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Posts Tagged ‘life’

  1. Life Observations: A lot happens in four days

    December 13, 2011 by me

    It has been a trying week for this one. People who know me know what’s going on, so there’s no need to explain that here. And all these things that happened are so not a big deal in the grand scheme of life — they won’t matter a year from now — but when they’re happening right now, right this very second — it’s hard not to obsess.

    But no matter the top five changes in four days that have happened in my life, I always seem to find out that they happened for all the right reasons. Like, this was the path I was supposed to take so it can lead me to another path that I should be on. And that has always been something that I’ve struggled with – having faith that it will all work out in the end. Because even though I know it usually all works itself out, and that life is just a series of happenstance mixed with fate, it’s always hard to process that when the event is happening to you presently. Perspective is always hard when examined so closely.

    Which brings me to another struggle I am having – trying not to over analyze every new situation I am in. And there have been a lot of new situations in the last four days. Like, a lot, a lot. I find that when I don’t over analyze, and just let stuff happen, it eventually all works itself out, so why do I spend time and energy worried about what might or might not be to the point where I am either crying or making my stomach hurt? I physically have to say to myself, “Self – shut the f* up!” I’ve always been an analyzer, a worrier, a people pleaser, a planner – all these things are who I am. But when the personality traits start to interfere with the day-to-day process of living, what’s a girl to do? Because I find the more I just let things happen organically – the more I stop putting emphasis on future plans and more on present ones – I am genuinely happier. Sure, it’s scarier to not know where you’re headed…it’s always easier to bail out when you aren’t tied by future committments, but there’s something to be said about just living life as it comes — and nothing more.

    So maybe that’s the point of all this trial and tribulation – to just enjoy the present, procrastinate the future, and just leave the past alone.

    You’d think I’d learn this lesson by now – 30.7 years old – but perhaps that is the lesson – no matter how old you are, you always have more to learn about yourself.

     

    Category Life Observations. | Tags: | No Comments

  2. Work Ethic vs. Worth Ethic

    October 16, 2008 by me

    [polldaddy poll=1000363]

    This is my question. Because someone annoyed me today. And the only way I deal with that is to write. Lucky you.

    Why are words like “work ethic” and “common decency” foreign to the generation after the baby boomers?  They scream and yell that Gen Y’ers have no respect and no patience for today’s work environment, yet us go-getters still have to wait for our superiors to show up late to work, complain about their pensions, and have the “just enough to get by” mentality.  And they call us slackers.

    We may be annoying with our impatience, but that’s just because we refuse to waste our valuable times on situations that don’t work. We may be annoying with our constant inability to sit still…and all of our overcontemplation on how the world works and what we can get out of the world at large, all before our 30th birthday. But maybe all of these neurosis come because we know we live in a world that guarantees nothing, doesn’t care where you’ve been or where you’re going, and ultimately, just wants the finished project done on time, with little cost–no matter what quality may be lacking.  Disagreements fall upon deaf ears, and no one takes the time to even know your last name.

    The bottom line is robbing the bottom feeders of energy–something we strive to have, but somehow gets zapped from the mundane experiences of a job sort-of well done.  We have no mentors, for no one will take the time or energy to train the next generation–they are too busy worrying that we will replace them.

    It’s a constant struggle for this Gen Y’er who’s determined work ethic gets her in trouble, and who’s worth ethic doesn’t account for much.

    It becomes increasingly frustrating to work for companies who don’t take the time (and don’t seem to care enough) to nurture their employees.  And it makes me bitter and jaded. And I start to see myself in those employees that I loathe, who are also bitter and jaded, and it makes me want to scream.

    And then I remind myself I have a job, but what job is worth a hard work ethic but no worth ethic?

    Category Contemplations., Life Observations. | Tags: | 2 Comments

  3. Am I overthinking this re-socialization project?

    July 13, 2008 by me

    Like many of us hot-blooded Americans, summer brings out the hot weather and the need to escape the hum-drum existence that had become your daily life.

    Couples with kids suddenly find their routine jilted into reality when they realize that they, not scholastic institutions, must now entertain their spawn.

    Athletes (and those that like to watch athletes) hit the Lincoln Park trail for some much needed Vitamin D shot of the sun. The frat boys of Wrigleyville break out their cornhole and Buds and make childish remarks to the passerby Cubby Bear Chicks in their jerseys and miniskirts as they strut off to the bleachers of Wrigley Field.

    And in an effort to conform to societal norms (because as much as we say we are different, we really just want to be accepted, right?) I have decided that my social life needs improvement, and contrary to popular belief, as much as I love sitting in my condo with Ollie reading a book listening to swing music, solitude can only get you so far. Sure, you become so comfortable with yourself that if anyone remotely looks at the TV remote they are doomed (that is assuming people are invited to my studio…where would they sit?)…and yes, I can now successfully give myself a manicure AND pedicure while watching reruns of House, at 3 in the morning, no less…and no one is around to say that’s weird.

    So I’m sitting here and thinking, I am no longer fighting for that job because I currently have the one I wanted…so I don’t have to spend all my free time thinking about how to get ahead (although, let’s face it, we are a capitalist society, and we all must think ahead)…and my social life is kinda, well, stale (let’s just say I have more friends on Facebook than I do in real life..but who doesn’t?) So I started thinking, I need to join things…so first I join things where other people I know are involved, because frankly, to get me out of this rut, I need familia motivationa… So recently, not only did I join the Blue Ribbon Glee Club…but I also signed up for a swimming league with a friend of mine, not having swum in like, oh, a decade? Hey, I needed to venture outside of my comfort-zone and I’d rather be clueless in Punkville and too busy swallowing water to talk to anyone than wallowing in my own thoughts of how bored I’ve become…swimming starts tuesday, so if there is no post, I’ve drowned…

    So I’ve joined these things and today, I was so inspired by my newfound need for society that I drove to the Home Depot in Lakeview!!!! I know, right? Well, here’s the deal…I know everything that is north of me…work, the Target on Peterson, the Walgreens on Wilson…these are familiar to me. So before today, I would have gone 5 miles out of my way to go to the Home Depot that I knew near my work…but NO! I decided to live a little and venture down Halsted to the Home Depot in the heart of Lakeview. Not only did I find it, but I almost hit a car in front of me looking at all these places I didn’t know existed off of Halsted! Granted, the Home Depot was small and had nothing that I was looking for, but still…the effort there was key.

    So my next “become one with society” thing is to do something different everyday…be it taking a different way home from work, walking a different route with Ollie, or just eating at the other side of my table…its all about changing it up to avoid the routine rut.

    Even if I have nothing to say, I am still going to post my “the world from a different view” commentary. So stay tuned.

    Category Contemplations., Life Observations. | Tags: | 2 Comments