Risky Thinking

So guys, I have a thought. I guess I can give a little shout out to Gage and Ashley because this is an awkward thought in my head and a thought from the lost and found box of thoughts. This blog is all about taking chances.

                Lately I’ve been going through a phase much like a midlife crisis; you know the kind where the person gets sick of their job so they quit in the hope of just taking off to a deserted island somewhere in South America and drink margaritas all day by the beach. You know what I’m talking about. Well anyways, I have been thinking, ever since we were five years old we were obligated to go to school; every day, Monday through Friday until we get our diplomas, but what about after all this is done and over with? Sure society tells us to go to college, but no one is forcing us.  You may think that going to college is the only way you will be happy in life, but the reality about life is that it is unpredictable. Anything can happen to anyone at any time. Some of the most successful people in the world are successful because they didn’t conform to what society expected them to do with their lives.

                As I turned on my TV tonight the movie Water for Elephants was just starting. I have read the book and was eager to watch the film. I enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed reading it. I even teared up a bit at the end. If you are unfamiliar about this story, it’s about a college boy about to take his final exams before graduating when he receives the awful news of his parent’s fatal car accident. He walks right out of the testing room without looking back. He walks and walks until he sees a train approaching him. Without time to think, he jumps this circus train where he experiences many things, including the life that was waiting for him. This movie really got to me because that’s where we are in our lives today. After graduation we are given to option of either sticking around or jumping into the unknown.  

                What if we were brave enough to take risks like that? It may be silly or foolish to even ponder major life changing decisions, but what if risky decisions shape our lives for the better? So I leave you to think about one of my favorite quotes:

“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.”

 –Joseph Campbell

Time Capsule

My 4^th grade time capsule,

I still have it, yes I do.

I tried to forget what I had in it

But I still remember a few items.

Today I had to go through my awards box,

And as I searched for what I really needed,

Sitting on top was my 4^th grade time capsule.

My 4^th grade time capsule is more than a green box.

When shaken it rattles and shifts weight from side to side with some unknown items.

The mystery is killing me!

But on May 25^th I’ll be ready.

I’ll be ready to open my 4^th grade time capsule.

My 4^th grade time capsule is the future.

I know it has been coming,

At times I ignored it, forgot about it, or have thought about it immensely.

But on May 25^th I will be ready to open my future.

Some things will make me laugh.

Some things will make me cry.

I could choose to ignore it again,

Or forget about it,

But I will be happier opening it.

I’m ready to open my 4^th grade time capsule.

I’m ready to start my future.



New Perspectives

                This week is all about new perspectives. Yesterday I saw something in a new light. It wasn’t a big thing, rather something that to most people wouldn’t be significant at all. I traveled to White Cone on Saturday to watch a softball tournament. As you know I live in Greasewood which is relatively close to White Cone. When headed to White Cone you pass the turn that leads to Greasewood.  This was the first time in years that I had gone passed my usual turn and saw a road I have seen only a few times in my life. On my way back from White Cone to Greasewood I was out of my element. I wasn’t as familiar with where the turn would be.

                 I decided to snap this picture as my reminder of perspectives. Sometimes you think that everything is as it seems, but if you keep traveling and try to see more of it, you will. If you are stuck with a problem in math or can’t think of anything creative for art class, if you just looked at it in a different way it could help you immensely. It may be uncomfortable or hard, but I believe it makes for great results. This also applies to people around you. Two weeks ago we talked about the difference from round and flat characters. Each of us has a combination of the both in our lives. Don’t label people by what you see of them today, because tomorrow they have shaped into a different person just like us. If you try to get to know them better, they could become your friend, or even change your life.

                As a mentioned before, perspective is a good thing to have in art. Art is all about creativity and thinking outside the box. I know when I work on my photography projects, I have to be able to see something in a way no one has thought of yet. This is a good tip to know when we go out into the job market. Just like our economics worksheet, the richest people in the world were able to make things that people valued that hadn’t been created yet (examples: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg).

                So my challenge to you this week is to view your world a new perspective. It is a way to learn and grow. As Elizabeth would say, the world from my window sill changed yesterday, what about yours?

Oh, Procrastination

Don't you just hate that feeling when you know you have to do something but you keep putting it off and putting it off until you can't any longer?! I definitely know how that feels, and I'm pretty sure it gets worse with age. I wanted to share a little list I came up with that are my danger thoughts going through my head when I know I'm procrastinating...

1. I deserve to sleep in, I will get my work done later.
2. I am sooo hungry, how about I eat first then do my work later.
3. I can't eat without watching T.V. so I'll just see what's on right now then do my work later.
4. I really have been wanting to watch the movie that is on next, I suppose I can always do my work later.
5. A nice little nap sounds amazing right now, I guess it's not really due tomorrow so I can always work on it later.
6. I wonder what's on facebook, at least I'm getting on my computer which is close to doing my work.
7. I will lay back down and "think" about my work while I make plans to see my friends for just a little while tonight.
8. Now that it is 11:00 and I still haven't gotten my work done, I guess I better buckle down and pull an all nighter.
9. An hour later I fall asleep thinking that it's better to get rest so that tomorrow I will have the energy to get my work done.
10. Hmm, I will get back to you on #10 later...


If you are suffering from the same symptoms as I do, you may want to break your work into pieces so it's not as overwhelming. Another good way to avoid the awful feeling of procratination is to think of what it means to you if you don't get it done. Is reading posts on Facebook about how bored people are and to like their status for a 'truth is' really worth a bad grade on an assignment? You have to be motivated to do your work. Even if you wait until Sunday to do your homework, wake up a little bit earlier than usual to finish up on your work so the rest of the day you do not have to stress about it anymore. I hope I provided you with some good tips, and signs to be aware of. Don't let procrastination get the best of you!

Dear Ashley

April 8, 2012

Dear Ashley:

                Here we go. For 3 years we have taken these pictures together at our friends’ graduations. Now it’s our turn. I know that you’re not ready, and that’s ok. It’s ok to be nervous about the future. I may act all tough and seem like it’s not getting to me that we only have eight weeks of high school left, but it is. But one thing I refuse for us to feel is sadness. This is a time of celebration! If there is going to be tears, let them be tears of happiness, not sadness! We have made enough memories to be joyful about it. Life isn’t ending; a new chapter is beginning. Who knows, the next one to come could end up being your favorite and best of times! Don’t start it off with regrets, or mistakes. Any faults or challenges you have faced in the past has shaped you into the woman you are today. You are stronger than you think.

                On a less serious note I also have a lot to say. First of all a big thanks for always being my wing-man. If you ever need one in college in totally here for you! Second, we still have to try our “look-a-like” trick on Victor and Ryan. Third, I will totally party with you on 4^th Ave. when Payton is being grumpy. This list could go on and on. Bottom line, I am happy to have met you in 3^rd grade and become best friends with you ever since.

                 My advice to you, don’t worry so much about the future. You and your family will remain very close. I know things will all work out in the end. We will stay in touch, I promise. Now let’s make the last 8 weeks count and get ready for our last and best picture together on May 25^th!         

                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                          Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                    Bethany

Cougar Sweatpants

Once upon a time there was a young freshman girl. She was a cheerleader at the time and loved cheering on the freshman boys’ basketball team. One night at a basketball game the Holbrook Roadrunners were battling the Show Low Cougars. It was half time and the cheerleaders’ time to shine. All went well and they went back to cheering the last 2 quarters. At the end of the game, the girl found a surprise in her duffel bag…

                A pair of large gray warm ups with COUGARS written on them were folded in her bag. She looked around trying to figure out who had done this, but the Show Low boys had already left. She laughed because of this strange occurrence and took the sweats home with her. Her friends joked about how the owner of the sweatpants was probably her soul mate…

                Years went by and she still has those sweats. She isn’t waiting for her prince charming, or supporting Show Low, but she sure does think they are comfy, and the story behind them makes her giggle every now and then.

                That girl was me, and I wore those sweats today. It was a funny and odd experience I felt like sharing about. Do you have any strange objects with history behind them??? If so, I would love to hear about them in your blogs. J

               

10 Pros & 10 Cons of a New Car (From Experience)

Pros:

1.       Feeling your ride is the best, most awesome ride out there once you drive it off the dealers lot for first time

2.       A full tank of gas and four free oil changes when you buy it

3.       Getting compliments on your new ride from people you know

4.       Decorating the interior the way you want (2012 tassel, yeah seniors!)

5.       Listening to the types of music you want to without anyone telling you otherwise

6.       The freedom of going where you want when you want

7.       No longer having to ask for rides

8.       Jamming out to your favorite song on max volume with the windows down because you think everyone loves that song just as much as you

9.       Finding cool new things about your ride you didn’t notice when you first got it (a secret compartment for my shades, and an electrical outlet!)

10.   Of course that new car smell

Cons:

1.       Realizing there are better rides out there than yours

2.       The full tank of gas doesn’t last forever

3.       Your ride becomes “old news”

4.       It doesn’t stay clean forever

5.       Some people don’t appreciate your music when riding in your car

6.       Still having curfews and restrictions on going where you what when you want

7.       People now asking you for rides

8.       Singing to yourself and freezing because the windows are down when you are trying to stay awake on long drives

9.       Finding out your car doesn’t have some cool things you now wish it had (temperature, 6 disk CD player, tinted windows)

10.   New car smell vanishing because you transported Little Caesars in your ride and now you have to buy air fresheners to get that cheesy bread scent out!