Manage this

Pause the positivity for a sec. I'm hopping back on my soap box.

Today I unleashed my inner witch at the gym. Here's the sitch. Knowing I had to stick around the town I work in for a mandatory evening event, I planned a long swimming workout to rid myself of nervous energy. The pool schedule, both online and posted at the gym, said it would be open for lap swim with one lane for family swim from 3:30 to 5:00. I hopped into the pool at 3:25. I was the only one. A few minutes later a guy jumped into the lane next to me. There was one remaining lane open, which is the one normally used for family swim. I was 14 laps into my routine when I was tapped, oh yes tapped, on the shoulder. I lifted my head, grabbed onto the pool ledge, and was greeted by a blurry male figure (my goggles were still on). He asked me to move to the middle lane where the other guy was swimming because he would be teaching a lesson in my lane. I said no. I asked why he couldn't use the family swim lane. He said there was another lesson going on there. I suggested he share the lane. He said he absolutely could not. The lanes in the teeny pool are so narrow that it's very uncomfortable to swim laps in a shared lane. These are not regulation sized lanes. In a fit of rage I jumped out of the pool, gathered my stuff, and walked to the lifeguard. I expressed my frustration, listened to her try to explain why the schedule would say lap swim when in fact it is not if lane priority is given to swim lesson instructors. PRIVATE instructors. Which means they are instructing NON-MEMBERS of the gym. I showered, dressed, blow-dried my hair, and practically ran to the front desk to make a "suggestion" to the pool manager. Guess what? He was in a meeting! Should I have expected anything else?

(Needless to say I left my phone number and said I expected a phone call this evening. As of right now, there hasn't been a phone call.)

**Update - I received a return phone call this morning. I aired my grievances in a polite manner and I felt they were well-received, however I know nothing else will be done. Too bad, it's a good gym...if only it were run better.

Functional Fashion

I know I've mentioned this before, but it's necessary to note again for this post: I like to dress. I like to look nice. It makes me feel good. I'm pretty good at the clothes part of dressing and the accessories, but the area in which I'm falling short is SHOES! I cannot find cute, trendy fashionable shoes that are also functional! As a teacher, I am on my feet for most of the day, and I'm usually walking (around the classroom, to and from the office, bathroom, and meetings). It just boggles my mind that there are a lack of comfortable shoes that don't also make me look like I'm thirty years older than I am! I have spent countless hours in shoe stores searching for the perfect pair of shoes. Sometimes I've thought I've found them, but when I've actually worn them for an entire day I've been disappointed. Blisters on my heels, sore toes, aching heels! Flats only make the heels of my feet throb, and heels bring great pain to the balls of my feet. My left foot is 1/2 size bigger than my right foot, so that hinders my success rate as well. Now that I think about it, my problems aren't limited to dress shoes. Finding a pair of running/gym sneakers that fit properly is extremely time-consuming and difficult. I've even gone to stores that specialize in fitting people for the correct shoes. Failed. Does anyone else suffer from the same dilemma?

I'm tired of buying shoes and being uncomfortable in them, or worse, depositing them in my closet to pile up because I don't want to get rid of a brand new pair of shoes even if THEY DON'T FIT RIGHT!

Suggestions?

What will 30 get me?

This year leading up to my 30th birthday has me contemplating many things, but one of them keeps resurfacing as I observe the daily goings on around me. What will 30 get me?

Throughout life we hit "milestone" birthdays and there usually seems to be something that comes with that new age. Thirteen brings becoming a teenager, and though in hindsight that isn't all it's cracked up to be, it's an exciting birthday year for a twelve year old. Sixteen brings the legal ability to drive, along with the promise of a driver's license in the near future. Eighteen brings the permission to buy cigarettes (even for a person that doesn't smoke it's still a liberating purchase) and lottery tickets (has anyone ever won on their first lottery ticket purchase?), as well as the freedom to enlist in the military. Twenty-one is the big one, allowing the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Between 21 and 30, there are no birthdays to really "look forward to". And everyone makes such a big deal of turning 30, even coining such phrases as "dirty thirty" and "flirty thirty" to help add to the anticipation. But what about turning 30 is dirty? I looked up the phrase "dirty thirty" in the urban dictionary, but nothing I found relates to actually turning 30 (don't look it up, I'm warning you). I am mystified at where the phrase came from and what it suggests.

I don't know how I'll feel when the day actually comes for me to turn 30. What I do know is this: it will just be another year in my blessed life, and I hope it will promise to be a good one. I don't know why many people act like turning 30 is so dismal. Why is aging a bad thing? It's part of the natural course of life.

As a society we are obsessed with anti-aging serums and lotions and creams to rid our bodies of the visible signs of cellulite. We have dye to keep our hair the same color so we won't notice that we're actually getting older. We wear trendier clothes and try to look young and cool. I'm just wondering, what would happen if we embraced our aging years instead of trying to defy (and deny) time? Maybe we would take the time to enjoy every day and prioritize what's really important to us, instead of racing around trying to beat the clock (or just keep up with it), doing activities we'd rather not.

As I approach 30, my goal is to slow down. I don't want to spend the rest of my life trying to recapture my "lost" youth. I'm going to remind myself that even though it's a good one and I enjoy it, my job is just a job. I cannot breathe and live it. I will place more importance on my family and my friendships, because really those are what make life so enjoyable. I'd like to smell the roses, but for now I'll focus on stopping to breathe, because sometimes I think I forget. I will try hard not to let life spin out of control because I've become obsessed with trivial things. I will focus on what I think is important, not on what society's billboards, magazine ads, commercials, television shows, celebrities, politicians, and music tell me I should think is important. I have a mind of my own, and it's damn time I used it. My life is mine to live, no one else's. So, bring it on, 30!!!

Let's not share THOSE!

Share, share, that's fair......right? Sometimes. But that's what we teach kids, that it's good to share with others. Except when that sharing extends beyond toys, pencils, loose-leaf, kind words, and snacks to GERMS! Especially when I am the recipient of the sharing. It has been less than 15 days into the new school year and I am already feeling the effects of being sick. I have a scratchy throat, achy bones, and an overwhelming desire to climb into bed and pull the covers over my head. (But instead I am awake watching Forrest Gump for the umpteenth time and sharing my cold with you!).

I have kept my classroom window open to replenish the germy air with fresh, have washed my hands practically raw, have used hand sanitizer when hand-washing wasn't an option, have made sure not to touch my face, and refuse to sign passes with students' writing utensils. And this is the thanks I get! $%^(*&!!!!!!

Let's hope my immune system kicks in and does a better job for the rest of the year.

How dirty is your window?

I'm sticking with this happiness thing for another post.

We've all heard the glass half empty-half full bit before, so I'll go in another direction. No matter how much good there is in our lives, we can always find something bad about it. And then focus on it. Over and over again until all we can see are the negative things in life. The same goes with relationships: co-workers, friends, significant others, spouses, parents, siblings, neighbors, etc.

But we can choose to look at people in a positive light. Sure, there are things about people that probably annoy us, irritate us, or upset us in some way, and we can choose to focus on those weaknesses or find and focus on the strengths of the people around us. Not only will it improve our mood, but it might also improve our outlook on the world, our lives, and the various relationships in our lives. Nobody is perfect, we all have faults, but I think it really is important to look for the good in everybody. I think that by doing that, soon we will notice that we are happier and more content with our circumstances in life. It's so easy to be critical and see the negatives and dwell on those, but what if we chose to do the opposite? If we focus more on what's good and right, won't our attitude eventually change to positive rather than negative?

I think this is why the Power of Intention works. According to the Law of Attraction (The Secret), a person's thoughts become his or her reality. So if we start seeing, thinking, and believing in the positive things, doesn't that mean our reality will consequently reflect those thoughts? I am confident that this works. If we only send negative thoughts out into the universe, what can we expect in return but negative things?

When I am having a bad day or I can only see the bad things, nothing goes my way. I walk into tables, I stub my toe, I drop things, I am unproductive. But when I feel good and I'm laughing and enjoying my life and the people around me, things go well. Very well. I sometimes even have a bounce in my step!

So, while it's easy to fall in and succumb to the negativity (because let's face it, it's all around us), try looking for the positives. Instead of critiquing your neighbor's refusal to mow his lawn, appreciate that his yard is so beautifully lush and green! If the glass window you're looking through is dirty, clean it and start looking for the positives. Focus on the strengths instead of the weaknesses. We all have faults, but shouldn't our strengths outweigh those? Write a list of all the things you like about each close person in your life. Then, next time you find yourself complaining about one of their faults, reflect back on that list and instead focus on a positive. Isn't it worth improving relationships? Isn't it worth improving your outlook? Isn't it worth improving your life?

Here's to thinking positive!

Mr./Mrs. Universe

I can't believe I am admitting this in a blog, and I'll probably regret doing so later, but I went to a psychic recently and she told me that she saw more education in my future. I'm still paying off student loans from undergrad and grad school, so this was not news I wanted to hear. She must have sensed my displeasure because she followed this up with more information, implying that it didn't look like formal education. So maybe life education, like through experiences? Maybe.

At different times in my life I have felt the universe aligning for me in funny ways. Perhaps this counts as education when the universe teaches me a lesson? (And it's free!) For the past couple years I have been reading a lot about spirituality and the interconnectedness of everyone and everything in the universe. In January I went to a lecture given by Deepak Chopra, in which he outlined the function and importance of meditation, as well as his beliefs that not only are all humans connected to each other, but that our bodies actually change with our environments. Apparently we exchange atoms with people when we shake hands, and also just by being around them (think about this next time you are contemplating going to the NYS fair!). Very interesting.

So my husband and I had a small conversation about this this morning, and then I get to school, flip the page on my Dr. Wayne Dyer desk calendar, and read these words for today: "When you eliminate the concept of separation from your thoughts, you begin to feel your connection to everything and everyone. You'll have a sense of belonging, which enables you to scoff at any thought of being separate." Thank you, Universe! Once again, thank you :) My life teacher....

Yankee or Rebel?

I've always felt a strong tie to the South and Southern life. Maybe it's because my dad was born there, or that I spent a lot of time with my Georgia-raised grandfather as a kid. Or maybe I spent a past life living there?

I love most country music, although I will say that the slow, whiny, twangy songs make me turn the station. Upbeat country rock songs are my favorite. (Song of the South gets me singing every time, so does Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, and Shania). I love the idea of Sunday chicken after church, fishing with a cane pole (even though I am allergic to fish), and driving on a red dirt road. Somehow, southern living seems so much simpler than the New York rat race. Of course, I could be romanticizing the south, especially since I've never spent much time there. A week here or there, but nothing more. This is probably naive, but southern people seem to be more friendly, more welcoming, and more family-oriented. But I could never live there. I have an intense deathly fear of tornadoes! Give me the snow, sleet, and ice any day over a tornado. Maybe. Probably.