All of the Games. All of the Thrones.

Here is to having much more information than I realized, stored away in my brain from forgotten classes. Apparently I can put it to good use in a field that I have never been educated. Seriously, I never thought I would use my Lean training for college level healthcare curriculum review. Life, you are so weird.

Here is to playing like I hold a royal flush. Saying yes to everything. Going for it.

Yes, to yoga studio desk job of sweaty zen OCD awesomeness.

Yes, to STEM non-profit that is giving me a VEX robot to program, and handfuls of inner city high school students to teach about engineering.

Yes, to applying for the Executive Director position for Career and Technical Education in Fulton County.

Yes, to accepting my placement in the Peace Corps. After all, they don't want to deploy me until June 2014, and that is a looooong time from now.

Yes, to random curriculum review jobs that somehow utilize my knowledge base even though the two fields seem terribly unrelated.

Yes to getting out of summer vacation mode and into making a life for myself mode.

I will play all of the games. I want all of the thrones.

Also, the Imp is allllmost my favorite character. At least in the top 3.

Education, Sports, and Salary

I used to think it was home schooling and absence of athletic ability that caused my lack of team spirit. Not that I don't like working in teams, but being a sports fan. My college did not have a football team, and honestly, being a Masters student doesn't leave you much time to get into the undergrad fanaticism. So, I am not really sure where it started, but the more I see how skewed the monetary allotment is in higher education it makes me almost nauseous. And gives me no reason to want to be a fan.

After reading some articles that back up and prove my feelings for the past 15 years I am even less inclined to support college football--never mind the fact it is almost like a religion in the south which is bs. How about you pour that funding into your science, health, arts, and engineering departments? Make sure those professors and equipment are taken care of and updated as often as your football team facilities. Bet you would have more graduates that can contribute to society instead of the social arena of pro sports. Sweet Jesus.

Who's Your Highest Paid Public Employee? 

Let's Separate the Schoolin' From the Sports

P.S. Someone asked me why I felt the way I do about sports. They also felt the need to tell me they were going to 'fix' me and my lack of support for teams. While I never got around to answering the question I am pretty certain I don't need to be fixed. Boom.

Everything and Nothing At All

There are two basic emotions that we operate from: Love and Fear. Everything else is a trickle down feeling.

In reflection of some recent (extremely emotional) personal events and what happened in Boston today I can't help but return to this thought.

Kids are cruel. I see it every. single. day. Adults are simply kids with more access to tools to express their emotions. 

If you react to someone who is different or quirky or weird or unique with an attitude of fear then they learn to be feared. They learn to be afraid. 

And when people are afraid they either withdraw or they lash out. 

So, the next time you want to pass judgement on that person who talks differently, walks differently, or has a commentary different from your train of thought, just pause and reflect. What will you teach them with your actions? Will you teach them fear or will you teach love? 

The craziest thing about all this is how it is against our nature to push back at someone who is nice. Our innermost being of humanity reacts to what is thrown it's way. Be terse with the waiter and you get bad service. Yell at the guy who is going too slow (for you) and they will go slower. Try it.
I don't like living in a world where kindness is met with surprise. 

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Not the preacher of it. You are *not* entitled to jack anything. 

My heart goes out to everyone in Boston. I am deeply saddened by it and humbled by the enormity of our society. My world is but a mere speck and yet I am the sun. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in our lives and forget there are so many other people out there, living simultaneous, unattached, and equally important lives. Hrm. Life. You continue to elude and overpower me. 

In summary, which has nothing to do with this post, Twilight is the most horrifically terrible movie in every way possible: acting, script, color saturation, cinematography, special effects, plot, etc. But, they paid someone to get a hell of a sound track--of which I am shamelessly listening to this week. I really like this song: 

First Name is Last Name

Phillip Phillips. The kid has a pretty decent album, I dare say. I had no idea he was from American Idol--which shows you how much I am tapped into pop culture. I was burnt out from his song "Home" which is horrifically overplayed on the radio, and wasn't really interested in exploring him any further, but a reputable friend suggested I take a listen.  Thanks, Tim, that was some good advice :)

All I can say is that he has beautiful lyrics, and sounds a lot like Dave Matthews. Nothing beats a guy with a guitar. Not quite a swoon, but I dig. Very much. Here is a taste of his sound past what we hear once an hour on top 40.

Gone, Gone, Gone.

The Perks...

...of Being a Wallflower. Is a much better movie than I expected.

"You accept the love you think you deserve."

"It's not about where you came from, it's where you choose to go from here."

Nailed. It.

(fun soundtrack, too)

Different and the Same

It is so fun when I hear, almost word for word, the exact same message in different scenarios / parts / aspects of my life.

Last weekend I was in a class where were were told to not just rely on what we can do easily, but acknowledge the gaps in our dancing and focus on those parts; to see where we are weak and challenge ourselves to grow.

Tonight, in yoga, Todd told the class to not rely on the easy parts of a pose, but to challenge ourselves to really reach the full expression. That the places we are the weakest are the places we have the most room for growth.

Boom.

Not an unfamiliar or new concept. It is not like I haven't heard this before or am totally amazeballs over this truth. Just a little reflection and bookmark on when this concept placed itself very loudly in my path this year. There are areas in my life that I rely on as my strengths, and there are weakness that I like to ignore. Maybe it is time to challenge those areas and work towards some new growth.

In the meantime, as I figure out what the hell that means, here is a pretty song:

Mirrors

I have never been big on celebrity crushes. They are stupid and pointless.

However, I think I could have Justin Timberlake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Every day of the week.

I make a good point, right?