Thoughts On | Two Delighted

Entries Tagged as 'Thoughts on'

Fall Brings the Sappy Out in Me

Thursday, September 20, 2012

We all have days where it is easy to get a little frustrated with our lives. Days where nothing seems to be going our way and every move we make seems to have an obstacle. Tuesday was one of those days for me. I was listening to Joe Purdy’s “Can’t Get It Right Today” and feeling like it must have been written for me. But then today, something shifted. The sun came out and the weather was beautiful and the best part was that today was a “Wednesday Dinner” day. Every few weeks or so, two of my best friends and I get together for a mid-week dinner. We always have a great time but tonight was especially perfect. We ate dinner outside near my fire pit and had some s’mores for dessert. With the ghost marshmallows that are at Target right now. The yellow leaves that are slowly becoming more prominent on my big tree occasionally landed on the dinner table and almost in our chili. It certainly wasn’t fancy or particularly noteworthy, but as we were sitting and talking about the world in the special way only close friends can, it made me realize that in that moment my life is exactly what I want it to be. And that even if everything doesn’t always fall into place as we have detailed in our funny little plans, perfect minutes or hours or days like this are really the things that make a life.

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For the Love of Friday- One

To Kill A Mockingbird

Thursday, August 16, 2012

So I realize I am pretty late to the game on this one, but I recently finished reading To Kill A Mockingbird for the first time. Initially, I had a little trouble getting into it but by about page 75 I was hooked. By the time I had finished it, it had pretty much knocked my socks off. I guess there is a reason it is a classic. Since finishing it, the story has continued to occupy my thoughts. Although it touches on many exceedingly relevant political and social issues, one of the main topics in the book is that of prejudice. Though I hate to say it, I have realized that we as a society are still plagued by many of the same issues that the characters in the book were dealing with in a story set in the 1930s. Despite coming ridiculously far since then in the areas of science and technology (We are pretty much the Jetsons), I am not sure we have made as much progress socially in overcoming prejudice and creating an environment where tolerance, kindness, and understanding are considered vital. The most interesting part about the book for me was that it was told from the perspective of a 6 year old. Her views on the events happening in her town and country and her reactions to statements made by the adults around her were very poignant to me. It made me think (although I am surely no authority on the workings of the human mind) that prejudice is something that is learned. We are taught by observation of actions and statements of people around us. Luckily for Scout, she had a role model like Atticus to teach her the importance of treating everyone equally despite what peers and other people in the town were saying. Unfortunately, not every child is so lucky and it is human nature to be easily influenced by stimuli around us.

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However, just thinking about the idea that each person is born as a clean slate free of prejudice makes me feel hopeful for the future. It has also made me thoughtful about my own prejudices and consider actions I have taken and statements I have made as a result. If you have not read this story in awhile, I highly recommend you read it again. It really is a wonderful book.

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For the Love of Friday- Letting It Go

Friday, July 20, 2012

I am not sure if you guys have noticed this or not, but on Fridays we usually try to take some time to either talk about something fun or to share little things about ourselves. A friend of ours mentioned to me after this post that she thinks readers enjoy finding out little personal things about us. So occasionally we try to do that. But not too much. We do realize how super boring we are. A few weeks ago, Colleen posted about how being such a perfectionist has impacted her ability to enjoy life. Today, I thought I would take some time to discuss one (of many) of my pathologies. I am a complete and total worry wart. I worry about nearly everything. And when I say worry, I mean obsess. I think about what I did, what I should have done, what I didn’t do, what I should have said, how it impacted the person I did it or said it to, how it impacted any person that was around, what they must be thinking, what their grandmother must be thinking, how I wasn’t really representing myself well, and how I could have represented myself better. It is exhausting. During many parts of most days, I feel so much anxiety about something that it can make my breath feel restricted. I believe this is most likely called an anxiety attack. I think the problem is that I care way too much. Recently I have experienced a few scenarios that did not quite go the way I would have wanted them to. So I have been left to wonder if I could have done things differently or better. If I did or said enough or maybe too much. And that, my friends, has been very tough for me. I have been trying very hard to remember that all I can do is the best that I can and then I have to leave the rest up to the universe. And to try the very best I can to let it go and quit worrying. I suppose this post is my way of reminding myself of that and hopefully at some point it will stick. I saw this quote on Pinterest and it actually helped me feel a little better. Good old Pinterest.

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You know what, I really believe this is true. When I look back at all of the things I have dwelled on and tossed and turned over in the past, I realize that they mostly turned out just fine. Maybe not exactly how I expected them to or would have wanted them to at the time, but fine all the same.

Here is to hoping we all have a lovely weekend where we can relax and let things go!

Happy Friday ya’ll!

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Gray Area

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sometimes and particularly in an election year when sweeping statements are being tossed around every other second like great truths, I get a little frustrated. I will be the first person to argue that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it is important to remember that most all of our “truths” are just that… our opinions. I was having a discussion the other night with friends about how the world is made up of gray area. Most all rules, laws, and facts have at least one possible circumstance in which they are no longer valid. I believe that too often people form an opinion about something or make a statement that they present as factual or “black and white.” They are unyielding in their belief that this one way is the only possible solution. They believe that this is how everyone should live their life. I know that I am guilty of thoughts and statements like this as well. My “black and white” for the day is that it is important to remember the gray. To remember that every person has their own journey and therefore their own truth and that it is important to keep some flexibility in our thinking and consider other people’s perspectives.