Things I know- A Month Away

It hasn't been that long, has it? Oh yes, it has. Here's what I know:

• Time...goes by....so slowwwwly....(imagine me singing "Unchained Melody")
• I absolutely hate applying for jobs, especially those character parts of the application that are 50 pages long with 5 questions per page (online) and often ask redundant questions
• A little time away can do a lot of good for your thoughts, and can help spark ideas
• October and pollen are evil, and every year, they attack me and my sinuses. Argh! This is part of the reason I've not been around. Allergies >> Sinus pressure >> headaches >> not wanting to type a lot/think a lot/do a lot.
• Being in the sort of state above makes me look lazy
• My résumé sucks, and probably will for quite a while
• Taking the exam to be a social worker is extremely expensive
• The Rangers better play a better game tomorrow night, or I will be extremely unhappy.

I've jumped on the bandwagon a little bit early with these posts because they're simpler than some of the others, and have a sort of outline which I can follow. I've got a headache right now which is enough to tell me that I am going to stop now, finish facebooking and twitter, perhaps play a few games on my phone, and go to bed. I might make a "Grateful For" post tomorrow, because I already know what I want that one to be about. For now, deuces.

Huzzah!

Blogoversary- Giving Back

If you've been keeping up, you know that today, 4th September 2011, is my 1st blogoversary!!

I'm delighted (and surprised) to have made it as far as I have, with as much success as I have had, especially in the past few months. I started out my endeavor small, although I'm still really not all that big. To this day I bring in fewer than 200 people, some of them just dropping in, but as a blogoversary thing, I've checked on some stats recently:

In September of 2010, I brought in a total of 183 views, and December 187. Those were my highest traffic months, the only ones more than 80, until April 2011. Just yesterday I brought in 105, and the day before 189. My followers? Most of them have started following me since June & July. I've also set up a Facebook fan page- almost 50 likes already. I'm tickled! Numbers, numbers, that's not all that matters, though.

Before March there were absolutely no comments- content or not. I was writing simply because. I cared about my numbers, but I didn't know if people were reading. Since then, I've gotten 362 comments- yes, I've gotten some of the spammy ones, but I've gotten a lot that have content too. Some have made me laugh, some have made me cry. That people care, and leave comments with content that can evoke emotion...it's really nice.

I've also been more engaged on Twitter since my blog has been more engaged. Through my blog and through Twitter I've met more people that I never would have met otherwise- after all, they do live overseas, or out-of-state. I love having conversations with them. Some of them are the best friends I have.

But that's enough of that, right? Blogoversary- It's more of a type of birthday, but for a blog. But my blog doesn't want any type of gift...rather, it wants people to give back. Read on to see what I mean.

As part of my "blogoversary" one of the things I want to do is start a blog hop of my own. I know we all see blog hops, and one of the things about the blog hops that I see here in the US is that they tend to be "giveaway" related, or that you are "required" to visit about a billion other blogs, even those that link up after you, meaning you have to keep visiting the hop repeatedly after you link up until you've visited enough people to meet the requirement...a bit tedious? They also require that you follow the host, and the host tends to be a giveaway or coupon blogger, who only posts giveaway or coupon blogs...which clogs up the feeds...my feed has been clogged with giveaways and coupons for goodness knows how long. I attend them because I like finding new blogs. Sometimes I happen to find new blogs that I like there, by chance, so I continue to link up in hopes of finding blogs I like.

Well, it's high time I start one of my own...

Seeing as I'm all about doing things for other people, and helping people out, this is my idea-

I want you to do one good thing for someone, no matter how small- hold a door, lend a dollar, fix a meal, talk to someone who looks like they need a friend, help unpack a box, write a letter, donate some clothes that you haven't worn that are still in good condition, anything you can think of, and write about it. Each week, after you've done something little, write about it- what you did, and what came out of it- if you don't know, then write that, because sometimes you don't know- and link it up to the hop. We'll each be able to see the good things that someone else did, and even if you didn't do something, I'll encourage you to link up to a blog- because what matters is that we're making a connection. I would like everyone to do something little, and write about it, but I won't require it. I would like you to link up a blog about something small you did, but I won't require it. I will encourage you to visit someone else, but I won't require it.

In order to give people time to do something and write about it, I'll leave it open three days- American Monday to American Wedensday- that's Aussie Tuesday to Aussie Thursday- and like I said, even if you don't have a chance to do something every week, you can still link up. I will say that even doing something with or for your family members does count- spending a day out with the kids counts, for example.

The idea of this, really, is to do something that makes someone else feel good, or that helps them out. If you didn't know already, that's something that I'm really enthusiastic about. Just the effort is really important to me, because I know that not every effort is going to be successful, but trying is what really counts. I also know that not everyone has a lot of spare time to do something like this, but I would like to encourage it. Therefore, I'm not making it a requirement, just a request. I will probably debut the hop not this week, but next week- just to get some ideas and feedback on it- after all, it is a new-ish idea. I'm open to what people have to say.

I'd like this to be a way not only for people to be introduced to other people's blogs, but also for people to see what others are doing. All small things make a difference.

~"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something." -Author Unknown
~"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." -Mother Teresa
~"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi
~"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back." -Maya Angelou

A Little Bit of Stubborn

Today, I had the opportunity to be one of the carriers of things to my sister at the high school for her marching band practice (yay for marching band!). Lucky little chick. I discovered when I got there I was not the only one- my dad was sitting directly behind me in the car park- with her dinner. I had her water. Spoiled rotten chick!! I love her the same. Where was my older sister? Oh yeah, I didn't have one...oh well, I can drive myself places now, so *check* I'm good.

Tonight is the first home football game for the Fighting Owls. You can bet I'll be there- to chat with old teachers and friends that may haphazardly show up, seeing as it's six years after graduation- I know of one teacher that will be there, proudly, but most of the people who went there have moved on to better endeavors. He still teaches there, and has a daughter there *and a lot of school pride, and shows up at every game, regardless of whether his daughter or any other relative is in the show*

It'll be nice the next few days, because we'll finally see a break in the 100+ degree temperatures...can I get a woot woot? Monday's high is forecast at 89...cold front!!! Break out the winter coats everyone!!! (Just kidding on that front...pun intended)

On that note...since when does the new month define a change in season? I was always taught that the autumnal equinox meant autumn, so the whole "September means it's fall" thing is news to me. Especially since it's still over 100 degrees for a portion of September, and over 90 degrees for another good portion. Then the winter solstice is supposed to be the beginning of winter, correct?

I know that people define "winter" by the beginning of the holiday season, which falls very close to the end of November because it tends to fall just before my birthday, sometimes on my birthday *cringe BlackFriday cringe* and then comes December, often snow. Perhaps I'm a bit old-fashioned and dead set in my ways, but this is how I define seasons- Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Solstice, Winter Equinox. Not just months picked and chosen by their relative hot/coldness.

This is the way I will stick to, the way I was taught, although trends may state otherwise. People may tell me happy spring and I'll say "tell me that when it's really spring" because I'm not that trend follower. I may follow other trends, but not this one. As such, school returns in summer, but that's ok. School has always returned in the summer, in my mind- you know, with band camp and such- but even when there wasn't band camp. Winter break always starts in the autumn. I hate the way people define this stuff, society is so single and simple minded, making things easier for those who can't think about complex things- what's so complex about the winter solstice being on December 21?

Thank you, facebook, for inspiring a little bit of bitterness in me, but that's ok, because I'll get over it. I know that I have my ways, and I'll always have my ways, and that people will always define things a little bit differently than I do. They always have. I'm a little bit stubborn. I have people that can and will vouch for that. Stubbornness can be a good quality, when applied appropriately....or neutral, not a bother. In this case, I don't think it really matters when I define the beginning of a season, as long as I'm not a hard ass about it, which I'm not. I don't push and shove people into my will. I just nonchalantly tell people what I believe and leave it at that.

Is there anything you're stubborn about? Is there anything you believe others define differently than you do? And what kind of plans do you have for the upcoming season (whether it's spring or autumn)?

Those Jeans

Today has been a headache of a day. Mostly I've been lying in bed with a headache, and looking at the computer screen, sitting up, or doing much of anything makes it worse.

I'll be going to Chick-Fil-A for dinner, because my mom gets a discount because she works for the school district. So I'll be up for that, you know, eating something. Maybe it'll help. Other than that, I feel miserable with this headache.

Oh, and I fit back into those jeans again, so it wasn't just a coincidence. That means it's real!

Not that the Chick-Fil-A will be a *good* thing, you know, when trying to stay in these jeans, but hey, fitting in them again is great.

Back to my headache avoidance activities.

Procrastination- I'll do it la...

I know for a fact that I am extremely horrible with procrastination- as evidenced by my many all-nighters typing and researching papers that I had substantial time to complete reasonably without all-nighters. Of course, the worst assignments are the ones that you really have no interest in.

For me, those would be like....assignments dealing with the legal system, economics, cars, that type of stuff. I still, though, even procrastinate on stuff I don't mind writing about, like social work, or writing blogs! I'm deeply interested in psychology, and I put my psychology assignment off until the last minute.

The thing with me is, even though I often procrastinate, somehow, I almost always manage to pull off whatever it is that I needed to do-- and do it well. In high school, I might have waited until the night before to create that book on the parts of language and their function in the book we were reading, with examples, but I made a pop-up book, with examples and very deep explanations, and got extra points for creativity too! I have many a time waited until the night before, pulled an all-nighter, and received a grade that was at least satisfactory, if not excellent.

My method for studying for tests is simple- read along as we go through the lectures, and follow the sequence in which the slides appear, then the day before the exam, go through and read all the slides (use acronyms for things that are a list that might be more difficult to remember), then- immediately before the test, as I'm getting prepared to begin taking the test, glaze over the text or information to see if there's anything that I didn't remember, or that I had trouble sorting out. Then, during the test, I end up raising my grade several points just by remembering those topics that I skimmed over just before. It's almost like an epiphany- "Oh my gosh, I remember seeing that just a minute ago when I was studying!" It's a tactic that works well for me, but of course, not everyone.

Some people require time and patience to get through their assignments and do well. I don't have the attention span for that kind of thing. Some people work 10x harder than I do over an extended period, while I work 10x harder at the last minute. Of course, if they tried my methods of learning, they probably wouldn't learn much. I absorb information quite well, or so I hear, while others have to repeat the information and use it in a hands-on setting. I'm very glad I'm not this type of person, and I'm very sorry to those that are.

Thing is, the second type actually tend to succeed more in college (how I've done it the past 2 years, I have no idea, but I know it didn't work the first 4 years!). They're the ones that put in full study time (often suggested to be 3 hours of studying for every credit hour the student takes- for those that take a full load, that's a lot of study hours!)...and I just don't have the time of day nor the patience for that much study.

When I do study, it's very rigorous study that would probably be difficult for those other types that have been more successful than I in college. They need a plan, a system, a goal, and can often find one, while I find myself dragging around, at the last minute, in my mind panicking because they already have things worked out, while I don't even have a topic yet. Last semester, I had a research paper to write, and I ended up changing the topic countless times, while others already had their papers half written, or at least well-developed. I failed greatly on that assignment (so it was a success....at failing). Somehow, by the grace of a higher power or just pure luck, something, I have no idea what, pulled my letter grade from an F to a B, and I have no idea how, but I won't complain!

I've learned from my experiences, and I try to do more things ahead of time, instead of waiting til the last minute, although that is still the main strategy I use for testing. I sometimes finish my papers a week or two in advance, I sometimes write them on the day they're due....it depends on how much motivation I have.

I think motivation is a huge factor in procrastination. If someone is not motivated to do something, as I am not motivated to do research at all, and therefore procrastinated more, then they often won't do it til they have to. For me, it's a pure lack of desire for me to try, even if it's something important, just because I'm disinterested. Those who can power through that amotivation- I admire you.

Good thing is, I think in the future, I'm actually going to enjoy the things I do, and get intrinsic rewards from the interactions I have (who cares about the extrinsic anyway?). I already feel good when I come home from my internship after a great session. Speaking of my internship, that's something I didn't procrastinate on....I enjoy it, and finished all my hours earlier this month! High level of motivation, high level of participation, low level of procrastination. Anyway, I think this is something that will be key when it comes to me obtaining and maintaining a job. It's a structured setting, but the things I can control and help with make me feel great about what I'm doing. I know social work is a very underpaid and understaffed profession, but I'm really more concerned with the intrinsic rewards. I may not live in a mansion, I may not have three cars, but all I want is:

1) A place to live that isn't infested or disgusting- can even be small enough for just one person, as long as it's liveable
2) A reliable mode of transportation
3) ehhhh I guess I need food, right?
4) Most clients might prefer for me to be clothed when I visit with them
5) Feeling good about what I'm doing, and the feeling that there is some good, some value, to my work
5) A laptop, cell phone, and good internet connection- aren't I allowed to be at least a little greedy?
6) To be able to come home at the end of the day and know I was productive and useful
7) Medical stuff taken care of

As you can see, I really only want the basics (except for the laptop, cell phone, and internet, just because they've become a staple for me), and I'm more concerned about how I'll feel when I come home at the end of the day. That is going to be my motivation for doing my job well- others may only do their job well because they know at the end of the day they're going to get a paycheck, no matter how much they hate their job. I know that they may have material things, but they don't get much intrinsic value out of these jobs. Who really wants to be miserable the rest of their lives just so they can earn more money? Not me!

So I'm not procrastinating anymore when it comes to my [future] profession. I've done a lot better- I'm more timely, I have a motivation to get up in the morning and do what I need to do and dress nicely- instead of just blue jeans and a Tshirt. I take care of myself as best I can so that I am able to do my job well, and communicate with clients in the appropriate way. I take care to look at the things I need to look at regularly, like the NASW Code of Ethics, the most important literature in the social work profession. If I was going for a boring, boring major (or at least boring to me), I would have no motivation to get up in the mornings, I'd feel awful as I did the things I needed to do, and at the end of the day, I'd be dissatisfied. So there would be no meaning in it for me, no reason to *not* procrastinate, and I would likely spend half my life on edge because I'm always pushing deadlines.

I think I'll be happy to stop procrastinating, it'll make things much less stressful.....but, since what I'm doing now interests me, and is working for me, I don't see a need to change it now.....I'll work on it later.