For those of you who know me this time of year is a crazy mix of extreme stress, exhaustion, mild loneliness, gratitude, and joy all wrapped into one. Yeah the holiday season and I have a serious love/ hate relationship. This year I thought I would add a healthy dose of self reflection. I hear a lot of people talk about having a "plan" for where they want their life to be in a few years or where they wanted it to be now. I have never really done that... well I take that back. When I graduated high school I guess I kind of made a "plan" I was going to get a college degree, I would be married by the time I was 22, and once I moved out I was never going to live with my parents again. At the time it seemed like a pretty basic plan, I thought all of that was a given, I mean that's what everyone else did right?
So seeing how none of that has happened would I change anything? probably not. As a rule I try to live my life free of regrets. Actually the only regrets I have are missing opportunities because I was too scared to take them. I have learned to say what you think and not be afraid to ask for what you want even if you don't always get it. I can't honestly say I am completely happy right now. There are things I wish I had that I don't, however knowing this I also know that what I wanted back when I made my "plan" at the wise age of 18 is not what I want now. Right now I am satisfied with my choices if I have the courage to take big risks, if I win then I win big. If I lose, which is more often than not, I lose knowing that I went after what I wanted. I don't have to ask the "what if" question anymore.
Recently I did just that, I conquered my fears and asked for what I really wanted. I didn't get it, and surprisingly I am OK. To take things one step further I didn't settle for something kind of similar to what I needed, which is what I had been doing for a very long time. I took control of one part of my life and in doing this I feel like I reclaimed a part of myself. Kind of funny that the outcome I had been so scared of facing is actually ending up better than no outcome at all.
We all have set backs the important thing is that we don't let them keep us from moving on. Our plans for the future will probably get ruined time and time again, but I think its actually better that way. I can in all honesty say that I appreciate the twists and turns that have taken me to this very spot in my life. I have had many positive experiences, and my own share of disappointment. All of which have led me to this I am single, a college drop out, I live in my parents basement and I wouldn't change any of it.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Election is over... deal with it
So the election is over, yup that's right, no matter how much you complain about it in a few short weeks we will have a new President of the United States and there is no changing who that is. Wouldn't it be just crazy if we as citizens of this country could come together and support the person who has been chosen to lead us? So the guy you voted for didn't win GET OVER IT! In case anyone is confused Barrack Obama was ELECTED as our president, that means that more people voted for him than for John McCain (for those of you who will point out that the popular vote doesn't always mean you win, you're right its all about those electoral votes. Lucky for Obama he had both going for him.) We all posses the right to vote, and to help decide the future of our country. I fear that what we are missing is respect for that same right. The outcome may not be what you wanted to happen, however you live here and we should all feel some kind of responsibility to support our leaders. I am not saying that you should not be able to disagree with decisions made by those leaders. I have disagreed with many of the decisions our current president has made, I have also agreed with some. Regardless of my personal feelings at least I can respect that we the people of this country put him into that office. Our government officials are put into office by its citizens, not everyone in the world can say the same.
I think now would be a good time to point out that if you did not vote in this election you should keep you thoughts to yourself. If you didn't vote and you are unhappy with the decision that was made you are the only one you can blame. You have no right to be upset about the outcome if you did nothing to influence it. There are of course those who did not vote because they did not like either candidate. For those who fit into this category you left it in the hands of others to make the choice you did not want to make yourself. I have to say that I respect the decision not to make a decision more than I respect those who claim to have chosen but have nothing to show for it. Either way you are not utilizing a right that others fought, and still in some places fight, to have. I encourage you to not let it go to waste in elections to come.
I personally voted for Obama, however I had plenty of my own apprehension about doing so. I saw things I agreed with and disagreed with in both campaigns and in the end I made the decision that I personally felt was the best. I will not attack those who voted differently than I did, I respect peoples differing opinions. The problem that I have found is I am often attacked for my own. I do not try to force my way of thinking on those around me. Oh if only others would do me the same courtesy. Many of my friends are very conservative, and I respect that, I on the other hand lean more toward the liberal way of thinking. In groups I feel that if I stand up for what I believe, or if I give any ideas contrary to those of the people I am with I will be belittled, teased, and dismissed. Why should I feel this way? Aren't these my friends? Shouldn't they appreciate my differing views on life? Apparently not. There have been more than a few occasions where I have sat by and heard them tear down ideals that I hold dear. When it has finally gone too far and I speak up to defend my views I am instantly attacked or made fun of.
Really we should all be appreciative of the many differing viewpoints we all posses. Where would the world be with out a little conflict? Conflict brings about change, and where would we be without change? Really that is why this election had the outcome that it did. Many people cast their vote for that reason alone. I know that change can be good and that it can also be bad. I admit that I am not entirely sure what kind of change this will be. However, I sincerely hope that my decision, along with so many others, will help bring about a good change for our country and the people who live in it. For those of you who are still grieving over the outcome of the election, you really need to get over it. Now is the time to be the bigger person and support that outcome rather than predict failure, and the downfall of our country. If you are not willing to do that maybe you really should pack your bags and find a country that you do not feel is doomed to peril. Good luck with that endeavor, I wish you all the best.
I think now would be a good time to point out that if you did not vote in this election you should keep you thoughts to yourself. If you didn't vote and you are unhappy with the decision that was made you are the only one you can blame. You have no right to be upset about the outcome if you did nothing to influence it. There are of course those who did not vote because they did not like either candidate. For those who fit into this category you left it in the hands of others to make the choice you did not want to make yourself. I have to say that I respect the decision not to make a decision more than I respect those who claim to have chosen but have nothing to show for it. Either way you are not utilizing a right that others fought, and still in some places fight, to have. I encourage you to not let it go to waste in elections to come.
I personally voted for Obama, however I had plenty of my own apprehension about doing so. I saw things I agreed with and disagreed with in both campaigns and in the end I made the decision that I personally felt was the best. I will not attack those who voted differently than I did, I respect peoples differing opinions. The problem that I have found is I am often attacked for my own. I do not try to force my way of thinking on those around me. Oh if only others would do me the same courtesy. Many of my friends are very conservative, and I respect that, I on the other hand lean more toward the liberal way of thinking. In groups I feel that if I stand up for what I believe, or if I give any ideas contrary to those of the people I am with I will be belittled, teased, and dismissed. Why should I feel this way? Aren't these my friends? Shouldn't they appreciate my differing views on life? Apparently not. There have been more than a few occasions where I have sat by and heard them tear down ideals that I hold dear. When it has finally gone too far and I speak up to defend my views I am instantly attacked or made fun of.
Really we should all be appreciative of the many differing viewpoints we all posses. Where would the world be with out a little conflict? Conflict brings about change, and where would we be without change? Really that is why this election had the outcome that it did. Many people cast their vote for that reason alone. I know that change can be good and that it can also be bad. I admit that I am not entirely sure what kind of change this will be. However, I sincerely hope that my decision, along with so many others, will help bring about a good change for our country and the people who live in it. For those of you who are still grieving over the outcome of the election, you really need to get over it. Now is the time to be the bigger person and support that outcome rather than predict failure, and the downfall of our country. If you are not willing to do that maybe you really should pack your bags and find a country that you do not feel is doomed to peril. Good luck with that endeavor, I wish you all the best.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
