Mindset Changes and Glee invades my dreams

Mindset changes
Situation
 I realized today, as I clocked out for my 1st lunch break, that I'm 1/3rd of the way through the work day! (It's a 12 hr shift today.) I also have a long list of chores to do (laundry, vacuming, dusting, bathroom cleaning) today. I am leaving for Oregon to visit some friends, and, let's face it, unless it involves putting laundry in the machines and taking it out, or the occasional load of dishes in the sink, My Sailor is just too tired to deal with it. The Navy has been running him ragged lately. So, stiff upper lip, carry on, and I have my to-do list cut out for me tonight! I chipped away at the dishes and am ready to move the laundry I ran during lunch into the dryer.

What is the mindset change I noticed?
Instead of getting overwhelmed by my massively ambitious to-do list, I find myself tackling it one moment at a time, knowing I filled the moment before with as much as I could to complete the task, whether it's at my job or some cleaning chore, with all quality and attention it needed to be completed. It feels good. I may not get it all done today, but I might find some time to get up early tomorrow and finish it up.

Situation:
My Sailor and I  did go to the fair on Sunday. It was a hot day, and we walked around. When I was younger, stuffing myself full of fried fair food was a treat! But on that day, we shared 1 elephant ear w/ cinnamon and sugar - and we threw 1/2 of it away. Turns out quickly fried dough isn't good on a hot day beyond a few bites. We weren't even really tempted by anything, should we did split one chocolate chip cookie from a local bakery stand on the way out. It was just "okay". We didn't spend a fortune on anything. We played a couple of games and we looked at the rides, but everything was SO expensive, we couldn't justify throwing even our full budget for the trip into the experience. We ended up giving our extra game/ride tickets to a family with a young child. Hopefully it made their day a little brighter.

What is the mindset change I noticed?
The Fair isn't what it used to be back before the internet was prolific. Now, if I really wanted battered-deep-fried-fill-in-the-blank, I can get it online. It's not as "special" as it was then. Oh - and I realized just what Mom and Dad felt when they scoffed at the price tags of things like a simple ferris wheel ride.

Dream on!
As you may or may not know, I'm somewhat notorious for having bad dreams. I don't mean your average "bad dreams". I mean full on nightmares and night terrors that would curl your toes. Lately, most of my dreams, pleasant or otherwise, include my family members, so I guess I miss them more than I think I do.

Anyway, last night's dream was actually funny. (For the record, I do not watch Glee- I just enjoy the music from time to time.)

I dreamed that my mom was the principle of a high school (think Ivy league brick building and everything) but she was attacked (shot) by a man who happened to be wearing a Jewish Prayer Shawl. So she outlawed all shawls on campus. Never one to take something lying down, I started a full on revolt - musical style! The student body was gathered there and I started a rousing speech about how we should be allowed to wear shawls and scarves! A musical number kicked in that would make High School Musical blush, and we started dancing around. I passed out TONS of shawls and scarves (purple ones, which have NOTHING to do with Jewish Prayer Shawls - purple just happens to be my favorite color). In the way of all good rebels, I got called into the principles office to face my mom and discuss the issue.  During the discussion, I brought up how it was smart it was to outlaw all shawls/scarves in the dress code, rather than outlawing Jewish Prayer Shawls in specific as that was unconstitutional (even in my DREAMS I'm logical).  (Now in waking life, my mom's best friend is a Jewish gal whom I consider an aunt, so we bare Jewish people NO ill will whatsoever.) I validated the fact that the attack must have been horrifying for her.  Then I asked her if the man was wearing jeans. She said he was. I brought up that, if she outlawed every thing her attacker wore, I would be going to school in my underwear and NOBODY wants to see THAT! She conceeded the point and lifted the ban.

I woke up to discover the entire "episode" took about 2 hours.

Glee - eat your heart out.

Video Game Geeks are good people.

This weekend, I had the occasion to go into two different GameStop stores and the guys behind the counter were really cool. They had that "we have the best job in the world," vibe. So - I think I finally figured out why I like geeks.

They are passionate about something, and often so passionate about it that they don't care what anyone else thinks. That's definately my cup of tea! Being an overgrown Disney fan, musical theater/theater fan, and (yes, still) role-player - it's a quality I completely understand and sympathize with.

You could say we speak the same language, even if our topics are different.

I've been really blessed these past few years to become friends with some people who are very passionate about the adventures in their lives. Many of them work towards making those dreams a reality just to see where the path takes them. It's exciting to count myself as a part of their lives.

And I find that watching them persue their dreams and live in their passions feeds that trait in me that doggedly persues my dreams as well. Afterall, I would NEVER have done a Triathlon if Bon Bon hadn't gotten me caught up in her enthusiasm. I would never have entered a 1/2 marathon if Fly Boy hadn't reminded me that I constantly underestimate myself.

While some may see video game geeks as a drain on society, just sitting on their rumps and staring at a screen all day, I believe there's more to them than that. Yes, life is full of adventures that you may miss if your ONLY hobby is enjoying all that technology has to offer, but, generally speaking - anyone who follows their God given passions can't be too off the mark as far as I'm concerned. ;)

So to all you gamers out there -
Game on.

Ch...ch...changes.... and Labels

When I reached this age, I figured that were a lot of things that I was supposed to be by now.
I was supposed to be a wife.
I was supposed to be a mother.
I was supposed to be a writer/singer/actress full time.
I was supposed to own a house.

By nearly 30, I thought these things would just magically happen to me. Those where the labels I thought would define me. But now, I see they don't. They are just labels. Since we humans feel the need to label and define things - here's what I am now.

I am unmarried.
I am independent.
I am loved by a matrix of ecclectic family and friends.
I am proud of the woman I'm still growing into.
I am learning from everything around me.
I am a ridiculous Disney fan.
I am an employee in a company that does good in the world.
I am a singer, songwriter, poet, and author.
I am very passionate.
I am a person who craves adventure.
I am a Boxer mom. (Clydas is da' bomb.)
I am a triathlete.
I am stronger than I ever thought I'd be.
I am a seasoned "bear hunter" - win or lose. *(See previous blogs if you need an explination of "bear hunting".)

And for me - all of these things that I am far surpass whoever I thought I was supposed to be. I've always wanted to live an extraordinary life...

And you know what?
I may not be what I thought I was supposed to be...
But as far as living a life that's far from ordinary - thanks to all the wonderful people I've met, learned from, and held dear -
I am.

Lesson learned? Get rid of the "shoulds" and just "be". Define who you are for yourself.

While we're on the topic of dreams...

I've been giving a lot of thought to my ever-evolving list of dreams. So here's a short list of some things near and dear to my heart in the coming year...I only had 3:30 seconds so I couldn't mention everything, but here are some biggies.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com