2011 Mantra: The New Coming of Kaitlin's Kismet.

A quick thought on one of the last days of 2010. Because I refuse to do the cliche blog post on my hopes, dreams, fears, resolutions, blah, blah, blah for 2011, I simply refuse. 

I heard these lyrics in a song last night and I had my "Aha" moment as Oprah would say. it was simply amazing. It held such great meaning and gave me such a sense of peace in so few words. Cheers to you and the ones you love for a happy and prosperous 2011! And here's my 2011 mantra

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life 

"Awake Your Soul"

- Mumford & Sons

2011 Is Finally HERE!

I really shouldn't be blogging now, but I'm going to anyways and I'm going to keep it short and simple. Remember my previous blog about me being checked out of 2010? Well I did myself one better now and really REALLY want 2010 to be over now.

My grandfather died last week, in what I'm praying is the end of the miserable things that have occurred this year. Like I have said previously, 2010 has had its good moments too, but I am officially ending 2010 in my mind as of today. Cannot wait to start all over in 2011!

With that said, I need to allow myself to get over 2 major things before I enter 2011. 1) I swear to the good Lord if someone else gets engaged I am going to pitch a fit! Ok, I'm over it now. I'm very happy for everyone who has taken the plunge and gotten the ring on the finger. And of course I'm jealous of them as well, duh. But it seems as though all of these engagements have come like a huge Belizean rain storm this year and I am just sitting here with my tiny, yellow ducky umbrella waiting for them to end....please make them stop!! Or at least throw me a life preserver, aka a new guy. Okay? Great thanks!

2) Please allow myself the chance to figure out what I may want to do with my life instead of comparing my life to everyone else's. This is basically all I've done in 2011. Even as early as February of 2010, I had to exile myself off of Facebook just so I could try and focus on my own self and stop comparing myself to others who already had a job lined up after graduation and what not. Goal for 2011: Work on myself, stop comparing my life in other people's terms and parameters, and again, focus on my own life and what is important to me.

There. I've said my peace and I'm done complaining. You can go shave your back now. (It's a Mean Girls quote, sorry I had to try and end on a funny note!)

I'm from the Island of Misfit Toys... and you?

Haha so i hope everyone read the title of this post. It came to me after listening to the Glee Christmas album and they sing "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year". I really could have seen myself in a former lifetime being a toy on that island. I'm a toy, just a very individual and "special" toy! So the holidays are upon us and today I finally finished all of my Christmas cards. I say finally because I bought these cards in mid-November and I absolutely love them! They have a picture from my favorite country on it and a picture from MSU! So I can basically say, that its two of my favorite places in the world (and two of the places that I miss the most too ironically)!

Until last year, my holidays have been for the most part, a joyous, routine occasion. That started to change last year and I know that the changes are going to continue this year's holidays festivities too. I think I'm finally starting to grasp the whole concept of being a real, self-sustaining individual, and yes I am aware that I still live at home, but it's a start. It's the whole accepting part of being a real person is what I think I'm still missing.

I've had a very unsettled feeling in my head and heart since May. I don't know how to define myself anymore. Definitely no longer a student; I'm not even working in the field of my college degree. Not that I am ungrateful for any of this, I've just always been able to find a defining characteristic for myself. And as of now, I have none. I guess it's as Buddha says, "The only constant in life is change." My life in 2010 has been beyond anything I have experienced as far as changes go. I graduated from college, left my independence and moved back in with my parents, started a full time job that I enjoyed at X, and now are experiencing a lot more negative changes at X, my friendships have been tested as I graduated and the list goes on and on. Leave a comment if you'd like to ask me more and I'll definitely answer. I have plenty of examples for 2010, they're not all necessarily negative, there has just been an influx of changes.

I really have tried to take all of these changes in stride. I've also been very resistant to some of the changes too and how they affect my relationships with people. I have much to learn from life, and if this year has been any indication, at least it's going to be an interesting ride! I'm going to have to start challenging myself more though in order to get the fullest that life has to offer. I don't know how or where to start, but I guess even before 2011 begins, I have a tall order as my resolution: Work to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom and courage to find more direction in my life and hopefully helping others along the way.

I'm leaving a picture of my feet, cause I'm hoping that my head and heart are going to help move them into wonderful new directions!

Follow Through

So I finally did something that I said I was going to do back in August when I decided it was time for a new challenge. I ran my first 5K! My family is sick of hearing about it but oh wells. I'm just happy that I followed through with what I said I was going to do because as a Gemini, I tend to get distracted and jump to new things that may seem more exciting to me!

And after finishing 186 out of 415 in the Female Age 20 - 24 bracket, I was pretty proud. Considering that it was my first official race, I'll take it. I have to give major credit to one of my oldest friends A because she pushed me every second and helped me keep a great pace. It makes me realize yet again how lucky I am to have such great people in my life :)

So maybe I can keep up with this whole running thing? I'm looking in to some longer distance races right now and just got to order some beautiful new running shoes. What? A girl's gotta look good in the dead of winter on the treadmill, especially when all I keep seeing at the gym are the following mixture of people: (Note that this is not an all-inclusive list, as I may have missed a couple more characters that I will keep you updated on in the future)

Bald, but very attractive and TALL men - too bad they always have a ring on their finger, dang! Next we have your average juice heads - too tan, very muscular and sometimes think they are way too hot. The best part about these guys is that they travel in what I like to call their bro packs. (Whoever said sorority girls shouldn't travel in packs and that we all look alike should come visit my gym and can then issue me a personal apology!) There are also your typical skinny mini runners, who make me feel like my 3 miles on the treadmill are an abomination, but I tend to ignore these girls as they really annoy me. And finally, I've noticed a lot of couples at the gym lately. Yeah it's cute that y'all work out and stay in shape together, just don't get too physical in front of me or I'm going to spit my gum out at you :)

Toodles for now, I need to go to bed now cause I was at X till 7 tonight. After a long holiday vacation from work, that was a mean wake up call! Still can't believe that a year ago I was freaking out over my final projects and papers, craziness.

p.s. Here are my pretty shoes!

My one true love: Harry Potter

To be quite honest, there is really only one man that has my heart. And unfortunately for me, he is a fictional character. On the other hand, he has never disappointed me, so I can't really complain. Who is this man of mystery? Harry Potter of course!

Harry's been with me since those lovely, awkward teen years, all the way to the beautiful swan that I am today (ok, so I'm still working on that part)! In all honesty, Harry has been like a companion and confidant to me. His experiences may be way more magically different than mine, but his adventures became part of my adventures. I really can't even write all the ways Harry Potter has impacted my life.

The Harry Potter books, movies, and even his theme park that I recently visited, have had a tremendous positive effect on my life. Harry has taught me to reach, strive, and be more every day. I hope that one day I can have at least part of positive impact on someone's life, as much as Harry has had an impact on my life.

So to some, Harry Potter may just be a book, a movie, or a franchise, but to me it is a way you choose to look at your life. There's magic all around us, take a look!

Peace out 2010... I want you dunzo!

Two weeks ago, I came to the conclusion that I would really appreciate 2010 to be done with. The year has not been terrible to me specifically, but it has tumultuous year in many regards. Time to be done with the bad energy from this year and on to a fresh start full of new opportunities. 

Well working at X today was lovely. I do not claim to know everything about working in the corporate world, because basically I don't! I don't have all the experience that most of the people at X do, they know a lot more than I do. But please just let me say this, I DO have people skills.

I can hold my own on a conversation with a person at any age and from any walk of life. I pride myself in this. And I know when people are trying to one up me, trying to be rude, etc. I was in a sorority, trust me I get it. And I've seen how frat guys get things done, scary to think how many Greek affiliated men end up running Fortune 500 companies. Check this out it you don't believe me: http://studentaffairs.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=45674

Where am I going with this? Basically, I am very glad that I am learning more about how companies work and what not and that I am gaining more experience. I know that no matter where I work, politics are always going to be part of the deal. I'm fine with that, I can play the game. Political Science was my major, I actually really do enjoy politics. But I have really just come to the conclusion that many many people lack common basic people skills today.

It saddens me and today it infuriated me a little too. So in addition to world peace, for Christmas this year, I would like to wish that in 2011 people learn how to deal with people again. Instead of worrying about the newest iPhone from Verizon that's rumored to come out in 2011, (which I do want BTDubs), I just ask that people just connect with real actual people again. I absolutely love the new commercials from the new Windows phone. It basically sums it all up for me. "Like REALLY?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHlN21ebeak


p.s. After talking with one of my lovely fellow Belizean friends tonight, I realized how lucky I am to have such an array of crazy and great people in my life. So thanks to all of you in my life, especially the ones who actually read this lol. This is from Belize and I love it cause it's always important to remember that no man is an island...

The List...no, not THAT list!

I need to get my blog out to more people and have more people take my survey, cause I am really very curious as to how many people are in a relationship because I feel like at least 80% of the people in my life are, I was hoping to get some data and real stats on this!

To go along with this thought-process and my last blog post, I started writing down all of the reasons I am happy that I am single at the moment while so many in my life aren't. Because the first step to a good relationship is that you have to have a good relationship with yourself. (Thank you to my friend/psychologist we'll call Hez and to my new books, "The Miracle of Mindfulness and "They Don't Teach Corporate in College" to helping me get to this point...finally!) Let's hope that by me getting to a good relationship with myself, the time will come when I can deal with a BF.

So here's the list (I reserve any right to change/add comments/remove/keep adding more to this list in the future. I am a Gemini after all people. I change my mind all the time!) Again, remember that these are just my reasons and I am happy for all those out there in their own relationships, if nothing else just have a laugh at my single-ness!

1) Less $$ spent on holiday gifts on the BF and his family = more $$ I can spend on my adorable Christmas cards from tinyprints.com (which i just got in the mail this Saturday and LOVE!)

2) To go along w/ #1... the more $$ I can donate to good causes during this holiday season and beyond :)

3) And to go along with #2... the more $$ I can spend on cute and warm clothes for me! (My Dad also just informed this weekend that he liked my new "Alpaca sweater") Point taken Dad but too bad I love it!


4) I don't have to report to anyone! I report to plenty of people at my job at X allll the live long day. Yes, I still occasionally have to answer to the parents, but it's a lot different when you're not in high school and not sneaking around anymore! Some people may completely disagree with me on this point and say they love having someone to talk to all the time and I would agree with that. I've just always been a very independent person and so I still love not having to report to anyone!

5) I have time to do things like this blog and starting to read all of these interesting books, some of which I have mentioned above. Time is most definitely a luxury I am beginning to realize. I still really miss all the days at MSU when we could day drink without a second thought and then go out and rage even more. Time peoples. It's a good thing as Oprah would say and my single-ness def contributes to this.

So that's where I'm at now. Like i said, I'm sure there will be more to this list and/or changes and comments. Please post them, I love the feedback! Time to put my free time into good use and go running, toodles!

Different strokes for different folks

People in my life are in lots of different places in their lives. Some are married, some are together (for a long time and others for a short time), some are single, some are in-between. From what people have told me and from all that I've gathered, people are always going to be at different relationship points throughout my 20's so i guess I'm going to have to get used to it... as much as I dislike it.

So I am currently single and have been throughout college. Not a big secret or anything, just wanted to establish that for future blogging purposes as well. Yesterday, I was thinking about the holidays coming up and what everyone wants as far as presents go. Then a funny thought crossed me, "I am really happy that I don't have to think/buy/get/make something for a boyfriend!"

Ok, so think of me what you will. Is that selfish? Of course! Do I sound like a big Grinch? Maybe, but also let me just point out that I really do enjoy getting gifts for my family and friends, I just am really happy that I don't have to think of something amazing, expensive, or fabulous gift for my significant other. I've seen the stress that gift-giving makes ANY person go a little crazy around the holiday season, not a pretty picture. I can't imagine having to do it for a boyfriend.

Now I'm sure lots of people would say the complete opposite of me, I'm simply stating how I feel about that at this given moment. Watch for the next post on a great list that goes with this post. I'd love to hear any thoughts or comments on this too!

Well, here it is and here I am.

So I've taken a year or almost two off from blogging. Obvi, I was busy peoples!
Not like saving the world busy, but busy enough.

So quick update: Came back from Belize in the summer of 2009. Started up my senior year at Michigan State. Had an amazing senior year of college. Graduated in May 2010. Came home for the summer, started nannying, mom from where I nannied helped get me a job at a corporation. So now that's where I'm at. I'm living back at home in IL. with the younger sister and the parents again, working 5 days a week from 9-5. Trying to basically figure out things in my life. Enter the blogging again. I'm hoping it will help me sort through things and maybe I can help or at least entertain people in similar positions such as myself. If nothing else, at least I'm organizing my thoughts in some way.

For blogging purposes I will be calling the corporation that I work at  X. Yes, I realize you may think this is silly, but my reasoning behind this is that I am part of Generation X. Yep, I am 22 and working for the man. Still not really sure how I feel about it so why not keep it simple and just call it X?

So here i am world, back and at it. Stay tuned...I'm posting my first real post in a bit!