Why Don't Your Pants Fit?

My thoughts lately:

Sometimes we all get too big for our britches. That's britches, not bitches. Even though we sometimes become bitches when we need new britches. Which is actually kind of the point of this post.

Don't you hate when you're around people that just think they've got it all going on and they make sure they let everyone know it? Entitlement. Bottom line. (That wasn't an intentional reference to bums there either, it just worked out). I understand some people gain a sense of entitlement throughout life due to past circumstances. Maybe they are self-made successes that came from nothing as a child and feel they deserve everything they have. I honestly get that. But, I still feel like those are actually the people who should be the most humble by how far they've come. Right?

I live daily trying to portray myself as a humble being. I may have a lot to some and nothing by other's standards. In any light, I try to live with peace and gratitude. And I try to never treat anyone with any other mindset differently than I would want to be treated. The Golden Rule really is pretty golden. But, sometimes there are those that just test your limits, ya know? You want so badly for them to realize they are not above you but you are trying to be that example of humbleness yourself and don't want to come across as knowing more than them by mentioning so. See my dilemma?

So, how do we maintain being humble and peaceful beings while teaching others to do the same? This is a question for you, not myself.

What if we did What We Wanted?

What motivates you? What makes you say, "Oh, I want to try this, or that, or that!"? What gives you energy and drive? How are you most productive?

Everyone works differently. Everyone has different skills, abilities and talents. This is what makes the world go round. However, this is also what makes the world seem to be at a dead stop sometimes. Like Atlanta when it snows. (I'm entitled to say that, I'm from the metro area).

I've realized lately what keeps me focused and motivated: doing my own thing. ha...I know....every adult over 40 is snickering at my Generation Y mentality. But for real...as long as no one is pressuring me or hounding me to get something done or do it "their way", I'm ten times more productive in the long run and will feel wayyy more confident doing it. Serious. No joke. Leave me alone and I'll pull off some seriously awesome shit. In my own time, of course. :)

So, think about it.....if the world allowed people to fully utilize their skills AND interests, how much farther would we make it? Work is all about skills and not enough about people's interests. If you use people for what they can do too much, before long you will lose them for what they could do. Does that make sense? If it doesn't...think about it a minute longer.

Life is short, we all say. Is it really? Or are we all just moving along like monotonous ants doing what someone, somewhere said was what needed to be done? Deadlines, standards...these are things that have been set by people, not life itself. Nothing in life or on this earth has carved that we must make this deadline or have this task done by this time or something won't happen. Life itself has no rules. First world countries are so concerned with bringing second and third world countries up to their standards. Why don't we learn from them instead? Life is only as complicated as we allow it to be. Take a step back and let it just be. If people have beef with that....then maybe it's time for your paths to be finished crossing.

peace my loves.

Yeah, I'm a League Bowler

Mondays are one of my favorite days. I know, I know...pretty much everyone else in the entirety of history HATES Mondays, but I look forward to them every week. Why am I so insane? Well, for starters I don't work Mondays. :) But, more importantly, it's my bowling night.

This is the third full season I've bowled in a league and I LOVE it! It's probably one of the few hobbies I can say I truly have. I'm not super competitive, but if I were, this would be it. Now, I'm no Olympic qualifier here but I have significantly improved each season and I'm becoming more and more satisfied with my performance. 

Here are a couple of pictures from last night's festivities: None of me but these are my two teammates. Enjoy the view. ;) 

This is Gayree (Gary). We've been partners for 3 seasons now! I think he was about ready to dive with this one! 

And this is my boyfriend Jack. He joined our team this season. He does some great dance moves with his release. ;) 

I've got the best team in town. I can't begin to say how much fun we have together and with everyone in the league. I highly suggest checking out your local bowling alley for leagues if you enjoy bowling. 

To Dress or Not to Dress: The Halloween Dilemma

So, it's Halloween! Happy Halloween all! :) Boo!

I hope everyone is having a spooktacularly wonderful day so far. It's beautiful weather down here in Georgia...at least for the time being. You never know if that will change at any moment!

I have a dilemma here: do I dress up for Halloween or no? I am going to a Halloween party tonight that is starting pretty much right at dark, so does this mean it's more of a celebration than a dress up party? Idk. Unfortunately, I no longer have any past costumes in stock. I know, I threw them out stupidly.

This is where I need help! I need to at least have ideas of something I can pull from my closet to make something but am at a loss of creativity in this moment. I LOVE dressing up but I've let this year slip up on me.

Who out there has some creative but simple ideas? And maybe some ideas for a guy that can be put together from the closet selection. Couples ideas are not out of question at this moment. :)

Thanks loves.

Cup 'o Tea for Ya

I love hot tea. There's no doubt about that. But I not only love tea for all the herbal remedies it provides or the yummy flavors you can try. I love teas because one every time I brew a cup of Yogi tea I get a little nugget of inspiration.

This was my morning inspiration today:

"To be calm is the highest achievement of the self."

Finding true calmness and peace in any moment or within yourself truly is a high achievement. It is so difficult today with all the distractions available to find true calmness on a daily basis. There are a a lot of people who are quiet, but that does not equate to calmness. The mind may be going a million miles a minute inside. Calmness only comes from awareness and choice. Awareness of what is distracting you and choosing to focus on what makes you calm. Time and patience lead to calmness but it is a beautiful place to be in. And I say all this to remind myself of this lesson as well.

So, if you're ever down or feeling funky, pick up a cup 'o tea! It will soothe the mind and body!

Words of a Stranger

As I was standing next to my car this afternoon pumping gas, I was interrupted by a complete stranger. And I don't think I fully appreciated the comment made in the moment.

I was simply rushing to get my gas and get to a doctor's appointment when a lady from the car next to me walks by and stops and stares. I look over at her and she makes one statement, "You are beautiful". I stare at her for a split second before responding with a simple thank you. I thought, maybe she isn't talking me, I'm the one standing here with a full face rash that makes me look like I'm permanently ready for Halloween. But then she says it again. I was perplexed. How could someone see me right now and think "that's beautiful"? She then makes another statement saying "You have eyes like the ocean". I kept saying thank you trying to decide if I thought she had some sort of mental issues going on.

With a final thank you, and relief that I was finished pumping gas, I hopped into my car and pulled off. I rushed to the doctor, most antsy to figure out what was going on with my face, and didn't give this kind stranger a second thought until I was home later.

Once I took the time to think about it, I began asking some questions: Why was I so put off by this stranger's kind words? Why am I being so vain? Why don't we all just give compliments to strangers when we feel compelled?

It was certainly a humbling experience hearing her words today. It was also encouraging once I let it be. I was more worried about people being put off by the way I looked when the only comment made was by someone complimenting me.

I think this was a lesson in humbleness and thankfulness. We should never be so consumed with our looks. And we should all begin to give compliments when they pop in our head. You never know, maybe that person is having a rough day and your kind words are exactly what they need to hear. So, before we worry about ourselves and what others think, let's realize what we think about others and share.

Be Easy, Be Happy

A beautiful Sunday morning posted up on the dock with a cup of joe and typing away. This is a wonderful way to start my Sunday, or any day for that matter. I can hear a few motor sounds in the distance, but I don't see a soul out here. Granted, I am tucked away in a cove but there is decent view of a good part of the open lake. This is peace.

I'm taking this time to be intentional. Not so much with myself with any thoughts in mind, but intentional in paying attention to my surroundings. I am being. In this moment I can hear every fish plop its head above water, every various bird cawing or singing away, every tree limb swaying in the breeze and every wave that hits the docks. This is life. Not "the" life (even though this is a pretty awesome way to live), but life. The life all around us that all too often goes unnoticed.

In this moment of being I feel happy. A friend of mine always says "Be Happy". To everyone. It's his motto. And every time I see it or hear it from him I recognize what he is saying, but I don't think I ever take the time to stop and really just tell myself, 'be happy'. It's really so simple. Just be. There's no trying. Just be. Try it!

Another saying I try to remind myself of is "be easy". I've never heard anyone say this until a few months ago but Jack [boyfriend] says it all the time. And with as much time as he spends out on this dock and lake, I understand it after simply being in this moment.  We all make life way too complicated way too often. Most things in life are a result of decision and the majority of the time we are choosing to react or respond in a certain way. No report or paper is innately stressful, no appointment or meeting is so crucial we will die if something goes wrong. We put the weight of these feelings into them. Life can exist without the ridiculousness of deadlines and making impressions. Just sayin. :) If only we could convince bosses and coworkers of this. ha.

I urge everyone out there to try out these wonderful philosophies. ;) I promise you life will be much more enjoyable.

Be happy, be easy, be you.

Bye Loves.

Rock My World

I had a conversation yesterday that rocked my world. Literally. Let me tell you why.

I've heard and been a part of many conversations over the past few years regarding the generational clash of Milledgeville. There are many wonderful people who are from here and their families have been a vital part of this town for numerous years. They love this town and want to preserve its rich history and heritage. Then there is the group of young adults, some from the area but many who come here as college students, fall in love with the quaintness of the town and decide to find work and stay. They too want to preserve the town. The issue here comes from a differing interpretation of what it means to preserve the town. Many of the older, rooted group sees the preservation as keeping things exactly the same. The younger generation sees it as maintaining the architecture and sense of community but building it up by allowing new businesses and the such. 

This is certianly a simplified viewpoint of the situation, but it gives a very general feeling of what's going on. 

With two groups so passionate and willing to give back to the community where is the balance? How do we allow this town, so clearly loved, to continue to grow while maintaining a sense of history? It all starts with support and collaboration. Both parties need to see the other's strengths and be able to support growth. 

This is the conversation I had yesterday with one of our city aldermans. I called her on behalf of a friend who offered to aid her in her campaign for city council elections coming up. I was trying to set up a meeting to begin work on her social media enterprise and she ended up telling me how supportive she was of the younger generation because we are the future of this town. She has stood up for a group of local, young professionals trying keep Milledgeville alive through business collaborations numerous times lately and I believe this is the type of relationship we need to see being fostered. 

The moment I heard the excitement in her voice about working together in support of each other's challenges and goals, my heart was beaming with happiness! This is the beginning of what Milledgeville needs. This is the beginning of seeing this town flourish due to the hard work and love of BOTH generations. 

Technology Smechnology

This be cray! I'm writing a blog post on my phone! Call me behind the times, but I just now downloaded the blogger app on my phone. I don't think I could write every post like this but having the ability to take a picture and directly post it to my blog is beyond delightful. 

So, here's to figuring technology out more and more every day and trying to act like I know what I'm doing sometimes. :) 

Tiny Dreamer

Okay, so maybe I'm still young according to the world's standards and the average lifespan of Americans, but I feel like I've reached a crucial milestone: the dilemma of where to take my career. I'm 24 years old and have a full time job in the field in which I studied in a beautiful and quaint little town. Sounds golden, right? Well, no matter how many times I hear people tell me how awesome my life seems on paper, I can't help but think in the back of my head, something's missing. I wish I could tell you what's next, but I don't always even know myself.

What I do know is that I need something in my life that is for me. Solely for me. I need something to be selfish about. Come on, we all need that something to be rightfully selfish about at times. It's called a hobby, not to be confused with obsession. Well, for me, I want to figure out a way to turn a hobby into work. I'm not the type of person who can do work just to do work and make money. I have to enjoy what I'm doing 100%. Am I a product of generation y? Yes. Does this mean I don't know how to work hard?  Hell no....it just means I'm a free styling, whimsical, free spirited dreamer that wants to enjoy life in every moment.  And I intend to figure out how to balance what I enjoy with a way to make a living.

What's next now? Setting up conversations with executive coaches, executives and just some good ole friends. I like to try and get as many varying thoughts as possible, not for anyone to tell me what I should do but maybe various ways to achieve something different. Brainstorming if you will.  I have ideas of what I'd like to end up doing at some point and potentially in the near future, but shhh...they're a secret. ;)

Life is a boggled mess of wonderfulness, just take the bull by the horns and see what happens. Set goals but not expectations. Let life surprise you and go with it. And when you get to a stump like me, just take some time to figure out what might work for you and start some conversations with people. You never know what someone might know that will be of benefit to you. Keep dreaming loves.

That first post you just have to call 'Untitled'.

Oh, I just sigh as I sit here to begin writing. My thoughts have been all over the place for so long. I'm not even sure I know what my thoughts are on any given situation, idea, circumstance, etc, anymore. My brain and life are so boggled. I simply believe I am incapable of forming full thoughts or sentences in my head anymore. I don't believe my heart even knows how to think these days.

Life has taken so many many turns these past three months that I have come to realize how many paths to life there are and it is completely within our own power to choose which path we tread (or run) down. Even though the circumstances that I have been in here lately, either because of my own choices or those of others, have momentarily caused me to be on certain paths, ultimately I can only own up to my own choice of path. But unfortunately I'm not sure which one that is. I know, for the most part, which events have occurred due to my choice and which have happened based on the actions of others. But everything is so sticky and they seem to just muddle together at the end of the day, and at the beginning and in the middle. How long does it take for something to pass to be able to see things with open eyes and as unbiased as possible? I suppose that's not something that can be statistically measured in any kind of accurate way.

Random

Journal. Best friend. Confidant. Someone or something you share everything with. That something that gives you the emotional and mental release of all your feelings, thoughts, actions and words. It's what gives you some small satisfaction that you aren't, in some small way, keeping it all to yourself. Even if you are writing to yourself, or something greater out there, you aren't keeping it in. Writing is a release. At least, for me it is. It doesn't even matter if anyone sees it or responds. Someday someone will and when that happens my words will touch whomever that may be. I believe all things happen for a reason and that reason is greater than anything in this world can predict.

Life is complicated. Yet so simple. Is it a matter of choice or circumstance? Which way it is for us. Maybe both. I think it's both. But maybe that's too simple of an answer. Nah....it's all a matter of what we make it. Right? Or that's probably just opinion, too. Either way, there are things that are both within and outside of our control. Life happens regardless, and I think that's part of the miracle of life. It happens with or without us.

I still dress up.

Today is Easter Sunday 2012. I spent it sleeping in and then helping my love finish up lunch for his family. We always have a large meal every holiday and birthday around here. When I was getting myself ready and trying to decide what to wear I was going through my closet asking myself, "what spring colors do I have?". Even though I didn't spend the morning going to church or even getting out of the house I still wanted to wear something Springy and look nice for the day. Today I chose a full-length Kelly green and purple printed strapless dress. I think it's quite fitting for the day!

One of my favorite memories of Easter wasn't waking up to see what the Easter Bunny had left in our baskets we so carefully placed at our 'designated' spots at the kitchen table or going to church to see people I probably hadn't seen in a while or the good food after. It was getting to pick out a new Easter dress every year. That sounds so shallow and earthly but as a little girl that was probably my favorite part. I can remember the majority of my Easter dresses to this day from the fluffy floral dresses with white gloves and hats as a toddler to the peachy below-the-knee gown with a short white sweater over top from a place called Peaches 'N Cream to the black and pink skirt ensemble I put together my freshman year of high school. Don't ask why I wore black on Easter. For some reason it became a trend for a couple of years to wear black with an accented Spring color. I don't think it was a hit looking back.

It's the little traditions that I love looking back and reminiscing about. I'm always enjoying hearing about traditions. They're part of what make you, well, you. But as I get older I realize what I enjoy most about holidays is the socializing with family and friends. I love any reason to get together with a large group of people, eat and be merry. I can't wait until I have a family of my own that I can plan social events with and invite people over to host holiday meals and parties. Ah...the future is so beautiful.

Well my darlings, I'm going to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day in the sun reading "An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor. This day is a perfect example of how she tells us to find spiritual meaning and God in the beauty of what is around us.

Goddbye my darlings!

What's with the New Girl?

New girl number 1:

I was sixteen years old before I was ever the new girl. I never moved a day in my life (my parents still live in the house they built together when they got married nearly 30 years ago) and never transferred schools. My first experience being put into the awkward tension of not knowing the people around you was when my family decided to change churches. For me, this was a huge deal. I had been raised attending a small Christian church in Fairburn, Georgia on a regular basis. It was a second home to me and I probably spent just as much time there as I ever did my own home. And since it was so small and we were so active I knew everyone and I mean everyone. I felt like we ran the place....just kidding, but really, I had no fears of ever feeling out of place doing something. Then there's the church we switched our membership to, which was a much larger, semi-contemporary Baptist church in Palmetto, Georgia. Once we announced our last week in Fairburn I remember being very afraid in my head of being the new girl at Palmetto. This was going to be a new experience for me which I was unsure of whether it would agree with me or not. Well, as it turns out it wasn't so bad. Part of the reason we moved to Palmetto was because of all the people we already knew there from school and being involved with the church's preschool many years prior. It was an enormously easy transition. I love it there.

New girl number 2:

The second time I was a new girl doesn't really count because I was in a situation where everyone around me was new: my freshmen year of college. I was one of only two of my close friends to move away for school and that aspect seemed quite unsettling on my last night before moving to Milledgeville. However, as I'll discuss in a later blog attending Georgia College (& State University) was by far the best decision I've ever made!

New girl number 3/4/5/6:

I'm going to include the next three times I was new all in one because they are all due to the same cause: work. Number 3 is when I worked as a camp counselor the summer after my freshman year of college at a small camp where most people had been going there for years. But, I think the small, at home, family feeling is probably what made it easier to fit in. It was great. :) Number 4 was when I started working on campus my sophomore year in the International Center. I was in an office full of adults with higher education (mostly anyway). It was intimidating at times, however that was a wonderful experience I will never forget. Number 5 was when I started my first restaurant job the summer after my sophomore year. Oh Applebee's. There are too many stories to tell here so all I will say is that for the past 3 years I have been exposed to things I never would have seen/heard/experienced had I not taken that job. Many good things have come from that job (my love for one) and many bad memories have come from that job. But all-in-all it was a learning and humbling experience that really let me explore many aspects of my inner self that I was afraid to let out. It made me more comfortable to be me....for the most part. Enough of that...number 6. This is where I'm at now. Just this past week I started a new job. It's another waitressing job but at a restaurant where I only know one person. It's a small, local bar and grill type of place with college girls serving. I'm still in training but it seems to being going very well so far. The reason I decided to write about being the new girl is because of this: training to serve in this restaurant is unlike other restaurants I know of....first you start in the kitchen cooking for a week so you learn the menu before you get in front of customers and blank. Smart really. But I have yet to get to know the girls I'll be working with on the floor. I see them come in and out of the kitchen and most of them don't ask many questions of me. Some assume I'll be working in the kitchen. But I see them sometimes look at me and I can't help what wonder what they are thinking. I am the newest girl and I'm sure the ones that have been there forever are wondering what I'll be like. I can only hope that we will get along and they will like me once we are officially coworkers. We shall see.

So, there is no grand story here of some horrible new girl experience, sorry to disappoint guys. But I just think it's interesting how some people react to being a new girl. It's happened very few times for me and most were easy transitions, I know some people have horror stories (God forbid I ever have to deal with that!).

That's all for today,

Later darlings.

Don't let your desires die

As I lie here in bed in this moment feeling completely uninspired, I decide to let my fingers do the writing instead of my head or heart and see where I get. I know I have wanted to blog for some many years now but always let the idea of coming up with some catchy title get in the way. Silly, I know. But that’s the ridiculous pressure I put on trivial matters. Just part of who I am.

My desire to blog stems from my passion for journaling in the past. There was a time where I would sit and journal pages and pages every day. The desire to express my thoughts, feelings and daily happenings has not decreased, but I put it on the backburner for the past couple of years. My senior year of college came and so did many more responsibilities that took up a great deal of my time. By the end of the day I was too exhausted to sit and write after writing all day. Looking back, maybe it would have been more beneficial to my writing skills to take the time to write for myself. I would have developed a better pattern and style that was unique to me and probably would have had more A's on papers rather than B's there at the end. Oh well...such is life.

Anyhoo, I finally started this blog. There is no direct interest in mind, just simply my thoughts at any unparticular moment in time. I have a list of ideas and topics I want to research and post about. But, some days may just be about what happened in my life. I will let this blog take its own course and see where it leads me. I just realized how much I missed writing.

As for the blog's title, I have a love for owls and all things owl. I think they are uniquely beautiful. Not beautiful in the sense America has given the word, but from a more world-wide perspective. Owls are not beautiful to many people, they are dark, wide-eyed and scary at times. They are nocturnal and have a wide wing span that can be intimidating. The association of owls in horror films has given them such a negative image. But if you look at the history of the owl's significance in many societies such as the Native Americans, Greeks, Hindu and Egyptian cultures, just to name a few, owls are creatures of the highest respect. They are a symbol of wisdom, strength and keepers of sacred knowledge. The owl was directly associated to Athena, goddess of learning as sacred and some Greco-Roman currencies have images of the owl, signifying status and wealth. Owls are a hidden beauty and in order to see it we have to look deeper into the meaning they held in the past. Their ability to fly, hide in the dark, be incredibly strong and the associations of wisdom and sacredness is so attractive to my free-spirited soul.

It is a personal understanding and appreciation that others may not get, but I want to pursue my desires in life and in order to do so I believe I have to pursue knowledge and wisdom. Ergo, I am in pursuit of the owl.