It's that time again, everyone.
FINAL EXAMS WEEK.
I can't even complain. In reality, I have two finals and one paper to write. I got off way easier than most. But it's still not easy to focus.
Case in point? I've got an exam in half an hour. A test later tonight. And what am I doing? Well, this, of course!
Side note: If anyone wants a procrastination tool, check out "Idiot Abroad." It's this hilarious show about a rather gloomy man who is sent off to achieve the goals commonly found on bucket lists. HILARIOUS. Find it here.
Also, I mentioned in an earlier post that this year has been a particularly monumental one for me. I took on a major role running my college newspaper, moved into my first apartment and embarked on love for the first time, and I have learned some important life lessons. Here's a rundown of my top 10:
1. All news becomes old news.
This is something I have learned from the world of journalism, and it seems to apply pretty well to everyday life. All things move on. The top story this week will be replaced with a new headline next week. It's the same thing with life. Today and all of its happenings will be a memory by tomorrow, by next week. And whether or not you recall it and let it linger, that's your call. But there will new stories to take its place, new memories to be made. New stories to write.
This is something I have learned from the world of journalism, and it seems to apply pretty well to everyday life. All things move on. The top story this week will be replaced with a new headline next week. It's the same thing with life. Today and all of its happenings will be a memory by tomorrow, by next week. And whether or not you recall it and let it linger, that's your call. But there will new stories to take its place, new memories to be made. New stories to write.
2. Appreciate the bad days.
There have been some truly bad days this year, days that left me totally defeated. I thought I wouldn't be able to face another day. But no matter how bad something is, I never stop feeling utterly blessed. Because honestly, even the really bad days have some shred of good. Nothing makes you appreciate a perfect day quite like the seriously crappy ones.
There have been some truly bad days this year, days that left me totally defeated. I thought I wouldn't be able to face another day. But no matter how bad something is, I never stop feeling utterly blessed. Because honestly, even the really bad days have some shred of good. Nothing makes you appreciate a perfect day quite like the seriously crappy ones.
3. That Sheryl Crow song really was right.
You know the one. "The first cut is the deepest." Good words there, Sheryl. Good words. The key to many things, I have learned, is to prioritize. You can't make everyone happy. And after awhile of trying to (and failing), I have learned those first few times feel awful. That falling short of someone else's expectations is not something I'm happy to do. But I learned that you need to do things for you, whatever is in your gut. Anything beyond that, things you do against your better judgment because other people tell you to, won't pay off.
You know the one. "The first cut is the deepest." Good words there, Sheryl. Good words. The key to many things, I have learned, is to prioritize. You can't make everyone happy. And after awhile of trying to (and failing), I have learned those first few times feel awful. That falling short of someone else's expectations is not something I'm happy to do. But I learned that you need to do things for you, whatever is in your gut. Anything beyond that, things you do against your better judgment because other people tell you to, won't pay off.
4. The media doesn't do women justice.
Due to my various media classes, we talked a lot about the portrayal of women in the media. Last year, I was part of a group on campus that worked to emphasize the strength of a woman's body, rather than the objectification of it. It's a little scary to listen to my friends, family and even very young girls talk about their body images. It's almost a bonding experience; you see a group of girls together talking about how fat they are, how much less they need to eat to prepare for bikini season, how much they dread bikini season in general. Look, I get it. Looking at those tiny stringed-things could incite the fear in any woman (except maybe Miranda Kerr.) But in many cultures, the female body is revered, regardless of shape or size. As it should be. After all, it's pretty useful, what with continuing the species and all that. So my goal, and hopefully others will join me, is to actually enjoy myself at the beach next time I go, rather than worry about how I look. Oh, and I plan on not getting a single sunburn this summer!
Due to my various media classes, we talked a lot about the portrayal of women in the media. Last year, I was part of a group on campus that worked to emphasize the strength of a woman's body, rather than the objectification of it. It's a little scary to listen to my friends, family and even very young girls talk about their body images. It's almost a bonding experience; you see a group of girls together talking about how fat they are, how much less they need to eat to prepare for bikini season, how much they dread bikini season in general. Look, I get it. Looking at those tiny stringed-things could incite the fear in any woman (except maybe Miranda Kerr.) But in many cultures, the female body is revered, regardless of shape or size. As it should be. After all, it's pretty useful, what with continuing the species and all that. So my goal, and hopefully others will join me, is to actually enjoy myself at the beach next time I go, rather than worry about how I look. Oh, and I plan on not getting a single sunburn this summer!
5. Talent is useless without pursuit.
After hiring my own employees, I have learned that passion and drive is (almost) everything. Yes, talent is crucial, too. But I would rather have an entire staff of dedicated people willing to learn instead of the most talented, brilliant, laziest people around. That has definitely helped me in my own job interviews, too.
After hiring my own employees, I have learned that passion and drive is (almost) everything. Yes, talent is crucial, too. But I would rather have an entire staff of dedicated people willing to learn instead of the most talented, brilliant, laziest people around. That has definitely helped me in my own job interviews, too.
6. Everyone has a story.
I remember thinking this as a little girl, and it has never changed. Everybody, if they have lived a single day on this planet, has a story to tell. That's why I've learned not to judge anyone too harshly. And interviewing people every week has taught me that most people have at least one story they want to tell. Look for it; people can be pretty interesting.
I remember thinking this as a little girl, and it has never changed. Everybody, if they have lived a single day on this planet, has a story to tell. That's why I've learned not to judge anyone too harshly. And interviewing people every week has taught me that most people have at least one story they want to tell. Look for it; people can be pretty interesting.
7. Love is both the easiest and most daunting thing I have ever attempted.
There are many things I love. Pumpkin spice lattes, for one thing. And puppies. But I also love my time, and honestly, I tend to be pretty selfish with it. I've got things planned down to the hour, every day, and if things don't go according to plan, I get antsy. Well, meeting my boyfriend Tom (again, but more on that next week) last year was not planned. In fact, it was completely out of the blue. But since then, I have learned to share my time, my heart, and occasionally my food, with someone else. And it has been wonderful. I truly credit my sanity, as well as my general feeling of utter bliss, to him. (It's funny to write about him when he's sitting right next to me. I gave him hot cocoa to keep him occupied.)
There are many things I love. Pumpkin spice lattes, for one thing. And puppies. But I also love my time, and honestly, I tend to be pretty selfish with it. I've got things planned down to the hour, every day, and if things don't go according to plan, I get antsy. Well, meeting my boyfriend Tom (again, but more on that next week) last year was not planned. In fact, it was completely out of the blue. But since then, I have learned to share my time, my heart, and occasionally my food, with someone else. And it has been wonderful. I truly credit my sanity, as well as my general feeling of utter bliss, to him. (It's funny to write about him when he's sitting right next to me. I gave him hot cocoa to keep him occupied.)
8. Being a control freak is vastly overrated.
Again, I love lists and planning and all that. But the very best college experiences I've had have been from spur-of-the-moment field trips with my friends to Walmart at midnight, for example. The sleep deprivation was worth it every time.
Again, I love lists and planning and all that. But the very best college experiences I've had have been from spur-of-the-moment field trips with my friends to Walmart at midnight, for example. The sleep deprivation was worth it every time.
9. Life is short. Eat the ice cream.
Once spring hits, I tend to buy flowers every other week. I also like to buy some red wine every now and again. I believe firmly in doing little things you enjoy all the time. Blowing $100 a week on wardrobe updates may not be the most practical of things, but if you can spare a couple bucks each week for a latte at your favorite coffee shop or fro yo, it's a worthwhile investment.
Once spring hits, I tend to buy flowers every other week. I also like to buy some red wine every now and again. I believe firmly in doing little things you enjoy all the time. Blowing $100 a week on wardrobe updates may not be the most practical of things, but if you can spare a couple bucks each week for a latte at your favorite coffee shop or fro yo, it's a worthwhile investment.
10. Nothing matters more than people and nature.
I am what some would call a workaholic. Part of that is just because I have to be, but I also genuinely love what I do. However, at the end of the day, all I want is to plop down on the couch and be with my boyfriend and my roommates. And my pet fish. Whether I grow up to become a baker or an author or a CNN Correspondent (or all of the above), family will always come before work. And I tossed the nature part in there because I think we should protect the earth. It's also a shout-out for my roommate Katie, who has actively been trying to get me to go green. (One day, Katie! One day.)
-H
-H
No comments:
Post a Comment