Election 2012

I don't like getting political on social media.

I love talking about it privately with close friends and family, but when people discuss their political ideas on facebook and twitter, it makes me sick. I know, I know-free speech yada, yada, yada. People have the right to discuss such things which makes this country so great.

It's the hate that gets me. Why must people post their views by attacking the other side? Why do I have to be called dumb, a piece of trash, etc. for not thinking like you? Can't you just say your piece in a respectful, intelligent manner?

A lot of people I respect constantly posted very mean-spirited, hateful political rants on their news feed, forcing me to block their posts.

Yes, I have beliefs for one side over the other, but I pray that I'm not hateful if my guy doesn't win. I also pray for the country to stop the hate as well.


#dividedwefail

In the moment

A few weekends a go, a friend received two free tickets to a country concert at a bar on the north side of the city. We had been to this bar/venue previously and were excited to return.

Unfortunately...it was probably one of the worst concert experiences of my life. It was such a shame because the band was so good. It was a combination of the venue and fellow audience members that made it unbearable.  

Let me paint a picture for you. The venue is a bar that has a semi-large concert space in the back. Unless you have VIP seats, it's standing room only. My friend and I are pros at standing room only concerts and it has never been too much of a problem...until this concert. The place was JAMMED. You could barely move and what made it worse was no one could stand still.

"I'm sorry."
"Please excuse me, my friends are in the front."
"Whoops, didn't mean to spill that beer all over you!"

These were some of the numerous comments we heard in the two- hour span we stood and were shoved around. It seemed as if no one came enjoy the concert...they just wanted to be in the space whether that was getting beer, taking pictures, etc.


It got me thinking...in today's  world, do we ever just keep still and enjoy the moment?

Now, I will be the first to admit that social media is a big part of my experiences. When I attend a concert or anything big, I usually Foursquare my location, take a few photos on Instagram, and usually post something to Facebook, or Tweet about it.

But does this take away from our experiences? How much do I miss of the moment by "proving" to everyone that I have a "fantastic" social life.

Many times, our best memories come from those spur-of-the-moment or unexpected experiences. Some of my favorite moments in college were those Friday nights we chose to stay in and talk till 3:00 AM. Or those random dinners where you sat with new people and laughed until the cafeteria closed. No checking-in, no tweets, no photos. Just living in the moment.

I'm kind of a planner by nature so I don't think I'll stop organizing events or taking pictures or collecting points on foursquare. But, this concert did make me realize that it is okay to put the smart phone down one and awhile and sit back and enjoy.

What social media tools do you use when you are out on the town? Do you think it takes away from your experiences?

Fake ID

In my post-college collection of new interests, I love to country line dance. There is a great place in the western suburbs of Chicago that I like to frequent on Friday nights. You'll find everyone from ages 21-80 letting their hair loose and kicking up their boots. 

For those haters or skeptics out there-don't knock it till you have tried it!

My goal for December 31, 2012 is to learn this line dance, the extremely challenging Fake ID from the movie Footloose:

Rediscovering Art

When I was in undergrad, one of my majors was Graphic Art. With this major, some of my requirements were to take classes such as drawing, painting, and fiber arts. Now, I loved designing things on the computer. I loved making posters, invitations, business cards, etc. But free drawing-FORGET IT! I didn't have the patience for shading or erasers or those prisma colors. I was the girl who always had to buy 10 packs because I couldn't take care of my materials properly.

And don't even get me started on painting!! I could never get the brush to do what I wanted and I always felt constrained by assignments. Why couldn't I just take my brush and make a million paint strokes go back and forth? Why was I constrained to these assignments? It's art isn't it?

After I graduated, I moved onto grad school where life was consumed by papers, reading, teaching, and socializing. I didn't really miss art. I dabbled in a few graphic design projects here and there but didn't really MISS it.

Then after graduation, I ventured into the "real world." I love what I am doing, yet it was a tough transition. I recently celebrated one year at my job, but felt like something was missing. Several people at  work are musicians and actors on the side and I sometimes wished I had something like that to do after work. Something to express myself creatively.

And then I finally figured out what I needed to do. I needed to start creating art again. I can paint how I want to paint. I can make a homemade loom like I did in Fiber Arts. (Stitching the yarn back and forth on my train commute sounds so soothing!) I can create collages using mixed media. I'm FREE to create how I please without worrying about a grade being attached to my art.

So this is my new goal for the fall. Please hold me accountable.

How do you express your creativity outside of your career/school mode? Would love to try new things!

A Different Perspective

Ick! I'm really bad about this blog thing. Tomorrow marks one month without a new post!

Thanks to Emily from LoveWokeMeUpThisMorning, I started subscribing to the YouMe&Charlie Daily Mail. They started a month long creativity challenge for May. Although I missed the first one, I was excited about today's challenge: Take a photo this EXACT moment and look at it from a different perspective.

This photo was taken at work today. Whenever I come to my desk, I just think how messy it is and how I need to organize more. Taking this challenge, I looked at the mess as a blessing. A blessing I have a job, a blessing that the mess indicated there are things to do, a blessing that I am contributing to this organization.
If anything, today's challenge gave me the motivation to be more productive (minus writing this post of course!) and look at my job at a new angel and a new sense of excitment. Often, we go about our day from the same perspective day in and day out. How are you going to look at this day differently?

Welcome to A Charmed Life

I never thought I would write a blog. EVER.


But here I am! And very excited. 


I want this blog to be about enjoying the little things in life. I've been working on this a lot over the past few months-ever since I graduated from grad school. Instead of sitting and feeling sorry for myself about what I left behind, with God's help I'm learning to look forward and enjoy where I'm at now. 


I lost my phone earlier this year (very traumatic-I cried). Along with that phone I lost my Kate Spade case. This case had a drawn picture of a woman on a fake magazine called Charm. It got me thinking-what a great word! A great word to keep me positive and enjoy where I'm at. To think about what God has in store for me for the future. 


Loosing my phone was traumatic but it taught me to move on. I bought a new phone (and a new and different case!) and everything was okay. It wasn't worth it to keep dwelling on what was. 


So here it is folks! My attempt at A Charmed Life


-Emily
Jer. 29:11