“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”
― Roald Dahl
Get out there and make some music.
― Roald Dahl
Get out there and make some music.
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”
― Roald Dahl Get out there and make some music.
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I don't know what it is about my car on a bad day, but man do I sure like to cry in it. I mean that nasty ugly cry face. Guys, you know what it looks like, and girls, you know you do it. Eyes squinty, mouth in a wide gaping frown like the sad drama mask, snot flying...yeah...one of those cries. I had one of these the other day. I can't even remember what song was playing or anything like that, but I was driving fast, just letting it alllllll out. I stopped for a moment and wondered what it looked like to other people. I mean, a car is not a private place even though many people treat it as such. I think sometimes people think they are invisible in their cars, so they can get away with picking their noses or other deviant behavior. Anyway, I had gotten myself together and felt pretty good after that good cry, and simply carried on with my day. I didn't think much of it till the next day when I was driving down the same street where the scene of my "scene" took place, and a jeep whizzed by me. I thought I caught a glimpse of the sad drama mask frown, but I wasn't sure. Luckily enough, I caught up to the jeep at the next red light. I peered forward over my steering wheel and to the left out the window, and sure enough...there was a beautiful girl in full on ugly cry face! I really wanted to roll my window down and just put a fist up in support, or shout something like, "Let it out, girl! I was you yesterday!" I actually really couldn't believe that I was witnessing an ugly cry face car girl in almost the EXACT same location where I was the ugly cry face car girl. Anyway, she looked pretty bad, which means I looked pretty bad. So ladies, just knock it off. We look terrible crying in our cars. If you do, make sure your tint is no higher than 35% VLT...we can still see you. I'm in it, and escape seems impossible.
Even though I still get in 2 of the 3Rs every day (Run, Rosary, Rest), I'm a definite couch potato this summer. I mean, like, a SERIOUS binge watching couch potato. However, I have been watching a ton of documentaries, so I thought I'd share three of my favorites: 1. Happy - It's awesome, and it will make you cry (I cry at everything). It will also refresh your sense of gratitude, and will renew your desire to make little changes every day for your own happiness. 2. Blackfish - It's very moving on many different levels, and might make you cry (I did). It will also make you want to free Willy (I did...not really...but maybe I dressed my dog up as a whale and had him jump over the couch). 3. Jiro Dreams of Sushi - Yes. Just watch it. Then order sushi. Actually, order sushi so you can eat while you watch because you're going to want sushi within thirty seconds of the film starting. Get your documentary on...go on witchya bad self. I recently had a conversation with a friend about lifestyles, and changing habits to feel healthier and happier. It got me thinking about our lives and the choices and paths we have in front of us. I think, often times, there are only two options in situations. On your path of life, when you hit a turning point you can either turn left or right. This, however, is really not the case. There is always the third route, which can be something totally different, or something that lies somewhere in the middle. Sometimes there can be a fourth or fifth route, too! Two paths can often times be enough, and sometimes limited options light a little fire under our tooshies and force us to move in a new direction. However, sometimes just two choices can feel scary, intimidating, or just not right. Sometimes we just might not be ready to make a move to the left or to the right, but that doesn't mean we just stand there on the corner staring down the road!!! Bringing in a third choice or road can make it seem more doable, and can keep us moving. I always think of the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz when I have important decisions in front of me, and yes, some people do go both ways, which is just fine, too! Try out all the roads! The important thing is movement. I think being stuck and stagnant is the biggest source of unhappiness. At least for me, it is. You just gotta keep pushing forward each day. I was at a crossroads a few weeks ago with something very personal, and I felt stuck even though I had laid out two choices in front of me. I took a deep breath, stepped outside of myself, and created a third road. There is always another way, you just have to be open, willing, and maybe a little creative. The most important thing, however, is to always keep in mind that YOU are the one that needs to be happy. If you are happy then everything else will fall into place. Choose the road that makes you happy, and you will undoubtedly be on the right path. The other day I woke up, walked across my studio apartment, and stepped in poop. Chihuahua poop. This is unbelievable for two reasons: 1) No dog of mine is pooping in my house, and 2) I never thought I'd own a Chihuahua. Ever. Well, sometimes, life brings you unexpected events, sometimes you do something a little crazy, and sometimes you just follow your heart. Adopting Max involved all three of these. This is Max, and this picture was taken about a year ago. Max was surrendered by his owner after 15/16 years of ownership to a local shelter that euthanizes if necessary. Max was kept in the small dog room. A room with about 20-25 small cages filled with smaller dogs, puppies, or larger dogs that need to be immobilized due to an injury. Some of the dogs seem happy, some of the dogs seem sad, some of the dogs seem terrified, and some of the dogs are in shock curled up in the back of their cages. Max was terrified. For three straight days before his "jailbreak," Max cried, screamed, and clawed at his cage to get out. The picture you see above was snapped when Max was finally taken into foster care. Max was in two different foster homes for about a year. No one really inquired about Max because he was having some potty issues and because he is really stinkin' old. His intake papers aged him at 17!!! I knew I wanted to help an older dog in need after visiting the small dog room in the shelter, and after a friend of mine adopted an older dog. There are so many old dogs in need of a place to spend their golden years. I saw dogs that were 12, 13, 14 years old in the small dog room. Where are they going to go? Who is going to take them? I heard a very sad story of one poor guy who spent a month in a cage in the small room before being put down. That's how he spent the last month of his life...in a small, noisy cage. It's just heartbreaking. I know I can't save all the old dogs, but I did decide to help one of them. I took Max in for about two weeks while I finalized my decision. I wanted to make sure Max and Roddy got along, and that I could handle two pups on my own. Max was whiny, he cried, and he just wanted to be held. It was like having a newborn baby. He also wouldn't let anyone else get close to him, and would snap and growl and bite. However, after a few days of training and time to relax, Max began to figure things out. He began to make me laugh. His little personality came out, and he didn't go to the bathroom in the house...not once. He was really starting to fit in. I officially adopted Max on Monday. It was pretty emotional, actually. His two former foster moms came to the shelter. After filling out paperwork, lots of kisses on his old man nose, and receiving many "thanks for taking one of the older ones," the little old man was officially mine. Tuesday morning I woke up and stepped in Chihuahua poop, but I really didn't care. I figured it was a celebratory poop. And this is Max' freebie...his "get out of jail free" card. Oh...did I mention he also has no teeth.... how could I stay mad at this gummy smile for that long anyway???? If anyone reading this is considering adopting a dog, I urge you to just briefly consider an older dog. Max has brought a totally new aspect to my life, and I am truly grateful to have this ten pound pup hanging out with me for his golden years. And Roddy doesn't think he's so bad either.... :)
I wanted to share a little secret to my success as a human being. ;) I have discovered that there are three things I need on a daily basis to keep me healthy and happy. I call them the 3Rs. Now, I admit there are days I do not hit all three. But, I do always try hit at least two of them. Each day I need to Run, say a Rosary, and Rest.
I find that each of these things are essential for my well-being, which quite frankly, I often neglect. I think I'm pretty good at taking care of other people, but until recently I've been really shitty about taking care of myself. The 3Rs really help me stay cool, calm, and collected. I guess you could say the 3Rs make me the 3Cs. The purpose of the Run is for me to work out frustration, release endorphins, and just to feel good about myself. Plus, if there is ever a Zombie Apocalypse, we all know the number one rule is....CARDIO!!! The Rosary is my form of meditation and a way to set an intention. There are a ton of other ways to meditate and set an intention. I also really enjoy practicing Yoga, and would like to incorporate this more. However, I have found myself turning to the Rosary lately, and finding that I really enjoy it. It takes me about 30 minutes to complete the Rosary. The repetition and the feel of the beads in my hands really do something for me that I haven't found elsewhere. My brain shuts off, and for that half hour I just pray. Nothing else. The Rest part of the 3Rs is really self explanatory. However, there is a piece that is extra important for me. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in college, and I have found that lack of sleep is a trigger. I am sure that this is true for most of us. My doctor also has toyed around with the idea that I may have a sleep disorder. I went through a pretty good bout with sleep disturbances for about a year, so I'm not quite sure what that is about. But I do know that I'm pretty good at this R. :) I can sleep anywhere at anytime, and I truly have witnessed my own personal need for a nap to ward off panic attacks. I have to admit, I have turned down events or portions of events because I know my body, and I know my limits. Sometimes I've been honest about this, other times I've made up an excuse. I get shit from my friends sometimes, but not so much any more as the peer pressure dies down in our 30s. Maybe its less pressure from them, maybe its less pressure I put on my self to "people please." Anyway, this is one I've got down. I'm not perfect, and I definitely will be honest in saying that I do miss some Rs on some days. I am, however, committed to incorporating these 3Rs as much as possible. Practice makes perfect and each day is a new day to start over. And now ... its time for my favorite R.... Goodnight and thank you for reading. "Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." --- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
For some reason my most vivid memory from student teaching was my cooperating teacher's use of the word "bold." One of her most difficult students was acting out, and before walking over to redirect him she said to me, "Oh, he is bold. Isn't he?" I remember thinking it was an odd way to describe a student who was acting out. As I continued student teaching, I noticed other teachers using the word "bold" to describe other difficult students. Often times teachers put a positive spin on a student's negative actions. Little Johnny who colors out of the lines is "creative" or "working on his fine motor." Little Suzy who talks non-stop should "become an actress, or a lawyer" or is "very social." I wonder how often I was "bold" as a child? I can remember one day in first or second grade I was extremely "bold." My teacher had stepped out of the room to talk to the principal, and for whatever reason I began screaming a quote from one of my favorite stories, Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak. At the top of my lungs I began belting out: WHOOPY ONCE! WHOOPY TWICE! WHOOPY CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE!!!! I think I got about three times in before the principal opened the door and shouted, "WHOEVER IS WHOOPY-ING NEEDS TO STOP IMMEDIATELY!" I can remember feeling embarrassed, but what was more powerful was the thought that she had no idea who had done it. I was safe. As an adult, I have a desire to be "bold." To act out. To whoopy out loud. However, not with anyone behind closed doors. My boldness comes from acting out against norms I have created in my own life, little changes that seem radical to me, but probably very normal to others. Each day I find myself a bit bolder. I am not where I was yesterday, I am not where I will be tomorrow, but I am where I am today, and today I choose to be bold, happy, and confident. Thank you, Jackie, for the book of quotes and the little bits of inspiration you send me through out each week. :) And now....Whooopy once, whoopy twice, whoopy chicken soup with rice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNBzJlpwChU |