Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
After getting past the first hurdle of many that made me throw this book in a dark corner, I finally managed to finish The Story of Edgar Sawtelle today. It is a complete twist on what I had initially imagined the storyline to be, but obviously, that made for a better book. Of course, my favorite part had to be the dogs. As fictional as this breed of "Sawtelle dogs" is, I can't help but believe that I have witnessed similar thoughtfulness and love from my own history of dogs. I miss the company of these wonderful creatures and cannot wait to welcome one, or two (or three!), alongside me in the future.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Forever young
It is nice to know that there is sociological research behind the phrase, "the world is your oyster."
THE 20S ARE LIKE the stem cell of human development, the pluripotent moment when any of several outcomes is possible. Decisions and actions during this time have lasting ramifications. This is when adventures, experiments, travels, relationships are embarked on with an abandon that probably will not happen again.
DURING THE PERIOD he calls emerging adulthood, Arnett says that young men and women are more self-focused than at any other time of life, less certain about the future and yet also more optimistic, no matter what their economic background. This is where the “sense of possibilities” comes in, he says; they have not yet tempered their idealistic visions of what awaits.... Ask them if they agree with the statement “I am very sure that someday I will get to where I want to be in life,” and 96 percent of them will say yes. But despite elements that are exciting, even exhilarating, about being this age, there is a downside, too: dread, frustration, uncertainty, a sense of not quite understanding the rules of the game. More than positive or negative feelings, what Arnett heard most often was ambivalence — beginning with his finding that 60 percent of his subjects told him they felt like both grown-ups and not-quite-grown-ups.
“To be a young American today is to experience both excitement and uncertainty, wide-open possibility and confusion, new freedoms and new fears,” writes Arnett. During the timeout they are granted from nonstop, often tedious and dispiriting responsibilities, “emerging adults develop skills for daily living, gain a better understanding of who they are and what they want from life and begin to build a foundation for their adult lives.” If it really works that way, if this longer road to adulthood really leads to more insight and better choices, then Arnett’s vision of an insightful, sensitive, thoughtful, content, well-honed, self-actualizing crop of grown-ups would indeed be something worth waiting for.
THE 20S ARE LIKE the stem cell of human development, the pluripotent moment when any of several outcomes is possible. Decisions and actions during this time have lasting ramifications. This is when adventures, experiments, travels, relationships are embarked on with an abandon that probably will not happen again.
DURING THE PERIOD he calls emerging adulthood, Arnett says that young men and women are more self-focused than at any other time of life, less certain about the future and yet also more optimistic, no matter what their economic background. This is where the “sense of possibilities” comes in, he says; they have not yet tempered their idealistic visions of what awaits.... Ask them if they agree with the statement “I am very sure that someday I will get to where I want to be in life,” and 96 percent of them will say yes. But despite elements that are exciting, even exhilarating, about being this age, there is a downside, too: dread, frustration, uncertainty, a sense of not quite understanding the rules of the game. More than positive or negative feelings, what Arnett heard most often was ambivalence — beginning with his finding that 60 percent of his subjects told him they felt like both grown-ups and not-quite-grown-ups.
“To be a young American today is to experience both excitement and uncertainty, wide-open possibility and confusion, new freedoms and new fears,” writes Arnett. During the timeout they are granted from nonstop, often tedious and dispiriting responsibilities, “emerging adults develop skills for daily living, gain a better understanding of who they are and what they want from life and begin to build a foundation for their adult lives.” If it really works that way, if this longer road to adulthood really leads to more insight and better choices, then Arnett’s vision of an insightful, sensitive, thoughtful, content, well-honed, self-actualizing crop of grown-ups would indeed be something worth waiting for.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Is this real life?!
This past weekend was the highly anticipated event of my summer! Outside Lands at the Golden Gate Park in SF. It was so colorful and FUN! Music, food, friends, trees, tiny bottles of alcohol, hippies, beer, spreadsheets, and more trees! Really couldn't have asked for a better weekend.Honorable mentions: The Strokes! People Under the Stairs, Wolfmother, Pretty Lights, Tokyo Police Club, Temper Trap! Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Al Green, Nas and Damian Marley, Phoenix! and Kings of Leon! But of course, the grand prize goes to... us!! Look at those million dollar smiles. You can't even tell we were freezing to death.
But alas, two days go by very quickly when you are having fun. Then it's back to the real world with real decisions and real consequences. Real story.First day back to reality and I am at a crossroad: Happiness vs. Security. This weekend was a quick glimpse of how wonderful things could be if I were to move back to Southern California-- back to my friends and family. Yet, today at work I was reminded of my dreaded responsibilities and debt as well as my innate drive to finish what I start. Although I suppose there are the few instances where unfortunate events lead to more fortunate opportunities, like Marisa's story. But that's just hopeful thinking.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Karma
Okay, real blog this time. But I have to make it quick because I'm hungry.
Presents are very strong indicators of a person's past: that lovely pair of socks from Christmas 1998, glitter pens and frilly shirts for your 16th birthday, etc. Some presents are silly and others more meaningful. But it's funny because some of these "things" end up assuming more meaning later on than at the moment they are given. I was just thinking about the many gifts I have received in past years, and it made me think about how quickly things change. From one year to the next, one month, day by day. It is very interesting to observe the subtle differences of how you feel about that certain person who gave you that certain present and how you feel about the certain present itself.
Some of the best gifts I have ever received are books and music. Even though I may not keep in touch with some of these people who gave me such wonderful gifts, the present itself is a reminder of good memories. And I am appreciative of those relationships because regardless of this or that, there were good times. Good times should always be acknowledged as something good.
Presents are very strong indicators of a person's past: that lovely pair of socks from Christmas 1998, glitter pens and frilly shirts for your 16th birthday, etc. Some presents are silly and others more meaningful. But it's funny because some of these "things" end up assuming more meaning later on than at the moment they are given. I was just thinking about the many gifts I have received in past years, and it made me think about how quickly things change. From one year to the next, one month, day by day. It is very interesting to observe the subtle differences of how you feel about that certain person who gave you that certain present and how you feel about the certain present itself.
Some of the best gifts I have ever received are books and music. Even though I may not keep in touch with some of these people who gave me such wonderful gifts, the present itself is a reminder of good memories. And I am appreciative of those relationships because regardless of this or that, there were good times. Good times should always be acknowledged as something good.
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