Thursday, January 22, 2009

36 Hours

I used to always say that I like to have 36 hours of things to do in a 24 hour day. Basically, I don't like being bored, because when I am bored, I do absolutely nothing of value. I get sucked into the black hole and hang out there. Whereas when I'm busy, I tend to thrive, go mach-10 and cruise through it. It is nice to sometimes have those down times, totally open days, weekends, even a week of it just to recharge, finish that book, etc.

Right now I'm definitely NOT in one of those boredom black holes. I am full-speed-ahead, 36 hours of things to do in my 24 hour days. Some of it is voluntary, overbooking my social calendar, taking on volunteer opportunities, signing up for a 2nd bookclub, getting ready to start PADI certification which will be twice a week from 5:30-9:30pm for a month. Then there's work. Two clients. One project launching on Monday. They've got me by the proverbial balls, challenging my tolerance and resilience every single day. I think back to past accounts that were tough and stressful and they are like the JV version of what I'm dealing with now. This may sound like a negative rant, but the truth of it is, I'm learning more now than ever...despite my blood pressure being higher the past 4 months than it's ever been, despite the insomnia returning b/c I can't shut off the work to-do lists, despite somedays feeling powerless, it's also exhilerating. I'm growing so much as a professional, who can complain about that?!?

The rest of it, the voluntary crazyness...some days I think, I should say no to this or that, I should skip the gym, I should ignore the stacks of personal emails. But then I think, these are the benefits of a long day...relaxing with friends over good food and wine, pounding the pavement (or treadmill or indoor track) to release the stresses of the day, diving into the pool to freestyle my way to relaxation, getting ready to start a course and get certified to scuba dive anywhere in the world, volunteering with a local NPO for a big event this spring. It's all rewarding in their own ways, all fulfilling after a long day. It can seem tedious sometimes, thinking about how I really just want to go sit on my couch and do nothing...but then I remind myself, there's a whole lot of time for nothing when we're 6 feet under.

Just think...when you are having a long, hard day or a schedule that seems more full than humanely possible...if you weren't busy during the day you'd be jobless, if you weren't overbooked you'd be friendless, hobbyless, interest-less. Amen to being none of that.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Triggers

Memory is such an awesome thing. I love when something triggers a very distinct memory...a smell, a song, a sight. Right now I'm listening to internet radio and the song "If I Had Eyes" by Jack Johnson just came on and I immediately was transported to "The Beach", a bungalow "resort" on Ko Phi Phi in Thailand. My sister and I discovered it a day or two into being on the island and they played JJ on repeat, which we loved (the music at some of the other daytime oceanfront watering holes, not good). I can picture us sitting on stools at the outdoor tiki bar, sipping what started out as a horrible mojito, but turned into a good one after we worked our cocktail magic. I can picture another afternoon there, Mai Tai in hand, lounging on the sun chaise, watching the longtails come in and out, gazing at Phi Phi Ley, watching the sun change the colors of the crystal waters.

I love that. Memory triggers. Smells and songs get me the most. If I smell honeysuckle, I'm immediately walking on campus at University of Florida. When I smell the original, fruit punch flavor of Minute Maid frozen juice mix, I'm transported to the driveway of our house in Hawaii. The song "What's Luv" by Fat Joe takes me back to this big party we held after campaiging for weeks for my friend who was running for student body president. The details of that songs involvement cannot be divulged, but it was a fun enough night to make me smile when I hear that night. Snow falling reminds me of certain words said, and of a night of coffee and the threat of a giant snowball.

I hope these triggers never go away. I hope one day, when I'm 95, that Jack Johnson song comes on and I'm once again transported back to Thailand.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Out with the old, in with the new...year that is!

Holy crap I've been horrible at blogging lately. Slacker city. But it's a new year, 2009, so I figure it's high time to get back into it, keep things up to date more regularly. A resolution? Hmm, not sure, but perhaps!

I think it's always important, going in to a new year, to reflect on the past year...think about triumphs, challenges, learnings, experiences and prepare for a clean slate, a new year. Some reflections of 2008 for me are:
- My job was crazy...ups and downs, trials and tribulations that then culminated in big steps forward, major growth and learnings and visions of the future
- Two of my closest friends had babies...an unbelievable and amazing event. Getting to watch them grow and change and become little human beings has been one of the most memorable things. Not to mention the increased level of respect for my friends and becoming parents.
- Many many engagements, a handful of weddings. And the very exciting engagement of my Burlington bestie, and getting the wonderful honor of being asked to be Maid of Honor! And the most recent engagment of my oldest sister!
- A change of living location - I packed up from the apartment I had so many important memories in, and moved to a new beautiful abode, clean and free, ready for new memories.
- The end of a relationship. The lessons, the challenges, the emotions, the growth, the self discovery, the impact it will have on future relationships. 
- My mom's cancer seems to be gone!!
- New athletic pursuits.
- Some amazing travels to Istanbul w/my parents and oldest sis, Alli, and then an incredible trip to Thailand with Alli. 
- Figuring out a lot about myself through work, travel, friendship, love, activities and athletics, many hours on the road, independence.

I always become overly curious when a new year hits...what will it have in store? What important things will happen? Where will I go, who will I see, what will I do? Will I have "headline news" in my life? And I guess the best thing, the only thing we can do, is go into it with gusto...slough off the bad from the previous year, bank the lessons, bring the smiles and begin the year positive, ready for anything, ready to make amazing memories, ready to have a year of promise and goodness. Happy New Year!