Good morning Reader! I hope your last two weeks have been whatever you needed them to be. Mine were adventurous to say the least. Maybe I'll blog about it later, but if you want to know something, just ask me personally. It's difficult to find a place to start or pick out the most important parts and lay them out in a blog post--but know that I'm always open for questions of any kind.
Up until this point, My Epic Life has involved a lot of sugar-coated optimism, and sometimes that's what a blog needs to be. That's kind of where and why this particular blog originated. But, there are a lot more wondrous things out there that don't necessarily involve wide eyed smiles and a feeling of glee. I'll explain more later.
I equate change and its effects to swallowing pills. Sometimes it's too much at one time to be comfortable, sometimes it's barely noticeable, other times you fight it tooth and nail, and sometimes you're so eager for the effects that you take whatever you can get your hands on and go overboard. Change can be everything and nothing--that is it can be one of four things. 1. Your situations can change and you can stay the same. 2. Your situation can change and you can change along with it. 3. Your situation can stay the same and you choose to change anyways. 4. Nothing changes.
So if you knew me, really knew me, maybe you'd know what I was studying in school, some of the things I've been involved in, how I lean politically etc. If I brought up religion, and you were under the impression I was non-religious, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. My religious beliefs tend to stay in the personal realm. I don't broadcast anything, and if it does come up in anything other than an intellectually based conversation, it's in a very specific context like a poem or something like that.
If you prompted me to talk about religion, especially organized religion, you might see me cringe slightly. You might hear me talk about the crusades, Spanish Inquisition, canonical bible, or other historical facts and figures. You might hear me mention that people report feeling the presence of God during seizures originating in the temporal lobe. You might hear me talk about taking a class on the rationality of faith. With deeper probing, you might hear me talk about my experiences involving the abuses of religious authority in my own hometown or in my own church. I might tell you about how much pain and suffering I know religious teachings to have caused other people, some very close to me.
Even deeper probing might cause me to joke a little bit about how hearing Green Day for the first time was a religious experience. Or, I might get serious and tell you what I pray about, or I might mention situations involving things like coyotes, baby bunnies, tree frogs, songs on the radio, and a book by Brent Runyon, that I can't always easily explain. I might even tell you about my atheist, agnostic, or non-mainstream religious friends who have demonstrated more love and respect towards Christians than Christians have ever shown in return--or I might talk about how faith has let my grandmother continue to smile despite burying three children, her husband, and I don't know how many siblings.
Hopefully you kind of get a sense of how I go about religion. It's a live and let live situation where I don't bother you and you don't bother me on matters of personal belief. Given all of that, my adventure to the 2012 ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) National Youth Gathering, held in New Orleans, might seem like a curve ball, and frankly, it was. However, if there exists some sort of mechanism that balances out the earth and individual experience, then my adventure contained traces of that mechanism. At the very least, it has initiated a slight shift in opinion, or at least a recognition that there exists people and organizations lying in direct contrast to my own previous experiences.
I could now tell you about being soaking wet and singing in the middle of a raging storm on the streets of NOLA with 38 of my adopted relatives. I could tell you about hearing heavily tattooed pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber speak about the nature of God. I could tell you about hearing Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Leymah Gbowee, speak about hope. I could tell you about hearing Shane Claiborne, who was arrested for feeding the homeless of Philadelphia, speak about radical love. I could tell you what it's like to ride through the 9th ward and lower 9th ward on a silent coach bus during the middle of a flash flood, and still see the vivid scars of Hurricane Katrina present on the landscape. As I have said before and will say again, I remain cautiously optimistic in regards to my experiences, but I could tell you all sorts of things now involving religion and religious belief that I don't think I could have told you before, nor would I have necessarily believed if I wasn't experiencing it firsthand--and that is a surprisingly sweet pill to swallow.
Peace. Be well.
-Megan
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
It's Getting Better
Hey Reader, my laptop is currently in St. Paul! I should have it back on Monday which is super epic in itself.
So let me tell you about this morning. This morning was gross, dreary, and a little cold. I wore a jacket to breakfast. We've had a long string of rainy, cold, gloomy days so I wasn't expecting anything different, but by the time it was my first class, the sun came out and it wasn't so bad--even a little bit warm. I didn't wear my jacket the rest of the day, and I even made it a point to be outside. Heck, I looked around and campus is looking GREEN again. So the bad morning turned into a good day.
Change happens. Shifts happen. Unfortunately things shift in both directions, but have faith that they will shift back. Take time to notice the good changes going on around you. I am floored by how difficult and how easy life can feel at times. I can honestly say this has been the most challenging, most stressful year I've ever had. I can list off 8 or more major events right off the top of my head that have happened this year, less than half of which are positive, but right now, things have smoothed out a little. I finally feel like I'm having more good days than bad days, and I cannot say for certain that they'll last, but I am enjoying them while they're here. I'm slowly working on changing my patterns and behaviors and even my inner monologue has shifted to a more positive focus.
Life isn't all about you, do you realize this? We are all connected in various networks, webs, and social circles and whenever something changes, everyone's affected in some way. Whenever I ask someone else for help I always feel guilty because I try not to be that person, I always try to be independent because somewhere along the way, I got it into my head that I'm supposed to support people and not the other way around. Still, I am beginning to realize that you cannot help someone else until you find yourself in a good place. You need stable ground beneath your own feet before you can support someone else and I think I'm getting there. I know I'm getting there.
Life shifts, for better and for worse. Sometimes it will come naturally, and sometimes you have to bring it about yourself, but it will shift. My friend, Melissa, gave me a sticker for the Human Rights Campaign earlier in the year which I put it on my laptop, but removed shortly before I sent my computer in for repairs. On a whim, I decided to buy some more from the HRC website in case I couldn't save the one I had. They came in the mail today, and as I was walking back to my dorm, I was thinking about the campaign and the marriage equality and GSM (Gender and Sexual Minority, a new term I picked up at MBLGTACC) movements. I realized that even though things can feel difficult and rough on a personal level, progress is still being made. We have made so much progress in such a short time and it will continue to get better. My private, religious college even filmed their "It Gets Better" video this week and we're getting some final shots in on Wednesday. Life is shifting, and life will shift. It's getting better in a lot of ways and for a lot of different reasons--take the time to look around and notice. If you feel like it isn't, then do something about it.
Be well,
-Megan
So let me tell you about this morning. This morning was gross, dreary, and a little cold. I wore a jacket to breakfast. We've had a long string of rainy, cold, gloomy days so I wasn't expecting anything different, but by the time it was my first class, the sun came out and it wasn't so bad--even a little bit warm. I didn't wear my jacket the rest of the day, and I even made it a point to be outside. Heck, I looked around and campus is looking GREEN again. So the bad morning turned into a good day.
Change happens. Shifts happen. Unfortunately things shift in both directions, but have faith that they will shift back. Take time to notice the good changes going on around you. I am floored by how difficult and how easy life can feel at times. I can honestly say this has been the most challenging, most stressful year I've ever had. I can list off 8 or more major events right off the top of my head that have happened this year, less than half of which are positive, but right now, things have smoothed out a little. I finally feel like I'm having more good days than bad days, and I cannot say for certain that they'll last, but I am enjoying them while they're here. I'm slowly working on changing my patterns and behaviors and even my inner monologue has shifted to a more positive focus.
Life isn't all about you, do you realize this? We are all connected in various networks, webs, and social circles and whenever something changes, everyone's affected in some way. Whenever I ask someone else for help I always feel guilty because I try not to be that person, I always try to be independent because somewhere along the way, I got it into my head that I'm supposed to support people and not the other way around. Still, I am beginning to realize that you cannot help someone else until you find yourself in a good place. You need stable ground beneath your own feet before you can support someone else and I think I'm getting there. I know I'm getting there.
Life shifts, for better and for worse. Sometimes it will come naturally, and sometimes you have to bring it about yourself, but it will shift. My friend, Melissa, gave me a sticker for the Human Rights Campaign earlier in the year which I put it on my laptop, but removed shortly before I sent my computer in for repairs. On a whim, I decided to buy some more from the HRC website in case I couldn't save the one I had. They came in the mail today, and as I was walking back to my dorm, I was thinking about the campaign and the marriage equality and GSM (Gender and Sexual Minority, a new term I picked up at MBLGTACC) movements. I realized that even though things can feel difficult and rough on a personal level, progress is still being made. We have made so much progress in such a short time and it will continue to get better. My private, religious college even filmed their "It Gets Better" video this week and we're getting some final shots in on Wednesday. Life is shifting, and life will shift. It's getting better in a lot of ways and for a lot of different reasons--take the time to look around and notice. If you feel like it isn't, then do something about it.
Be well,
-Megan
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Give and Take
Hi Reader! I am so incredibly tired today, and I don't know if it's lack of sleep or if I'm just slightly burned out. But, it will get better eventually I think.
There's no doubt that college changes you as a person. It changes aspects of your personality, your philosophy on life, your habits, everything. It's one of those formative experiences that will hopefully leave you better than when you started. It's strange though, because while some things seem to get better, others seem to get worse. I guess it's a paradox, yet balance always seems to be maintained somewhere.
These are some changes I'm noticing in myself since I've started school:
1. I'm worse at sleeping through the night, but I'm better at sleeping in louder, more lit conditions.
2. My public speaking anxiety seems to be worse, but my one on one eye contact is getting better.
3. I'm worse at time management as far as writing papers go, but I'm better at cranking out said papers.
4. I'm worse at coping with things on my own, but I'm better at taking the initiative to figure out how someone else is doing.
5. I'm worse at making big decisions, but I'm better at letting my spontaneous side come through.
6. I'm getting worse at letting myself show negative emotions, but I'm getting better at crying from laughter.
7. I'm getting worse at worrying about my future, but I'm also getting better at enjoying the time I have.
8. I'm getting worse at knowing the right thing to say, but I'm getting better at saying how I feel.
9. Finally, I'm getting worse at resisting the urge to ask strangers if they want a hug, but I'm getting better at hugs!
So, there you go. College changes you and parts of you shift around a little bit. I guess I'm just hoping the net benefits of this experience outweigh the costs of it. So far they have been.
Be well, be epic, and notice the changes in yourself--especially the positive ones.
-Megan
There's no doubt that college changes you as a person. It changes aspects of your personality, your philosophy on life, your habits, everything. It's one of those formative experiences that will hopefully leave you better than when you started. It's strange though, because while some things seem to get better, others seem to get worse. I guess it's a paradox, yet balance always seems to be maintained somewhere.
These are some changes I'm noticing in myself since I've started school:
1. I'm worse at sleeping through the night, but I'm better at sleeping in louder, more lit conditions.
2. My public speaking anxiety seems to be worse, but my one on one eye contact is getting better.
3. I'm worse at time management as far as writing papers go, but I'm better at cranking out said papers.
4. I'm worse at coping with things on my own, but I'm better at taking the initiative to figure out how someone else is doing.
5. I'm worse at making big decisions, but I'm better at letting my spontaneous side come through.
6. I'm getting worse at letting myself show negative emotions, but I'm getting better at crying from laughter.
7. I'm getting worse at worrying about my future, but I'm also getting better at enjoying the time I have.
8. I'm getting worse at knowing the right thing to say, but I'm getting better at saying how I feel.
9. Finally, I'm getting worse at resisting the urge to ask strangers if they want a hug, but I'm getting better at hugs!
So, there you go. College changes you and parts of you shift around a little bit. I guess I'm just hoping the net benefits of this experience outweigh the costs of it. So far they have been.
Be well, be epic, and notice the changes in yourself--especially the positive ones.
-Megan
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Spectra
Heyo Reader! How're you?
I have about ten minutes before I head off to my philosophy class... what better to do with ten minutes than write a blog post right? Yes. So after class I am going to try to crank out an essay, breeze through the rest of my homework, maybe eat something, and then head off to see an acoustic show around 10. Good day? I think so, but that doesn't mean I don't need a weekend... right now preferably.
Seriously, since when did we make everything so black and white? You know those color pallets with maybe 10 colors on them? Then have you seen those full color spectra like the customize section of the Microsoft Paint program? Life is a spectrum, not a dichotomy. We dichotomize everything! Why? Well, it's easier to organize in our heads, but life offers so much more variety when we understand that almost every experience is taken from a spectrum of experiences. Think about all the false dichotomies we encounter in life. These are, but are not limited to: gender, sexuality, leadership, even race. I mean really, how much more colorful can life be if we accept the entire spectrum as reality instead of just a limited pallet of color? False dichotomy is a logical fallacy for a reason.
I was thinking about how I've changed from more of a leader to more of a follower the other day. Then I smacked myself in the head and told myself to stop being so ridiculous about the whole thing. My leadership roles have shifted, turned a few degrees to the right or left maybe, but they have not completely reversed. I am simply more comfortable taking control in different situations than I have been in the past, and I'm much more content to be led.
We can't just live life pigeon-holing ourselves into one set role, position, or anything else. We are humans and we change. Everything about ourselves, be it personality, preferences, interests, whatever you can think of, has the capacity to shift and shift fairly often. It's okay to recognize in yourself the fact that you are a dynamic human being. Just accept it and go with it. Enjoy the dynamic ride. Who we are, and what we are is just a flexible point on a spectrum. Spectra are epic--take rainbows for example. Nothing is better than a good rainbow... except a double rainbow...
Have the most excellent of days.
-Megan
I have about ten minutes before I head off to my philosophy class... what better to do with ten minutes than write a blog post right? Yes. So after class I am going to try to crank out an essay, breeze through the rest of my homework, maybe eat something, and then head off to see an acoustic show around 10. Good day? I think so, but that doesn't mean I don't need a weekend... right now preferably.
Seriously, since when did we make everything so black and white? You know those color pallets with maybe 10 colors on them? Then have you seen those full color spectra like the customize section of the Microsoft Paint program? Life is a spectrum, not a dichotomy. We dichotomize everything! Why? Well, it's easier to organize in our heads, but life offers so much more variety when we understand that almost every experience is taken from a spectrum of experiences. Think about all the false dichotomies we encounter in life. These are, but are not limited to: gender, sexuality, leadership, even race. I mean really, how much more colorful can life be if we accept the entire spectrum as reality instead of just a limited pallet of color? False dichotomy is a logical fallacy for a reason.
I was thinking about how I've changed from more of a leader to more of a follower the other day. Then I smacked myself in the head and told myself to stop being so ridiculous about the whole thing. My leadership roles have shifted, turned a few degrees to the right or left maybe, but they have not completely reversed. I am simply more comfortable taking control in different situations than I have been in the past, and I'm much more content to be led.
We can't just live life pigeon-holing ourselves into one set role, position, or anything else. We are humans and we change. Everything about ourselves, be it personality, preferences, interests, whatever you can think of, has the capacity to shift and shift fairly often. It's okay to recognize in yourself the fact that you are a dynamic human being. Just accept it and go with it. Enjoy the dynamic ride. Who we are, and what we are is just a flexible point on a spectrum. Spectra are epic--take rainbows for example. Nothing is better than a good rainbow... except a double rainbow...
Have the most excellent of days.
-Megan
Friday, January 13, 2012
BIG Decisions
Well Reader,
I am currently creating the illusion of being productive by doing this to kill some time before I have my psych class. Ugh. But, today has been better than expected. I am sitting in my peaceful dorm room, possibly making myself a cup of tea, and contemplating how the rest of this Friday the 13th will play out. Rest assured I have tons and tons of work to get done over the weekend... but it's Friday, and we are going to have a good time dang it!
So, today's topic is this: Life changing decisions. In my Sociology class today, we touched on the topic of reciprocity between the individual and their context, in other words, how an individual is incredibly impacted by their society and environment, but also how society and environment can be incredibly influenced by an individual.
Applying this to my own life, I realize that I am in the presence of some people making incredibly epic life changing decisions. I am talking BIG decisions here. These decisions not only affect those making them, but those in contact with them. I mean, life decisions can have both positive and negative outcomes, and sometimes we can't avoid the negative, but we can always choose to see the bright side in adverse circumstances, and there will always always always be a bright side. Have you ever been in close contact with a lot of pessimists? a lot of optimists? Their energy may be annoying at times, but it also spreads. As humans, we tend to assimilate into groups even without trying, and so my point is this:
Optimists tend to have more positive life outcomes, and while they cannot control whether every life changing decision has a positive outcome, they'll probably handle the ones that don't just a little bit better, and so if you surround yourself with optimists, or at the very least, actively see the bright side of things, the ripple effects of other people's decisions will affect you in more positive, or less negative ways respectively.
I am in contact with incredibly epic people making incredibly epic decisions, and we always hear things like "You can't control the cards you're dealt, but you can control how you play them." Well, the people I know are dealt some weird, difficult hands, and yet they are playing them out beautifully. They are taking control and refusing to let society dictate how life ought to be lived, but instead opting to change and influence the circumstances of their own existence. My current existence is pretty standard, but I am in the company of greatness, and I can honestly say I am inspired to take the reigns of my own destiny, even if that's as trivial as deciding what time to set my alarm for.
That's all I got folks. Be excellent. Be epic.
-Megan
I am currently creating the illusion of being productive by doing this to kill some time before I have my psych class. Ugh. But, today has been better than expected. I am sitting in my peaceful dorm room, possibly making myself a cup of tea, and contemplating how the rest of this Friday the 13th will play out. Rest assured I have tons and tons of work to get done over the weekend... but it's Friday, and we are going to have a good time dang it!
So, today's topic is this: Life changing decisions. In my Sociology class today, we touched on the topic of reciprocity between the individual and their context, in other words, how an individual is incredibly impacted by their society and environment, but also how society and environment can be incredibly influenced by an individual.
Applying this to my own life, I realize that I am in the presence of some people making incredibly epic life changing decisions. I am talking BIG decisions here. These decisions not only affect those making them, but those in contact with them. I mean, life decisions can have both positive and negative outcomes, and sometimes we can't avoid the negative, but we can always choose to see the bright side in adverse circumstances, and there will always always always be a bright side. Have you ever been in close contact with a lot of pessimists? a lot of optimists? Their energy may be annoying at times, but it also spreads. As humans, we tend to assimilate into groups even without trying, and so my point is this:
Optimists tend to have more positive life outcomes, and while they cannot control whether every life changing decision has a positive outcome, they'll probably handle the ones that don't just a little bit better, and so if you surround yourself with optimists, or at the very least, actively see the bright side of things, the ripple effects of other people's decisions will affect you in more positive, or less negative ways respectively.
I am in contact with incredibly epic people making incredibly epic decisions, and we always hear things like "You can't control the cards you're dealt, but you can control how you play them." Well, the people I know are dealt some weird, difficult hands, and yet they are playing them out beautifully. They are taking control and refusing to let society dictate how life ought to be lived, but instead opting to change and influence the circumstances of their own existence. My current existence is pretty standard, but I am in the company of greatness, and I can honestly say I am inspired to take the reigns of my own destiny, even if that's as trivial as deciding what time to set my alarm for.
That's all I got folks. Be excellent. Be epic.
-Megan
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