well for about 4-5 days. And then he'd suddenly get really agitated and frustrated. "I have to start over one day one!"
This pattern continued until mid-way through February. He'd start off, do well for a few days, then he'd inadvertently complain about something. And start over on day one. Again and again and again.
Finally, one day I asked him "Wasn't No Complaining January's challenge? How come you haven't moved on to the next challenge?"
"I haven't completed the first challenge" he said. "I have to go 30 full days in order to complete the challenge. Then, and only then can I move on to the next one."
"But that doesn't seem to be working" I responded. "Wouldn't it make more sense to, maybe, keep a journal during the challenge? If you end up complaining about something, then you write it down and include when you complained and about what and what was going on when you complained. Then, you could look for patterns. For instance, if you notice that every Monday morning, you complain about traffic, you may realize that you are leaving the house late every Monday and vow to get yourself organized on Sunday night so you can leave on time. Or if you notice that you complain mainly in the mid afternoon hours, you may conclude that paleo is completely insane and eat some chocolate, already!" (I didn't say that. I actually said that maybe you need to eat a handful of almonds or some cheese. But I totally THOUGHT chocolate!)
"Well, I can see how that would have some benefits. And that does make sense. But that's not what the challenge is. The challenge is to get through 30 days."
"Is that really the point?" I asked. "Isn't the bottom like to learn and grow as a person? Not just to get up on the board."
"Well, learning and growing is desirable," he said. "But the real point IS to get up on the board."
I tell that story not to belittle my former co-worker, nor to make myself look superior. I tell that story simply because it is very similar to my life last week. Last week, I set a number of ambitious goals for myself that meant a lot to me and are things that I strongly aspire to. And then, last week, a number of those goals fell apart.
Some of the time it was completely out of my control. Like when my computer crapped out on my and lost all the documentation I had on every single patient I had seen that day. And I had to stay and extra 2 1/2 hours to re-do all my paper work on a computer that kept freezing up on me. Some of the time, I had to make choices between two equally desirable occurrences. Since there is not an infinite number of hours in the day and also since I cannot split myself in two, I had to choose one over the other. And a couple times I was just too exhausted and needed an extra 30 minutes of sleep.
So this week, I am starting anew. Not in a "Oh, crap! I have to start over from the very beginning!" kind of way. More in a "This week is a blank slate and I can get back on track" kind of way. My end goal, after all, is to grow as a person, not to get my name on The Board.
Oh! And P.S.> There was actually a reason that my friend was so obsessed with The Board. I just didn't know it at the time. He is now a Crossfit coach and he had to successfully complete a certain number of those 30 day challenges without going insane. So all's well that ends well. I'm gonna go eat some chocolate.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Artist Way
Many, many years ago, I discovered a 12 week program called The Artist's Way, quite by accident. I was attending a holistic health seminar in Boston, and for my afternoon session, I had planned on seeing a talk by Dr Andrew Weil. To my dismay, I found that you needed to reserve your spots for the afternoon sessions beforehand and there were no more seats available for Dr Weil. I was directed to a syllabus that included sessions that still have available seats. And I ended up in a lecture given by Julia Cameron.
I had never heard of Julia Cameron, I had no idea what this lecture was about. I was a bit unnerved when this blonde, flowy, colorful person came out and made us all get up and SING. I was even more skeptical when she had us turn to the person next to us and take turns describing in intimate detail, our earliest memory...in three minutes....go! What had I gotten myself into?
At the end of the 90 minute session, I had reached the conclusion that this Julia Cameron character- was an absolute genius! She was spectacular! I came out of the lecture and walked right to the book table in the foyer to purchase her book, The Artist Way.
I have completed the 12 week program a number of times since then (once outlining the task on this very blog) with great success. The program is as much a journey of self discovery as it is a path to creativity. It makes use of various tools, the big three are "morning pages", "the artist date", and walking. It's pretty powerful.
It's been a while since I last did the Artist Way.
Then, a couple weeks ago something quite serendipitous happened; I went to the waiting room to get a patient at work and on the table, I found a flyer for an Artist Way retreat. Led by none other than Julia Cameron. For that coming weekend. In Sedona.
(I should probably clarify at this point, that right now, I'm living in Sedona.)
I checked it out online and saw that there were still spots left. And I spent the weekend with ol' Julia.
It's been a very long time since that seminar in Boston. Julia is still just as blonde and just as flowy. She's a bit less colorful, but that's because she's taken to that artist-y habit of dressing in all black. Her colorful flair was relegated to her spectacular necklace, scarf, and shoes.
Yes, she made us sing.
Yes, she made up break up into groups and share things like: "If your inner critic had a name and occupation, what would they be?" (Patricia. And she's a rich socialite with no discernible profession) "Who was the first friend in school who betrayed you?" and "What advice would Obi Wan Kenobe give to you right now?
It sounds ridiculous and trite. And sometimes it even FELT ridiculous and trite. But as the exercises progressed from Obi Wan Kenobe to your parents to your "most important relationship when you were between 18-25", it became less trite. And when you started pondering things like "Growing up, if your concept of God was NOT the Adam and Eve, judgmental God that you learned about in church, but maybe more like Dumbledore or Santa Claus, would your actions and decisions have been different", you start questioning things about yourself that your thought were just YOU.
There were lots of tissues going around. I had a headache at the lunchtime the first day.
At the end of the weekend, I was fuzzyheaded and over-full but simultaneously empty. I had a lot to think about. And I pulled out my old copy of The Artist's Way for another go-round.
That Julia Cameron, she's a frickin genius!
I had never heard of Julia Cameron, I had no idea what this lecture was about. I was a bit unnerved when this blonde, flowy, colorful person came out and made us all get up and SING. I was even more skeptical when she had us turn to the person next to us and take turns describing in intimate detail, our earliest memory...in three minutes....go! What had I gotten myself into?
At the end of the 90 minute session, I had reached the conclusion that this Julia Cameron character- was an absolute genius! She was spectacular! I came out of the lecture and walked right to the book table in the foyer to purchase her book, The Artist Way.
I have completed the 12 week program a number of times since then (once outlining the task on this very blog) with great success. The program is as much a journey of self discovery as it is a path to creativity. It makes use of various tools, the big three are "morning pages", "the artist date", and walking. It's pretty powerful.
It's been a while since I last did the Artist Way.
Then, a couple weeks ago something quite serendipitous happened; I went to the waiting room to get a patient at work and on the table, I found a flyer for an Artist Way retreat. Led by none other than Julia Cameron. For that coming weekend. In Sedona.
(I should probably clarify at this point, that right now, I'm living in Sedona.)
I checked it out online and saw that there were still spots left. And I spent the weekend with ol' Julia.
It's been a very long time since that seminar in Boston. Julia is still just as blonde and just as flowy. She's a bit less colorful, but that's because she's taken to that artist-y habit of dressing in all black. Her colorful flair was relegated to her spectacular necklace, scarf, and shoes.
Yes, she made us sing.
Yes, she made up break up into groups and share things like: "If your inner critic had a name and occupation, what would they be?" (Patricia. And she's a rich socialite with no discernible profession) "Who was the first friend in school who betrayed you?" and "What advice would Obi Wan Kenobe give to you right now?
It sounds ridiculous and trite. And sometimes it even FELT ridiculous and trite. But as the exercises progressed from Obi Wan Kenobe to your parents to your "most important relationship when you were between 18-25", it became less trite. And when you started pondering things like "Growing up, if your concept of God was NOT the Adam and Eve, judgmental God that you learned about in church, but maybe more like Dumbledore or Santa Claus, would your actions and decisions have been different", you start questioning things about yourself that your thought were just YOU.
There were lots of tissues going around. I had a headache at the lunchtime the first day.
At the end of the weekend, I was fuzzyheaded and over-full but simultaneously empty. I had a lot to think about. And I pulled out my old copy of The Artist's Way for another go-round.
That Julia Cameron, she's a frickin genius!
Monday, October 2, 2017
OCTOBER GOALS
I used to be such a goals setter. Well, I still am kind of a goal setter. Unfortunately, I somehow got the idea in my head that I could just keep all the goals inside my head. That doesn't work. They goals get all mixed up and lost with all the bad ideas in there.
There's something about writing down the goals that make you commit just little bit more. There's something extra about posting them where others can see that takes it up one more notch. I like going up one more notch.
1) Work Out Every Day: Not just weekdays. Or not just weekends. And especially not just on days when I feel like it. There were way too many of those days over the summer. Sitting in the sun is nice. But working the body is even nicer.
2) Big Hiking Goal- South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail I've been wanting to do a Grand Canyon hike for a while, but haven't gotten around to getting permits, which means there are no more overnight permits. So I'm taking the plunge- 18 miles, down and up. Weather permitting and body permitting. I can do this!
3) Get Halloween gifts for the kids and mail them out It's tough being away from the munchkins. Especially when its costume time. (or as Brandon says- "October! Breast cancer awareness month! I can wear pink every day!") So I need to get them a little something to smile about and mail it out.
4) Clean Eating: In addition to all the usual reasons for clean eating (health, weight, performance, etc) I have another, really important reason to stick with this. I need to show somebody that clean eating is not only possible, but advantageous. It would be pretty hypocritical of me to preach clean eating and then down as much junk as I can get my hands on, wouldn't it?
5) Get the dent on my car fixed, already!
6) Finish up the outstanding classes I have half finished: Manual therapy for Sciatica Treatment, Modalities, Skillshare class, and Daring Greatly. (Hey! Four classes for 4 weeks!)
7) Journaling and Blogging Daily Cause even just one day of journaling and blogging has made me feel so much more centered!
8) Four Handwritten Letters to Friends. Social media has gone beyond impersonal. It's just mean, now. But a handwritten note in the mailbox? So uplifting. I hope.
9) POUND certification and start teaching. POUND is just about the greatest thing I've come across in fitness since triathlons and hiking. Plus, I get to pretend I'm a rock star.
10) Sleep Outside at least one night I've pretty much embraced the idea that the only way I'm going to get a spot to pitch my tent around here is in a really remote, primitive campsite with no water. Of course, that's my favorite kind of camping. So there's really no reason I haven't just DONE IT already! (Maybe because I didn't commit to it as a goal and write it down)
Hiking, camping, working out, learning, and connecting with loved ones. Pretty good intentions for October!!
I used to be such a goals setter. Well, I still am kind of a goal setter. Unfortunately, I somehow got the idea in my head that I could just keep all the goals inside my head. That doesn't work. They goals get all mixed up and lost with all the bad ideas in there.
There's something about writing down the goals that make you commit just little bit more. There's something extra about posting them where others can see that takes it up one more notch. I like going up one more notch.
1) Work Out Every Day: Not just weekdays. Or not just weekends. And especially not just on days when I feel like it. There were way too many of those days over the summer. Sitting in the sun is nice. But working the body is even nicer.
2) Big Hiking Goal- South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail I've been wanting to do a Grand Canyon hike for a while, but haven't gotten around to getting permits, which means there are no more overnight permits. So I'm taking the plunge- 18 miles, down and up. Weather permitting and body permitting. I can do this!
3) Get Halloween gifts for the kids and mail them out It's tough being away from the munchkins. Especially when its costume time. (or as Brandon says- "October! Breast cancer awareness month! I can wear pink every day!") So I need to get them a little something to smile about and mail it out.
4) Clean Eating: In addition to all the usual reasons for clean eating (health, weight, performance, etc) I have another, really important reason to stick with this. I need to show somebody that clean eating is not only possible, but advantageous. It would be pretty hypocritical of me to preach clean eating and then down as much junk as I can get my hands on, wouldn't it?
5) Get the dent on my car fixed, already!
6) Finish up the outstanding classes I have half finished: Manual therapy for Sciatica Treatment, Modalities, Skillshare class, and Daring Greatly. (Hey! Four classes for 4 weeks!)
7) Journaling and Blogging Daily Cause even just one day of journaling and blogging has made me feel so much more centered!
8) Four Handwritten Letters to Friends. Social media has gone beyond impersonal. It's just mean, now. But a handwritten note in the mailbox? So uplifting. I hope.
9) POUND certification and start teaching. POUND is just about the greatest thing I've come across in fitness since triathlons and hiking. Plus, I get to pretend I'm a rock star.
10) Sleep Outside at least one night I've pretty much embraced the idea that the only way I'm going to get a spot to pitch my tent around here is in a really remote, primitive campsite with no water. Of course, that's my favorite kind of camping. So there's really no reason I haven't just DONE IT already! (Maybe because I didn't commit to it as a goal and write it down)
Hiking, camping, working out, learning, and connecting with loved ones. Pretty good intentions for October!!
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Once upon a time, I had a blog. I started it during a hard time in my life, a time when I was going through a difficult break-up, a time when I felt discarded, lost, and directionless. A time when I felt as if I had lost myself. I started a blog to find myself once again.
I never really expected anyone to read my blog. I'm unclear as to why I didn't just journal in a notebook. Probably because I had heard the concept of a blog and thought I'd start one. Not because I thought I'd meet people and form a little network of bloggers that I'd come to think of as my friends. But that's exactly what happened.
Somehow, I found a handful of people whose blogs I eagerly read and who in turn read and commented on mine. They became my lifeboat. They became my cheerleaders. They became my online family.
Through the process of blogging and bonding, I found myself once again. I found my voice. I found my sense of humor. I found my sense of self. I found my confidence. I found the courage to change my outlook and my life. And I documented it all on the blog, encouraged and congratulated by my family of bloggers.
At the same time, I saw those people going through life events and growing, changing, taking risks. I laughed with them, cried with them, was anxious and fearful with them. I celebrated with them. I met possible love interests with them and followed along to their end or the jump to the next step.
And in my own life, I took the next step.
My next step wasn't a romantic endeavor, but an adventurous endeavor. In 2013, and then again in 2015, I quit my job and I hiked the country south to north first on the Appalachian Trail and then on the Pacific Crest Trail. I recorded THOSE adventures on a different blog (Heatherhikes.com) For some reason, I wanted to keep that blog completely separate from Jeepgirl. (It seemed really important to me at the time, but I cannot recall why now.) In any case, while I was out there hiking and camping and getting blisters and getting rained on, I let Jeepgirl go silent.
It's been silent around here for a long time.
And then, today, for no particular reason, I decided to see if this blog was still active.
It was.
And that made me so happy.
I've checked in on my blog family from time to time, and many of them have let their blogs go silent, as well. They have moved on, gotten married (or divorced); developed an illness or overcome one; started families, bought houses, traveled around the world.
Or so I imagine.
I wish them all well.
And I hope that maybe sometime, if they decide to check in on Jeepgirl, they will be pleasantly surprised that I have emerged once again.
This blog has always been a happy place for me. I'm glad to be back.
I never really expected anyone to read my blog. I'm unclear as to why I didn't just journal in a notebook. Probably because I had heard the concept of a blog and thought I'd start one. Not because I thought I'd meet people and form a little network of bloggers that I'd come to think of as my friends. But that's exactly what happened.
Somehow, I found a handful of people whose blogs I eagerly read and who in turn read and commented on mine. They became my lifeboat. They became my cheerleaders. They became my online family.
Through the process of blogging and bonding, I found myself once again. I found my voice. I found my sense of humor. I found my sense of self. I found my confidence. I found the courage to change my outlook and my life. And I documented it all on the blog, encouraged and congratulated by my family of bloggers.
At the same time, I saw those people going through life events and growing, changing, taking risks. I laughed with them, cried with them, was anxious and fearful with them. I celebrated with them. I met possible love interests with them and followed along to their end or the jump to the next step.
And in my own life, I took the next step.
My next step wasn't a romantic endeavor, but an adventurous endeavor. In 2013, and then again in 2015, I quit my job and I hiked the country south to north first on the Appalachian Trail and then on the Pacific Crest Trail. I recorded THOSE adventures on a different blog (Heatherhikes.com) For some reason, I wanted to keep that blog completely separate from Jeepgirl. (It seemed really important to me at the time, but I cannot recall why now.) In any case, while I was out there hiking and camping and getting blisters and getting rained on, I let Jeepgirl go silent.
It's been silent around here for a long time.
And then, today, for no particular reason, I decided to see if this blog was still active.
It was.
And that made me so happy.
I've checked in on my blog family from time to time, and many of them have let their blogs go silent, as well. They have moved on, gotten married (or divorced); developed an illness or overcome one; started families, bought houses, traveled around the world.
Or so I imagine.
I wish them all well.
And I hope that maybe sometime, if they decide to check in on Jeepgirl, they will be pleasantly surprised that I have emerged once again.
This blog has always been a happy place for me. I'm glad to be back.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
January Goals
And then it was 2015! It seems really weird to say. Especially when I think back to 2000, when I said that I was "officially old." I wonder what that makes me now?
Motivated, that's what! At the start of 2015 I feel very, very motivated. Time to make a list of monthly goals. But first, let's look back at December.
DECEMBER GOALS:
1) Back on track for marathon training: I'm gonna call this a success. Even though my running continues to be sporadic. And Hal Higdon would be berating me, perhaps even beating me with a stick. I certainly won't be setting any time records. But I feel pretty confident in my ability to complete a 26.2 mile run in Feb. Maybe all the previous hiking has established a baseline level of fitness that will allow me to these things on a whim. Or maybe its just a change in mindset when I think "Oh, its only 18 miles. I can do that." Whatever. I'm slow. But I can go forever.
2) Get Xmas cards sent out before I move: check!
3) Complete FMA certification: Last minute and just under the wire, but I finished that bad boy!
4) Complete licensure renewals: done!
5) 30 days of Dailey Method Workout: fail. I underestimated the time constraints of moving. But I do like the workouts and I'll definitely be incorporating into fitness in the future.
6) Holiday Lights 5K with the family: success. What is better than watching a tree lighting ceremony and running 3 miles behind Santa Claus?
7) Downsize the storage unit: success. Little by little, I'm paring down. Soon, I'll be able to adopt the title of minimalist. But not quite yet.
8) Hike in the mountains: Fail. Moved to NC, first weekend I spent exploring the town and finishing Xmas shopping, and then I flew home for Xmas. I had briefly considered camping on NYE, but by the time I got out of work, I'd have been driving and setting up camp in the dark. January, then.
9) Girl's Nite with S and J: success.
10) Begin the photo book: Big fat fail.
Not bad.
JANUARY GOALS:
1) Do the Whole 30: Basically a 30 day challenge of no processed food. I'm jumping in.
2) Long Hike in the Mountains: 2014 is gone, but the mountains are still there.
3) Try out 5 new recipes: going hand in hand with #1. The official Whole 30 site tends to be a bit meat heavy for my tastes, but recipes are meant to be tinkered with, I say! I'll have to, anyway. I have limited kitchen facilities.
4) Increase that running consistency with 3-4 per week. I know, a ridiculous statement 6 weeks before a marathon. But I'm a ridiculous gal.
5) Plan a weekend with my hiker trash friends!
6) Read (and get rid of) 5 books: Moving toward minimalist!
7) Really get that photo book started: I rarely let the sheer magnitude of physical challenges stop me. And yet I did with a photo book.
8) Begin hard core planning for this year's distance hike
9) Journal daily
10) Blog more consistently!
Crashing out of the gate, y'all!
Motivated, that's what! At the start of 2015 I feel very, very motivated. Time to make a list of monthly goals. But first, let's look back at December.
DECEMBER GOALS:
1) Back on track for marathon training: I'm gonna call this a success. Even though my running continues to be sporadic. And Hal Higdon would be berating me, perhaps even beating me with a stick. I certainly won't be setting any time records. But I feel pretty confident in my ability to complete a 26.2 mile run in Feb. Maybe all the previous hiking has established a baseline level of fitness that will allow me to these things on a whim. Or maybe its just a change in mindset when I think "Oh, its only 18 miles. I can do that." Whatever. I'm slow. But I can go forever.
2) Get Xmas cards sent out before I move: check!
3) Complete FMA certification: Last minute and just under the wire, but I finished that bad boy!
4) Complete licensure renewals: done!
5) 30 days of Dailey Method Workout: fail. I underestimated the time constraints of moving. But I do like the workouts and I'll definitely be incorporating into fitness in the future.
6) Holiday Lights 5K with the family: success. What is better than watching a tree lighting ceremony and running 3 miles behind Santa Claus?
7) Downsize the storage unit: success. Little by little, I'm paring down. Soon, I'll be able to adopt the title of minimalist. But not quite yet.
8) Hike in the mountains: Fail. Moved to NC, first weekend I spent exploring the town and finishing Xmas shopping, and then I flew home for Xmas. I had briefly considered camping on NYE, but by the time I got out of work, I'd have been driving and setting up camp in the dark. January, then.
9) Girl's Nite with S and J: success.
10) Begin the photo book: Big fat fail.
Not bad.
JANUARY GOALS:
1) Do the Whole 30: Basically a 30 day challenge of no processed food. I'm jumping in.
2) Long Hike in the Mountains: 2014 is gone, but the mountains are still there.
3) Try out 5 new recipes: going hand in hand with #1. The official Whole 30 site tends to be a bit meat heavy for my tastes, but recipes are meant to be tinkered with, I say! I'll have to, anyway. I have limited kitchen facilities.
4) Increase that running consistency with 3-4 per week. I know, a ridiculous statement 6 weeks before a marathon. But I'm a ridiculous gal.
5) Plan a weekend with my hiker trash friends!
6) Read (and get rid of) 5 books: Moving toward minimalist!
7) Really get that photo book started: I rarely let the sheer magnitude of physical challenges stop me. And yet I did with a photo book.
8) Begin hard core planning for this year's distance hike
9) Journal daily
10) Blog more consistently!
Crashing out of the gate, y'all!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Good-bye 2014
The last few minutes of 2014 are ticking away and though it seems so cliche, I am thinking "Wow, did that go fast!" Maybe because I didn't have a BIG project in 2014. Maybe because the time was taken up with so many little projects. Or maybe because I'm getting old. Whatever the reason, 2014 seemed really short.
I thought of 2014 as "the year after my hike." My entire life has taken on that theme, actually. There's my life pre-hike and my life post-hike. 2014 makes up the majority of my post-hike life. And while it wasn't overly exciting and adventurous, it was a good year. I guess life works out that way -- there are years of expansion and excitement and years of quiet reflection and preparation. I spent 2014 preparing for another year of adventure.
2015 will hopefully be "the year of my next hike".
This year, on New Year's Eve, I am once again away from home, where my family lives. I have once again embraced a nomadic lifestyle. I am out in the world, in a new place, deciding where I am going to run and hike this weekend. And I feel more at home than I ever do at home. I am happy.
2014 was exactly what I needed it to be.
I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store.
I thought of 2014 as "the year after my hike." My entire life has taken on that theme, actually. There's my life pre-hike and my life post-hike. 2014 makes up the majority of my post-hike life. And while it wasn't overly exciting and adventurous, it was a good year. I guess life works out that way -- there are years of expansion and excitement and years of quiet reflection and preparation. I spent 2014 preparing for another year of adventure.
2015 will hopefully be "the year of my next hike".
This year, on New Year's Eve, I am once again away from home, where my family lives. I have once again embraced a nomadic lifestyle. I am out in the world, in a new place, deciding where I am going to run and hike this weekend. And I feel more at home than I ever do at home. I am happy.
2014 was exactly what I needed it to be.
I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
A December Rant
Today's post is a rant. Generally, I don't post rants. Ranting is an art form, really, and only a select few people are good at it. I'm not one of them.
George Carlin-- now he knew how to rant! He could go on forever, attacking serious topics with controversial (even radical) viewpoints all the while making you laugh until you cried. Jon Stewart can rant, too. And he backs up his rants with ridiculous video clips from cable news. Dennis Miller is another good ranter. Me, I get too emotional. I end up sounding like an insane person and then delete everything I wrote. Then I go for a run.
But today I am going to rant.
Today, I spent the morning de-friending a bunch of people on Facebook. I don't like to do that. I've never done that. In the past, if somebody's posts rubbed me the wrong way, I'd simply block their posts from appearing on my wall. I'd still be their virtual friend. Especially if they were relatives. Or old classmates. We all don't have to think alike or have the same dreams or goals or values to respect and like one another.
I've noticed a trend over the past couple years, though. People seem to think that if your viewpoint differs from theirs, then it is okay to be disrespectful. To start arguments. To try to prove how wrong you are, and how right they are. To name call. To attack who you are at your very core. It's pretty disheartening.
I'm not sure where this comes from. I'm guessing the cable news outlets, which quite frankly treat "news" as subjective information that can be changed or manipulated as needed. Or our insane political system, in which elections are basically mud slinging contests. Now it seems that social media is, too.
Yesterday, I woke up in a wonderful mood. It was warm out. Warm in that way that you can just FEEL it, even with the windows closed. Maybe the heat hasn't kicked on as much. Maybe its the way the morning light filters in through the glass. Whatever the case, it was a wonderful gift -- an unseasonably warm day on the first day of December.
And it was the first day of the month! On a Monday! Did I mention that I find this very neat and tidy and organized? It makes me happy.
On this wonderfully neat and tidy and unseasonably warm Monday, I was thinking that it is hard to go back to work after a holiday weekend. But I could do something to make it easier for everyone. I could post a positive, uplifting message that would put everyone in a good mood and make that transition a bit easier.
So I did.
I posted a close up picture of a Christmas tree from Disney World. And next to that, I wrote: Happy Monday. Happy December. Happy Everything! It was truly inspirational. Yay me!
Then, feeling really good about myself, I went about my day.
Sometime later, my phone started pinging. That little chime that lets you know that you have a message. Many, many pings throughout the day. I smiled to myself. My happy little post worked. People were messaging me to let me know how I had made them smile! And it was warm out. And sunny. And the calendar was neat and tidy and organized. It was the best day!
Until it wasn't.
In the evening, I logged onto my Facebook account and saw that I had 7 messages. This was going to be good! I hunkered down like I was pulling a bow off a great big present. What I got was a stocking full of coal.
Not one of the 7 messages said how the post made them smile. Or made them happy. Or wished me a nice day in return. Every single one of the messages was an angry, confrontational remark. How dare I wish people a happy Monday? It is December! And therefore, if you don't say "Merry Christmas" every time you open your mouth (or your keyboard) you are apparently violating somebody's rights. I'm apparently what is wrong with this country! If I don't want to say "Merry Christmas" (even when I don't mean "Merry Christmas", when I mean, for instance "have a nice day") well, then, I can just get the hell out. (I'm not sure where exactly I'm supposed to go, as I am an American citizen and all)
What the hell is the matter with people? Where did this sense of entitlement come from? Stores start putting up Christmas displays in September. Radio stations start playing Christmas carols before Halloween. At least half of the people I know have their trees up on Thanksgiving. Yet somehow, people think that by wishing everyone a happy Monday, I have initiated guerrilla warfare on Christmas. And they were more than willing to tell me how wrong I was.
It was a bad night.
This morning dawned cold and windy and overcast. You could tell how cold it was even with the windows closed. It looked like rain. I was thinking how mean people could be sometimes. But I could do something about it.
I de-friended 7 people this morning.
Then I posted a picture of a beautiful sunrise and wished my remaining friends a happy Tuesday.
today's workout:
45 min elliptical
full body weights
Daily core
George Carlin-- now he knew how to rant! He could go on forever, attacking serious topics with controversial (even radical) viewpoints all the while making you laugh until you cried. Jon Stewart can rant, too. And he backs up his rants with ridiculous video clips from cable news. Dennis Miller is another good ranter. Me, I get too emotional. I end up sounding like an insane person and then delete everything I wrote. Then I go for a run.
But today I am going to rant.
Today, I spent the morning de-friending a bunch of people on Facebook. I don't like to do that. I've never done that. In the past, if somebody's posts rubbed me the wrong way, I'd simply block their posts from appearing on my wall. I'd still be their virtual friend. Especially if they were relatives. Or old classmates. We all don't have to think alike or have the same dreams or goals or values to respect and like one another.
I've noticed a trend over the past couple years, though. People seem to think that if your viewpoint differs from theirs, then it is okay to be disrespectful. To start arguments. To try to prove how wrong you are, and how right they are. To name call. To attack who you are at your very core. It's pretty disheartening.
I'm not sure where this comes from. I'm guessing the cable news outlets, which quite frankly treat "news" as subjective information that can be changed or manipulated as needed. Or our insane political system, in which elections are basically mud slinging contests. Now it seems that social media is, too.
Yesterday, I woke up in a wonderful mood. It was warm out. Warm in that way that you can just FEEL it, even with the windows closed. Maybe the heat hasn't kicked on as much. Maybe its the way the morning light filters in through the glass. Whatever the case, it was a wonderful gift -- an unseasonably warm day on the first day of December.
And it was the first day of the month! On a Monday! Did I mention that I find this very neat and tidy and organized? It makes me happy.
On this wonderfully neat and tidy and unseasonably warm Monday, I was thinking that it is hard to go back to work after a holiday weekend. But I could do something to make it easier for everyone. I could post a positive, uplifting message that would put everyone in a good mood and make that transition a bit easier.
So I did.
I posted a close up picture of a Christmas tree from Disney World. And next to that, I wrote: Happy Monday. Happy December. Happy Everything! It was truly inspirational. Yay me!
Then, feeling really good about myself, I went about my day.
Sometime later, my phone started pinging. That little chime that lets you know that you have a message. Many, many pings throughout the day. I smiled to myself. My happy little post worked. People were messaging me to let me know how I had made them smile! And it was warm out. And sunny. And the calendar was neat and tidy and organized. It was the best day!
Until it wasn't.
In the evening, I logged onto my Facebook account and saw that I had 7 messages. This was going to be good! I hunkered down like I was pulling a bow off a great big present. What I got was a stocking full of coal.
Not one of the 7 messages said how the post made them smile. Or made them happy. Or wished me a nice day in return. Every single one of the messages was an angry, confrontational remark. How dare I wish people a happy Monday? It is December! And therefore, if you don't say "Merry Christmas" every time you open your mouth (or your keyboard) you are apparently violating somebody's rights. I'm apparently what is wrong with this country! If I don't want to say "Merry Christmas" (even when I don't mean "Merry Christmas", when I mean, for instance "have a nice day") well, then, I can just get the hell out. (I'm not sure where exactly I'm supposed to go, as I am an American citizen and all)
What the hell is the matter with people? Where did this sense of entitlement come from? Stores start putting up Christmas displays in September. Radio stations start playing Christmas carols before Halloween. At least half of the people I know have their trees up on Thanksgiving. Yet somehow, people think that by wishing everyone a happy Monday, I have initiated guerrilla warfare on Christmas. And they were more than willing to tell me how wrong I was.
It was a bad night.
This morning dawned cold and windy and overcast. You could tell how cold it was even with the windows closed. It looked like rain. I was thinking how mean people could be sometimes. But I could do something about it.
I de-friended 7 people this morning.
Then I posted a picture of a beautiful sunrise and wished my remaining friends a happy Tuesday.
today's workout:
45 min elliptical
full body weights
Daily core
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