Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
In the past eight months, I have spent a lot of time thinking and nearly as much time tracking down and following blogs that echo my mental wavelength.
In one of the posts that I read today, the writer first illustrates a baby's journey to its first steps, followed by a reminder of the plight it took for the baby to get to that stage. Crawling, falling, dragging him or herself back up to try again. The crux of the post is that we essentially spend our lives in this same cycle, only the steps and falls are less literal.
I know there were college days when I assumed that my life would be on a skillfully chosen path to bliss soon after walking away with a diploma in my hand. At the age of 28, I still feel perplexed by my portions of my life on a regular basis. While that used to frustrate me, I'm now learning to accept it and appreciate the journey.
By taking the time to look back on so many years and events in my life, I'm able to hone in on the value that each of them has created. The path may not be a straight and even line, but as long as I'm growing and learning then everything is going exactly as it should.
There's a relatively well-used phrase referring your "formative years" being well behind you, commonly used in referring to adolescence, but more specifically denoting your journey to maturity. In that case, I'm not sure that my formative years will ever fully be behind me. I intend to continue learning, trying, doing, crawling, falling and walking for as long as I have the power to do so.
garden variety \08.19\
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flowers,
summer
In one of the posts that I read today, the writer first illustrates a baby's journey to its first steps, followed by a reminder of the plight it took for the baby to get to that stage. Crawling, falling, dragging him or herself back up to try again. The crux of the post is that we essentially spend our lives in this same cycle, only the steps and falls are less literal.
I know there were college days when I assumed that my life would be on a skillfully chosen path to bliss soon after walking away with a diploma in my hand. At the age of 28, I still feel perplexed by my portions of my life on a regular basis. While that used to frustrate me, I'm now learning to accept it and appreciate the journey.
By taking the time to look back on so many years and events in my life, I'm able to hone in on the value that each of them has created. The path may not be a straight and even line, but as long as I'm growing and learning then everything is going exactly as it should.
There's a relatively well-used phrase referring your "formative years" being well behind you, commonly used in referring to adolescence, but more specifically denoting your journey to maturity. In that case, I'm not sure that my formative years will ever fully be behind me. I intend to continue learning, trying, doing, crawling, falling and walking for as long as I have the power to do so.
In addition to re-committing myself to working out, I'm on a kick to continue refining my food and drink choices. Some days, I'm successful without a struggle. Often, though, I finish eating my healthy meal or snack and the urge for Oreos continues to lurk. Sometimes it's cheese. Or ice cream. You get the point.
The other factor in this equation is being at home versus traveling or visiting someone else's home. Somehow there's this invisible barrier of self-control that ends when I leave my own residence. For some reason, I doubt that affliction is mine alone. If only my mom and grandma would stop trying to feed me every ten minutes...or I was capable of practicing restraint when cookies are dangled in front of me.
(Disclaimer: This does not imply that I'm dieting, merely trying to form healthier habits. I'm currently sans health insurance, so we'll call it preventative healthcare.)
garden & greenhouse \07.13\
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color,
flowers,
local,
summer
The other factor in this equation is being at home versus traveling or visiting someone else's home. Somehow there's this invisible barrier of self-control that ends when I leave my own residence. For some reason, I doubt that affliction is mine alone. If only my mom and grandma would stop trying to feed me every ten minutes...or I was capable of practicing restraint when cookies are dangled in front of me.
(Disclaimer: This does not imply that I'm dieting, merely trying to form healthier habits. I'm currently sans health insurance, so we'll call it preventative healthcare.)
At some point during this afternoon, I hit upon a topic that I wanted to write about. Instead of making a note, I felt assured that I would remember. But, of course, I haven't the slightest idea now that I'm sitting here. So, here we go, off the cuff.
Sometimes life gets crazy or circumstances change. When you find yourself in a different place than those who have been playing a major role in your life, it can become disconcerting to feel a growing distance. Despite distance, those that matter and truly care will rise to the top. Maybe the frequency of time together will change, but the connection will remain.
In my life, I've had a tendency to befriend people with independent spirits. Many of the people that I consider my close friends have spread far and wide across the country, and many of them have never met one another. It can take effort to maintain connections with people that you rarely see. But when you reconnect and there's that easy feeling of never having missed a beat, there's no doubt that you'll continue finding ways to create a presence in one another's lives.
So far this has been a week of reconnecting and/or making plans with these long-distance friends, and I'm just reminded of how thankful I am to have these great individuals in my life. And how worthwhile it is to put in the effort.
sailing away \07.11\
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boat,
summer
Sometimes life gets crazy or circumstances change. When you find yourself in a different place than those who have been playing a major role in your life, it can become disconcerting to feel a growing distance. Despite distance, those that matter and truly care will rise to the top. Maybe the frequency of time together will change, but the connection will remain.
In my life, I've had a tendency to befriend people with independent spirits. Many of the people that I consider my close friends have spread far and wide across the country, and many of them have never met one another. It can take effort to maintain connections with people that you rarely see. But when you reconnect and there's that easy feeling of never having missed a beat, there's no doubt that you'll continue finding ways to create a presence in one another's lives.
So far this has been a week of reconnecting and/or making plans with these long-distance friends, and I'm just reminded of how thankful I am to have these great individuals in my life. And how worthwhile it is to put in the effort.
Staying true to form for my curious nature, I've been spending some time looking into resources on chronological versus skill-based resumes. I consider it a valid topic, because 1) I'm starting to put some of those documents out into the wild again and 2) the positions that I'm interested in are more like second cousins to my previous job titles.
The final verdict was pretty much a wash; it depends on the recruiter/HR manager's preference. Arguments for skill-based say that it allows a candidate to better highlight their relevancy for a position unrelated to their work history or it makes an employment gap less glaring by shifting the focus. On the other hand, many argued that skill-based versions require resume excavation: Did they learn that skill in their previous role? College? Online? I suppose this is where a well-crafted cover letter could make a difference.
At the end of my digital exploration, I stayed with the more standard chronological version...with a twist. I started with an extremely succinct bulleted list of skills, followed by my work history, and highlighted only those tasks and accomplishments relevant to the qualities noted in the job description. Luckily, my job change is more of a tweak than a jump of industries, so a lot of my skills are still applicable.
The most astute statement that I came across during my search was a call for employers to state how they would like information presented to them. I can tailor my writing to whatever you want, as long as you tell me. And if you don't read cover letters, just tell me not to bother.
crafty fencing \07.10\
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fence,
flowers,
summer,
urban outdoors
The final verdict was pretty much a wash; it depends on the recruiter/HR manager's preference. Arguments for skill-based say that it allows a candidate to better highlight their relevancy for a position unrelated to their work history or it makes an employment gap less glaring by shifting the focus. On the other hand, many argued that skill-based versions require resume excavation: Did they learn that skill in their previous role? College? Online? I suppose this is where a well-crafted cover letter could make a difference.
At the end of my digital exploration, I stayed with the more standard chronological version...with a twist. I started with an extremely succinct bulleted list of skills, followed by my work history, and highlighted only those tasks and accomplishments relevant to the qualities noted in the job description. Luckily, my job change is more of a tweak than a jump of industries, so a lot of my skills are still applicable.
The most astute statement that I came across during my search was a call for employers to state how they would like information presented to them. I can tailor my writing to whatever you want, as long as you tell me. And if you don't read cover letters, just tell me not to bother.
I have a confession to make. Sometimes I form opinions and cling stubbornly to them. I know, it's not exactly an earth-shattering confession. In my younger years, I generally refused to even consider changing my mind. Maybe it felt like a weakness or I didn't want people to believe I could be swayed. I'm not implying that my will has softened with age, but rather it has matured. My opinions may still be cast with the same passionate furor, but I'm willing to concede some ground when solid arguments are raised.
Why am I thinking about this today? Because I spent the morning hoping that no one would win the men's Wimbledon title today. There's no denying Federer's greatness, but I hate seeing all of Sampras' records tumble down. And I've always had a hardened heart against Murray. From unwarranted arrogance to his dinky dropshot style of play, I could never get behind him. To top it off, he's essentially tennis' version of a flopper. You know, those soccer players that take dramatic falls of their own accord then try to convince a ref it was an opposing player's fault? Murray blames external objects and circumstance: the balls, the court, the sun, his pockets.
Today, though, after watching him play a real and solid match against arguably the greatest of all time, I conceded a little bit. His post-match interview was genuinely emotional, tear-filled and heartfelt. I couldn't help the flow of compassion. This guy, despite the usual bravado, is throwing his heart and soul into an endeavor and continually being stopped just shy of the goal. My polarized stance hit neutral ground while watching him unsuccessfully attempt to keep his emotions in check.
Unfortunately, he didn't leave the flopper antics at home; his on-court demeanor still irked me. My passion runs deep when it comes to tennis, positive and negative opinions alike. He's still not going to be my favorite, and I'll continue to root against him in most match-ups. But I respect his emotional investment in his dream.
red-hot petals \07.08\
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flowers,
summer
Why am I thinking about this today? Because I spent the morning hoping that no one would win the men's Wimbledon title today. There's no denying Federer's greatness, but I hate seeing all of Sampras' records tumble down. And I've always had a hardened heart against Murray. From unwarranted arrogance to his dinky dropshot style of play, I could never get behind him. To top it off, he's essentially tennis' version of a flopper. You know, those soccer players that take dramatic falls of their own accord then try to convince a ref it was an opposing player's fault? Murray blames external objects and circumstance: the balls, the court, the sun, his pockets.
Today, though, after watching him play a real and solid match against arguably the greatest of all time, I conceded a little bit. His post-match interview was genuinely emotional, tear-filled and heartfelt. I couldn't help the flow of compassion. This guy, despite the usual bravado, is throwing his heart and soul into an endeavor and continually being stopped just shy of the goal. My polarized stance hit neutral ground while watching him unsuccessfully attempt to keep his emotions in check.
Unfortunately, he didn't leave the flopper antics at home; his on-court demeanor still irked me. My passion runs deep when it comes to tennis, positive and negative opinions alike. He's still not going to be my favorite, and I'll continue to root against him in most match-ups. But I respect his emotional investment in his dream.
Do you remember the awkward adolescent years? If you don't recall having awkward years, you're most likely delusional. It's not something I think about often, for good reason, and I doubt that I've thought about those years in quite a while. But the youngest of my cousins are in that awkward stage right now, and seeing them over the past few days brought it all back.
Changing dynamics of friendships. Braces. The opposite sex. Self-consciousness.
Some of the awkward memories merely make me laugh or shake my head. During my middle school years I weighed somewhere between 80-90 pounds and probably measured around 5'3". There wasn't much of me. Yet, I insisted on wearing my shirts in a size large. Other memories are less amusing, but have given me insight into my personal development. I can see aspects of my personality that began taking root back in those seemingly innocent middle school and high school years.
To be completely honest, I've never longed to return to those years of my life. I can see how people might say that things were so much easier back then and they'd gladly go back. The way I remember it, the challenges and emotions of those days felt big when you were in their midst. Today's challenges in the adult world may be of a different nature, but our enhanced (hopefully) personal development is equitable to their heightened gravity.
beached \07.06\
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beach,
boat,
outdoors,
summer
Changing dynamics of friendships. Braces. The opposite sex. Self-consciousness.
Some of the awkward memories merely make me laugh or shake my head. During my middle school years I weighed somewhere between 80-90 pounds and probably measured around 5'3". There wasn't much of me. Yet, I insisted on wearing my shirts in a size large. Other memories are less amusing, but have given me insight into my personal development. I can see aspects of my personality that began taking root back in those seemingly innocent middle school and high school years.
To be completely honest, I've never longed to return to those years of my life. I can see how people might say that things were so much easier back then and they'd gladly go back. The way I remember it, the challenges and emotions of those days felt big when you were in their midst. Today's challenges in the adult world may be of a different nature, but our enhanced (hopefully) personal development is equitable to their heightened gravity.
Sure, I saw plenty of beautiful scenery in Grand Haven today. White beaches, Lake Michigan, the pier and lighthouse. This all pales in comparison to one thing. The highlight of my day can be pinpointed to about 40 square feet. Pronto Pups. I can only grace you with a visual representation and written ode, but that's not nearly representative of the goodness. After nearly a year of impatience, the cholesterol bomb made its way back into my life. If I ever happen to end up with a "last meal" request in this life, a Pronto Pup is required. No question.
The lake was actually a perfect respite from the 100 degree temperatures. Despite racking up my first sunburn of the year, I'm ready for day two tomorrow. As much as I'm tempted, I'll keep my cholesterol craving in check though.
pronto pups \07.05\
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food,
summer
The lake was actually a perfect respite from the 100 degree temperatures. Despite racking up my first sunburn of the year, I'm ready for day two tomorrow. As much as I'm tempted, I'll keep my cholesterol craving in check though.
Words that I would not use to describe my family's gatherings: quiet, dull, mundane, proper. Despite having to yell to be heard and the occasional need to escape to another room and recalibrate my hearing, there's a certain comfort in the chaos. It keeps things interesting. Today's individual topics of conversation ranged from cars and Elvis to toilet paper and my aunt's scarring episode with an unrelenting clown at the circus.
In the traditional sense, the heat chased us from a lot of the Fourth of July fanfare. Our picnic was indoors with the air conditioning, we watched some fireworks from the living room window, and no one brought sparklers. But the American flag flew from the back patio all day and we celebrated the independence of our nation through the togetherness of our family.
I can't even imagine being an outside individual (i.e. boyfriend or girlfriend) showing up to one of these gatherings for the first time. Even being born into this family, I find it difficult to get a word in edgewise most days.
grillin' time \07.04\
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holiday,
miscellany,
summer
In the traditional sense, the heat chased us from a lot of the Fourth of July fanfare. Our picnic was indoors with the air conditioning, we watched some fireworks from the living room window, and no one brought sparklers. But the American flag flew from the back patio all day and we celebrated the independence of our nation through the togetherness of our family.
I can't even imagine being an outside individual (i.e. boyfriend or girlfriend) showing up to one of these gatherings for the first time. Even being born into this family, I find it difficult to get a word in edgewise most days.
I'm so hot right now that I'm thinking about packing up and moving to northern Canada. Tonight. And, yet, I find myself hyperaware of how grateful I am for the air conditioning in my car and my apartment. There's an extension of the gratitude when I consider that even though I don't have a job, I can still afford to have that car and that apartment.
The initial catalyst for this unconventional journey was to recalibrate and find the life direction that I really wanted. By life direction, I know that I meant job. Looking back on the past six months, and taking into consideration that I still don't really have an answer on the job front, I know that it has been more about personal development.
I've always been inside my own head, sometimes to a detrimental extent. Nearly everything that drifts into my mind is analyzed, correlated and cataloged. Somehow I let myself believe that this meant I knew myself, that I understood my world. It amazes me to see how much there is to learn about myself, though. I've discovered things that I'm far too sensitive about, things that I haven't been nearly appreciative enough about, and things that I've been unnecessarily clinging to.
It's so easy to get caught up in the daily grind, in our patterns, without turning a discerning eye on why we're doing the things we do or if we're on the right track. Don't get me wrong, this has not been the easiest six months of my life. I wouldn't call it a joyride by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, some days it's an uphill battle. But like any experience in life, I know that this stage is giving me necessary experience to reach the next one. Sometimes I just get a little anxious for the next stage to arrive.
rooftop sky view \06.28\
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chicago,
clouds,
summer,
sunset
The initial catalyst for this unconventional journey was to recalibrate and find the life direction that I really wanted. By life direction, I know that I meant job. Looking back on the past six months, and taking into consideration that I still don't really have an answer on the job front, I know that it has been more about personal development.
I've always been inside my own head, sometimes to a detrimental extent. Nearly everything that drifts into my mind is analyzed, correlated and cataloged. Somehow I let myself believe that this meant I knew myself, that I understood my world. It amazes me to see how much there is to learn about myself, though. I've discovered things that I'm far too sensitive about, things that I haven't been nearly appreciative enough about, and things that I've been unnecessarily clinging to.
It's so easy to get caught up in the daily grind, in our patterns, without turning a discerning eye on why we're doing the things we do or if we're on the right track. Don't get me wrong, this has not been the easiest six months of my life. I wouldn't call it a joyride by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, some days it's an uphill battle. But like any experience in life, I know that this stage is giving me necessary experience to reach the next one. Sometimes I just get a little anxious for the next stage to arrive.
You know what's bad for productivity? Wimbledon. Or any Grand Slam tournament, for that matter. Even though I wake up before my 8:00am alarm, it's only so that I can turn on ESPN2. I tell myself that I can focus on tennis while I eat breakfast and drink my coffee, then I'll leave it on in the background while I accomplish things. There's just one small problem, tennis commandeers my attention every time I get started. Then I find myself migrating toward the couch, pretending that it's just to watch the end of the set.
Based on the fact that I'm not exactly a women's tennis enthusiast, you would think that I could get something done when they switch coverage to women's matches. You would be wrong. That's because there's a wonderful little innovation known as espn3.com, allowing me to choose the match I want to watch. Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy, concurrently putting one men's match on my computer and another on my TV screen.
Why can't tennis enthusiast be a job title?
bunches of color \06.27\
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flowers,
summer,
urban outdoors
Based on the fact that I'm not exactly a women's tennis enthusiast, you would think that I could get something done when they switch coverage to women's matches. You would be wrong. That's because there's a wonderful little innovation known as espn3.com, allowing me to choose the match I want to watch. Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy, concurrently putting one men's match on my computer and another on my TV screen.
Why can't tennis enthusiast be a job title?