Thoughts of a Random Nature

I think spring is finally here! It’s been in the mid-70s and sunny for the past few days. Combine that with Daylight Savings Time starting and the days have been so long and fun I barely want to come in. If I sound giddy over spring it’s because I am. Spring is my favorite time of year. Flowers are blooming and it hasn’t gotten so hot it’s uncomfortable yet.

Besides my battles with hay fever, the only thing I dislike about spring is the idea of spring cleaning. I grew up having to do it every year and if you know me you know how much I hate spending a nice chunk of my day cleaning, though I appreciate how clean and fresh everything feels once I’m done. While I’ll probably be taking one of these weekends to get rid of old clothes, books, and doodads I’ve accumulated over the past few months I’m going to do be doing some mental and emotional spring cleaning as well.

I find it easy to hold on to sad and mean feelings (I’m sure I’m not the only one). There have been slights, no matter how small and inadvertent, that have led me to hold silent grudges and be angry for months. I’ve been working on letting go of petty stuff, either be writing about or talking about it (in some cases to that person, other times not). Whatever I do, I’m learning how to do deal with what’s made me upset, as opposed to keeping it bottled up and it manifesting in potentially self-destructive ways.

I have a few goals and plans for this year and I can’t dedicate my focus to them if I’m caught up in nonsense and inconsequential stuff. With sites like Facebook and Twitter where you can keep up with people’s lives without even having to talk to them, it takes no effort at all to fall into a web of comparing your life to others’ and getting caught up in gossip and mess. I enjoy Twitter more than Facebook but I’m going to try my hardest to limit my time on both of them.

I’m going to trash these bad habits so I have more time to devote to hobbies I enjoy and make me a happier person, such as working out, being outside, reading and writing.

By the way, kind of random but I just read a good article from Forbes Magazine titled “How to Make Twentysomethings Happy”. Talks about millenials in the workplace…definitely worth checking out.

Are there any bad habits or tendencies you want to get rid of in the near future?

J

Happy Thursday!

I had a strange little thought on my mind last night and since this is the place for random thoughts, there’s no better place to say it. Sometimes I think it’s difficult to admit to ourselves how we really feel in some situations. I don’t like speaking for others so I’ll only provide perspective from my experiences.  I’ve had this problem in my life a few times before, where I was not only able to convince others I felt a certain way but myself as well.

I’m an example person so I’ll provide a story. When I was a freshman in college, I declared my major in Business. Business is practical, everyone said. You’ll get a great job, make great money with this major. Despite the fact that I enjoyed my required English class more than Intro to Financial Accounting, I often used the reasoning of a great corporate job (with the $$ to match) following graduation whenever asked why I picked my major. It was safe but deep down I was miserable. I hated going to accounting lectures and they might as well have been teaching the class in Italian because I didn’t understand any of it. I’d read novels for my literature class in one day but struggle through 2 pages of a chapter in my business book.

Fortunately sometime my sophomore year I couldn’t take any more. College was becoming mentally arduous because I was afraid to admit to myself that I really wanted to major in English and be a writer. I no longer cared that people thought I was wasting my money and time pursuing a major that wouldn’t necessarily lead to a high-paying job. Because if I really asked myself, that’s not what I cared about. I admit, I was so worried about fitting in and not disappointing anyone that I fooled myself into thinking I wanted to be a high-powered businesswoman. But why did this happen? Honestly I think it was a fear of stepping out of my comfort zone and defying expectations that had been thrust upon me.

There are other situations in which this feeling creeps up though. Whether it’s admitting deep down you don’t really like a person or even that you’re a tiny bit jealous or envious of someone. It’s basically admitting to yourself maybe you aren’t as nice as you think you are. Or that you’re a little insecure or vulnerable.

Anyway, like I said this was just a thought that crossed my mind and I thought here would  be the perfect place to explore it. So I turn it over to you, have you ever had to do some serious thinking and admit to yourself what was really going on?

J

Happy New Year!

It’s so cold here in Indianapolis, I have a feeling winter is really getting ready to start. Anyway, with a new year comes an opportunity for change. Turning over a new leaf so to speak.

I typically don’t like making New Year’s resolutions, mostly because I’m prone to breaking them before January is even over. Also, I don’t believe that it needs to be January 1 to make a conscious decision to change. With that being said I have made some goals for myself that I will dedicate this entire year to working on, because I know it’s not going to happen overnight. Here’s my list:

1. Eating healthier/exercising (I started this in October so I’m well on my way )

2. Become a freelancer in the writing and editing fields.

3. Maintain self-discipline and focus when it comes to blogging.

4. Read more books. Ever since I graduated college I don’t read as many as I used to. They’ve given way to blogs and YouTube.

5. Step up my style and wardrobe. This is completely shallow but I’m ready to start dressing more like someone in their mid-2os and   less like I did when I was a 20-year-old college student (you know, the North Face jacket, jeans, and sneakers/Uggs…that’s my typical outfit)

That’s my list. What are your goals/resolutions for 2012?

J

Hey! I’d like to introduce myself and my blog. My name’s Joy and this blog, Thoughts of a Random Nature, is the result of me feeling a desire to be creative and to simply talk about anything and everything.

I’m a twenty-something who graduated two years ago and still trying to figure out what I want to call my career.  Writing is one of my favorite hobbies (I was an English and Comp Lit major) and I have many interests.  I don’t have all of the answers but I think opening a dialogue would provide so many perspectives.

They always say you should have some kind of purpose to a blog and here’s mine: I simply want to share and discuss my journey into adulthood and how to deal with life post-college. Since graduating I’ve dealt with weight issues and depression, not to mention simply trying to find a way to carve a place for myself professionally. I like talking about fun things too, such as food, hair/makeup, and places to go in Indy.

With all of that being said, I hope you enjoy reading!  Feel free to comment, ask questions, or even suggest things you may want to talk about.

J