Challenge #262

Challenge for Day #262, September 20, 2011: Give a stranger a compliment. 

Some more apologies (#250-257), and Challenge #258-#261

Warning: Long post, a moderate amount of complaining, and a lot of made up words. Precede if you’re brave!

I hate sitting at a table with my soccer team, while every single one of them has her phone out—texting or facebooking or playing a game. Instead of enjoying the moment they are in with the people they are with, it is as though they are trying to find somewhere better to be (albeit, cyberspacially). They are always looking for someone more interesting to talk to, updating their statuses to some inane detail that no one cares about. Honestly, I am sick of it. I don’t want to sit at a table full of people that act as though they wish they were somewhere else (even though if they were with whoever they are texting, I’ve no doubt that they would find someone else to text or facebook).

But contrary to how they act, I know that the majority of the people I’m talking about don’t actually wish that they were somewhere else. Maybe it is an issue of restlessness, of constantly needing new stimulus. Maybe they just really miss whoever it is they are texting (I doubt it). Maybe it is that they want to feel important, they enjoy knowing that someone is spending time on them. Maybe they don’t want to be the only person at the table without a phone in hand. Maybe they don’t remember how to interact face-to-face, so they avoid the situation they are in, and fill the interactual void by being on their phones. I have no idea, but I must admit—I do it too.

Lately I have felt far too dependant on technologized people. It is one thing to Skype a friend in Scotland, or talk to my mom on the phone. But here is where I draw the line: I was hanging out with a bunch of friends last Saturday, and a boy I am kind of interested in was there. Now, I’m far from what many might call ‘forward’. In fact, I’m quite shy. And instead of talking to said boy and enjoying his company, I found myself kind of avoiding him all night. Then, once I left the party, can you guess what I did? I texted him. Ooooooook. Who does that? Someone that finds comfort in the space between phones, between computers. Or maybe a middle-schooler.

Anyways, a week or so ago, I deleted my Facebook. Or deactivated it, rather. (This was before that little anecdote occurred). To be honest, I deleted it for completely different reasons than I outlined above. I was simply spending too much time on it. There were books I wanted to read, daily blog posts that I was (maybe) posting weekly, scholarship applications I wanted to fill out, people I wanted to hang out with, homework to be done, pictures to paint—the list of things I could do with my evenings in endless. But the list of what I was doing with my evenings was short: soccer, Facebook, Hulu. So I said adios, and I am glad. I don’t plan on having it gone forever, but at least for awhile.

Anyways, here is the challenge for the weekend:
Challenge for Day #258-Day #261, September 16-September 19: Use technology to communicate as little as possible. When you need to talk to someone, use this chatting hierarchy: 1.In person 2. On the phone 3.Messenger pigeons 4.Singing telegram 5.Texting. Don’t have your phone out at dinner—in fact, turn it off as often as possible. Don’t maintain a cyber-conversation while in the middle of a real conversation. Be respectful of other people, and try to get your kids or bratty teenage daughter to do the same! Spend some time alone, without constant communication. And most of all, enjoy the people that are around you and the moment you are in! I personally, am traveling to South Dakota tomorrow for soccer, and I’ve decided to leave my phone at home all weekend. Four days with no cell phone and no Facebook will certainly be good for me! 

Apologies for #242-#248, Challenge #249

Challenge for Day #249, September 7, 2011: Sometime last week, WordPress issued this challenge: For each year you have been alive, write a single sentence about the most important thing that happened to you that year. I think this is a wonderful challenge. So, if you haven’t done it, do it!

Challenge #240, #241

Whatever I’m aiming for in life–enlightenment or happiness or just being the best person I can–I’m pretty sure I took a six mile leap backwards yesterday. All of my thoughts were basically complaints, I didn’t want to be where I was, and everything anyone said just annoyed me. Also, I totally failed at my challenge for Saturday.

But then I went bobsledding, and got quite a bit happier. Seriously, bobsledding is so much fun. Sorry that I missed another challenge!

Challenge #241: My good friend’s grandfather died today, and it made me think about my grandparents. They are so special to me, but I probably don’t let them know that enough. Today, call or email a grandparent, just to catch up, because you never know what may happen.

Challenge #239

Today I’ve got a soccer game, which I am not going to start. Our last game was the only game in my collegiate career that I sat on the bench—and I absolutely hate it. I played almost the whole second half, but that is not enough. I want to start the game and end the game. Unfortunately, there are many factors beyond my control (and a few that are in my control, which I am certainly controlling) that have led to me not being one of the starting 11.

Challenge #239 August 27^th, 2011: Today, be a team player. Worry more about what your team (whether that be family, work, or athletic team) needs, than what you want. Sometimes it is hard not to be selfish, or hope that things happen that will turn the winds in your favor. But today get rid of any of those hopes or thoughts. Support your team, do that is best for them.

Challenge #238

Hello friends!

After two weeks of 3-a-day practices, a wonderful (and terrifying) 20^th birthday, a pretty cool limo ride, a roommate’s huge life crisis, and the beginning of a new semester, I’m back!!

I think it is easy for me to appreciate life when life includes new and constantly changing things. It is easy to find goodness in something that I am not used to, something that sparks my attention. And that is what this whole blog is about—a way to help find the beauty in every single day. But it is a lot harder, I’ve found, to appreciate a day I’ve lived before, a place I know, an experience I’ve already had. I’ve always known how easy it is for me to leave, but I never knew how hard it was to come back.

I’ve heard that different things give energy to different people. And I don’t mean coffee or Mtn. Dew. An example: some people get energized being around a big group of people, yet for others, that big group drains their energy. Within the last few weeks I’ve learned that doing something I’ve already done, being somewhere I’ve already been drains my energy—especially my positive energy. Maybe it is because I play soccer a thousand hours a day, but I find myself dragging. I don’t get excited to the things that excited me so much last year.

Challenge #238, August 26, 2011: Today, find something that boosts your energy, and do it. I know that painting, while a very calming thing, gives me a certain buzz. It makes me happy and makes me feel creative and proud. So I’m going to do it. Find something that gives you that buzz (preferably not vodka), and do it! In addition, if you know that something just pulls all your energy away, avoid it today. 

Challenge #216, #217

Challenge #216: Moved to Montana…

I have now moved back to Montana and am feeling something I’ve rarely felt–unhappy to be somewhere. I’m usually quite good at finding the best of situations, but I just don’t feel like being here right now. I am really hoping this changes, that I figure out how to be excited about being here, that I find some motivation.

Challenge #217, August 7, 2011: Any time you find yourself thinking that you would rather be somewhere else, remind yourself that you are where you are for a reason. There is no where else you can be, so you might as well be happy about it.