So I am noticing that I have very little problem carrying a conversation with people from other countries. We chat in my line at work and have a grand ol' time. I talk with foreign friends and can carry a delightful dialog with them, but with my American counterparts, I often find nothing to talk about with them.
What is it that gives me so much in common with our foreign friends that allows me these wonderful experiences? Why is it I have a hard time talking with people of my own national background? I am confused...
I sort of figure that I have very different world views and more open minded about things, but that should not hinder my socializing with them. I don't know sports, and not really up on politics that much, I don't really care about pop culture, and don't need to know who Brittany Spears is dating. Maybe that is the difference. I like to experience life through food, music, social interactions, not from watching it on TV or reading about it in a tabloid.
I am glad however that I have friends that I do enjoy. Often I wonder what makes us friends since sometimes we have very little in common, but then I get together with them and have such a great time and experience I don't question the luck of our relationship. I do swear however that I must be European! Maybe not in this life, but in one previously!
So I was thinking today, because I had some extra time while bored at work, and I was wondering about people and their anger and the causes they chose to be angry about. I was reflecting on times when you see the ugly girl being rude and mean to the pretty waitress, the doltish student beating up the honors student, the outcast joining a terrorist group. There is something in common with all of them. They each have some insecurity that causes them to be angry and unleash their anger in a variety of ways.
Is it because they cannot find peace in themselves to stop the anger, or find that balance that says, "it is OK that they don't look like the models in the magazines", or "it is OK they their talents lye in fixing an engine rather than in physics". Is it shame and lack of self acceptance that causes the anger level to rise in the most unimportant situations?
Being a bit on the hefty side a lot of my life, then being athletic, then large, then thin, then fat, now heading back to the athletic side again, I understand how it feels to not be the right size, accepted all the time, to be different, to have my mom buy "HUSKY" jeans when I was a kid. I know what it is like to feel like an outsider (Try moving to St. George, UT in High School from So. California and most people thinking you are stuck up and a "rebel"). I understand, but maybe it is just my personality to go through it, learn a little something and move on. I can't ever say I have been truly angry to the point I had to hurt others by: protesting against their rights (think Civil Rights movement, Gay Marriage, the Fallwell cult), picketing places of business because of their stance on issues, boycott churches, businesses, institutions, TV stations or anything else because I don't believe in what they believe in.
I do however believe in forming your own opinions, but NEVER telling someone their "opinion" is wrong. If there is fact that can be proven and someone states it wrong, well then that is something else, but opinion and beliefs are totally different than fact.
I think that there would be a lot less angry people if they just were more self accepting and in turn be accepting of others and just let silly things roll off their backs. Live and let live, I believe is the saying, and how simple it is, but how hard is it to do for most.
Ok, so I have not been eating the best in the past week before the trip, but, I did not gain or lose weight. I did however gain weight while on my 4 day whirlwind tour of Jacksonville, Florida. 6.8 pounds to be exact.
I freaked out! I understand that I was sitting for about 32 hours in a car during this 4 day period. I also know that I was sleeping in a bed for 16 hours, traveling while there sitting for about 2.5 hours, dining (and sitting) for about 7 hours, watching TV and playing games (sitting more) for about 10 hours. In a 92 hour period, that leaves about 24.5 hours of activity. That is only about 6 hours a day that I was actually moving. Not necessarily walking, jogging, etc, just not sitting or being stagnant. That is scary. I do more on a normal day at work! Well, I was freaked out enough and decided to list everything that I ate and that was not being burnt off. I have to say, we did pretty well in our choices. There were some bad decisions of food, and I did have one morning while on the road with fast food (just a breakfast sandwich though). Here is my journal of what all I ate on the trip and the morning the preceded it, and the afternoon/evening that followed it. I typed in red the really bad choices...
Florida Trip August 28- September 1st.
@Work Fri
2 piece chicken thigh, German potatoes, 1 potato dumpling, red cabbage, water.
Before drive2 piece chicken thigh, German potatoes, 2 potato dumpling, and water.
1 scoop coffee bean ice cream + 3 bites of other flavors.
Veggie platter – carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, AND BAD FOR ME CHEMICALLY FILLED VEGGIE DIP (i.e. “Ranch”).
Grilled steak with sweet potato.
¼ banana cream pie.
3 glasses sangria. (but oh it was good)
FL Day 3
Omelet w/potatoes and sausage, hash browns, coffee w/sugar.
Chicken leg and thigh, roast beef hash, cauliflower au gratin, mushroom penne alfredo, Cuban coffee latte.
Buca anti pasto salad, bread (7-8 sm slices), pasta Romano (penne w/ artichoke, chicken, broccoli and a white wine sauce), chicken alfredo pasta, water.
Drive Home
2 Larabars, 2 blue sky energy drinks, sausage croissant from BK, peanuts, OJ fresh squeezed, sausage kolachi, 1 fruit kolachi, 1 cheese kolachi
@Home
spicy lentils with corn chips, 4 rice crackers, tater tots (way too many) & fry sauce, water
KFC bbq wings (5), KFC 2 wings, 2 thighs (half grilled half extra crispy), mashed potatoes and gravy, 2 biscuits, potato wedges, water
Eating like this made my stomach measurement go up 1 ½ inchs and my weight go up 6.8lbs! IN 4 DAYS!
Anyhow, back on the detox. I will be doing it in line with my friend Phil who is starting it in a few days. I am sure I will feel much better doing it again and will seriously to to stick tighter to it following. I will keep you updated!
Today while at work I had two fairly random yet similar things happen. While talking to a co-worker she looked a little down. I asked if she was ok and she said she was having a bum day. I told her we all have those from time to time. She asked if I ever did because I am always happy. I told her I sure as hell did, but she just was never around to see them, but in general I am happy. Later on I was talking to a woman while bagging her groceries. I asked how she was. She said good. She in turn asked how I was and I said I was "fantastic". She stopped and looked at me and said she was stunned by my response; it was the best she had heard in a long time. I told her you have gotta make life fantastic everyday!
It got me to thinking. Do I make life fantastic every day? The answer is no. Why not!? I guess sometimes I am too lazy. Today was mostly great even though a few thing went wrong. I still got errands done, sat for a bit in a coffee shop, went to work, grocery shopped and made a great dinner and spent a few hours with Walter before he went to bed. Why do I not do this every day? Days like these make me happy. I enjoy them. I do not enjoy doing nothing all day and being couped up in the house.
The real question is am I going to change it. I took the first step in living a better life...moving. Now we live in a fabulous city that has more options I am interested in and it is a great start. The next step is simple yet hard sometimes....leaving the house to take advantage of those options. Just because I work does not mean I cannot get out earlier and go to the coffee shop, or on days I close go to the springs to enjoy the outdoors and water. I can go running or walking by the lake after work in the evenings. I don't have to watch TV, or do laundry if I don't want to. I can do that another time when I am bound to being home (you know like when I want to cook or something). This life is an adventure, the only problem is, you have to take the initiative to make it one. I don't want to be the person that is given the opportunity and I just stay in the car and look. Get me out and let me run around! Stop the car and lets explore!
I have to admit I am getting better and often trying, but some days I am not fantastic and it is harder to want to be out and about. I am lucky that I have a good life and awesome people who sometimes push me to take the adventure although I often think I am more the one pushing them into it!
Let's make the most of it. We only live once! So eat monk fish. Run a marathon (although you will never see me want to do that I don't think, but I will never say never). Skinny dip at the lake/beach. Fall in love. Make each day AWESOME and unforgettable! Stop judging others by their outside appearances but understand them for who they are, regardless of if you agree or not. Listen to a different genre of music outside your comfort zone, not to enjoy it, but to understand it. Take a walk in the rain WITHOUT an umbrella or raincoat. Smile at people. You'll be surprised at how many people will genuinely smile back. Fail at things. It is the only way to find out how to succeed and to be humble when you do have success. Do what you are good at. Stop focusing on being better at things you are not naturally good at. Excel at those things that come to you naturally and let others excel in their areas of strength. Those are the strongest teams. Eat cake. Who cares about the carbs or calories. Just eat it in moderation to enjoy and experience the flavors. Walk around outside and open your senses. Hear the sounds. Smell the scents. See the beauty. If you lack one of those senses, then compensate and imagine it. If you have all those senses, be grateful. Say "Thank you" and be sincere about it. Do it to the waiter who fills your water glass, the shop girl as you leave the shop, your sweetheart when they bring you an evening snack.
Nothing was a better read when I was a kid than the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series. Life IS a choose your own adventure. Make it the most exciting. Help others have the best they can too. It becomes a Win Win.
Nothing excites me more than a nice evening of dinner and conversation. I love being around people who can kick around feelings and ideas. I find myself more edified when I hear how others think and believe and find it often enforces my own beliefs and also causes me to think more and form new views and opinions which will turn into new beliefs.
Tonight was such a night and we had a glorious debate over things such as religion, marriage, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, science, evolution and seasonings. It was stimulating and enjoyable and such a great exchange amongst friends. I love to surround myself with people who not only share their ideas, but are open to new ones. I personally am not overly passionate about any one subject, but find myself open to new ideas and perspectives in many areas. I love to remain open to not judge or nay-say anything, but to question, post new ideas, and cause others to think differently. I am not one to force my ideas but to exchange them so that all are enlightened and can improve on each others views.
I think if we all stopped trying to prove who is right and who is wrong and just listen to each other and take out thinks we can add to our own beliefs that the world would be a better place. We would fight less and improve our minds more. I hope we can all have a delightful exchange of intelligence and accept that others have different views and love that as human beings we have the right to think and believe differently.
It is amazing to me how life truly is like a piece of fabric to where each experience, choice, decision, activity, job, or whatever it may be is woven into it and creates a beautiful design. I really am blessed that my life is making a beautiful tartan of my existence.
I was talking to people at work today and recounting portions of my past and still am amazed at all I have accomplished in my lifetime so far. It is not full of grandiose accomplishments, but of small experiences with the occasional accomplishment added in. I am proud of all that I have done and, while some would find certain things I have done in my lifetime shameful, significant, wonderful, or dull, I find that those things are what made the most beautiful designs in making me what I am today.
Some say that pride is a bad thing. If that is so, then I am full of bad things! I am so proud of who I am, what I do, what I have learned from good and bad experiences. I am proud of the way I treat people, the truth I live my life by and the honesty I speak when I speak from my heart. I am a passionate person. I cry. I love and I am loved. I am ever-changing. I am not one thing but many things. I care, but am selective about what and who I care about. I am strong and adventurous. I am weak and teachable. I love to learn, but not always from books or experts, but from life and the people who live it. I am well traveled. I know what I know because I want to know it. I am loyal. I am a friend, in every sense of the word, even though at times I can be self centered, I am there when needed. I am colorful.
Today I did look back at a bit of the tartan of my life and what I saw was beautiful and colorful, warming and comforting, exciting and bold. I cannot wait for more to be woven into it!
So why is it that our culture thinks that we want the biggest portions for the buck at restaurants? I know everyone wants a good deal, but really, look what it is doing to us! Bigger is making us HUGE! Most of the time I cannot even finish my meal, yet, time and time again, I order the thing that give me the biggest bang for my buck. Do I do that because they offer it? or because I want the left overs? I don't know, but what I do know is that I really wish I could go to a restaurant and get a proper sized portion meal for a decent price. I want something that I will probably not throw out or have to take home for an equitable price.
Half portions are seriously awesome, but often times not half the price, but rather $2-$3 less. So I am getting half as much for 1/5th less price? That just does not add up to me. I would rather pay full price for a full order and have lunch for the next day! That makes financial sense! I say, especially with the economy they way it is, that restaurants cut the portions, cut the price and have more frequent visits from customers because they can afford to come more often because each trip is not such a financial burden.
Now think of this, if people are not so stuffed, they will start to order desserts, after dinner coffees, and even more appetizers. I know that when I go out we often skip the appetizers because A. they are really pricey and B. because after eating that we are too full for our meal! Less is more! Let me spell it out a little:
Dining Currently at and Average Chain Restaurant: Appetizer.......6.99 Entree...........10.99 x2 Dessert.........4.99 x2 Drinks..........1.99 x2 ________________ Total Ideal Dinner $42.93 + tip and tax minus out the desserts (because you are too full) $32.98 +tip and tax Now you are debating the appetizer because you know the meal is big $25.96 +tip and tax
Imagine Smaller Portions and Prices: Appetizer......$4.99 Entree..........$6.99 x2 Dessert.........$2.99 x2 Drinks..........$1.99 x2 _________________ Total Smaller Portion Meal $28.93 +tip and tax
You are spending less on food costs because you are serving less, but people can now afford to eat each course and not at the risk of becoming overly full and fat! and your average bill is up $3!
Anyhow, that is what I think. I am sure they have paid smarter people to figure out their side, but from the side of a diner who grew up to eat everything on his plate and lacks the control to not and has become a bit chubby because of it (not totally, but highly contributed by), I say smaller portions, smaller price. Chant it with me! Smaller Portions! Smaller Price! Smaller Portions! Smaller Price! Smaller Portions! Smaller Price! Smaller Portions! Smaller Price!
common with our foreign friends that allows me these wonderful experiences? Why is it I have a hard time talking with people of my own national background? I am confused...
