As promised, I had the following on deck where we last left off:
"1. Pro: You catch more flies with honey. Con: You spill honey on the ground and don't clean it up right away, it attracts bugs. The quest to find balance without getting too much of a good thing.
2. 8 years, 10 inches, and countless irrational concerns later, I think I'm finally ready. Another promise fulfilled.
3. Why I want to boycott the phrase "for lack of a better word". "
4. (last-minute addition) How something even remotely related to religion brought a simple smile to my face - free of debating ideas, questioning faith, or sparking conflict.
1. Honey. The adage "you'll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar" really came into play for me somewhere between sophomore and junior year of high school, and has proven more and more helpful ever since. Looking back, if it weren't for me being friendly or open-minded with certain people on certain days over the years, I probably wouldn't have the same great relationships (if any) that I have now with my closest friends. Once I finally snapped out of my angsty 15-year-old rut, I realized that most of the fun and enjoyment I get out of life stems from having a basic level of openness and friendliness with each person I come across - friend, foe, or stranger. Long story short, my mindset did a 180 from "I don't like you unless I know you" to "everyone I meet is a potential new friend." A few of those someones have turned out to be my best friends now, so, yay :)
But...sometimes I can't help but think I'm spreading myself too thin - a "honey whore," if you will. Sure, plans conflict and people talk behind backs sometimes, but more and more often I find myself caught between overlapping circles of friends, obligated to sit there and absorb the chatter from both sides, juggle plans all over the place, yet remain loyal to each of my friends in each overlapping group. I've found out the hard way that if I stay spread too thin for so long, it'll start to attract some ugly drama and unwanted characters into my role in each of these friendships, making any gray area even grayer. So I've become much more of a listener, figuring out when to spread the honey to the fullest extent AND when to pull back when I need to. Lord knows I'm not any less of a talker, but learning to listen more has opened my mind to some really cool ideas, thoughts, and observations in the amount of time that otherwise would've been occupied by my voice making its way through a tangled web of unnecessary drama. It's also given me more motivation to put the right amount of effort into each one of my relationships, constantly shifting and adapting but always requiring some effort. And I love each and every one of these [groups of] people so I'm more than happy to maintain that balance - helps keep my priorities in line. Things are working themselves out as each of our lives take on a new direction, but it's always something. Always comes back to maintaining balance, doesn't it?...
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2. Hair. Sometime in 2001 or 2002, a friend of mine started suffering from hair loss for some mysterious reason, and needless to say there's nothing enjoyable about that, especially for a 14-year-old girl to have to go through for reasons she couldn't pinpoint at the time. So at that point, I made the decision to one day donate my hair to be used in wigs for women who need them due to hair loss from chemotherapy, stress, what have you. For some reason, I just kept putting it off or forgetting about it since freshman year of high school. Finally in 2008 I noticed I had let my hair get pretty long and decided to keep growing it so I could eventually donate it. The minimum length to donate was 10 inches, and it took much longer than I thought for my hair to reach an acceptable length to chop it off for donation while still having enough hair left on my head afterwards. But then my stupid concerns of "how am I going to learn to deal with this crazy short hair until it all grows back" were quickly driven away by the idea that I was choosing to get rid of my hair because some people never even got the choice to lose all of theirs, so in October of 2009 I finally chopped off 12 inches. And it felt great. Not so much that it took me 8 years to get around to it, but that I finally made good on my promise for a good cause. I ultimately chose to donate to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program though, instead of Locks of Love, since Pantene doesn't charge the women for the wigs they need which I think is the right way to go about it.
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3. Hackneyed. Why do I want to boycott the phrase "for lack of a better word"? Because I'm a big believer in thinking before you speak and making the most of the words you do say. I know it's hard to come up with the exact right word you're looking for on the spot, but I do think that if everyone thought a split-second longer before they spoke, it might start a nice trend of more meaningful conversations. It seems like everyone has less and less time to chat as the days go on, so I've been trying to use more powerful and meaning-packed words in brief elevator or between-train conversations to hopefully bring about some conversation that's more solid than "hey, how are ya? see ya later!" , no matter how quick in passing. This might stem from the "less is more" idea that's proven successful for me in promotions and telephone recruiting in terms of holding people's interest within their ever-decreasing attention spans. Or it might also stem from a logic that came from my mother when I was young to prevent me from developing a trucker-mouth: "The only reason people curse so much is because they have nothing better or more intelligent to say"...That one hasn't panned out to be totally true, but I definitely see the logic behind it. Here's to staying eloquent!
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4. Hasid. Very rarely will I ever discuss anything related to religion [in this forum or elsewhere] but this time it’s more for discussing music. In an earlier post I mentioned how 93.3 WMMR schooled me on some new music earlier in the fall. It just so happens that lightning struck twice – one morning a few weeks ago, the Preston & Steve show featured an artist I’d been meaning to get into since 2006-ish but for some reason never fully got around to – Matisyahu. From the website: “Known for blending traditional Jewish themes with Reggae, rock and hip hop sounds, Matisyahu is most recognizable for being a hasidic Jew.” I forget exactly which morning that was, but as I got ready for work via my usual routine, I remember thinking “well this is a nice switch.” (because, routine-break aside, the music was just really cool). So, despite my haphazard start to that day, my blow-dryer crapping out on me, and running the real possibility of missing my train – the experience of new music still brought a smile to my face (even BEFORE my first cup of coffee!) Just another tidbit in the quest to expand my musical horizons.
Speaking of quests, I’ll end it on this – I’m not much for making a big declaration of new year’s “resolutions,” but here are the few areas I’m trying to expand/improve in my life [these actually started coming into play before 2010, sometime in fall ‘09 when I started working and getting into a routine]
1.Make healthier choices (this is all-encompassing: eat better foods, fit more physical activity into my day, don’t drink to the point of feeling sluggish as much/as often, drink more water, avoid stress and keep my mood as positive as I can, get enough sleep...)
2.Keep up with news and current events more than I have in the past.
3.Read more.
4.Make an actual effort to catch up on the TV shows and movies I keep saying I’ll watch one of these days.
5.Make time to re-visit my favorite hobbies I seem to have let slip – sewing, quilting, playing music, crocheting, other arts-and-crafts projects.
6.Give my overall look somewhat of a makeover.
7.Be more financially responsible (sure it’s nice to develop good habits now, blahblahblah – the short of it is, I REALLY need to afford to move out of this house soon before it starts to affect every area of my life for the worse.)
As of February 2010, each one of those “quests” has been moving in the right direction. Here’s to progress! ‘Til next time…keep rockin' :)
Peace and love,
Abby
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
Motley Crue
*NOTE: This post was originally written and posted on September 20, 2009. Shortly after posting it, I decided to remove it for certain reasons at that time, but now I've decided to post it again so, enjoy the repeat, and stay tuned for more to come! Happy Holidays =)
motley (adj.): composed of diverse often incongruous elements
motley (n.): the characteristic dress of the professional fool
(courtesy of webster.com)
Today is the day I finally decided to keep track of the questions that cross my mind at random, write them all down on a list, and steadily work towards finding the answers to each of them. That's where I got the idea to keep this post to a motley assortment of numbered items, instead of trying to force one idea and run with it, forgetting other ideas in the process.
1. The noun definition of 'motley' caught my eye quickly. I realize it's meant in the sense of a jester, but I particularly like the phrase "professional fool." Immediately after reading the definition at face value, I interpreted "professional fool" as "someone who is a professional and is also a fool." We've all heard the story of the overly ambitious worker who hangs onto their personal life by a thread for as long as possible, weighing the pros and cons of both lives, until the work world scissors take that last tiny snip for the win. I saw it happen first-hand, and hated what I saw. I've always sworn to myself that if I end up in a 9-5 setting, I'd never let that happen to me, no matter how ambitious I got with my work. Well, I can only see my ambition increasing from this point on, and -- contrary to my previous "no desk, no routine, no suit" idea of what I'd do with my life -- I am in fact leaning more towards a Mon-Fri 9-5 atmosphere, and so I'm getting this down in words mainly as a physical reminder of that promise I made to myself to never let my personal, fun, family life get killed off by my professional life. Here's to maintaining balance.
2. Speaking of "motley," Motley Crue is just one of several bands/artists I'm making a new concerted effort to familiarize myself with. Citizen Cope, Dave Matthews Band, and Foo Fighters are also near the top of the list right now (and deservedly so. They're all so, so good). A big contributor to this effort was keeping WMMR on in the house at all times during their "Back to School A-Z" feature which lasted about a week and a half. That Thursday-Sunday experience not only schooled me on some great music I'd never heard (making good on their promise to us listeners), but also served as a HUGE step in the so far gradual process of 93.3 WMMR becoming, undoubtedly, my favorite Philadelphia radio station. Now, those who know me know that I'm a big lover and supporter of the local music scene in Philadelphia. (Those of you who don't know me, this is a key fact. Take note.) Admittedly, I haven't devoted enough time to a station I've always loved coming back to after a while, 88.5 WXPN. Considering how much I love World Cafe Live's studio/venue atmosphere and the musical gems discovered there, I do plan on tuning in more often, hopefully making up for lost time. For some reason, though, there's just something about WMMR's perfect mix of Preston & Steve's borderline-inappropriate comedy, Pierre Robert's mellowed-out coffee breaks, Jaxon's avid support of the same bands I've fallen so deeply in love with since 2005ish, Jacky Bam Bam's perfect airwaves-friendly voice lulling me to sleep on those insomniac nights, and whatever else falls into the category of "everything that rocks" that seals the deal for how much the station has really grown on me. [Note: the proceeds of Jaxon's most recent Local Shots Live release party went towards the Bluebond Music Education Fund , an organization I definitely plan on getting to know better. This is the kind of stuff I live for. Updates on this to follow.]
3. I'm getting tired, so I'll end it on this and save the rest of tonight's topics for another time. Today I learned a bit about lacrosse. If it weren't for the PR/media project opportunity I picked up on the side almost a year ago, I probably wouldn't have learned this information. The Philadelphia Lacrosse Foundation, a 501(c)3 that just became official within the past year, has the mission and goal of providing an outlet for lacrosse players, coaches, and enthusiasts in the region to play, learn, watch, and discuss the sport. I was brought on in the early, early stages of the Foundation's development, and throughout that process I've learned a lot of cool information from the group's founder (a lacrosse connoisseur himself, it seems). For example, what do lacrosse and "bumping hips" have in common? Well, they're one in the same according to this group I'd never heard of who's been playing the sport since the 1800's. My role with the Philadelphia Lacrosse Foundation is moving into a higher gear again this time of year, so you can expect more tidbits of new knowledge that I come across. A few months ago, as a senior public relations student giving advice to a freshman communication major about taking the PR track, I stressed the importance of being able to really, personally, get behind whatever organization you're representing, issue you're dealing with, crisis you're managing, etc. When I took on this project with a local non-profit that hopes to become a hub of activity for box lacrosse in the region, I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into. I used my love of field hockey (played for 8 years, been away from it for 4, and Aug-Oct STILL feels empty without it) and my knowledge of soccer and ice hockey to try and get in the mindset of this similar field sport, but I didn't really care all that much about lacrosse...going against that core advice I'd given to my freshman friend. But now I'm realizing how each new project, no matter how much you know or care about the topic at hand, should be seen as a learning experience, if not just another task to complete for work. I'm having a pretty cool time with this so far, and it's been interesting to say the least. I'm glad I got involved. Updates to follow on this project, too.
motley (adj.): composed of diverse often incongruous elements
motley (n.): the characteristic dress of the professional fool
(courtesy of webster.com)
Today is the day I finally decided to keep track of the questions that cross my mind at random, write them all down on a list, and steadily work towards finding the answers to each of them. That's where I got the idea to keep this post to a motley assortment of numbered items, instead of trying to force one idea and run with it, forgetting other ideas in the process.
1. The noun definition of 'motley' caught my eye quickly. I realize it's meant in the sense of a jester, but I particularly like the phrase "professional fool." Immediately after reading the definition at face value, I interpreted "professional fool" as "someone who is a professional and is also a fool." We've all heard the story of the overly ambitious worker who hangs onto their personal life by a thread for as long as possible, weighing the pros and cons of both lives, until the work world scissors take that last tiny snip for the win. I saw it happen first-hand, and hated what I saw. I've always sworn to myself that if I end up in a 9-5 setting, I'd never let that happen to me, no matter how ambitious I got with my work. Well, I can only see my ambition increasing from this point on, and -- contrary to my previous "no desk, no routine, no suit" idea of what I'd do with my life -- I am in fact leaning more towards a Mon-Fri 9-5 atmosphere, and so I'm getting this down in words mainly as a physical reminder of that promise I made to myself to never let my personal, fun, family life get killed off by my professional life. Here's to maintaining balance.
2. Speaking of "motley," Motley Crue is just one of several bands/artists I'm making a new concerted effort to familiarize myself with. Citizen Cope, Dave Matthews Band, and Foo Fighters are also near the top of the list right now (and deservedly so. They're all so, so good). A big contributor to this effort was keeping WMMR on in the house at all times during their "Back to School A-Z" feature which lasted about a week and a half. That Thursday-Sunday experience not only schooled me on some great music I'd never heard (making good on their promise to us listeners), but also served as a HUGE step in the so far gradual process of 93.3 WMMR becoming, undoubtedly, my favorite Philadelphia radio station. Now, those who know me know that I'm a big lover and supporter of the local music scene in Philadelphia. (Those of you who don't know me, this is a key fact. Take note.) Admittedly, I haven't devoted enough time to a station I've always loved coming back to after a while, 88.5 WXPN. Considering how much I love World Cafe Live's studio/venue atmosphere and the musical gems discovered there, I do plan on tuning in more often, hopefully making up for lost time. For some reason, though, there's just something about WMMR's perfect mix of Preston & Steve's borderline-inappropriate comedy, Pierre Robert's mellowed-out coffee breaks, Jaxon's avid support of the same bands I've fallen so deeply in love with since 2005ish, Jacky Bam Bam's perfect airwaves-friendly voice lulling me to sleep on those insomniac nights, and whatever else falls into the category of "everything that rocks" that seals the deal for how much the station has really grown on me. [Note: the proceeds of Jaxon's most recent Local Shots Live release party went towards the Bluebond Music Education Fund , an organization I definitely plan on getting to know better. This is the kind of stuff I live for. Updates on this to follow.]
3. I'm getting tired, so I'll end it on this and save the rest of tonight's topics for another time. Today I learned a bit about lacrosse. If it weren't for the PR/media project opportunity I picked up on the side almost a year ago, I probably wouldn't have learned this information. The Philadelphia Lacrosse Foundation, a 501(c)3 that just became official within the past year, has the mission and goal of providing an outlet for lacrosse players, coaches, and enthusiasts in the region to play, learn, watch, and discuss the sport. I was brought on in the early, early stages of the Foundation's development, and throughout that process I've learned a lot of cool information from the group's founder (a lacrosse connoisseur himself, it seems). For example, what do lacrosse and "bumping hips" have in common? Well, they're one in the same according to this group I'd never heard of who's been playing the sport since the 1800's. My role with the Philadelphia Lacrosse Foundation is moving into a higher gear again this time of year, so you can expect more tidbits of new knowledge that I come across. A few months ago, as a senior public relations student giving advice to a freshman communication major about taking the PR track, I stressed the importance of being able to really, personally, get behind whatever organization you're representing, issue you're dealing with, crisis you're managing, etc. When I took on this project with a local non-profit that hopes to become a hub of activity for box lacrosse in the region, I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into. I used my love of field hockey (played for 8 years, been away from it for 4, and Aug-Oct STILL feels empty without it) and my knowledge of soccer and ice hockey to try and get in the mindset of this similar field sport, but I didn't really care all that much about lacrosse...going against that core advice I'd given to my freshman friend. But now I'm realizing how each new project, no matter how much you know or care about the topic at hand, should be seen as a learning experience, if not just another task to complete for work. I'm having a pretty cool time with this so far, and it's been interesting to say the least. I'm glad I got involved. Updates to follow on this project, too.
On Deck:
1. Pro: You catch more flies with honey. Con: You spill honey on the ground and don't clean it up right away, it attracts bugs. The quest to find balance without getting too much of a good thing.
2. 8 years, 10 inches, and countless irrational concerns later, I think I'm finally ready. Another promise fulfilled.
3. Why I want to boycott the phrase "for lack of a better word".
Til' next time...
Peace and love,
Abby
Monday, September 7, 2009
"This could be the start of something good..."
...no, scratch that...this WILL be the start of something good. I'm back in the blogosphere for real this time, and I don't plan on giving up on it any time soon. I'm really excited about starting this one, mainly because I have no set plan of what I'll discuss here. What I can say is that it'll always be about something I consider at least somewhat meaningful and substantial. Whether I'm writing about my hopes/dreams/expectations/goals for the working world, new (and old) ideas I want to discuss within my field, a simple act of kindness that brightened my day, or anything else in the spectrum of what goes through my head, I can promise that I'll be putting a lot more thought and effort into writing this blog, trying to sort through my ideas by looking for ways to connect them to all of my other ideas.
I've already got some topics brewing, including: "Why I want to boycott the phrase 'for lack of a better word' "..."Days that end in -ivity"...and others I haven't assigned a title yet. So stay tuned! And feel free to comment however you wish on anything you read here.
Peace and love,
Abby
I've already got some topics brewing, including: "Why I want to boycott the phrase 'for lack of a better word' "..."Days that end in -ivity"...and others I haven't assigned a title yet. So stay tuned! And feel free to comment however you wish on anything you read here.
Peace and love,
Abby
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