One of my little pleasures in life is looking at the views counter thingy in the blogger dashboard. I love how come saturdays, people start checking the blog to see if I've posted. Makes me smile.
Haven't been doing much lately, but other than my house being a mess I'm not too upset over that.
Been reading (alternating between the Heroes of Olympus re-read, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and Quiet)
Been drawing.
Been... I'm afraid to say it in case I jinx it... But I've been writing.
Been playing video games. Mostly Final Fantasy 13, with some Assassin's Creed, Halo and Gears of War 3 mixed in there.
So really I have been up to a lot, just not really all that productive. If good weather decides to stay for more days, that will change. And when I have a sound horse :P
Had fun watching a jumping clinic yesterday and tried out the camera on me new phone! Also froze with round numero... lost count, of sucky cold weather with yet more SNOW.
23C one day, 4C and every precipitation possible the next. Welcome to Canada.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Quiet
So this week (dear heavens was Wednesday really just a few days ago?? Moving on) SO this week I picked up Quiet which I highly suggest anyone, especially introverts pick up and read! I'm not really far into it, but I have to say it is enlightening, and a huuuuge relief.
Which, the relief kind of surprised me. I've been quite comfortable with my introvertness for quite a few years now, but it's really comforting reading about how so many people have accomplished great things, quietly.
Though as thoroughly as I'm enjoying the book, it's also giving me quite a few "brain frying" moments.
It's not that its complicated, oh no it's quite straightfoward and easy to follow. But what fries my brain is when she explains the hows and whys we live in such an extroverted world. And how so many people are pushing extrovertism. And I have to go: Are you people serious??
For example, I'm not sure if this is the case everywhere, but she was saying that more and more schools are adopting the pods system for classes. Where instead of desks being set up in rows, they're grouped in four facing each other. And that more and more classes are being done as discussions, with more group projects and etc, even creative writing.
Eeuuuugh.
I had many exclamations of: SERIOUSLY?? Are people serious?? Are you kidding me? (I haven't been taking the book out in public)
Because it worries me so much that this is the way people seem to be headed. Not everyone works well with others and that's okay. That's fine. Solitude is not a bad thing. Being able to work independently is something that should not be overlooked. It's not the group that makes success, but the individuals that make up that group.
If people are being brought up to always have someone to co-ordinate with. How the heck are they going to survive in the real world?
And creative writing in a group? Dear heavens that would've killed my love of the craft. Don't get me wrong, it can be fun. But if it's all the time, the truly creative minds who adore it will be held back by those who want nothing to do with it.
What my biggest concern is though is the fact that Introverted behaviour is being labelled as a bad thing. An anti social thing.
Yes, I do prefer spending time alone with my books, video games, cats, etc. I dread social outings and get nervous before heading out with friends. When I'm chatting at the stable, part of me is always thinking: this is fun but I want to head home and play some games.
And no, there is nothing wrong with that. I have nothing against extroverts, it is because of extroverts that I even talk in the first place. (Well sort of, when I'm comfortable and have the chance I will talk your ear off... I apologize in advance). And we need people who aren't afraid to go out there and do stuff or lead others to get things done.
But we also need the quiet thinkers who'll spend hours alone honing their skills and getting ideas.
And really, could you imagine the world if everyone did all the talking? Who would listen?
I feel like I'm blabbering along. But I seriously, highly recommend the book. It's been an eye-opening, brain frying read, and I can't wait to read more of it!
Which, the relief kind of surprised me. I've been quite comfortable with my introvertness for quite a few years now, but it's really comforting reading about how so many people have accomplished great things, quietly.
Though as thoroughly as I'm enjoying the book, it's also giving me quite a few "brain frying" moments.
It's not that its complicated, oh no it's quite straightfoward and easy to follow. But what fries my brain is when she explains the hows and whys we live in such an extroverted world. And how so many people are pushing extrovertism. And I have to go: Are you people serious??
For example, I'm not sure if this is the case everywhere, but she was saying that more and more schools are adopting the pods system for classes. Where instead of desks being set up in rows, they're grouped in four facing each other. And that more and more classes are being done as discussions, with more group projects and etc, even creative writing.
Eeuuuugh.
I had many exclamations of: SERIOUSLY?? Are people serious?? Are you kidding me? (I haven't been taking the book out in public)
Because it worries me so much that this is the way people seem to be headed. Not everyone works well with others and that's okay. That's fine. Solitude is not a bad thing. Being able to work independently is something that should not be overlooked. It's not the group that makes success, but the individuals that make up that group.
If people are being brought up to always have someone to co-ordinate with. How the heck are they going to survive in the real world?
And creative writing in a group? Dear heavens that would've killed my love of the craft. Don't get me wrong, it can be fun. But if it's all the time, the truly creative minds who adore it will be held back by those who want nothing to do with it.
What my biggest concern is though is the fact that Introverted behaviour is being labelled as a bad thing. An anti social thing.
Yes, I do prefer spending time alone with my books, video games, cats, etc. I dread social outings and get nervous before heading out with friends. When I'm chatting at the stable, part of me is always thinking: this is fun but I want to head home and play some games.
And no, there is nothing wrong with that. I have nothing against extroverts, it is because of extroverts that I even talk in the first place. (Well sort of, when I'm comfortable and have the chance I will talk your ear off... I apologize in advance). And we need people who aren't afraid to go out there and do stuff or lead others to get things done.
But we also need the quiet thinkers who'll spend hours alone honing their skills and getting ideas.
And really, could you imagine the world if everyone did all the talking? Who would listen?
I feel like I'm blabbering along. But I seriously, highly recommend the book. It's been an eye-opening, brain frying read, and I can't wait to read more of it!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
What a time, What a time
I was originally going to put the title as "what a week" but the past couple (or more?) weeks have kind of blurred together so I really have no certain clue what happened when.
But the past little while has been trying. The saying: Everything happens at once, is most definitely true.
Our family dog, Mckayla, had started showing signs of age. And her condition very rapidly digressed until my parents decided she had to be put down. That was in a matter of a couple of weeks.
I was devastated, she'd been a part of our lives for 12 years. Helped us get over the loss of Logan and got both me and my brother out of depression. I was scared too, because I didn't know how to handle loosing her without having another bundle of fur to keep me distracted. (I love my cats, but they're not very helpful in these situations).
But I did have comfort that at least I'd have Belle to ride and distract me. HA.
Except that halfway through my riding lesson, on the same day Mckayla was being put down, she went lame. I'm still in shock I didn't start bawling right then and there.
But I made a decision that I was not going to be angry at God. If that's how things were going to go I was just going to trust that it was for my good. And bawl my eyes out in the meantime.
And I think that was the key point during this whole thing. I realized that having faith doesn't mean you're going to be happy all the time. It means having trust, even while you're filled with despair and doubts. It means being determined to forge ahead, even if you have no idea how things will turn out, but trusting that they will.
It also helped that I learned that yes. I am human, I have emotions, and sometimes those emotions are part of the process. Feeling them that is. And grief is one of them.
That being said, things still weren't easy. Belle and I have been having domestic issues. Her end due to many unfortunate incidents making her a little jumpy on the crossties, and me having very little patience left to deal with the spazztic moments. (There has been a lot of: oh my gosh seriously?? moments).
On top of all that, I received a huge heating bill, as the cheques were cashed for the memberships for show season that I seriously hoped I would actually be using (as I flashed back to a couple of springs ago when my pony injured her suspensories right before show season) and a winter that seriously will not go away.
Add to the list of 'things that suck' the fact that I was/am seriously exhausted and you have one very emotionally frazzled Leah that just wants to lay down and cry.
Easter dinner was nice, but it sucked coming home for the first time in 15 years and not having a dog run up to you, eyes bright and tail wagging.
And it also sucked having someone ask: When are you guys getting a new puppy? Less than a week after your dog died.
Week two, started to feel better, rode some horses at work since I couldn't ride my own, and felt less depressed enough to actually try soaking my pony's foot in case it was an abscess. (Which caused some more domestic spats).
When I woke up to snow friday(??) morning, it was noooot pretty. I won't go into details, but I won't deny that I did in fact cry. I've learned something about myself: When I have to deal with big things in life, the little things become intolerable. Snow is now on that list.
However, I've learned that, everything happens at once, can also be good things that happen at once!
Got a message from my coach saying that my pony was perfectly sound (I'm still being cautiously Yay about that one, knock on wood please).
Got to ride a fancy horse a work (Um totally over the moon yay about that one)
I downloaded an app to my phone that would let me watch General Conference (woot!)
And the snow was gone by noon.
I also rejoiced in not having to get my extremely muddy horse ready for a show.
And even though I was chilled and shivering Saturday morning, I got to enjoy a lot of laughs and some amazingly uplifting messages.
Life does sometimes suck, but at least in those moments you can find out exactly what you're made of.
But the past little while has been trying. The saying: Everything happens at once, is most definitely true.
Our family dog, Mckayla, had started showing signs of age. And her condition very rapidly digressed until my parents decided she had to be put down. That was in a matter of a couple of weeks.
I was devastated, she'd been a part of our lives for 12 years. Helped us get over the loss of Logan and got both me and my brother out of depression. I was scared too, because I didn't know how to handle loosing her without having another bundle of fur to keep me distracted. (I love my cats, but they're not very helpful in these situations).
But I did have comfort that at least I'd have Belle to ride and distract me. HA.
Except that halfway through my riding lesson, on the same day Mckayla was being put down, she went lame. I'm still in shock I didn't start bawling right then and there.
But I made a decision that I was not going to be angry at God. If that's how things were going to go I was just going to trust that it was for my good. And bawl my eyes out in the meantime.
And I think that was the key point during this whole thing. I realized that having faith doesn't mean you're going to be happy all the time. It means having trust, even while you're filled with despair and doubts. It means being determined to forge ahead, even if you have no idea how things will turn out, but trusting that they will.
It also helped that I learned that yes. I am human, I have emotions, and sometimes those emotions are part of the process. Feeling them that is. And grief is one of them.
That being said, things still weren't easy. Belle and I have been having domestic issues. Her end due to many unfortunate incidents making her a little jumpy on the crossties, and me having very little patience left to deal with the spazztic moments. (There has been a lot of: oh my gosh seriously?? moments).
On top of all that, I received a huge heating bill, as the cheques were cashed for the memberships for show season that I seriously hoped I would actually be using (as I flashed back to a couple of springs ago when my pony injured her suspensories right before show season) and a winter that seriously will not go away.
Add to the list of 'things that suck' the fact that I was/am seriously exhausted and you have one very emotionally frazzled Leah that just wants to lay down and cry.
Easter dinner was nice, but it sucked coming home for the first time in 15 years and not having a dog run up to you, eyes bright and tail wagging.
And it also sucked having someone ask: When are you guys getting a new puppy? Less than a week after your dog died.
Week two, started to feel better, rode some horses at work since I couldn't ride my own, and felt less depressed enough to actually try soaking my pony's foot in case it was an abscess. (Which caused some more domestic spats).
When I woke up to snow friday(??) morning, it was noooot pretty. I won't go into details, but I won't deny that I did in fact cry. I've learned something about myself: When I have to deal with big things in life, the little things become intolerable. Snow is now on that list.
However, I've learned that, everything happens at once, can also be good things that happen at once!
Got a message from my coach saying that my pony was perfectly sound (I'm still being cautiously Yay about that one, knock on wood please).
Got to ride a fancy horse a work (Um totally over the moon yay about that one)
I downloaded an app to my phone that would let me watch General Conference (woot!)
And the snow was gone by noon.
I also rejoiced in not having to get my extremely muddy horse ready for a show.
 |
| She STILL has some mud left from this. |
And even though I was chilled and shivering Saturday morning, I got to enjoy a lot of laughs and some amazingly uplifting messages.
Life does sometimes suck, but at least in those moments you can find out exactly what you're made of.
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