Reverb10: Dec 10 and 11
I missed yesterday's Reverb 10. Here it is.
December 10 - Wisdom
Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)
Deciding to be brave - and diligent.
I've always been somewhat risk averse. I did study abroad in high school, and I did decide to go to the University of Pittsburgh - a big decision for me, since the majority of my classmates went to University of Maryland or Towson or the like. I guess that could be considered brave.
Even so, I have been the type to often let opportunities pass me by - too much work to even apply, I'd think. I already have enough to do. Or, I'd discourage myself from the beginning, assuming I wasn't good enough, or qualified enough, or special enough for whatever it was that I wanted to apply for.
My mentor (and friend!) Eliada, told me that the burn of diligence is nothing compared to the agony of regret. Working towards my goals would be worth it, if only to avoid the what if's that would come if I didn't try at all. So I tried.
I am notoriously afraid of failure, but I had to convince myself failure isn't a bad thing, necessarily. In most cases, it is the easiest way to learn - what incentive do you have to improve if you're already doing everything right? I also had to tell myself that I was fairly satisfied with my life as is. If I got rejected from by a scholarship committee or an honors society or anything like that, so what? I was fine.
This mindset is what got me to Tanzania. It's what helped me swallow the fear of stepping on that transcontinental flight to London by myself. Keep in mind, scared was inadequate. I was petrified. But I got there and came back (mostly) in one piece.
I'm so glad I found the strength to try. Who knows what I would have missed if I didn't?
December 11 - 11 Things
- EDIT! I thought of more/got inspired! yay me, lol.
What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)
Wow, this is a lengthy prompt.
Here are my 11:
1. Time Wasters - Facebook, Oh No They Didn't, Tumblr - I'm looking at you. However, I'm very creative when it comes to wasting my own time, so...let's just say we're working on it. I would be a lot more productive if I stopped. It contributes to my procrastination which contributes to my stress. No bueno.
2. Clutter - As we speak, my room is a cluttered mess because I tore it up looking for a belt. After this post, I am going to put my things away. I'd be a lot less stressed if my room wasn't constantly a mess that I felt the need to apologize for.
3. Negative Nancies - Negative people stress me out. It's hard to deal with them. Everyone has rough days and I understand that - but I can't hang around them for too long. Birds of a feather, you know?
4. Procrastination - I spend a lot of time twiddling my thumbs over the most insignificant tasks. Not just assignments, but small things, like writing out a bit of paperwork or dropping something off. I spend far more time procrastinating than those tasks really take.
5. Aimlessness - I spend too much time sitting around with nothing to do because I haven't set any tasks for myself. On some days, that's fine - but other times, there are things I could tackle but I'm not focused enough to do it. Again, working on it.
6. Excuses - Excuses, excuses...I will admit, I'm getting better at this. But I need to stop making excuses for myself and take greater accountability for my actions.
7. Unnecessary Obligations - in this day and age, students are made to feel like they have to participate in
EVERYTHING if they want to get a job or go to graduate school and I was suckered in the same way. I need to cut my ties with activities that I'm not interested in and give me a low net benefit. Prioritizing, baby.
8. Food guilt - I often feel guilty if I eat something unhealthy. Not only does it make me feel a bit wretched, but I also feel like I've shamed myself because I had the gall (!) to eat a donut or a couple of cookies. I think this contributes to how hard I fall when I actually give in. No more.
9. Shorts and strapless dresses. Unless there's a lot of elastic on those tops, no. Just no. And I've come to terms with the fact that shorts and I probably aren't meant to be except in special circumstances. That's okay.
10. Being so damn hard on myself - People make mistakes. I make mistakes. My life won't be over because of them and NO, I am not stupid, worthless and/or hopeless. It will be okay. Will it really matter in a week? A month? A year?
11. Being restrained - for lack of a better word. I often resist doing certain things because I'm afraid I'll look awkward or I'll fail at them in front of other people. (Hello, bowling??) I don't open up often to my friends because I'm afraid of how they'll perceive me. I can be open and let loose more often.
I can't think of anything else, but I'll update if I do. Duty calls...
December 10 - Wisdom
Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)
Deciding to be brave - and diligent.
I've always been somewhat risk averse. I did study abroad in high school, and I did decide to go to the University of Pittsburgh - a big decision for me, since the majority of my classmates went to University of Maryland or Towson or the like. I guess that could be considered brave.
Even so, I have been the type to often let opportunities pass me by - too much work to even apply, I'd think. I already have enough to do. Or, I'd discourage myself from the beginning, assuming I wasn't good enough, or qualified enough, or special enough for whatever it was that I wanted to apply for.
My mentor (and friend!) Eliada, told me that the burn of diligence is nothing compared to the agony of regret. Working towards my goals would be worth it, if only to avoid the what if's that would come if I didn't try at all. So I tried.
I am notoriously afraid of failure, but I had to convince myself failure isn't a bad thing, necessarily. In most cases, it is the easiest way to learn - what incentive do you have to improve if you're already doing everything right? I also had to tell myself that I was fairly satisfied with my life as is. If I got rejected from by a scholarship committee or an honors society or anything like that, so what? I was fine.
This mindset is what got me to Tanzania. It's what helped me swallow the fear of stepping on that transcontinental flight to London by myself. Keep in mind, scared was inadequate. I was petrified. But I got there and came back (mostly) in one piece.
I'm so glad I found the strength to try. Who knows what I would have missed if I didn't?
December 11 - 11 Things
- EDIT! I thought of more/got inspired! yay me, lol.
What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)
Wow, this is a lengthy prompt.
Here are my 11:
1. Time Wasters - Facebook, Oh No They Didn't, Tumblr - I'm looking at you. However, I'm very creative when it comes to wasting my own time, so...let's just say we're working on it. I would be a lot more productive if I stopped. It contributes to my procrastination which contributes to my stress. No bueno.
2. Clutter - As we speak, my room is a cluttered mess because I tore it up looking for a belt. After this post, I am going to put my things away. I'd be a lot less stressed if my room wasn't constantly a mess that I felt the need to apologize for.
3. Negative Nancies - Negative people stress me out. It's hard to deal with them. Everyone has rough days and I understand that - but I can't hang around them for too long. Birds of a feather, you know?
4. Procrastination - I spend a lot of time twiddling my thumbs over the most insignificant tasks. Not just assignments, but small things, like writing out a bit of paperwork or dropping something off. I spend far more time procrastinating than those tasks really take.
5. Aimlessness - I spend too much time sitting around with nothing to do because I haven't set any tasks for myself. On some days, that's fine - but other times, there are things I could tackle but I'm not focused enough to do it. Again, working on it.
6. Excuses - Excuses, excuses...I will admit, I'm getting better at this. But I need to stop making excuses for myself and take greater accountability for my actions.
7. Unnecessary Obligations - in this day and age, students are made to feel like they have to participate in
EVERYTHING if they want to get a job or go to graduate school and I was suckered in the same way. I need to cut my ties with activities that I'm not interested in and give me a low net benefit. Prioritizing, baby.
8. Food guilt - I often feel guilty if I eat something unhealthy. Not only does it make me feel a bit wretched, but I also feel like I've shamed myself because I had the gall (!) to eat a donut or a couple of cookies. I think this contributes to how hard I fall when I actually give in. No more.
9. Shorts and strapless dresses. Unless there's a lot of elastic on those tops, no. Just no. And I've come to terms with the fact that shorts and I probably aren't meant to be except in special circumstances. That's okay.
10. Being so damn hard on myself - People make mistakes. I make mistakes. My life won't be over because of them and NO, I am not stupid, worthless and/or hopeless. It will be okay. Will it really matter in a week? A month? A year?
11. Being restrained - for lack of a better word. I often resist doing certain things because I'm afraid I'll look awkward or I'll fail at them in front of other people. (Hello, bowling??) I don't open up often to my friends because I'm afraid of how they'll perceive me. I can be open and let loose more often.
I can't think of anything else, but I'll update if I do. Duty calls...