Coffee and Books

Well, it's been a bit. I've had some time to chill and think about things and just am dealing. Ha yep, just deal with the life I've been dealt. Sounds like a great grown-up concept huh? Now who said I didn't learn anything in college??

In addition to revving up my job search, I am currently trying to read lots of different books to keep my mind busy and trying to understand this point in my life and what not. Here's the list of books currently on my plate:

Straight Talk, No Chaser, How to Find, Keep and Understand a Man: Steve Harvey
Sex, Sin, and Zen, A Buddhist Exploration of Sex: Brad Warner
20 Something, 20 Everything, A Quarter-Life Woman's Guide to Balance and Direction: Christine Hassler

Bahaha. Now please tell me after reading those titles you didn't just feel a little better about yourself? Obviously, the author of this blog (aka me) has a lot of self-exploration going on. The first book by Steve Harvey I wanted to read because it's a follow up book to Harvey's Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. I thought his first book made complete and absolute sense to me. Although it may have been blunter than what I actually wanted to hear, I think the book itself was a great eye-opener to me. My friend Kathryn and I have recently thought through some of these men issues. I'm hoping that this book will help give me some insight into the men psyche and then maybe Kathryn and i will have a better basis to go find some real men!

The second book is really just for fun. After my Buddhism class last year, I have truly become interested in learning about the Buddhist culture, zen and more. So whilst pa-rousing the Buddhist section of the library the cover art of this book jumped out at me. I stopped and read a bit inside and thought, why the heck not? Just read it!

And of course, the last book is to help me continue on this journey of my mid-mid-life crisis. I'm really excited to read this one and maybe feel like I'm in the same boat as a lot of other successful women have felt before me. Equanimity. That is what I am striving for now. What an absolutely fabulous word!

I would also like to bring to light a new blog written by a fellow Michigan Stater. Megan's blog is absolutely fascinating to me. Please take some time to check it out and see what the concept is all about: http://52cups.tumblr.com/ Megan and I recently connected via LinkedIn. It's great to chat with someone such as Megan and  I'm still learning many of the lessons from those cups of coffee. It also makes me feel good to know and to hear actual real stories. Cause life is not always going to go as planned, and I don't care how many times I've been told that. It took a project like this to make it real and tangible to me. I am only now starting to realize that only I, only me, can make my own definition of success. I'm looking forward to doing just that starting now.

Ode to the "Friends" and X

I don't care.
I don't care that you just got a full ride to law school or grad school cause you're that smart and amazing.
I don't care.
I don't care that you just got engaged and have a wonderful man and huge ring to boot.
I don't care.
I don't care that you have a brand new job that you love and are making way more money than I did in my first job out of college.
I don't care.
I don't care that you're finally moving out of your parents place to a sweet new pad in the bustling metropolis.
I don't care.
I don't care that you're in such great shape and that you can can't believe that that 10 mile run took you way longer than it did when you were in high school.
I don't care.
I don't care that this girl in my sorority unfriended me, even though I'm guessing she didn't remember that I was in it cause I was 2 years older, I mean at least I hope that was the case.
I don't care.
I don't care that I got laid off on Friday from my first real job because they got rid of like 10 other people and the whole HR Department.
I don't care.

But apparently I do care. Or else I wouldn't be saying anything about it now.
Well, there wasn't really much I could do about the downsizing at X. But screw you Facebook. There I said it. I'm sick of you taunting me and my life. When will I learn that comparing myself by everyone else's standards will never make me happy?  When will I learn?!?

Alrighty 2011, what else do you have in store for me? Cause a lot of doors are closing, and now I'm awaiting and actively excited for these new opportunities...

Food for Thought

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-oped-0102-page-20101231,0,3495175.column?track=rss

Honestly, one of the more interesting articles I have read in awhile. Suddenly, my high school experiences make more sense to me. More to come on this and other projects that I am reading very soon.

Read this article and reminiscence on some of your own beliefs before you start to try and make more positive (hopefully!) changes and stick to your own resolutions in 2011. I think it's always important to know where we traveled on our paths before we began to embark on new ones! As always, feel free to leave comments :)