How Do You Gain Your Energy?

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In undergrad, part of my program involved studying personality types. I liked this unit. There were a few different definitions of extravert versus introvert (welcome to the world of social science - every term has like 5 varying definitions), but the one I found most intriguing had to do with how we gain our energy.

Do you gain energy from being at home, having time to read a good book, taking a solitary walk? According to social scientists, you would be labeled generally introverted. 

Or...

Do you gain energy from being around people, from exchanging conversation, making connections in a crowd? (Extroverted). 

In reality, no one is exclusively one category or the other. We all like conversation, just like we all at times enjoy curling up with a good book for some personal and quiet time. But, in general, how would you say you gain the most energy?

I am extroverted. Period. I get so, so, SO sluggish if I'm just sitting around by myself all day. If I don't have human interaction, I mean the kind where I can make people laugh and vice versa, it's hard for me to maintain motivation in other areas of my life. It's good to know this at this point in my life. It's been tough lately, so when I get really down I know I need to work harder to be around other people.

So, I've (hopefully tactfully) been asking if I could come to other people's parties. :) And you know what, as soon as I'm around those other people, I feel better, lighter, more energized. It's amazing. I NEED people. This is as much a bad thing as a good thing, of course. Some days require you to be at home alone all day, whether that be illness or a term paper, etc. And our worth shouldn't depend on the attention we get in a crowd, right? But I just can't help liking groups more than solitude. 

Blessings of today that go along with that: My sweet visiting teacher invited me last night to a "Family Storm Evening" which was a blast. In addition, I had a great conversation with my roommate, watched Titanic with Celeste (hysterical - don't worry, we skipped the bad sketchy sketches), and ran into some people from the ward. Heavenly Father is looking out for us! I believe He gives us what we need. :) May your day be joyful!

Back To The Basics...

It's time to start documenting the happy things that happen to me again. :) Mostly for my benefit, though if you read this hopefully it'll bouy you up to, maybe by reminding you of similar things you've been blessed with today!

Celeste and I played for a musical fireside tonight. It was such a great experience. Celeste had learned the piece by ear like two days earlier, and she played it flawlessly. I felt a strength and connection pulsing through us, I know it was the Spirit. We've never played better together! Definitely a wonderful, warm feeling. Funny note: An investigator also performed, playing an amazing song that he wrote! More John Legend than Mormon, but we needed that pick-me-up!!!

My parents gave me a flashlight. With the approach of FRANKENSTORM, I feel very grateful for that.

I have amazing Visiting Teachers who laugh with me about everything!

I have delicious candies to eat during the storm. Hmm, I may need to buy some real food and non-perishables.

I've gotten mixed messages on whether MY school is canceled or not, buuuuuut...the nice thing is everybody else's is, so, no school traffic!

I learned a lot of things in church today, especially about asking for understanding from the Lord "with an honest heart." (D&C 8). So the Lord really does want to hear how we're TRULY feeling, not just what we should be feeling. And if we ask in faith, He will give us understanding about our circumstances. The Lord gives us what we need to be happy now, if we will but recognize it.

I'm learning lots! Love you all family! Hope you have a safe day tomorrow.

Southerners Eat...

I've often been dismayed at my lack of real affiliation with the South. I mean, I kind of consider myself a southerner, (at BYU, I would sometimes claim it, but most of the time that would feel dishonest!) Growing up in Loudoun County, you get caught up more in the young urban professional vibe than the BBQ and grits kind.

But I now have a roommate and classmate from Georgia (with adorable accents) and I've met some great southern gals in my ward. So, based on those experiences, here is a list of things that I know we don't eat in Loudoun County, but seem to be essential foods of the South:

~ Red velvet cake
~ Hushpuppies
~ Honey Mustard
~ Grits
~ Fried Chicken (fried anything - my southern roommate convinced me to get fried cheesecake...interesting!)
~BBQ
~Crabs
~Shrimp
~Boiled peanuts

Yumm. No? Seems like a pretty good life.

Just a Spoonful of...Lavender??

Hello!!! Today was a busy day, of course. I spent 8 HOURS editing a group presentation today (people, prezi is amazing, but it is so time-consuming! Next time I'm just going to use my Microsoft 2000 powerpoint).

Anyways, I was kind of having a panic attack because I also have a 10-page paper due Monday...so I took a hot shower and didn't turn on the overhead fan, because I figured the steam would help me relax and keep me from hyperventilating. Then, I took a whiff of Celeste's doterra essential oils.

You'll laugh, I know, but I think it really helped. Celeste gave me this travel kit when I started grad school, and they all really smell soothing! I'm not so much a believer that the oils will heal gangrene and stuff (although I did put peppermint oil on my cheek when I had a canker sore, and it helped short-term). But I do like the smells.

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Balance, citrus, lemon, grapefruit, whisper, lavender, peppermint. And frankincense.

Well, today I'm grateful for the essentials! I'm also grateful that I get to give a talk on Sunday. It's been over a year, and last week I was thinking I would love to give a talk. I think Heavenly Father knows that I needed to. It's on how sharing the gospel brings others to Christ. I'm excited! :)

Grateful

It's almost 1:30am, but it's been a great day. I've seen so many wonders of nature - there was a beautiful sunset and some well-timed wind, it just made it one of those choice fall moments. I've been seeing a lot of birds lately. I think I'll devote a whole post to that tomorrow. For today, I'll just recount some blessings.

I've been having pretty intense muscle tension lately, but thanks to a blessing and help from my family and a foam roller, it has gotten much better. I'm hoping I'm going into remission.

A presentation that felt VERY stuck has come leaps and bounds. Thank goodness, because it's due Wednesday.

We played knockout at FHE. It was a blast.

I laughed a lot with a girl I met today. I hope we become best friends, she's hilarious!!!

I felt satisfied. I felt happy too, but it was wonderful to feel at peace with where I am in my life right now and have renewed excitement for the direction my life is taking. I hope I have many more of these moments in the future.

Oh, and I burned my cookies. :) Whiiiiiich saved me from gorging on them. That's a blessing in disguise, I guess.

Anticipation

I have been really looking forward to this weekend. :) Why?

Because TWO of my sisters are coming down with their families. I haven't seen them in months and months. I am so very very excited to hang out with them and their fun husbands and beautiful kids!

I used to judge the "Utah people" out in school, who went home frequently on the weekends. "Wow, they're really having a hard time transitioning to being out on their own." I thought.  Now that I'm in a similar position, my viewpoint has softened! While I am happy to be on my own, I love going home and visiting. It recharges me. I laugh so much with my family! They're my best friends in the whole world. They've definitely been the good of my week, let alone day. But a definite good of today was my hot shower. Oh, my, how I love long hot showers. I think I clocked 35 minutes a few days ago. Oops.

The only bad thing about going home is that the mattress on Sarah's floor is really hard, but if I'm tired enough that usually doesn't end up being too much of an obstacle. Haha. :)

So it's been a full week, and I'm looking forward to a great couple of days with the fam. I hope I can squeeze in some HW, because I think I have a project, 10 page paper, presentation, handout, and chapter of my thesis due within the next two weeks. Yikes!!!

Don't Feed the Raccoons!!!

We have a raccoon in the neighborhood. Last night it was under one of our cars. A kindhearted person fed it, but the whole time I was thinking "Noooooooo!!!"

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What a sweetie, right? Wrong! Raccoons always look adorable, but they are very aggressive and territorial creatures. They eat ANYTHING, from anywhere, and your disheveled trash cans will be evidence of that. 

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Yeah, that's probably more realistic. The raccoon has been pulling stuff from our trash recently. I might borrow dad's raccoon trap, though it may take some courage after one raccoon accidentally gutted himself on one part of the cage. Yick. And so sad.

Still seeking the good! Today was a very good day, regardless of the raccoon. I got a 100 on my very first paper back from grad school (it was a total reflection/journal type paper, but hey! I can do this grad school thing!). I'll let let you know what happens to miko.

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Note: Do not try this (i.e., being friends with a raccoon) at home.