TGIF

Happy Friday!  This week was long and fast at the same time.

Highlights:

1. Dinner with my roommates - so grateful for them!  Thai food so spicy it burned my throat...but so yummy!
2. Small group with just the girls - and the babies.  Love getting to cuddle those little ones.
3. Coffee shop hopping after an afternoon dentist appointment.  Had to leave the first place after my internet time ran out.  Was nice to just sit & work in a different environment.
4. Bingo night with the wild & crazy kids that I tutor.  They were so wound up, but I love em!
5. Finding the courage to talk to strangers just to offer encouraging words or to strike up conversation with people I run into who I think won't remember me.  It's fun making connections.
6. Watching funny squirrel videos, even though I missed Squirrel Appreciation Day.
7. Getting my Notary Public card in the mail - it's official!
8. Making homemade sweet potato fries and lasagna and making a huge mess of the kitchen.
9. Trying out my new glasses.
10. Finding time to relax.

Expectation

I just listened to a podcast about a man who is blind but uses a clicking noise with his mouth to sense what's around him - like echolocation.   He does this so well that he can do most things on his own without a problem, including things like riding a bike.

He didn't even realize this was unusual until he was in around 5th grade and met another blind student who could not get around by himself.  Someone led him everywhere, brought him his lunch, etc.  He was basically afraid to be alone.  And this shocked the first guy, who couldn't understand it.

The difference, the podcast postulated, was the expectations put on each boy by those around them.  The first boy had parents who let him climb trees, explore the world around him, and allowed him to learn from his mistakes, even if it could be dangerous at times.  He lived as "normally" as possible.  The second boy had parents who tried to help him by catering to him, not expecting him to be able to do things like everyone else.

As an adult, the first man had testing done on his brain that showed the visual cortex reacting in the same way as a person who can see.  Essentially, he said he could "see" images in his head when he clicked. (This was not true in other blind people who did not use clicking.)

Anyway, long story short, the conclusion was that our expectations have the power to make a blind person see.  Pretty amazing stuff!

Apply that to other situations, and think of the power we have to influence those around us for the good.

What do you expect of your friends, your family, your co-workers?  What about yourself?  Are you setting the bar too low?

What crazy, unexpected things could we accomplish if we just expected more?

New Look

Well, it's getting late, but I didn't want to break my blogging streak, so this will be short & sweet.

After probably 10 years, I finally got some new glasses.  I don't wear glasses very often since I usually wear contacts, but my old pair was getting a little worn, so I decided it was time for something new.  I got talked into two pairs - the professional one & the fun one.  Of course, I loved them both at the store, but now that they're home, I'm not as sure.  They'll grow on me, though.

I don't have a picture of the professional ones yet, but here are the fun ones:

Now, I think it's time for a hair cut!

If you give a mouse a cookie....

21 Days to New Habits?

Some say it takes 21 days to form a new habit.

Upon further research, apparently that's a myth.  (On a side note, if you don't know the "apparently kid" you should check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz5TGN7eUcM  You're welcome.)

One article I read said realistically, it takes 2-8 months to build new behaviors into your life.

In any case, I've been working on some new habits, and I'm about to hit the 21 day mark, so I'll call it a small victory. :)

I'm not one for New Year's resolutions, but I did decide to start some new things on January 1st, and so far they've been successful.

1. Gratitude Jar

Every day I take a little slip of paper and write down something I'm thankful for, something good that happened that day, or something I might want to remember.  The goal is to be able to look back at the end of the year & see all the things I have to be grateful for.  So far it's been a great way to reflect on the day and it's fun to watch the jar fill up!  (Another random side: This jar used to be my fish bowl :) )

2. Q&A a Day Journal

I saw this journal on someone else's blog and thought it was such a cool idea.  There's a question for each day of the year with lines for 5 different years.  I can't wait to see how my answers compare next year.

(Don't worry, I think today's answer is "no")


3. My Utmost for His Highest

I'm pretty sure this book has been in my house at least since I was in high school.  I've read it in bits and pieces over the years, but I always get something new out of it.  I've been reading it daily since the beginning of the month, and even though I don't always understand all of Mr. Chambers' fancy language, it always challenges me.  If you've never read it, I highly recommend it...and I think they have versions in more modern language now as well.


I guess if I had to give this month a theme, I would say "Reflection."  I hope to keep these habits going even as the busy season approaches at work.

Only 1-7 months to go to form the habit!

Things I've Learned After 3 Weeks Off of Facebook

• I don't need to know as much as I thought I did
• I have more free time in my day than I realized (and I can still find frivolous ways to fill that time, even without FB)
• Instead of feeling more lonely, I feel less so
• I can survive without seeing every photo of all of my friends' children or what everyone ate for dinner
• I can still relate to people without saying, "Hey, did you see _____ (fill in the blank) on Facebook?"

And...

• Apparently Facebook misses me more than I miss it because it keeps sending me random notification emails about things it never notified me about before!
• Thanks for making me feel loved, FB

Happy Sunday!

Today was a good day, with a nice mix of relaxation & productivity.  I started the day by going to church followed by a visit to a local coffee shop for some reading.  Then this afternoon, I spent quite a while in the kitchen, which I've really come to enjoy.

First I made some "clean out the refrigerator" chili with various leftover ingredients, which turned out to be quite delicious!  Ground beef, tomato sauce, tomato paste, homemade salsa, black beans, pinto beans, corn, and seasonings.  I paired it with some bake-at-home organic rosemary bread that I found at Aldi.  Perfect dinner for a winter day and plenty of leftovers for lunch this week - bonus!

Then I made this granola:  http://www.themom100.com/the-mom-100-blog/recipes/crunchy-chewy-granola/

I love this recipe...it really is chewy and crunchy, and so easy to make!

Next, I decided to prep some easy grab & go breakfast items for the week.  I find it so much less stressful to get ready in the morning when I don't have to worry about preparing breakfast & lunch.  

I made some overnight oats - almond milk, plain yogurt, steel cut oats, flax or chia seeds, berries, and a little bit of jam for sweetness.  There are tons of variations online, but I usually just use whatever I have on hand.  Coconut is a good addition too.  Jut put all the ingredients in a jar & shake it up, then mix and eat in the morning.  So yummy!

Finally, I made a couple of smoothies to freeze -- I haven't tried this before, but one of my co-workers does it & says it works out well.  You just have to remember to put them in the fridge the night before so there is time to thaw.

I made a PB chocolate banana mix with almond milk and spinach.  Look forward to seeing how they turn out defrosted.

Looking forward to a great week ahead!

Best Part of My Day

Standing in the return line at Kohl's.  The surprisingly long return line considering it is not the week after Christmas and it is 7pm on a Saturday night (yes, I'm a party animal, I know!).  

I walk up behind an adorable elderly couple and casually comment on the long line.  The guy says, "You're not in a hurry, are you?"

I shrug. "No, not really."

"Because, if you are, I can go up there and speed things up," he says confidently.

We share a laugh.  Then he turns around.  A few moments later, he turns to show me a picture on his phone.

"Look at that pile of snow!" he exclaims, showing me a mound created by the plow truck, as if it's the most amazing thing he's ever seen.

"Wow!" I say. I ask where the picture was taken.

"At the old folks home."  He laughs.

He turns back around.  His wife says something quietly, probably telling him to leave me alone. :)

A few seconds pass, then he's back with another photo.

"That's my dog."

"Aww, cute!" I reply.

"He's dead now," he says bluntly, then he laughs again.  I can't help but laugh too.

Then it's his turn at the register.

"I'll make it quick, so you don't have to wait long."

He banters with the clerk, then as he leaves, he says to me, "Thanks for coming in!"

I couldn't help but walk through the rest of the store with a goofy smile on my face.  Oh, the little things.  Day made.


Second Best Part of My Day

Sitting in Starbucks, working on my computer.  Overheard conversation of two twenty-something girls, talking about a friend and her boyfriend.

"Their relationship sounds so boring!  She said they are trying not to make out."

"What?!"

"Yeah, I can't imagine trying not to.  Why would you do that?"

"I know!  It's so fun!"

"What are they going to do if they get married?  Wait a year to have sex for the first time?"

Oh dear.