I haven't blogged in over 2 and a half years... and I'm not even sure why I've decided to blog again today.
I guess I'm growing extremely tired of the overabundance and relentlessness of depressing "literature" and "news" on social media over the past few months, (though I know I'm reading it all of my own free will). I just feel the need to put something out there that probably won't start an argument among my friends and family. Who knows? Maybe this post will lead to the 10 millionth great Facebook debate of 2017 between political Facebook experts, but for all of your sake, I really hope it will be much to the contrary.
I haven't blogged in 2.5 years because I've been pretty busy living, learning, coping, growing, dealing with a whole lot. I'd like to emphasize the living portion of that last sentence. How cliche...
Yes, cliche, but also... it's the truth. So, here's some quick updates on my life: nephews and nieces were born, and stole my heart. A long term relationship ended, and independence was found. My mind learned to not dwell on the past and my heart learned what truly made it beat. Weight was lost. A LOT OF WEIGHT. Debts were paid.
A house was purchased.
A house was gutted.
A house caused many headaches and sleepless nights.
A house was made beautiful.
A house was made a home.
Love was found, during the most unexpected time, but in the most wonderful of ways.
Then, I got happy fat... again... which is ok. Just currently need to hit the treadmill and lay off the Milky Way's and craft beer is all.
Also, a lot of scary stuff has happened. A billionaire with little-to-no social awareness/politeness was elected president, social injustices came to the very forefront of every form of media known to man, hurricanes destroyed homes/lives... and that is just a small sample of what has happened within this past year. The year and half before that seems like a distant, murky memory, as I sit and type this.
This is what I know: People are mad. People are angry. People are scared. People are hurt. So much more right now, than I can remember in the past 29 years of my life.
I'm not going to stir any pots and I'm not going to state my opinions on any issue, because 1.) I am no expert, 2.) I hate arguing with people (it's just not in my nature), and 3.) I'm tired.
It seems many have forgotten that the point of an argument is not to see who is right or who is wrong and hand out a hearty, newsworthy pat on the back to the "victor", but to resolve a real problem in the best possible manner.
So... what I will talk about is the fact that today marks 3 years since I adopted my friend, Sampson.
Everyone likes dogs, right?! Ok, fine... maybe not everyone. But come on, work with me, people.
You know what's funny? My last blog post was about my dog, as well. I think it's because in times when I feel like I need to get stuff off my chest, he reminds me that life has the potential to be very simple. I recently watched a documentary about a lifestyle called Minimalism, which is exactly what it sounds like... living your life with minimal extras; minimal "fluff".
I LOVED THIS DOCUMENTARY.
I think many people don't realize what's important in life until the important things are stripped from them, for whatever reason, (i.e. relationships with loved ones/family members) and all you're left with to comfort you is actually just "fluff".
I mean honestly, sit down and ask yourself, "What do I actually need to bring happiness to my life?"
For me, I need clean water... preferably the running kind. And food. And safe shelter. And love. A little money helps to make sure my water isn't shut off and I have heat during ridiculous Ohio winters. I need my parents. I need my siblings. Friends are cool. My boyfriend makes me laugh and feel wanted. My family provides me with good advice. My dog is my protector and companion. That's it. That's honestly all I need. Maybe a bed. And some playing cards.
But seriously, for true happiness, I honestly don't believe I would need much more than that.
Do I need the new iPhoneX to be able to comfort my mother when she upset because her sister has recently passed away of a terrible illness? No. Do I need 400 cable channels (that I don't even watch) when my sister needs help with her injured toddler because her husband who is in the military has to leave for training for weeks on end? No. Do I need a new designer purse for every season or yearly vacations to the Caribbean in order to sit and listen to a friend who is trying to hold it together during a difficult time when many people would just completely fall apart? No.
When I was watching this documentary and going over all the things I need and don't need, my mind kept going back to Sampson. My dog needs nothing more than water, food, exercise, shelter, and companionship. Not only does he not need any more in life than that, but he literally desires nothing more than that. When I decided to get a dog, I found his picture on Pet Finder, went to the shelter where he was being held, had a mini panic attack from hearing hundreds of dogs wailing in sterile, cold cages, paid for Sampson, I signed some papers, and I got the heck out of there and never looked back.
My dog went through a struggle, like most people do at some point in their life. He had no idea if he would ever make it past that misery, if he would ever have a decent home and a friend again. He wasn't promised anything. I had no idea the impact I would have on this dog's life, honestly. I just wanted a dog. When I heard his story of how he came to the shelter, it broke my heart but also made me elated that I could just provide him a good, healthy, loving home. Nothing extravagant, nothing grandiose, just some warmth and water and food. Maybe a tennis ball, here and there. The thing is, that was all he needed to feel like himself again.
What we need more than anything right now is companionship and simplicity, to feel like ourselves again.
I don't know... maybe there's more to it than that.
But I think that's a great start for people who are feeling lost and helpless and afraid during these times. Simplify your life. Purge the fluff, the frill, the negativity. Spend time with your friends. Listen first, and then talk once you've thought about what is actually important to say.
Chew on a tennis ball. That's what helps Sampson when he's feeling stressed.
I guess I'm growing extremely tired of the overabundance and relentlessness of depressing "literature" and "news" on social media over the past few months, (though I know I'm reading it all of my own free will). I just feel the need to put something out there that probably won't start an argument among my friends and family. Who knows? Maybe this post will lead to the 10 millionth great Facebook debate of 2017 between political Facebook experts, but for all of your sake, I really hope it will be much to the contrary.
I haven't blogged in 2.5 years because I've been pretty busy living, learning, coping, growing, dealing with a whole lot. I'd like to emphasize the living portion of that last sentence. How cliche...
Yes, cliche, but also... it's the truth. So, here's some quick updates on my life: nephews and nieces were born, and stole my heart. A long term relationship ended, and independence was found. My mind learned to not dwell on the past and my heart learned what truly made it beat. Weight was lost. A LOT OF WEIGHT. Debts were paid.
A house was purchased.
Love was found, during the most unexpected time, but in the most wonderful of ways.
Then, I got happy fat... again... which is ok. Just currently need to hit the treadmill and lay off the Milky Way's and craft beer is all.
Also, a lot of scary stuff has happened. A billionaire with little-to-no social awareness/politeness was elected president, social injustices came to the very forefront of every form of media known to man, hurricanes destroyed homes/lives... and that is just a small sample of what has happened within this past year. The year and half before that seems like a distant, murky memory, as I sit and type this.
This is what I know: People are mad. People are angry. People are scared. People are hurt. So much more right now, than I can remember in the past 29 years of my life.
I'm not going to stir any pots and I'm not going to state my opinions on any issue, because 1.) I am no expert, 2.) I hate arguing with people (it's just not in my nature), and 3.) I'm tired.
It seems many have forgotten that the point of an argument is not to see who is right or who is wrong and hand out a hearty, newsworthy pat on the back to the "victor", but to resolve a real problem in the best possible manner.
So... what I will talk about is the fact that today marks 3 years since I adopted my friend, Sampson.
Everyone likes dogs, right?! Ok, fine... maybe not everyone. But come on, work with me, people.
You know what's funny? My last blog post was about my dog, as well. I think it's because in times when I feel like I need to get stuff off my chest, he reminds me that life has the potential to be very simple. I recently watched a documentary about a lifestyle called Minimalism, which is exactly what it sounds like... living your life with minimal extras; minimal "fluff".
I LOVED THIS DOCUMENTARY.
I think many people don't realize what's important in life until the important things are stripped from them, for whatever reason, (i.e. relationships with loved ones/family members) and all you're left with to comfort you is actually just "fluff".
I mean honestly, sit down and ask yourself, "What do I actually need to bring happiness to my life?"
For me, I need clean water... preferably the running kind. And food. And safe shelter. And love. A little money helps to make sure my water isn't shut off and I have heat during ridiculous Ohio winters. I need my parents. I need my siblings. Friends are cool. My boyfriend makes me laugh and feel wanted. My family provides me with good advice. My dog is my protector and companion. That's it. That's honestly all I need. Maybe a bed. And some playing cards.
But seriously, for true happiness, I honestly don't believe I would need much more than that.
Do I need the new iPhoneX to be able to comfort my mother when she upset because her sister has recently passed away of a terrible illness? No. Do I need 400 cable channels (that I don't even watch) when my sister needs help with her injured toddler because her husband who is in the military has to leave for training for weeks on end? No. Do I need a new designer purse for every season or yearly vacations to the Caribbean in order to sit and listen to a friend who is trying to hold it together during a difficult time when many people would just completely fall apart? No.
When I was watching this documentary and going over all the things I need and don't need, my mind kept going back to Sampson. My dog needs nothing more than water, food, exercise, shelter, and companionship. Not only does he not need any more in life than that, but he literally desires nothing more than that. When I decided to get a dog, I found his picture on Pet Finder, went to the shelter where he was being held, had a mini panic attack from hearing hundreds of dogs wailing in sterile, cold cages, paid for Sampson, I signed some papers, and I got the heck out of there and never looked back.
My dog went through a struggle, like most people do at some point in their life. He had no idea if he would ever make it past that misery, if he would ever have a decent home and a friend again. He wasn't promised anything. I had no idea the impact I would have on this dog's life, honestly. I just wanted a dog. When I heard his story of how he came to the shelter, it broke my heart but also made me elated that I could just provide him a good, healthy, loving home. Nothing extravagant, nothing grandiose, just some warmth and water and food. Maybe a tennis ball, here and there. The thing is, that was all he needed to feel like himself again.
What we need more than anything right now is companionship and simplicity, to feel like ourselves again.
I don't know... maybe there's more to it than that.
But I think that's a great start for people who are feeling lost and helpless and afraid during these times. Simplify your life. Purge the fluff, the frill, the negativity. Spend time with your friends. Listen first, and then talk once you've thought about what is actually important to say.
Chew on a tennis ball. That's what helps Sampson when he's feeling stressed.
