Blog Reflection: SUCCESS.

As previously stated, I have taken part in this type of activity before. I think it is definitely beneficial for beginning or intermediate writers. Freewriting gets the mind pumping and therefore, jumps starts the writing process. In school, I liked freewriting because it helped me to come up with what to say more easily for my next writing assignments. I mostly liked freewriting because it was a free 10-15 minute break from hearing my teacher talk. She let us write quietly so we could clear our mind and focus.

          However, this exercise is only beneficial if you cooperate. Just like anything in life, "it is what you make it to be." Thankfully, I chose to let this assignment be helpful to me and my writing. Like any kid, I didn't like actually doing the work because I was sort of lazy through high school. I am trying to rid that laziness. Anyway, once I finally bucked up and dealt with the fact that I needed to get over being a lazy teenager, the more I got into freewriting, the better it helped me. Even if I drew lines on my paper, it didn't matter as long as the pencil never stopped touching the paper. That forces your mind to think and write about your next thought and triggers the sequential thoughts until you don't even notice it anymore. 

          On the other hand, back to my old ways, I did not like this assignment because of the fact that we had to blog every single day for three weeks. I went for a couple of days where I was unable to create a post therefore causing me to have to make up those posts on other days and the work was piling and piling. I still find it hard to buckle down and just DO IT. That's partially why it is 11:03 p.m. and I am just now doing this reflection post. I am glad this project was assigned but I don't believe it was as beneficial as it would have been had we done the activity on paper.

          I encountered a few successes and challenges with this project as well. When we were still doing our This I Believe essays, the freewriting came in handy to kick start our thoughts. However, after the assignment, I felt as though we were jump starting our brains for writing ideas for no reason. My biggest challenge was mustering up the gumption to sit down and type 300+ words each day. Stated earlier, I believe it would have been better if I wrote my thoughts on paper. I suppose I could have done that and just typed what I hand wrote. But that thought didn't occur to me until just now. Oops.

          I cannot tell any noticeable change in my writing but I think as time goes on and the writing assignments resurface, I will find that I gained a new strength over the course of free-blogging.

            I look forward to seeing how we all can grow as writers together and talk about how we can continue growing! After all, there is ALWAYS room for growth. :)

Have a great week, everyone!

Favorite: I Believe We Are All Different

This post is my favorite because I believe interaction is insanely important. I think it is important for humans to realize each other's potential. When you see someone doing something "better" than you, don't you get the slightest bit intimidated and strive to do better yourself? I will answer honestly. Yes, I am definitely aware that I am a little inferior. However, I am still confident in my ways and the way God made me. We should never try to change ourselves. We should want to grow and learn and strive to be different. As long as we are not pretending to be something we are not, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with being different. I believe that it helps us all grow together as humans and children of the Lord. We learn from each other.
I also think it is important we are all different because it would be way too boring if we were all alike. That is something I did not understand about high school girls. They all wanted to wear the same things and dress like everyone else. Not to mention they acted like each other, too. There is no excitement in that. They were totally predictable and there was not anything special about them. These are the people that I would admire from afar, for lack of better words. I observed that they were like complete robots. I'm sorry, but who would, in their right mind, want to be like that!? I love that I am different from every single woman in this world. God made me ME and I would not change that for anything. I would rather be "popular" for being eccentric than being "popular" for following what it cool at the time. But hey, that is just ME.

Have a great week, everyone!

When the Leaves Start to Fall

At this time of the year last year, I was wearing pants, a scarf, a jacket, and warm shoes. Now, I am wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Yes, it definitely is that warm still in Missouri. I find it especially strange. My birthday marked the first day of Autumn, where the weather turns chilly and you switch from A/C to heat. Nope, not yet. This week and a few weeks prior, the weather has been mid 70s-80s with full sunshine. It is absolutely beautiful. I love that I still wake up to the sun beaming in my bedroom window and heating the wood floors upstairs for my cat to bask in its light. However, I am definitely ready to get this season started. I am so over being hot and sweaty. I am ready to put on the warm comfortable clothes and prepare for winter, even though Fall is my favorite season. Also, at this time last year, my mom and I were making frequent trips to Texas. If you have read my previous blog posts, you have learned that my grandfather was incredibly sick around this time last year. She and I were driving up to stay with him at the Dallas Veteran's Affairs Hospital. This time of year, I was planning out my schedule for school and collecting future assignments and making up tests due to my absence I would be approaching. Like any kid, I was excited not to go to school for a few days. However, I changed that opinion for two reasons: One, I would be behind on a lot of material that was to be covered while I was gone. Two, my Opa was very ill. After the third trip to Texas, my mom and aunt brought my Opa back to our house to live with us. We planned on him staying for a few months so he could regain his health and be prepared for bypass surgery. He died a week after he moved in.
This time of the year will always remind me of the sadness that has seeped into my home. The time of the year will also remind me of the happiness there is to feel because Opa is not left on this Earth suffering any longer. He is pain-free and riding his Harley with the angels. RIP Peter Verhaagen.

I Believe We Are All Different

I think it is incredible how different every human being is. We all believe different ideas. We all desire different things. How God created us that way just blows my mind. There is not a person in this world that is exactly like another person. They may be similar but we are all incredibly unique. For example, not even identical twins can be the same. They do not even have the same fingerprints. They have sometimes completely different personalities and characteristics. My brother and sister are fraternal twins. They are from the same womb but they not only differ in gender, they differ in just about everything else. My sister is a total girly-girl who loves dress up and dolls. My brother is a definite man's man who loves the outdoors and dead animals. It is kind of a random example but I believe this is definitely a true example of how different people can be.
I love observing people because I get to see how different we all are. When I walk through the mall or the parking lot of my college campus, these traits are unquestionably noticed. The way a woman walks versus the way a man walks is an example of difference. Most women carry themselves in a reserved manner while most men carry themselves in an arrogant manner. This is obviously based on a general opinion. Women feel they have a certain status to maintain whereas men have a carefree attitude. This, too blows my mind. How can people from the same place be so incredibly different? God absolutely had a specific plan for each human on this Earth. Otherwise, we would all be the same and there is no way we could learn from each other. I am so thankful He made life this way because I feel that I am the person I am today because of the differences in so many of my acquaintances, causing me to learn.

Clean, Clean, Clean.

Is it a chore or a responsibility? I believe it is a little mix of the two. My parents provide pretty much all my necessities. Therefore, the littlest thing to repay them would be to help out around the house, right? Right. However, it is easier said than done. I'm still sitting in the up stairs part of my house and I am looking at my surroundings. The couch is almost buried with the weekend's laundry. Some is folded. Some is still in the pile fresh out of the dryer. On the table in front of the couch is my cereal bowl from breakfast this morning. Come to think of it, Lucky Charms is not a substantial breakfast. The sugars break down too fast and my appetite is back. I have yet to place my bowl and spoon in the dishwasher. For now, the bowl is just admiring the scenery until I muster up the drive to get up and put it away. Next to my bowl, there is a strange book. Its title is "Cornish Rex Cats." I apologize if my fellow readers are cat-lovers but the cats in this book are hideous. My sister is lover of all animals therefore she brought the book home. My mom and I were looking through the book just scoffing at the looks of the poor creatures. As soon as my sister hears us making fun of the cats, she bows up and exclaims "UHHHH YOU GUYS ARE SO MEAN! THESE KITTIES ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!" She was genuinely hurt at my mom's and my laughter. Every time I see this book, that is what I am reminded of. Back to the messy house, I suddenly glance at the kitchen. It's not in too bad of shape. The dishes of breakfast are the only things that linger. What immediately caught my eye just now was an immense hairball. Gross. I have not vacuumed since last week sometime and it is starting to show. Needless to say, I am shutting down the computer and going to help out my parents by fixing this mess. Have a great fall day, all! :)

The Entry of a Home

I am in a different room. It is the up stairs of my house, instead of my own private den. I'm sitting in the love seat in my living room. In front of me, I see my laptop screen. I also see the red edges of my front door. My mom decided that painting our entry way orange would really liven up the space. It sure did. There is the table adjacent to the front door that has a large mirror on it. When I would leave for school, I would use that mirror and take a final look at my attire and hair before heading out. On the table, there is also a 8x10 picture of yours truly. Instead of paying out the wazoo for professional senior pictures, we just decided to use the ones our school took. They turned out pretty good in my opinion. Right next to my picture is a picture of my brother and sister when they were in preschool. Boy, were they cute! They still are. When I go around and do the monthly dusting, I just marvel at that photo. It was taken so long ago and it looks amazing. They are posing so sweetly. They are sitting back to back with a huge mischievous smile upon their faces. Twins; they're always at each other about something. While posting this, I'm frequently glancing at their little faces in the picture. I have not been the best big sister. That makes me have so many regrets on the way I have treated them. They should not feel any resentment towards me but they do because of the way I spoke to them. I have long since learned that how I treated them was incredibly wrong but that does not change the way they feel still. I am working harder and harder each day to gain their affection. I hope my honesty is appreciated. Anyways, like any hallway, there is a closet, a door, and a coat hanger with rods, etc. However, I think the most incredible thing about our entry way (I am admiring it at this moment) is the sign above the door. As you are on your way out, you have no choice but to look up and read the piece of art, compliments of Hobby Lobby, that says "There's no place like home." It is such a cliche, but just think about. I apply that to my life and I cannot explain how true that is. No matter what I'm going through or where I am at, there is absolutely no place like home.

Past-Times

Past-times. Times of the past. Times of my past. They may be baseball for some Americans. My favorite past-time is going to the Air Shows with my papa. As one can see, I am extremely close to my family. They are something I hold closer than anything else in this world. Therefore, their influence on me is great. When I was younger, my grandma and grandpa would pack up and head to Harrison, AR to the air shows. For those who don't know or who have horrible common sense like me, an air show consists of airplanes, jets, jet fighters, and all types of monumental aircraft from the war days. It is my favorite because of the loud roar of the engines starting up. It is truly breathtaking. Some people think loud is annoying and bothersome. For example, on the highway you hear the little trucks with the loud exhaust. No, that is not the roar I appreciate. Sometimes it is entertaining but it does not compare to the genuine blast of the airplane firing up. I do not even like to wear the ear muffs. I like the all-natural, full-on, ear-blasting ROAR of the engine. The sound almost makes my heart skip a beat. I am not saying that to be overly sentimental; that really is what happens due to the volume of the engine start-up. It is my past-time also because it is something super special my grandparents and I took part of. Remember how my Papa and I love PBR? It is the same concept. Family is involved so it makes it that much better. Nothing can compare to this experience. Every person has their special memory of childhood but mine just so happened to carry over through my adolescence, teenage years, and now, through my young adult years. Tomorrow morning, I will (God forbid any freak accident or illness) be heading to Fort Smith, AR to experience yet another air show. I am so excited. I will try to post pictures and provide an update. If this type of activity interests you, I highly encourage a family trip to an air show. They are all over and it is definitely family-friendly. However, I advise to bring your own drinks because they are insanely expensive at the event!

Nature v. Nurture

I am currently covering this subject in another one of my classes and I am still a little foggy. I hope that writing about can help me get my thoughts in order and comprehend it a little better. Nature v. Nurture is the difference of the traits ingrained within our heritage and the influence of the environment on us. I understand the overall concept. However, if someone were to give me a scenario and ask if it was an example of nature or nurture, I would be at a loss. For example, in the movie Wedding Crashers, there is a reference of the Nature v. Nurture discussion. The boys are out in the yard playing a round of flag football and the more wimpy, less trained man falls to the ground and he gets hurt. The older and more experienced men chant, "Yeah, that's a question of Nature versus Nurture..." I do not understand this reference. Does he mean which should he choose to help him regain his dignity: the traits he was born with or the traits society taught him to inherit? That is where I am most confused.
I am assuming that the Nature v. Nurture conflict is a test of common sense that I will fail at when given an example. This week, I am expected to write a post explaining my thoughts on the subject. I am finding it incredibly hard considering that I do not fully understand the concept. Through reading and further studying, I should be able to comprehend little by little.
Writing my thoughts down did kind of help. Sometimes it just takes putting things down on paper (or a keyboard) to set the thoughts straight where they can be easily read. If anyone has anything that could help me and my lack of understanding, please do not hesitate to comment or contact me! It would be of excellent help. :) Everyone have a great fall day!

Pumpkin Munchkins

Something that blows my mind is the creativity of the young mind. As previously mentioned, I work at a daycare. I'm not necessarily the "teacher." I am more like the afternoon care taker. I help my co-workers when they need help supervising the children or if help is needed for a particular craft. This morning, I went in extra early to help one of my co-workers teach the kids about pumpkins. It was an incredibly hands-on activity which is why she needed my assistance. It is "P" week at the school so "pumpkins" were the morning's activity. It was my duty to be the photographer and help with any messes while my co-worker taught the children what a pumpkin is like on the inside. She purchased pumpkins (which are only $3.88 if you live near a Walmart) and began gutting it while the kids entered. She laid out towels and plastic for the kids to sit on so we didn't make a giant mess for the janitor to clean up. As the children sat down on the towels, I handed them each a bowl. My co-worker distributed the "guts" and seeds of the pumpkin and told the children to play with it and determine what the pumpkin innards were like. The fascinating thing about this part of the activity was that the children absolutely did not want to touch it! It was almost as if they were scared of the contents. Eventually, my co-worker and I persuaded the kids to touch the seeds and things. It was just so weird that the children wanted to have nothing to do with the messy pumpkin. Kids love making messes! I think that maybe this was a relatively new concept and they did not know quite what the object was. Their parents probably let the older children do the pumpkin gutting and carving so these kids had little idea what was in front of them. Being kids, they were more excited about the upcoming craft and lost interest in playing with the gooey orange stuff. Eventually, we all made a cute little pumpkin out of a brown paper bag, streamer, orange and white ribbon, and pumpkin seeds. Now the children can go home and show Mom and Dad how they were little Pumpkin Munchkins today. It was a lot of fun and not all that hard to clean up. WARNING: If you wish to attempt this craft, make sure you have help.
:)

Spring Forward, Fall is BACK!

Today's post is going to be about fall. I love everything about this season. I love the craft fairs, pumpkins, colors of the trees, cool breezes, scarves and boots and sweaters, hot cider, Silver Dollar City and the festivals they host, and the succession of Thanksgiving to name a few. I appreciate this season most because it is kind of the conclusion to summer. Yes, we all love the warm weather but I start to get burnt out on it. Don't you? Warm turns to hot, hot turns to blistering, blistering causes unnecessary sweating. Girls aren't too fond of that. Anyway, fall still has its warmer days but the best thing about it is that it has that nice, cool refreshing breeze. I'm sitting out on my porch in the backyard and it is about 1 in the afternoon. The morning coolness had faded and the afternoon sun is appearing. I love that I can sit out here with my sweat shirt on yet still be comfortable by means of temperature. I hear the gentle wind rustle the trees in the yard and the birds singing their celebratory song of the ending of summer. It is so peaceful this time of year. Nothing makes me happier than the feeling of fall. I get to dress up nice and cozy to go to the cute cafe downtown with my mom this time of year. She and I are big fans of scarves and those tall UGG boots. I cannot truly explain it but I love the way fall makes me feel. I feel that everyone's overall mood is better because they don't have to worry about the increasing heat index or the snow melting and turning into ice. It is just the perfect time of year to be with family and friends and really celebrate the Earth God has given us. I'm so glad that fall is back! Have a great season, everyone! :)

Love this Activity!

Freewriting. Even though this is technically considered an assignment, I consider it fun. I love the fact that we are allowed to write about anything and everything we want for 300 words. Yes, sometimes it is difficult to think of things to say. But, that is the beauty of it: We just keep our fingers moving (due to the fact I partake in an online course) and our minds pumping. It's probably a cliche but I think of this activity as a warm-up for the big event. In sports, there are warm-ups and stretches, right? Writing for 300 words is also warming up. It warms up the creativity to prepare for the big event. The big event may be in the form of essay writing, reading, etc, but the point is that it gets our minds moving and ready to go. Some days are better than others. We are all busy with school or work or a combination of the two plus some more but I think, also, this activity is a a form of release. It is like a journal entry. We can express personal things going on in life or just discuss something to get it off of our chest. That seems to be very helpful. Ridding stressors or at least talking about them is good for any situation. It is especially good when I am about to complete a task that involves a lot of focus and attention to detail. 
Point being, I love this assignment and to be honest, I am kind of disappointed that it will be ending next week. Although, just because my instructor won't be requiring this assignment anymore, does not mean I can't be accountable for it on my own. Since this is truly a helpful exercise, I just might do something extra for school. I just might. 

Pychology's Phsychology

In this semester of my Psy 1110 class, I am learning all sorts of new things. I took basic Psychology my sophomore year of high school so I have a little foundation of information to help me succeed in college psychology. I am so thankful I did take it in high school. Had I not taken it, I would be very lost now because the basic material is to be assumed. Translation: college psych assumes you know the basic things. Furthermore, I am learning about a very interesting subject: learning. Actually, we learned about it last week. We learned that there are different types of learning. For example, one can be conditioned to learn. Pavlov's dog experiment is very popular and well-known. Pavlov conditioned a dog to salivate to the sound of a bell. He did this by feeding the dog when a bell chimed, thus the dog began to salivate in preparing to eat his meal. Eventually, the dog associated the sound of a bell with eating so he salivated. Pavlov then removed the food as the stimulus to further prove he had conditioned the dog. This is an incredible discovery of man because you cannot tell animals how to act as easily as you can tell a human. The dog's response was involuntary which makes this experiment even more incredible. 

Another intriguing topic I've learned in my class is that of neural reception. It is indeed random but I think it related to the every day teens in society now days. In the first chapter of my book, there is a young lady that has multiple ear piercings. This is popular among young folks, I believe. I myself has a few extra ear piercings. They look really good in my opinion. However, this girl's piercings were excessive. The caption below her picture read that sensory adaptation allows one to ignore the constant, unchanging feeling in the ear from all the rings and metals. This concept just blew my mind. Who knew that our bodies automatically know what to do? I absolutely love learning these new things. It makes all the hard work and late nights worthwhile.

Happy Birthday? It so was.

So, thursday was indeed my birthday. I turned 19 and I had probably one of the most fun birthdays ever. Usually, on my birthday my mom will cook me dinner and we'll on just hang out as a family for a while. However, this birthday was especially exciting because, thanks to my amazing friends, it was a celebration that dragged out over the span of two weeks. I know, it's ridiculous. I am spoiled. SPOILED. My friends took me camping two weeks before my actual birthday but it was considered my "birthday trip" from them. That was absolutely incredible. We went fishing, laid out on the lake, enjoyed a little rain, built a fire all by ourselves, had some friends over to our site, and just had an all around amazing time together. I was sad to have the weekend end but I only moved onto another unexpected suprise. The following weekend, my friend got me tickets to PBR, Professional Bull Riding. I had an earlier post describing my excitement for that. Anyways, that trip was a blast. I met a few new people. Meeting new people is an incredible feeling. Because of my outgoing personality, it is not hard for me to strike up a conversation with people and when someone wants to spark a friendship, I light up like the Fourth of July. Wow, that is an analogy I've never used before. Back on track, PBR was an incredible experience and I would absolutely love to experience it again. Furthermore, the celebration of my actual birthday was so touching. Firstly, my best friend set her alarm to call me at exactly 12:01 a.m. to sing me Happy Birthday. She sure did. I realize it was ridiculously early for her to wake up but what matters most is that she did it despite her having to get up early the next morning for work. Also, my phone was blowing up all morning with people wishing me a happy birthday. I am truly blessed. Mid-morning, I get a call from one of my co-workers. She and all our kids at my work sang me happy birthday. THAT brought tears to my eyes. Later, I went into work to hear all my little kids holler "Happy Birthday Miss Brittany!" and I found their gift for me. They made a book with their handprints and even my co-workers contributed. The joy in my heart was and is indescribeable. Lastly, after work, my friends took me out for a delicious crab leg dinner to a restaraunt I've not been to yet. It was phenomenal. I came home to find a card and a present from my parents.
That day, I learned that I should not be excited about gifts and money I'll receive; but to celebrate another year the God has granted me. I couldn't be more blessed.

Favorite: Stress is a Mess

For this week, the Stress is a Mess post is my favorite. First of all, stress is something we all face. That sounds incredibly cliche, but it is true. We all have different types of stress. For me, I have financial, educational, and personal stress. I am not afraid to delve into my stresses because I hope I can be a shining light to someone looking for their way into the clearing. This post was my favorite because I feel that I touched on the major effects of stress, which is what a lot of people can empathize. Stress can make us blind that what is important in real life in front of us. It takes away our reason for thinking positively. As humans, we think of the next negative occurrence or event. I would like to change this. At least I would like to change this in myself. Like I stated earlier, I am not afraid to speak of the things I have gone or am going through. When my boss at work confronts me on how I am treating the children, I am honestly dumbfounded. I don't deny my actions or start blabbing about how I have been a perfect "teacher," because I know I haven't. That is one thing that severely stresses me out: my job being on the line. The job instability leads to another stress known as financial stress. My solution to her approach? I look her dead in the eye and tell her that I will work on how I say things to the children. After all, the point of being scolded is the learn from the mistakes, right? I definitely did learn. I did my best to avoid a stress and avoid making a new one. Back on track, I feel this post calls attention to something most people try to avoid instead of heal. Remember, you can't fully fix something if you keep running away from it! :)

Family Values

To start, this is not going to be some long drawn out conversation about what my values; it is about how I value my family. You know how you sometimes ponder the idea of losing a family member? Well, in my house, that almost occurred. My brother was outside on our back deck and it is like a balcony, overlooking the backyard with a straight drop. He was out there eating dinner with the little neighbor boy and my sister. My brother decided he could show off and stand on the ledge and possibly try walking on it. I did not even let him get his second leg up on that ledge. My heart sank and I yelled "Oh my god, Matthew!" My dad leapt up and quickly attended to my brother. Even though my brother hadn't fallen or even come close to it, the realization of what could have happened sank in. I love my brother and sister with a love no one can imagine. I hope it is that way for siblings worldwide. Anyways, if anything happened to my brother or sister or any part of my family, I would be absolutely torn. I'm so thankful he was nowhere near falling over the edge and injuring himself. I am so thankful that I caught sight of him before matters got worse. My entire family would have been distraught. This goes to show that a family should value itself as whole. Meaning, we should all care about each other and keep each other in our special interest. In my opinion, I have the best family in the world. I can't imagine my life without any of them, even our Shepherd-Lab, Benny or Olive the cat. What I value most is my family.

Head in a Fog? Yep.

After a long day of college classes, cleaning up the house, and then work, not much is on my mind in the afternoon. However, something is on my mind at the moment. It is kind of weird. As a warning, I am being a big baby. My health is on my mind. I am not faced with some rare life-threatening disease; however, over the last few weeks I've battling allergies. This past weekend, I lost my voice out of the blue. It was so random. I have no idea why I lost it. It got really scratchy and became hard for me to talk. Eventually, I could barely utter my words. Now, after eating a delicious dinner my mom made for me, I feel sick to my stomach. This is probably all useless information to my fellow readers and peers, but is this a symptom of stress? I have tried medicine, rest, and fluids but I am still queasy feeling and my head is in a fog. Where are the windshield wipers? Maybe what I need are some fog lights like what we have in our cars. I cannot seem to find the button for them in my actual car. Anyways, that is beside the point. The topic of this blog is that we cannot let our heads get in too thick of a fog or else we will start to lose focus of what is important. I know I certainly have. My conscious is still there, reminding me of the tasks at hand, but I'm finding it harder and harder and harder to find the will power due to my head and its unwelcome fog. Through prayer and my own will, I can overcome anything. Especially this crazy allergy season. Philippians 4:13 is very handy. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Procrastinate? No.

The title says it all. I have definitely procrastinated. I've been too busy thinking of how stressed I am and what all I have to do instead of actually going out and DOING those things. I obviously am not very good at managing my time. However, I am working harder each day to improve this. Work should not be an excuse but I am making it one. I work every afternoon and by the time I come home, I am almost worn out. THAT is NO excuse, I have to keep telling myself. Nurses don't get "down-time." Trying to relax is not going to prove my worthiness of having a nursing license and, consequently, will only slow down the process.
It is so important to not procrastinate. First, you feel so much better and more accomplished when you get things done ahead of time. No one wants to have to sit out on that party this weekend because they have homework. In my case, this weekend is my birthday celebration. I definitely want to relax instead of do homework and clean all weekend. Therefore, it is important for me to get in gear and carry out my plans of action. Second, completing tasks sets a good ground for the future. For example, if I get into the habit of completing my tasks ahead of time, I will have no trouble with it in my future. This goes for any aspect of life; school, tending to children, and even cleaning.Thus, I will have set a good example for my peers and family.
I hope everyone has learned either from their own experience or someone else's that procrastination is NOT a good habit to get into. Once you start, it is hard to stop.

8 Seconds

Today is the day that the Professional Bull Riders are coming to the town I live in. My best friend bought me tickets for my birthday, which is Thursday. I am so incredibly excited not only because it's a HUGE event, but I have grown up watching PBR with my grandpa. Every time I go down there, he always wants me to sit down and watch it with him. I must say that it's a pretty intriguing sport. They have to stay on a bucking bull for at least 8 seconds to win. It is intense to watch on TV and I can only imagine what tonight's intensity will be. Actually, I imagine the atmosphere quite vividly. I picture beer banners everywhere, cowboy hats, boots, spurs, and a lot of spitting. It doesn't bother me because, except for the alcohol everywhere, that's the environment I grew up in. Nowadays, the cowboy/cowgirl look is a fashion statement. Preps are wearing boots and hats like they've lived in the country their whole life. That actually kind of bothers me because those people are not being true to who they a really are. Anyways, I did grow up in the country and I'm still surrounded by a lot of the people even though I moved away. However, I don't broadcast it and "show off" by wearing ridiculous get ups. I barely have an accent anymore. Back to the point, I've never been super involved in watching bull riding but it is something I definitely enjoy being a fan of. The passion that those young men have for conquering that wild bull for 8 seconds is so admirable. If they stay on, the rider will sometimes do a little victory dance that gets the crowd going wild. All in all, thanks to my best friend, I can now experience the excitement of Professional Bull Riding in person instead of on the TV. Best of all, she will be right there next to me.

Music: Role Play

Random? Yes, it is very random. In class, I posed a question. What type of music would you be? Meaning? What type of music best describes YOU? Some people don't have a certain genre while others, like me, are a conglomeration. Many pieces of music fit my puzzle. I absolutely love country music. However, I'm not in the mood for it all the time. Country never fails to slap a smile on my face and make me want to dance. However, it affects each person differently. When I'm with my mom, who is a die-hard 80s hairband lover, she does not appreciate my country playlist. With that being said, I'm also a fan of the older tunes such as Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Alice Copper, and my favorite, Firehouse. They are all so vocally talented and when I listen to them, I feel like I should have been alive in the 80s, rocking right in the nose-bleed section of their sold-out tour. These artists complete the playlist when my mom and I are on a trip together. She helped shape my love for music my whole life. Of course, she listened to her radio station which consisted of the classics, and my next artist, Enya. In case you've never heard Enya, she is like the Irish folk version of Mozart. Her music is incredible relaxing with few lyrics. I listen to her primarily when I'm doing homework or taking a bath.  Something about the way the melodies flow makes your mind melt and simply relax, which is a very important thing to do among all the stresses of today's society. At work at nap time, I play Enya because the kids seem to feel the same way I do about her compositions.
Basically, music plays an important role in our attitudes and the way we feel when we listen to a particular kind of music. If I wasn't dead-set on becoming a nurse anesthetist, I'd pursue some kind of career in the field of music. I am so passionate about music and there is not a time when I don't want to be listening to it.

Know Your Audience Analysis

Through different writing activities, I have begun to learn more and more about my audience. I have to admit that it is kind of difficult to imagine my readers' responses and determine their attitudes due to the fact we are not in a seated class. My classmates are pretty good about conveying their attitudes efficiently on our assignments. I love the diversity of my audience. Last week, one of the class tasks was to ask a question and the class answers it. It could have been any type of question. My question asked if you were any type of music, what type would you be? I expected the usual: hip-hop, country, or pop. I did receive a few of those responses. However, the majority of responses were things I would have never imagined like Native-Hawaiian, Blues, Worship, and Celtic to name a few. These are all excellent types of music but the important thing is my classmates chose an abstract type and not what is popular. I appreciate that more than anything because it keeps our minds on the edge and moving, which is important in education.
In others' posts there were questions of which movie you would want to be, what show would you wish to be trapped in, where would you go if finances were not an issue, etc. Once again, my peers provided responses that I would not have automatically assumed. For the movie question, a few students stated titles of movies I had never heard before. Thus, my brain got its juices flowing and wanted to learn more. This will benefit writing in all aspects. It will help me gather more information than what my peers expect and therefore lead to the same awestruck opinion I had in getting to know my audience.
I expected to have two or more of the same responses to my question but that, clearly, was not the case.
Maybe since this is my first year of college, I am used to the amount of slacking in writing. I'm surprised that my audience put so much thought into their responses. Like I stated earlier, I appreciate their thinking outside of the box.
This concept inspires me to start being more of an abstract thinker. Being an abstract thinker leads to more interesting and successful writing. I am having a great time learning about my classmates via the Discussion Board meanwhile learning to better my own writing skills.

Stress is a Mess

Stress. Without it, we wouldn't have anything to teach us to manage our time, money, resources, etc. I'm not very old and haven't been through a whole lot. However, I've been through enough to teach me that stress is a real thing. It is not a pigment of my imagination. It is not what mommies and daddies whine about for no reason. It honestly and actually exists.
There are many types of stressors. Children are an example. I don't have any of my own but I have a big family with a lot of children in it. I work at a daycare and I'm with kids constantly. I  treat them like I would my own. They teach me things everyday just like I teach them. They are constantly needing things and wanting more, more, more. It's important to continually give them everlasting affection and unconditional love even though it may not be the most convenient thing for any of us in any given circumstance.
Money is another popular factor in stress. Daddies especially are affected by this kind of stress due to their being the head of household and keeping everything together and everyone, including mommy's shopping habits, happy. Being a college student, I find it necessary for me to work part-time. But, with age comes responsibilities. Yes, the old cliche is true. I have gas, phone, gym payment, and anything extra to pay for. School should be my number one priority but I have found that keeping up with my job and finances has unintentionally taken spot number one.
In conclusion, I strive to deal with my stresses in a positive way by means of praying and taking appropriate time for myself to clear my head and keep my thoughts in order. But first, I must complete the tasks that need to be completed before worrying about anything extra I might want to do. Procrastinating is a tool that tightens the screw of Stress.

My Non-Biological Kids

After a long day of crying two-year olds or fighting five-year olds, coming home to type 300+ words actually sounds like a break right about now. Being able to sit down and let my brain go wild sounds even better. Lucky for my fellow bloggers, I will let my brain go wild. 

In the afternoons, I work at a daycare & preschool in a nearby town. It is my favorite job so far. The children ALWAYS have something to smile about. The most amazing feeling is the vibes these kids give me. As soon as I come in their door, it's all "Miss Brittany, Miss Brittany! I love you!" And there are also the more popular lines of "she hit me. I have a booger. Wipe my nose. I gotta go potty!" Either way, I love hearing the kids talk to me. Going to work is like taking care of a family. I have to make sure everyone is fed, clean, and happy. Not to mention, safe. Moral being, I absolutely love the fact that me and other teachers in the building are putting a smile on some kid's face, somehow.

This past week, I have been working a full day at the daycare in the 2-year olds classroom. I'm there for breakfast, snack, lunch, and snack. Also, I'm there to take the kids potty and change their diapers if need be. That's the icky part of the job. 

My job has become almost like a lifestyle and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a Christian-based school, therefore, I am required to talk professional and be a leader to the children. This provides not only a positive attitude for me in the work place, but an attitude that carries over off-duty hours. I have experienced nothing that makes me this happy. I can safely say I am one of the luckiest people to have the job that I have. I love seeing these kids smile and watch as their little light bulbs switch on. I don't need a degree to tell me I can and will continue to change someone's life.

I Believe That Girls Nights Are Necessary.

I would like to start off by saying I have the most radical friends in the world. I can't think what to write what to write what to write what to write. My girls and I always have the most fun times. For example, we are always either singing or dancing or yelling. It's also common to have a combination of all three around us. At my job, my friends and I secretly go behind the child's back and make fun of them. It's innocent humor, though. Nothing too serious or rude is said. When we have girls nights, we like to make a little thing known as a "Mock-tini." Since we are underage, we cannot and do not drink alcohol. Thus, we created the Mock-tini which is simply a virgin smoothie with grilled peaches and ice. Also, we like to sit outside and discuss our latest drama or whatever drama we have witnessed. Proceding, we mock the situation and end up laughing about it for days. This is what is known as an "inside joke." Wow this is not as hard as I thought it would be. I can't believe I actually wrote that I didn't know what to write. That was incredibly foolish of me. Now, my fingers have smoke underneath them from typing so fast. I'm just so passionate about the importance of girls nights. There is not reason or explanation. I honestly can say they saved my life. The ups and downs of all my situations, my girls nights have always been there to pick me up and make me feel right again. I hope everyone can be as blessed as I am. I love my girls. Did I say that already? Oh well. I LOVE MY GIRLS. One of them  is actually watching me type this and boy, she is intimidating. I thank God every night for blessing me with such amazing people. Well, 10 minutes is up. Almost, almost, almost, almost. Yes, it's over.

Word Count: 330

"This I Believe" List

1. I believe in God.
2. I believe in food.
3. I believe in love.
4. I believe in everlasting friendship.
5. I believe that there will be peace one day.
6. I believe that every action has a reaction.
7. I believe in the goodness of mankind.
8. I believe Chinese food is a comfort food.
9. I believe my mom is my best friend.
10. I believe my dog makes me vacuum my house three times more a week due to his shedding.
11. I believe that Jesus will save us all, as long as we're willing to be saved.
12. I believe this is harder than I anticipated.
13. I believe cell phones are addicting.
14. I believe smiling is contagious.
15. I believe that quiet time is necessary to maintain sanity.
16. I believe children are our future.
17. I believe I'm very lucky.
18. I believe I am one of those students who will do better in college than I did in high school.
19. I believe we all change someone's life and just don't know it.
20. I believe that bright colors help bring a smile about a face.
21. I believe I was put on this Earth for a purpose.
22. I believe honesty is the best policy.
23. I believe that milk helps me grow strong bones and teeth.
24. I also believe that milk helps one lose weight.
25. I believe I have the best friends in the world.
26. I believe abortion is immoral and against the Bible.
27. I believe divorce is sad, but sometimes necessary.
28. I believe my generation will have to deal with the mistakes our government is making in office presently.
29. I believe late night study sessions are ineffective.
30. I believe I am beautiful.
31. I believe that girls nights are necessary.

Jung Typology Test

Upon taking the Jung typology test, I learned a few things that caught my attention dealing with my personality "type." I learned that I could work well as a guardian. That is accurate because I absolutely love helping and taking care of people. I've always been a very motherly person, which can get on some people's nerves. I believe this attribute will help me in my future by means of being an example to fellow classmates that may need help and we could brainstorm together to make progress.
Also, the test stated I am, for lack of better words, a social butterfly. I couldn't agree more. Actually, that is one of the ways people know me from high school and church: I was always the first to say "hi" or speak out when not necessarily spoken to. I am very driven and strong-willed, which encourages my extravertive personality. Fortunately, that will definitely help me succeed in college. Hoping I don't lose my personality, I will always be ready for a challenge that comes my way or go out of my way to challenge myself.
Furthermore, these characteristics coincide with my abilities in writing. When I write, I want to be able to make it as meaningful to my reader as possible without being fake. My personality compliments that attribute by being honest and up-front. I don't like to sugar coat things, unless that is the task I am given. Also, my personality helps me in writing because I don't consider myself much of a "slacker." However, I will admit I do procrastinate. Anyways, not being a slacker helps me write because I can get the job done and it doesn't drag on which eventually will make the paper boring and cause the reader to lose focus.
I am grateful for this typology test because it pointed out potential personality traits I did not know I had. I will try to apply these traits to help my success in my classes and in life, as well.

Brittany Stidham