Our Brains are Pretty Awesome

I was thinking about them at one point this week.

I mean, I have countless songs completely memorized that I can sing.  All the names and faces of people I remember (faces more than names), addresses, phone numbers, passwords, controls for video games, routes to places, my acute ability to recall storylines and movie quotes perfectly, etc, etc, etc.

And that's not counting all the oter info it stores about our own bodies, and sends and recieves so many signals.

Plus it allows us to speak, move, dance, fall down (that one I could do without), sleep, dream, and remember so many things.

So just wanted to give a high five to our awesome squishy pink things stored up in our skulls.

Also read this some really great wisdome in there!

Happy Canada Day everyone!  Since I'll be at a lake with family swimming tomorrow. :P

Here's My Beef with School

It's come up in a lot of conversations lately and I felt like writing a post about it.  I've had some people try to tell me that I do in fact like it but no I really do not.  I also don't like the fact that people seem to think it's the only way to make a living.

But see there are a few things that bug me.

#1  Every body has a different learning style.
I remember my high school used to go on and on about how not everyone learns the same.  I remember thinking: duh.  BUT  they still taught everyone the same way.  Now granted there are resources (ie money) required to properly teach students in their own learning methods, and there are a few alternative schools but they are hard to get into (depending on the type).  What bothers me is the very much here's how we're gonna teach you and you just have to suck it up and deal with it.

I'm very much a hands on learner  which is why usually labs and projects were where I got my grades.  So long as they were interesting.

Another reason why school was so tough for me.  It was boring, I got bored very fast because either:  I wasn't interested in the subject, or I'd already figured it out and wanted to move on.  And a few subjects were genuinely hard for me.

#2 Get a diploma = get successful.

I'm sorry, but seriously?  Here's a thing not many people know about me:  I don't have a high school diploma.

Now, that's because of a really, really crappy technicality (ie a student counselor messing up my timetable, putting me in a class that I'd already taken, which, I learned when I was trying to send my transfers to college, to which I'd already been accepted, that oh by the way you never graduated cause you're missing a credit....  GOOD TIMES... learned that in AUGUST).  Anywho.

I also didn't actually earn my certificate to said college cause I got sick and almost died (maybe not literally but it sure as heck felt it at the time), and after experiencing the uhm.... severe lack of organization the program had, I had no strong inclination to waste more time and money in that place.

That being said.  I've got two really nice stables I'm working at in the field of work I love.  So what was that about needing a diploma/certificate to make it anywhere?

Now don't get me wrong I've nothing against it if it's what you actually enjoy and genuinely need for the carreer you actually really want, or just genuinely want to go to school cause you like it (are you from mars?)  But don't try to tell me that it's what you MUST DO TO SUCCEED.

Cause I also got a news flash for you.

Most people who get their diplomas struggle to find work within their field.

Also, most of the population is struggling with some form of debt (student loans), and are just coasting through those jobs with benefits people keep seeking after and are they actually happy?

Now, you know those super rich people who've started their own companies, changed the way institutions think?  Those outside the box thinkers?  Yeah, some do have education in the fancy smancy school sense, but a lot of them actually probably also are missing some papers.

And why are they successful?

Because they're not afraid to think outside the box, to find the creative solutions to life's problems and will probably gain a lot of wisdom from their lives.

Most importantly, they do what they love and didn't let people's words discourage them.

I remember once someone asked me what I was going to do with my certificate for Equine Management.

And I told him: "Be happy doing what I love."

Which, by the way, I am doing.  Or at least I'm on the right path to what I really want to do.

Oh and again, don't actually have a diploma to speak of :P  (Though the high school thing still ruffles my feathers when I think of it cause come on I earned that thing!  I hated high school and I finished it :P)


And here's the thing too people seriously need to remember.  Just because it's not formal school, doesn't mean someone doesn't have an education.

I'm pretty darn smart, and I lot of what I know specifically regarding horses, came from outside of school.  Heck I've learned a lot more on the job that in that program.  I also research topics of interest, and take a genuine interest in what's going on in the world and how it affects everything in it.

I also think school is bad for people's health.  I mean stress is bad for you and school gives you stress.  Plus with the crazy amount of homework and projects and the hours people put in, it's bad for your health, you get run down.

So get healthy and quit!

Nah I'm kidding, do what you want to do because it's what you want to do.  So long as it will actually provide for your needs, and for the needs of your family (if you have/want one to support).  I don't advocate being a bum for the rest of your life.

:)

The only time I hate owning a gray horse is when I'm trying to get said pretty much completely white horse spotless before a show.  Oy.  Her stains are extra stubborn this year (though it probably didn't help I had to speed bathe before a thunderstorm rolled in).  And it's always nice walking into the stable at 4am and seeing she slept in poo, on both sides and got new stains all over.

Pony I love you but at 4am when I have to do extra scrubbing, it's kind of hard to like you.

So I was kind of(really) embarrassed that my pony still had stains at the show, especially when the other greys looked spotless...  Seriously am I the only one with a horse that every single "trick" I've heard of to get them white doesn't work?  I'll figure it out yet!  I finally managed it by the end of our hunter season.  I had managed it in college, though the day before inspections she always got new stains.  I'm going to try bathing her every day the week before the next show.

She loaded like a pro, even after a year off from trailering, yay!  She was great in the warm up, minus a mini spook at a horse eating bush we'd already walked past twenty times.  A bit looky in the show ring, which made me looky and tense, but our first test went great!  Got a 60%!  (Which for non horsey people is a good thing!  Especially at a first time silver show!)

Unfortunately we got buzzed out of our second test cause she came up sore.  With the trailering, and me warming up probably a bit too long she got tired, the footing was deeper than she's used to.  So hopefully with some pampering she'll bounce right back and we'll figure out how to keep her strong through the next one!

That little snag before a show

Usually happens, probably due to nerves, but when I get ready for a show there's usually something that creeps up that gets me nervous.  I think I'm being even more nit picky this time around because dressage is about precision and consistency.

So our transitions are getting pretty darn great, circles are nice, connection is pretty consistent.... Now my pony loves stretching, loves it!  So I wasn't that concerned with stretching circles at the trot, until friday night.

Let's just say pony thought it would be fun to take the no contact as an opportunity to charge forward.

And when you're really tired from a long day and haven't eaten supper yet, one's patience is pretty much nil.

So I didn't exactly handle the situation in the optimal fashion, so me and the pony had an argument over it.  Several times.  There was some yelling, not pretty.

Once my brain restarted funcioning though, we did end up with some lovely stretchy trot circles and I finished off with letting her go around the whole ring like that.

So this Friday I'm gonna pick up subway on the way home and eat before riding.  My bad pony, my bad!

I'd also really appreciate if the software for viewing ride times would work on my laptop.

Why is it Called Common Sense?

It really isn't all that common.  It's actually quite rare I've discovered.

While I was at the tack store yesterday, they had a huge sale going on.  They also had a neat thing that if you bought three items with a clearance tag (bright orange, really hard to miss) you can get a 4th free, and then every item after that is 25% off.

Simple and easy to follow, yes?

Well apparently not.

While I was standing in line, (I was 3rd) thinking this wouldn't take too long, the people in front of me kept just not getting it.  They had four, regular priced items and were like: we get the 4th free right?

Okay seriously?  I thought.  The funniest was that I was staring at a fluroscent orange sign with big black writing that clearly explains how the sale works.

The next person in line goes, this time it's someone with three sale stickered items.  These are yellow, not orange.  He also asked if he got the 4th free.

Nope, not bright fluroscent orange people.

It made me really, really happy that I don't work in retail.  I'd rather get bitten on the arm than deal with people who just don't get clearly explained and really bright orange with black letters things.  Like my mom said, I'd probably throw things at the customers, which probably wouldn't go over well.

Other than that though I had a lovely week!

I got to sleep in both monday and tuesday morning.  Monday I actually slept in (till 8! woo!)  Tuesday I woke up at 5:30.  But that's okay cause I read till eight then continued my day!

Work was good, just brutally hot.

Then saterday I got to go on a nice trail ride with a great friend and awesome weather!  I was also relieved that my wild child from a few months ago left and my usual, level headed awesome trail riding pony was back!

So, about this stop bullying thing...

See, the past little while people have become louder with their rallying cry of stop bullying.  I've read articles, listened to what they have to say and find myself, uncomfortable with how their going about it.  I can't quite pinpoint why.

But I think part of my issue is that they're still spouting that (quite frankly) nonsense about telling someone, a teacher, a principle, they will help stop it.  Yeah no.

You see, I spent most of my school years being bullied, by strangers, so called friends, yadda yadda, lots of teasing, pestering and mean jibes for reasons I don't even know.   When I was in kindergarden I was being litterally pushed around by a girl.  I went and told the teacher who flat out refused to help (she was a gem).  So, this whole thing of go tell someone, they will stop it.  Don't tell kids that, because when they try it, and the people who are supposed to help do nothing?  It kind of ruins your trust in authority figures.

But you know what did help?  Telling people about what I was going through.  My parents, friends, people you would listen.  It didn't stop the bullying, but it made it bearable.  It wasn't until high school that I finally clued in that if I didn't get riled up, they'd stop.  But I think I only managed that because I had people supporting me.  And it was really satisfying laughing in the face of a bully who kept trying when I'd finally just stopped caring.

To me, bullying is not something that can be stopped.  I think it's always going to be a part of society.  Because the biggest problem with bullying, is that most of the time, the bullies are also being abused in some way.  These kids too need help.  But they're often being hurt where others can't see, where teachers can't step in (not that it helps anyways).  And some kids act out on others because they're angry, scared, depressed.

I think really I'm bothered that they portray the bullies as these mean thugs, as the bad guys.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure some of the people out there are, but I really think they are in the minority.

I also feel strongly that instead of trying to get these kids to go to people who "can stop it" they should encourage them to seek help to deal with it.  Cause let's face it, sometimes life sucks, but if you're brought up in a bubble, how will you ever deal with the real world?  Sometimes your boss will be a bully, who do you tell then to stop it? hm?

Anyhow, just my two cents.

Oh Hey I'm 23!

This week, I've now realized, was kind of a blur.  Probably because there was the 48hours of waiting for my nephew to be born, then there was the excitement of the afterwards, and then suddenly the week was over.

And it kind of just finally clued in that my birthday was tuesday.  Not that no one said happy birthday, plenty of people did that, got a lovely card with awesome chocolate from my boss at work!  I even got a nephew!  But it just finally clued in like: Oh... I'm older!

Then I got distracted again when my brother and sister in law popped over with the little guy (even forgot about church!)  Gosh he's adorable!  I'm gonna have to snag my dad's phone and steal the pictures from it when I get the chance.  Seriously love that kid!

So this week...  Yup became an aunt, on my birthday, pretty darn awesome if you ask me! :)  Work was great, pony was a superstar, except when she rolled after her bath....

Yup, that's my girl, stayed clean for maybe half an hour.

All in all a fantastic week though.  But must say I am greatly looking forward to the next two days.  Two days IN A ROW I can *sleep in!!  And see my nephew again!!

If I'm motivated enough I'm thinking a nice tuesday morning ride would be great!  But my plans are to do whatever I feel like, woohoo!  (And sadly do some groceries I forgot to do cause I forgot stores are closed on holidays.  Pfft whimps! :P)

*And by sleep in I mean wake up at the usual time and stubbornly stay in bed till I feel like getting up.