Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits

On top of Haleakala on Maui

 Since we're being serious about today's prompt, here goes:

1. I'm the worst friend ever. I have friends that have been around since junior high, and thankfully their lives are busy and they don't seem to care that I suck at being a friend, since we get together maybe once a year. But other friends? Friends I've just met or have known for, say, less than 10 years?
I SUCK.

I'm bad at returning phone calls, I am bad at sending birthday cards (tho I am actively working on it), and I'm just generally bad at being regular about cultivating relationships. I think its been this way for at least since I met Adam over 9 years ago. I just sort of... stopped trying as hard. And I feel bad about that.

2. I have a tendency to be pessimistic. In my reality, I see it as being 'realistic', but since the Law of Attraction is an actual thing (call it reciprocity, karma, whatever), I find that I get more crap when I think more crappily. Bad habit. Want to change. (I said that in a robot voice).

3. I get discouraged easily. Maybe this goes with number two, or the fact that I've been insecure lately, but truth be told, this is my biggest obstacle towards expanding my career. I am afraid of failing and if I hit a snag, I kind of freeze. Again, bad habit. Not sure where it came from (or if it matters, really?) but something I'd actively like to change.

So there you have it! I don't know what the other blog topics are right now (and I'm trying to keep it a surprise and only know what it is when I sit down to write), but I sure hope I get to start tooting my own horn a little more! *BEEPBEEP* Coming through!

Do you have any tricks to combat these three negative traits above? If so, mind sharing? :)

May Challenge: Day 23

Day 23, Thursday: Things you've learned that school won't teach you.

I have no idea which sky this is.

 Hi!
Today's blog post asks me to talk about things I've learned that school won't teach me.
That list is really long, but there are two things I'd like to address today. The first one is the most important one.

School is not where you learn most of life's lessons.

This one hardly needs any explanation. When I look back on my life and the perspective I had when I was in school (even all the way through grad school), I see that there was a pattern of thought there, like, "if you stay here long enough, you'll get the tools to learn how to navigate the muddy waters out there." And even though I have had some amazing teachers in my life, none has been better than Experience, herself.

So, that brings me to the second thing I'd like to boast about today.

I am an expert air-traveler.

Now, many of you probably think you have the traveling thing down pat, and maybe you do! But it took me thousands of miles in the sky to figure out how to do it right (for me). I know which time to buy my ticket, which time of the week to fly, time of day, season, how to pack, what to (and not to) pack, and how to pack. I get over jet-lag easily, and I generally feel like when I'm traveling, I take really good care of myself.

When I'm tired, I slow down. When I'm hungry, I eat. And when I'm confused, I ask. All without panicking. I think that's pretty cool.

Lots of people struggle with air travel, and that's understandable. I think I've easily flown 100,000 miles in my life, so its no wonder that I'm a pro at it by now. And especially since i live in Hawai'i, anytime I want to go somewhere, I have to fly! 

I actually kinda like flying. It makes me feel all grownup. 

What about you? Do you have a lesson you didn't learn in school that you'd want to share?

May Challenge: Day 22

Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)


I don't even know why this is an issue, really.
Not allowing a person to marry whoever they really want to marry is a human rights issue, and nothing else. If you want to go around managing other people's lives, have a brood of children like the Duggars. That keeps them VERY busy. What business is it of yours what two consenting adults do? And for that matter, why not crack down on all sorts of 'legal' debauchery?! Smoking, premarital sex, drunkenness, theft... ALL of it is a "sin", right? So why isolate people who love each other and want to support each other in a marriage?

To carry any commentary about biblical implications is to also claim adherence to all its principles, not just the ones you pick and choose.

Do you wear clothes that are of mixed materials? 
Do you sleep in the same bed with your spouse (if she is a female) when she is on her period? 
Do you touch people of the opposite sex?
(by the way, this list is MILES long. Don't get me started)


The antiquated nature of this argument is as faulty as saying people of color (ANY AND ALL COLOR) are less-than, or should be enslaved. Come on people. Get on the right side of history. You'll want to say you supported equality before you were labeled a bigot into perpetuity.

*jumps off soapbox*

May Challenge: Day 21

Today's post doesn't inspire me very much...

Mostly because I only have a few blog posts to link back to :)
 

Sunset from last weekend up at Shark's Cove

Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives.

Here are three links of blogs I visit every day (I know this was a prompt a few days ago, but alas, I missed it and feel like doing it now).

http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/ <-- Cup of Jo

http://www.cakewrecks.com/ <-- Cake Wrecks. For a good laugh.

http://www.aspiringkennedy.com/ <-- because even though I live in Hawaii (and its awesome), I still fantasize about living in the UK.

That's all for today!

May Challenge, Day 20

This blogging every day is rough.

You'd think working from home would make it easier, but alas. 'Tis not.

Here's today's prompt.

Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.

There really is no good picture for today's post. Though, I imagine that Pippa feels insecure in this picture, all exposed like that. Only, she was happier than ever, tucked in underneath that old t-shirt. Which *does* bring me to today's feeling of what I'm struggling with the most:

INSECURITY

These days, I find myself bickering with Adam over the smallest things. He can't seem to 'get it right', when I know in reality its me who is struggling with my perception of what he is saying. I'm generally afraid of EVERYTHING and of making a wrong decision, and I'm procrastinating like a madwoman because of how scared and insecure I am. I just don't want to get it wrong... though I know that's probably an impossibility.

What I have to remember is that no decision is still a decision. So in reality, what I am doing with my life and time is still a reflection of me and what I stand for, even if its based in fear. Ugh. I hate the way this feels. I want to do something different about feeling insecure all the time. I don't like this feeling... and I hate admitting it! But here I am. Maybe this'll help me with taking some action to start feeling more secure?

How does one even *do* that?

There you have it! This is what I'm struggling with. Your comments and love would be so appreciated in my state of vulnerability! :)

May Challenge: Day 16

I am THE WORST at being consistent with my blog. Literally, I read other blogs and I drool in admiration of the regularity with which they post. I love looking at little snapshots of my blogger friends' lives and I wonder, "why on earth don't I take the time to write a little post, every day?"

This is what this challenge was intended for, and I'm hoping to keep it up. MORE THAN ZERO IS WHAT I'M SHOOTING FOR. So far, so good!

Ok, now onto today's topic!

Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it.

Blogging every day! Woof. This post was supposed to go out four days ago! Posting anyway and going for today's RIGHT NOW!

May Challenge: Day 9

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words).

Snapped this shot from the shallow water, looking onto Kulio'ou'ou beach park. 2 miles from my house.

May Challenge: Day 8

Welcome to day 8 of the May Challenge!!

I feel great about my progress so far, and if you'll look, I have skipped several days.


Which leads me into the writing prompt for today.
 
Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

My advice for others would be:  RELAX.


I give this advice because of the karmic reason that I need to remember to do it myself. And there aren't too many things I know for sure (like Oprah asks) about life, but what I do know is that 1) nobody gets out alive, and 2) life is really short.


My mom keeps reminding me that I'm going to blink my eyes and be 60 one day, and I know she's right. I feel like just yesterday I was finishing high school, and college, getting married and then finishing grad school-- all these memories, when recalled, are so fresh. Just like they happened yesterday.

And I've spent a lot of the time in between my milestones worried about things I have no control over. 

Which brings me to this:

The Serenity Prayer

 

I find myself praying this a lot.

But I usually replace GOD with Spirit, or Universe, or High Self... because I feel more comfortable with those words to represent divinity. Call me kookoo. :)

So there you have it! My best advice for all the world is to relax. 

The simplest and most complex challenge of all!

May Challenge: Day 7

Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of.


I have many irrational fears.

I also have many rational ones. Too many of both, actually.

But I think the thing I'm the most afraid of is dying before I've had the chance to do and experience everything I ever wanted to.

But since I believe we are energy beings that are eternal and that this isn't the only life I'll have to live, I have to have hope that if I miss out on seeing the 8 wonders of the world this time around, I'll still get a chance some time!

I'm also (secondarily) afraid of losing the people that I love. 

ON THAT NOTE: Is there something you were afraid of at one point in your life but then you got over it? How did you do it?

May Challenge: Day 4

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it.
My favorite quote, of all time, is from Harry Potter, The Deathly Hallows:
 

Image credit: Still frame from The Deathly Hallows, Part II

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” --Albus Dumbledore

I love this quote for so many reasons, many of which are personal and more sentimental than logical. But the reason that makes the most sense to share, is that this quote values the importance of imagination, and confirms that the thoughts we think are very real, regardless of whether or not they've made manifest yet.

Harry Potter is a character I identify with so much (even today, in my 30s), and so for him to have his mentor affirm for him that his experiences are real and valid, even if they happen in his head, was a big life lesson I realized I need to adopt for myself. 

Life goal unlocked: trust my experience as real and true for myself, a little bit more, every day.

Thank you, Professor Dumbledore.

And thank you, Ms. Rowling.

**yes, I know I missed yesterday! sometimes life happens! :) **

 

Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)
 

Pippa! When we got her, she was the most timid and frightened little thing! And now she swims in the ocean! She's proof to me that with trust and TLC, just about anybody can be rehabilitated. And I mean people, too! :)

I'm good at a few things that I'm really proud of.

To start with, I'm an excellent writer (though I may not show off enough here in casual environments)... but how can I educate you on something as nebulous as writing, especially in a short post?


I think I'll choose ANIMAL LOVING.


I know it sounds strange, but I have a thing for animals. And I always find a way to connect with them. I think the best way I do this is by trying to think like an animal. If we're out walking our dog and I see another walking towards us (with his owner, of course), I won't reach out to pet the dog until I get a read on him.

Is he comfortable with strangers? If he's timid, I'll get down at his level and try and get into his energy field to see if he responds. 

If he sort of does, I tentatively reach out my hand, about half way. This is my invitation for him to smell me, see if I'm friendly, etc. If he still doesn't respond, that's ok! I don't push it. If I have more time, say if its at a friend's house, I'll sit on the floor and ignore the dog, letting him (inevitably) walk by, smell my feet, and get used to me.

Animals read energy. . . just like people do! So why not offer them the chance to respond before just patting them on the head? Would you do that to a total stranger? Especially one that appears shy and socially awkward?

Uh, no.

So, basically, I try to respect animals the same way I do people!

How about you? What are you PROUD OF that you're good at??

May Challenge: Day 1

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)

 

Me, on the left, and Jacque (my sister), about 4 and 2 y/o, respectively.

Where to begin?!

Well, at the beginning, I suppose. 

I was born a poor black child... wait... that's a different story.

Mine is this: I was born with a birth defect: congenital stenosis in my trachea. After some panicking and about 30 surgeries, I recovered fully (yay!). My parents divorced when I was little-little, leaving me with only bits and pieces of memories of my bio-dad. When I was seven, my mom married my step-dad (and for all intents and purposes, my IRL dad), and they’ve been married since. In high school, they, too, started having lots of problems, and things were super-suck for me and my sister for a while (they are better now, tho!). I can’t imagine what that time would have been like if I hadn’t had cheerleading, my friendships, and theater.

With as much ambition for college I could find (most of it residing in my pinky finger), I went to CSUN for my BA in English. I met Adam (my husband) during my last semester of college and we fell quickly in love. We got married ten months after we met, I got into the MA program at CSUN and started teaching English there, and we began fielding the probes from all the folks who thought I was pregnant when we got married so quickly.  (Yeah, not so much).

After nine (9!! OMG!) years of talking and dreaming about it, Adam and I finally made the move we’d been planning since our third date at Chili’s: moving to Hawai’i. We now live here (and pinch ourselves every day), and are trying our best to figure out which way is up. I hope you’ll keep following along on our journey!

_______________________________________________________________________

Thanks for reading! Are you doing the challenge, too? Leave a comment below and link up! I'd love to make a new friend :) 

Stuck in traffic on H1 on my way home.

"When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." --Maya Angelou

Here's a May blogging challenge that blogger Jenni D from the "Story of my Life" blog created to help dislodge writer's block:

Here are the rules:

1. There really aren't any rules. If you miss a day, you can make it up or skip it. The blog police will not come knocking.

2. I will be including a linkup option at the bottom of my post each day, so you are welcome to leave your links here for others to peruse, as well. 

3. You can still post other things every day, too. I plan to do normal outfit posts, life posts, around-Austin posts, and sponsor posts just like usual.

4. I'd seriously love you if you also include the "blog every day in May" button (below) either on your sidebar or at the end of your posts, but again, the blog police will not come knocking. My main goal here is to get us all back to the basics of blogging, not to gain a million new readers (though I wouldn't mind that). 

5. Here are the topics. You can be as creative and awesome or as boring and bland as you like with these. Take 'em and run with it. Use creative post titles. Interpret each "prompt" however you like. There's no wrong way to do it. Have fun.

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)
Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)
Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable
Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it
Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member
Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?
Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of
Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.
Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)
Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 
Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less
Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you've learned that school won't teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory