You think the Kennedys endorsing Obama is big news, wait until you read this:
As the end of the month nears, I thought I would check in with my resolutions.
Here’s my list of personal resolutions:
1. Read More
2. Stay In Touch
3. Eat Healthier and Friendlier
4. Become More Spiritual
5. Worry Less About My Love Life
Overall I feel like I’m doing all right on these resolutions. I haven’t taken drastic action on them, but I am improving slightly.
For my read more resolution, I had hoped to read one book this month and finish it. That’s just not me apparently, because I am reading two books at the same time. So I’m just happy that I’m reading more.
The two books I’m reading are:
1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
My friend Marci recommended this book to me, and I’m very happy she did. I’m thoroughly enjoying this book. I won’t summarize what it’s about, because you can just click this link to get an idea if you don’t know, but I can talk about how it makes me feel. In a sense it makes me feel a little more normal and it inspires me to be more adventurous. It also really makes me want to travel, which is something I figured I can’t do anymore since I can’t do it with Brian. Surely that is not the case and she proves that.
2. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Believe it or not I am not very comfortable talking about my political beliefs in an open forum or even with friends. I mostly reserve those conversations for my family. The truth of the matter is that I hate to debate or hear any criticism of my opinions. This definitely makes me closed minded, I see that. But it just hurts too much. I am real softy about this. With that in mind though, I feel I can write about this book and get into a little bit about my beliefs.
I’m a party liner. Always have been, always will be. I realize this is not the most intelligent way to view my political environment, but this is just how I am and I accept that. That being said, I hate the primary season. I hate Democrats fighting other Democrats. I usually play no part in this process at all, because really I just want to wake up to the Democratic National Convention, look at my candidate and be satisfied. My family hates this about me.
This year has been harder than ever. I held out for a really long time from getting involved or caring. My heart has truly been torn in two over Hillary and Barack. I tried to block it all out, but my sister just wouldn’t let me. Marissa wears her heart on her sleeve. She is young after all. She’s not only favoring Obama, she is working for his campaign and is the precinct captain for her caucus. Each night she makes calls to Democrats and each day she works a booth in the UMC. On Wednesday she will get actually meet Obama when he comes to Denver. She deserves it. She and I have been fighting over the past few months, because I have been undecided.
Well I decided that I couldn’t take it anymore, and decided to grow up and just make a choice. So I started to look at the candidates and read about them so I could make an informed decision. Mike had bought me The Audacity of Hope for my birthday last year. I decided to crack it open. So far it has really changed my perspective. I think I get him now, and I even think that I get him better than my sister does. She could definitely benefit from reading this book. I see in her that young idealism that I used to have, and I am afraid she doesn’t understand the whole picture. I hope she doesn’t become totally disappointed if he wins the whole prize and doesn’t live up to her dreams. I tell her everyday that she needs to read the book.
Why does the book work for me? Well it’s pretty basic. He thinks differently than his colleagues and he thinks very realistically. He’s not afraid to say that he has some “conservative” values. He’s not a baby boomer who lived through the sixties and therefore matured in the us vs. them tradition. He can admit that Democrats aren’t perfect (which I could use a big dose of), and that we probably all agree a lot more than we make it out to be. He hates the extremes. He doesn’t understand why it has to be one way or the other. Like with Health Care. For some reason our country’s political divide pits minimal health care against socialized health care. Both are ridiculous, and he recognizes that. He admits to stuff that others don’t. For example, when he met Bush for the second time he found himself enjoying his company and he found himself patting his hand on Bush’s shoulder because it was a nice conversation. He realized what a lot of Americans realized, that Bush would be a great neighbor and is not completely loathsome. I don’t know what more to say, except that he’s more like us than anything else out there right now. I actually feel there is a chance that the way politics is played out could change a bit.
I like to think of myself as a realist, and so I struggle with these idealistic notions, but there’s just something about it that gets me excited. So if you haven’t figured out by this point, he has my support in the caucus on February 5.
So for the rest of my resolutions:
Staying in touch…
Well I’ve been a bit better about it. At least with my family. I could always do better with my friends.
Eat healthier and friendlier…
I wouldn’t say that I’ve been eating that much healthier, so I could improve there. I have made some small changes. I buy cage free, natural eggs now and I am happy about that.
Become more spiritual…
I’m definitely most disappointed about this one. I would like to take time in the next month to just sit in the quiet with my thoughts and reflect and maybe worship. Reading Eat, Pray, Love is teaching me something new about ways to worship, so I guess that’s something.
Worry less about my love life…
I only had one little melt down the other day in the shower. For the most part I’ve been handling it pretty good. So I’d like to say that I’ve been moderately successful at this.
As for my professional resolutions. Those were:
Get the money that’s coming to me…
I have actually been working on my PDQ and plan on turning it into Herb today. So yay for that!
Be better to my students…
My student Brooke is now set up in her new space. I went and bought her a nice desk and I defended her space and fought with folks to make sure she would be comfortable. That’s a good step. I can still do more.
Attend a conference…
I’m considering going to Houston for Educause in February.
Use my fancy planner…
Everyday! I have definitely been successful so far in meeting this resolution.
Be friendlier to my co-workers…
Hmm…I’d definitely say that I haven’t rea
lly done this. I did go to lunch with LG, which was ok. But on the flip side of that there’s a fellow who works in the basement that has been known to get a little obsessive with the ladies. He’s recently been trying to talk to me about my music library on iTunes and I’ve been ignoring him. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
