Thursday, November 22, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
30 Days of Truth: Day 29 Something You Hope to Change About Yourself and Why?
I run late, and I would like to change that about myself because it makes other people irritated with me. I don't mean to run late, and I try to be on time. But, frequently I either underestimate the time it takes to get ready or to get some place.
I understand the importance of being on time. I understand it makes a bad impression to be late. Sometimes I just can't help it.
At least I will fall on the sword and say sorry and admit this is probably my biggest fault. I'm ok with identifying my strengths and weaknesses, and I do see running late as a weakness (mainly because it bothers other people).
I understand the importance of being on time. I understand it makes a bad impression to be late. Sometimes I just can't help it.
At least I will fall on the sword and say sorry and admit this is probably my biggest fault. I'm ok with identifying my strengths and weaknesses, and I do see running late as a weakness (mainly because it bothers other people).
Thursday, November 15, 2012
30 Days of Truth: Day 28-What if You Were Pregnant? What Would You Do?
Oh boy, pregnancy? At my age? I'm turning 45 this year, so it would not be a positive thing at all if I got pregnant (especially because my husband has a vasectomy). If I got pregnant right now, I'd be in a whole lot of trouble and would need professional help from a psychiatrist I think! If I was younger (in my childbearing years) I would welcome a new baby into the world. At my age, I don't know what I would do.
30 Days of Truth: Day 27-What's the Best Thing Going for You Right Now?
My family is the best thing going for me right now. I'm in a really great spot. My husband has a great job as a health care attorney, and he recently made partner. My twenty year old stepson is in the Army stationed in NY. My nineteen year old daughter is a sophomore at Texas Tech and involved in her sorority (ZTA). My twelve year old daughter is doing well in her seventh grade classes and dancing eleven hours a week. And my eight year old son is also doing well at school in second grade and amazes me every day with his intelligence and insight.
I've achieved the perfect balance of being a person, a wife, a mother, and a professional. The house is quiet during the day, and I use the time to workout, to learn guitar, to write, to learn math, and to do all the work associated with running a household including the finances. Once the kids get home, I'm busy with them, and I also tutor math part time. I love that I can use my education and still be a full time mom. I don't have any of the stress that comes with being a classroom teacher. Instead, I get to experience the enjoyment and fulfillment of working one on one with students on math-a subject I am passionate about.
I feel very blessed to be in my position, and I'm grateful because my husband and I envisioned this life and built it step by step together.
I've achieved the perfect balance of being a person, a wife, a mother, and a professional. The house is quiet during the day, and I use the time to workout, to learn guitar, to write, to learn math, and to do all the work associated with running a household including the finances. Once the kids get home, I'm busy with them, and I also tutor math part time. I love that I can use my education and still be a full time mom. I don't have any of the stress that comes with being a classroom teacher. Instead, I get to experience the enjoyment and fulfillment of working one on one with students on math-a subject I am passionate about.
I feel very blessed to be in my position, and I'm grateful because my husband and I envisioned this life and built it step by step together.
30 Days of Truth: Day 26-Have You Ever Thought About Giving Up on Life? If so, when and why?
This one is easy because NO I have never thought about giving up on life. I love my life, and no matter how hard it gets, there is always a reason to live. Especially now that I have children, I can't imagine being selfish enough to give up on my own life.
I've known friends who have committed suicide, and while they may have found peace, it's so hard for the people they leave behind.
Life is a precious gift, and I intend to use mine to the fullest!
I've known friends who have committed suicide, and while they may have found peace, it's so hard for the people they leave behind.
Life is a precious gift, and I intend to use mine to the fullest!
30 Days of Truth: Day 25-The Reason You Believe You're Still Alive Today
Honestly I have no idea why I'm still alive today. It's kind of a weird question. It makes me think about the difference between determinism and free will. If our lives are pre-determined, I supposed I'm still alive because I haven't reached the end of my path yet. If our lives and deaths are created by our free will, then I'm alive because I haven't killed myself, and so far I've been successful in taking the necessary precautions to escape death.
I'm not really sure which theory is the actual truth, and I'm pretty sure nobody else knows either. I tend not to believe in determinism, but who knows? If it's in my power, then I do what I can to avoid death by avoiding disease and unsafe situations. If it's not in my power, then I guess my efforts are futile, and whatever will be will be.
Every action we take creates a ripple effect that leads us down another path. I read a book once that was all about this topic and whether or not it was possible to have parallel realities (each being different depending on the different choices we make and on the paths those choices lead us down). It's called One by Richard Bach.
I can only remember one time in my life when I actually thought I was going to die. It was when I hung from the Triboro Bridge in NYC for Greenpeace to protest ocean dumping of toxic sludge. I need to write a separate entry about my experiences while working for Greenpeace. But during that action, we were suspended from climbing ropes above the East River for about nine hours. The police shut down the bridge and there were police cars all over the bridge and police boats in the water. A special operations helicopter flew underneath us with its lights off, which easily could have killed us. That was scary. I also remember when the police at the top of my rope threatened to cut my rope and put frog men in the water to fish me out. I looked up and saw police alongside my support people, and I looked down and saw divers in suits with inflatable boats. I started doing the math in my head, falling close to 150 ft. with climbing rope all around me into "hell's gate" of the East River. I wondered if I would die on impact or drown in the river coiled up in rope as the current sucked me down and spit me out downstream. The action coordinators on the ground handled things perfectly, communicating over radio that we were receiving live international news coverage, and if they cut our ropes they would be killing up to thirteen activists on live television. The police did the right thing, didn't cut our ropes, instead they gave us each an extra safety rope! So, in that instance I owe my life to Dave Hollister who coordinated and managed the entire action and to Scott Stoodley who protected my ropes and anchors and dealt with the police. Thank you Dave and Scott! Here is a picture (I'm the climber farthest to the right):
In hindsight, there were other times I was very vulnerable and could have been killed, but wasn't. I lived outdoors in Colorado for a year and a half, and when I was in college I camped outdoors all the time. Luckily, no crazy killers found me.
As an adult, I strive to take care of my health and stay fit to prevent disease. I firmly believe you are what you eat, and I have a weird relationship with foods because of all my allergies/intolerances. I avoid wheat, corn, sugar, and eggs. Although it's difficult to eat so clean in our society, it's worth it because I feel better and when I go to the doctor they tell me they never see numbers so healthy in my age group. And then they ask me what's my secret. And I tell them, I eat right and exercise. Duh! It seems so simple, but it's difficult to sustain on a day to day basis.
I believe I'm still alive because I take care of myself and make safe choices in my adult life. I believe I'm still alive because I've gotten lucky in averting death in the past when there was an opportunity. I hope to live to be one hundred years old, and I hope to have a long healthy live with my family!
I'm not really sure which theory is the actual truth, and I'm pretty sure nobody else knows either. I tend not to believe in determinism, but who knows? If it's in my power, then I do what I can to avoid death by avoiding disease and unsafe situations. If it's not in my power, then I guess my efforts are futile, and whatever will be will be.
Every action we take creates a ripple effect that leads us down another path. I read a book once that was all about this topic and whether or not it was possible to have parallel realities (each being different depending on the different choices we make and on the paths those choices lead us down). It's called One by Richard Bach.
I can only remember one time in my life when I actually thought I was going to die. It was when I hung from the Triboro Bridge in NYC for Greenpeace to protest ocean dumping of toxic sludge. I need to write a separate entry about my experiences while working for Greenpeace. But during that action, we were suspended from climbing ropes above the East River for about nine hours. The police shut down the bridge and there were police cars all over the bridge and police boats in the water. A special operations helicopter flew underneath us with its lights off, which easily could have killed us. That was scary. I also remember when the police at the top of my rope threatened to cut my rope and put frog men in the water to fish me out. I looked up and saw police alongside my support people, and I looked down and saw divers in suits with inflatable boats. I started doing the math in my head, falling close to 150 ft. with climbing rope all around me into "hell's gate" of the East River. I wondered if I would die on impact or drown in the river coiled up in rope as the current sucked me down and spit me out downstream. The action coordinators on the ground handled things perfectly, communicating over radio that we were receiving live international news coverage, and if they cut our ropes they would be killing up to thirteen activists on live television. The police did the right thing, didn't cut our ropes, instead they gave us each an extra safety rope! So, in that instance I owe my life to Dave Hollister who coordinated and managed the entire action and to Scott Stoodley who protected my ropes and anchors and dealt with the police. Thank you Dave and Scott! Here is a picture (I'm the climber farthest to the right):
In hindsight, there were other times I was very vulnerable and could have been killed, but wasn't. I lived outdoors in Colorado for a year and a half, and when I was in college I camped outdoors all the time. Luckily, no crazy killers found me.
As an adult, I strive to take care of my health and stay fit to prevent disease. I firmly believe you are what you eat, and I have a weird relationship with foods because of all my allergies/intolerances. I avoid wheat, corn, sugar, and eggs. Although it's difficult to eat so clean in our society, it's worth it because I feel better and when I go to the doctor they tell me they never see numbers so healthy in my age group. And then they ask me what's my secret. And I tell them, I eat right and exercise. Duh! It seems so simple, but it's difficult to sustain on a day to day basis.
I believe I'm still alive because I take care of myself and make safe choices in my adult life. I believe I'm still alive because I've gotten lucky in averting death in the past when there was an opportunity. I hope to live to be one hundred years old, and I hope to have a long healthy live with my family!
Monday, November 12, 2012
30 Days of Truth: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter
To my husband:
1. Can I get a? by Jay-Z because it was popular when we started dating, and it was frequently playing at the club where we went dancing on the weekends.
2. Love Like This by Faith Evans because it's one of my original songs for my husband. I really never knew there was a love like this before.
3. What's Simple is True by Jewel because it was on the first mixed tape I made for him and it speaks volumes about how pure our love was and how I took a leap of faith to be with him when he wasn't done with school yet or employed on a full-time basis.
4. God Blessed the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts because it describes how I feel about my journey in finding the love of my life.
5. Still the One by Shania Twain because after 13 years together he is still the one.
6. Dreamlover by Mariah Carey because he is the one who made my dreams come true.
7. Baby Boy by Sean Paul featuring Beyonce because it describes how I feel about him.
8. Forever by Chris Brown because I want to be with him forever.
9. Heaven by Bryan Adams because once in your life you find someone..
10. I Can't Help Falling in Love with You by UB40 because we did kind of rush into things, but I couldn't help it.
11. I Got You Babe by UB40 because I got him!
12. Nothing Fails by Madonna because I'm not religious, but I feel such love, it makes me want to pray, pray that he will always be here.
1. Can I get a? by Jay-Z because it was popular when we started dating, and it was frequently playing at the club where we went dancing on the weekends.
2. Love Like This by Faith Evans because it's one of my original songs for my husband. I really never knew there was a love like this before.
3. What's Simple is True by Jewel because it was on the first mixed tape I made for him and it speaks volumes about how pure our love was and how I took a leap of faith to be with him when he wasn't done with school yet or employed on a full-time basis.
4. God Blessed the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts because it describes how I feel about my journey in finding the love of my life.
5. Still the One by Shania Twain because after 13 years together he is still the one.
6. Dreamlover by Mariah Carey because he is the one who made my dreams come true.
7. Baby Boy by Sean Paul featuring Beyonce because it describes how I feel about him.
8. Forever by Chris Brown because I want to be with him forever.
9. Heaven by Bryan Adams because once in your life you find someone..
10. I Can't Help Falling in Love with You by UB40 because we did kind of rush into things, but I couldn't help it.
11. I Got You Babe by UB40 because I got him!
12. Nothing Fails by Madonna because I'm not religious, but I feel such love, it makes me want to pray, pray that he will always be here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)