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Category Archives: On Me

(Un)clothed

30 May

looks like me on a summer dayQuestion 132 (from The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, PhD)
If you went to a beach and it turned out to be a nude beach, would you stay and go swimming? Would you swim nude?

If I were in a new, exotic land and had gone to the beach for a swim only to discover that it was a nude beach, I would probably go ahead and stay for my swim. I would rather keep my swimsuit on (for protection from painful jellyfish stings in sensitive places, you see), but if there was an enforced law that said I could only swim in the nude, then I’d strip down and run for the waves. When in Rome, right?

In reality, I don’t often swim at the beach. I’m more of a long walk, hunt for seashells, read a book, stare at the waves and find my zen kind of gal. I don’t think I’d feel as comfortable doing those things on a nude beach as I would on a traditional beach, whether I myself was clothed or not. As I’ve said before, I’m self-conscious, even on my best days, and in the back of my mind I’d be wondering if other people were looking at me or if they were wondering what I was looking at. From either angle, it’d just be awkward, and would negate the peace, spiritual rejuvenation, and mental cleansing that I seek when I’m at the beach.

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Posts I commented on today:
(In case you missed the reason for this, I participated in the A to Z Blogging Challenge in April, and though I posted every day, I was lousy at visiting and commenting on other participants’ blogs. So for each day in May, I’ve vowed to visit and comment on three posts from the various blogging communities whose members have supported my efforts. At least one post MUST be from a new blog I haven’t yet visited.)

For a Little Fun Without the Work~~Packet Meals (Change Is Good…Right?)  new blog of the day
Reflections of the A-Z April Blog Challenge (Traveling Suitcase)  another new blog for today
Friday Fictioneers 5/31-13 (Musings from the Turnip Patch)  third new blog today!!

 
1 Comment

Posted by on May 30, 2013 in Deep Thought Thursday, On Me

 

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Game

23 May

100_0382-001Question 91*
Would you rather play a game with someone more or less talented than you? Would it matter who was watching?

I’m game for a game any time. I like card games, board games, video games, sports. I’m happy to learn a new game (well, except for chess…I’ve tried and I just can’t seem to wrap my brain around that one) and have been a willing victim when my husband’s various office sports teams were short a few players (did you know inner tube water polo is a real sport?). As a rookie, I don’t always have the skill set required to be successful at these new games–or even some old, familiar ones for that matter–but I enjoy the participation. I play simply for the thrill of playing, so I’m not really picky about the talent level of my teammates or opponents. If it’s a game I’m fond of, like Texas Hold ‘Em or Scrabble, then I like being challenged by someone more talented than I, in hopes that my skills will eventually improve as a result. If I’m trying a new game, like tennis, I want to learn the rules, strategies, and tricks from someone who knows more than I do, although part of me does hope that my mentor will not trounce me too badly during the early lessons. Once I’ve got a handle on the basics, it galls me if someone tries to play down to my level. I can’t learn properly if they won’t bring it on!!

As for who is watching…I’m always self-conscious anyway, whether I’m learning something new or doing something I’ve done a thousand times, so that just really doesn’t matter. I can be just as embarrassed in front of my husband, my friends, or my colleagues as in front of my boss, perfect strangers, or Matthew McConaughey. I don’t enjoy looking a fool, but I’ve learned that it’s part of life and it won’t kill me. Someday, when my mad poker skills launch me to the top slot on the World Poker Tour, all those embarrassing rookie mistakes will make great anecdotes in a best-selling memoir. 😉

*From The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, PhD.

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Posts I commented on today:
Blue trees (Where’s my backpack?)
Five Sentence Fiction: Charmed (Crazy Flipper Fingers)  new blog of the day
24 May 2013 (Rochelle Wissoff-Fields–Addicted to Purple)

 
1 Comment

Posted by on May 23, 2013 in Deep Thought Thursday, How It Is, On Me, True Life

 

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Envisioning

22 May

 

Self-Improvement“A vision board is a collage or collection of images of tangible and intangible things you want in your life.”

I have a real vision board, much better than the one I created (above) on Oprah’s website today. Only it’s not a board. It’s a file folder stuffed with images and quotes I’ve cut out or copied down since high school. At the time, each one spoke to some deep part of my heart or soul–showing a path to answer some need or fill some void. I didn’t know while I was collecting all this stuff that I was actually gathering the component parts of a vision board. In fact, I’d never heard of a vision board until I read Rarasaur’s Prompt for the Promptless this week. I thought the snipping and filing was a manifestation of my innate (but so far under control) hoarding tendencies. Beyond the actual collecting, I really had no solid plans for all of this inspirational fodder.

After reading Rara’s links this morning (to the point of almost being late for work), and finally having an idea of just what sort of end product my clippings yearned for, I decided to have a go at making a trial vision board on Oprah’s website. In the interest of time I just chose images from the 500 or so archived at the site, although I had the option to upload my own. I added my own text, futzed around with the layout (why are there no rounded corners? no cropping tools? no borders?), and saved the whole shebang as a .jpg on my hard drive. I could now theoretically use the file as my desktop background, therefore ensuring the vision board is in my direct line of sight on a daily basis, as it should be.

The purpose of a vision board is to subtly remind you of what you want in life, to encourage you to envision success in achieving these goals; keeping your aspirations at the forefront of your mind makes you more likely to recognize alternative paths to fulfillment when they are presented. Therefore, the board must be easily and regularly visible (a major flaw in my current vision folder system). Assuming that your wants and needs will change as priorities shift, reality bites, and dreams come true, your vision board should morph as well. New images should be added, tired old quotes should be replaced, the layout should shift to reflect the importance of today’s dreams (some people like to start from scratch instead of rearranging an existing board, but I don’t think I can find that much free time). These requirements lead me to conclude that a good old-fashioned corkboard and some pushpins are going to be the best tools to build and maintain my real vision board. I have no doubt that there are computer-savvy folks out there who would find it just as easy to build an electronic version and update the content with a couple mouse clicks, but I am still a fan of hands-on cutting and pasting.

I’ve already got a whole pile of projects that need my attention, but I will add “create vision board from accumulated stuff’ to the stack. Maybe I should make that task HIGH PRIORITY and add an inspirational quote to my board naysaying procrastination–then I can envision a project list with all the boxes ticked and open myself to new ways to make it so.

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Posts I commented on today:
(In case you missed the reason for this, I participated in the A to Z Blogging Challenge in April, and though I posted every day, I was lousy at visiting and commenting on other blogs. So for each day in May, I’ve vowed to visit and comment on three posts, one of which MUST be from a new blog I haven’t yet visited.)

Today’s Writing Prompt: Dreams (The One-Minute Writer)
W is for Writing Groups (A Guy Named Soo)  new blog of the day
Cat Heaven Island in Japan–Photos (Janice Heck)

 
9 Comments

Posted by on May 22, 2013 in How It Is, On Me, True Life, What's She On About?

 

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Edumacation

18 May

Ahh, 50s pinkHonoring my commitment to lifelong learning

Long before I took my first education class and heard the formal term, I knew down deep that I was a “lifelong learner.” And I’m not just talking about book learning…I’m the type of person who is able to take away something new from almost any situation, be it a piece of “useless” trivia or a major life lesson. Not only do I enjoy discovering and storing away new information like a squirrel stockpiling acorns for winter, but I can muddle through most topics of conversation at social functions, and who knows when one of those little nuggets of knowledge might enable me to save the day? Maybe I’ll be the star player who knows the answer to that obscure trivia question and boosts my team to a win at the local pub’s quiz night or the only chick in the car who knows how to assemble the jack when our girls’ night out is interrupted by a flat tire.

This week, I’ve enrolled myself in three somewhat more structured opportunities for learning to take place next month. First of all, I signed up for an online linguistics course through University of Phoenix so I can complete the continuing education requirements needed to renew my teaching license. Although I’m hoping not to have to return to an elementary classroom when we get back to the States, I’d rather have a current license and not need it than need it and not have it.

Secondly, I signed up for a one-day ESL course through Oxford University’s continuing education department. I am hoping to transition from elementary education to adult education when I begin full-time teaching again, and I’ve so enjoyed the informal English classes I’ve taught overseas the past five years that I think adult ESL may be my niche. The Oxford class focuses on speaking activities to improve English learners’ fluency, which is an area where my lesson plans could use some improvement. The course has the added benefit of giving me a legitimate reason to purchase an Oxford sweatshirt (I’d somehow feel a fraud wearing one without actually having taken a class there, although I know people do it all the time).

Last, but not least, I secured a spot in a weekend spoon carving class. A local woodworker had posted his flyer in our village pub last year, and as soon as I laid eyes on it I knew spoon carving was something I wanted to try. I’ve never carved anything other than a popsicle stick, so I’m not sure how or why I’m so convinced this is a hobby for me, but I knew regret would haunt me if I left England without taking the course. Even if I suck at carving and can’t fill my family’s Christmas stockings with beautiful (or even “rustic,” which is the PC term for screwed-up) hand-carved spoons this year, I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I didn’t let an opportunity to learn something new pass me by.

Stay tuned next month to find out how each of these new learning opportunities pans out!

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Posts I commented on today:
7 Ways to motivate yourself to write (bekindrewrite)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape (Through My Lens)  new blog of the day
19 Hours and the Merit of Coal (rarasaur)

 
2 Comments

Posted by on May 18, 2013 in On Me, Six Word Saturday, True Life

 

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Trade-off

16 May

100_9884Question 32
Would you accept twenty years of extraordinary happiness and fulfillment if it meant you would die at the end of the period?

At first, I thought my answer to Gregory Stock‘s question was going to be affirmative. I’m 40 years old–when I’m 60, there is a good chance that I will have already outlived my mother and possibly even my husband. I have no children, so I won’t be hoping to live long enough to see graduations, weddings, grandchildren, and the like. If my loved ones are going to be gone by that point anyway, why not trade twenty years of extraordinary happiness for a finite number of days?

But then I thought, “Wait. Life is pretty good right now.” Most days I would say I am happy, and though there are some areas (career) where there is room for improvement, for the most part my life leaves me feeling fulfilled. So what exactly are extraordinary happiness and fulfillment? Are they really that much different from the happiness and fulfillment I have now? (And trust me, it’d be just my luck to agree to the trade-off, then find out what I’ve got and what I think I’m getting are actually the same thing, except now I’ve screwed myself out of the joys of retirement and senior discounts.) Does extraordinary happiness mean never having a day when I feel angry, sad, worried, confused, hurt, or just blah? Does extraordinary fulfillment mean I have everything I’ve ever wanted in every aspect of my life–family, friends, finances, health, work, leisure? Would all of that really be better than what I’ve got now? I mean, if I never felt sadness, how would I know when I’m truly happy? If I already have everything I ever wanted, wouldn’t I lose the joy of pursuing and achieving goals on my own?

So after careful consideration, I don’t think I’d accept only twenty more years of life in exchange for extraordinary happiness and fulfillment. For as long as I’m able, I will continue on as I have been, making the most of each day and seeking fulfillment by working to create my own happiness through whatever opportunities and obstacles life throws my way. Looking back on this decision twenty years from now, with hopefully another couple of decades stretching in front of me, I can’t see how I could have any regrets.

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Posts I commented on today:
About the Project (Jump for Joy! Photo Project)  new blog of the day
15 A Day in the Life (Janice Heck: My Time to Write)
I’m a Bitch, I’m a Lover, I’m a Child… (Rendezvous with Renee)

 
8 Comments

Posted by on May 16, 2013 in Deep Thought Thursday, On Me

 

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Love

11 May

100_4445Love is a many splendored thing

Today, bloggers who needed a little help nailing down a topic in order to fill their page (yes, that’d be me) were prompted by The Daily Post to analyze whether there is “a single idea or definition that runs through all the varieties of ‘love’,” be it love for a parent, child, spouse, friend, pet, place, or other inanimate object.

Most people would probably agree that love takes different forms, but I’m not sure anyone, including me, can clearly explain why. I can tell you that the love I feel for my hubby is different than the love I feel for my mom, and neither are the same as the love for my friends. One love is not greater than the others, they’re all just different. I imagine the difference is linked to the other factors and emotions that come with those relationships–physical intimacy, emotional vulnerability, trust, loyalty, dependence, obligation. What all of my people loves have in common, though, is fulfillment. Each of these loving relationships fills a gap in my life, answers an echo in my soul, lives in a sheltered place in my heart. I give love and receive love in return, so my world feels balanced and whole.

My people love is on a whole different plane than my love for inanimate things, although I’d argue that the love of those things still makes my world feel more balanced and whole. The places and things that I love move me, stir my soul, fill my heart, expand my mind. I love the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Orkney Islands of Scotland because they speak on a visceral level to some primitive, unnamable part of my being–I feel a connectedness there that I feel nowhere else on earth. (Orkney is a recent find, so I suspect in future travels I might stumble across other locales that elicit the same response.) I love music in general, and certain songs in particular, because they first touch my heart and mind, then resonate within my soul. I love books because they challenge my perceived truths, introduce new ideas, spark memories, and inspire my future. I love my childhood Raggedy Ann doll, my dad’s softball glove, the threadbare Snoopy Red Sox t-shirt I stole from my hubby, and my grandmothers’ class rings because they remind my heart of my people loves. I love Oreo cookies because…well, sometimes love requires no explanation. 😉

Bottom line, the different loves in my life make me who I am, drive me to be a better person, and fuel my happiness. Best of all, these loves are not jealous, leaving me free to add new loves as I move through life and discover other people, places, and things that stir my soul.

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Posts I commented on today:
Friday Fictioneers–Bottles of Hope (Braided Stars)  new blog of the day
The Date (Sarah Ann Hall)
Hen Party (castelsarrasin)

 
6 Comments

Posted by on May 11, 2013 in How It Is, On Me, The Daily Post Prompt, True Life

 

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Hygiene

09 May

101_3000Question 79
For $20,000 would you go for three months without washing, brushing your teeth, or using deodorant? Assume you could not explain your reasons to anyone, and that there would be no long-term effect on your career.

Ewww. No! Absolutely, unequivocally, without a doubt, no. Not even for ten times that amount. Heck, even the scrungy castaways on Survivor, who are only marooned for 39 days and are playing for $1 million, get to splash around in the ocean and pick their teeth with sticks.

I admit to being a bit of a clean freak. I can’t stand to go 24 hours without a shower (two days of sponge-bathing after knee surgery was torture). My teeth feel fuzzy now, just thinking about not brushing for three months. And the days of going without deodorant without causing offense have long since past.

While I do care what other people think of me, not being able to explain my sudden lack of hygiene would take a back seat to my disgust with myself. Even if I had no career and no other reason to step outside my house in those three months, even if I was guaranteed not to have to be in contact with another living soul, I could not stop bathing, brushing, and deodorizing. I’d be crawling out of my skin in less than a week.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear Mr. Bubbles calling me.

Gregory Stock, what on earth were you thinking when you compiled The Book of Questions? Some of these questions are just gross!

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Posts I commented on today:
Benefits of Trimming Your Tomato Plants (Joe’s Musings)
Silly Seagull (Northwest Photographer)
Road Trip (Chalk Outlines)  new blog of the day

 
6 Comments

Posted by on May 9, 2013 in Deep Thought Thursday, How It Is, On Me, True Life

 
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