After pulling a left, left turn during morning rush hour, to assuage the startled white truck who seemed not to understand my awesomeness:
"Don't worrry, that move is sanctioned by the American government."
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Courage
The illustrious Brene Brown* defines courage as, "sharing your whole story with your whole heart." I think this is the most beautiful definition, erradicating ideas of faultless strength and heroics as an ideal to seek, and instead posturing that life is simply about, inhabiting your story, and doing such will do something magical in your life and those around you.
My friend, Chris, and I had a conversation on Saturday about blogging, specifically whether it is possible to have a blog that is 100% honest, good and bad. I, of course, being the Debbie that I am, said it wasn't possible. How can you paint a full picture of a person in just this format? Not that you can't get a good picture, and not that you can't be honest, but 100%, I just don't know.
But, then I've been thinking about what Brene (we are BFFs, I call her Brene, ok?) says and I've been thinking about my own life. 100% honest or not, this is just one of the many opportunities I have to inhabit my story, to tell it with my whole heart.
I'm not very good at this. I mean, I can be, but my default is much more...how do you say in a way that makes me seem awesome still...secretive and deflective. I am great at listening. At talking about you. But, myself? Insert self-depricating joke and change the subject. I mean, I'm not saying I don't talk about myself, it's just not always my instinct.** But, Brene makes me want to be a better person, because that's what BFFs do.
What would happen if we all lived that courageously?
*You are welcome I'm sorry to everyone who has heard me obsess about her in conversation for the past few weeks. No, I'm not.
**Before I sound humbler and holier than you, I should tell you, I think about myself plenty. My not talking about myself isn't a sign of selflessness, that's for sure.
My friend, Chris, and I had a conversation on Saturday about blogging, specifically whether it is possible to have a blog that is 100% honest, good and bad. I, of course, being the Debbie that I am, said it wasn't possible. How can you paint a full picture of a person in just this format? Not that you can't get a good picture, and not that you can't be honest, but 100%, I just don't know.
But, then I've been thinking about what Brene (we are BFFs, I call her Brene, ok?) says and I've been thinking about my own life. 100% honest or not, this is just one of the many opportunities I have to inhabit my story, to tell it with my whole heart.
I'm not very good at this. I mean, I can be, but my default is much more...how do you say in a way that makes me seem awesome still...secretive and deflective. I am great at listening. At talking about you. But, myself? Insert self-depricating joke and change the subject. I mean, I'm not saying I don't talk about myself, it's just not always my instinct.** But, Brene makes me want to be a better person, because that's what BFFs do.
What would happen if we all lived that courageously?
*
**Before I sound humbler and holier than you, I should tell you, I think about myself plenty. My not talking about myself isn't a sign of selflessness, that's for sure.
Monday, June 25, 2012
A Summer of Reading
This summer has been beautiful for many reasons - we're not yet in 100 degree weather, I get half days on Fridays, and thus have started napping again (napping, I feel so luxe every time I take a nap), and most and best of all, I have so very much time to read.
During the semester, I get to read. I get to read Shakespeare plays, Southern Women writings, literary theory (oh joy), and sometimes I have the brain power afterwards to read a magazine. But, non-class related reading? A thing of fiction. So this summer, I'm soaking it up. Here's what I've read so far:
A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords from A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R. R. Marin: Y'all. Have you seen Game of Thrones on HBO? That is where this started. Last summer, I watched, marathon, skipping meals, social events, and personal hygiene to watch the 10 episode HBO series. And it is epic. So, over Christmas Break, I read Game of Thrones (the first book in the series). The characters are so rich and there are so many characters. That can be a little hard to keep up with, but I love these books. ASOS was emotionally exhausting to the point that I am taking a short hiatus before continuing with the 4th book. I recommend this book even if you aren't a fan of fantasy (which I am generally not). Deep characters, fantastic plots. I feel almost like it is really good historical fiction about power, family, honor, love, and a vast array of other things humans deal with.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker: I have read a little bit of Jen Hatmaker before, but this might be my favorite of hers. She is, first of all, hilarious. Reading her book is like having a conversation with a friend. The premise of the book is: she tired of the excess of American culture and what it has done to her heart, so for 7 months she takes a different area of excess (food, clothing, media, etc) and does a 7-related fast for it. It is hilarious and insightful and will ruin your life a little bit. In a good way.
Columbine by Dave Cullen: In the style of In Cold Blood, Cullen examines the Columbine shootings over a decade after they happen. He looks at the days leading up to the shootings, stories of survivors and victims and families, media coverage, police and FBI investigations, and the shooters. The journalistic style of the story, for me, made it less chilling then the situation maybe should have been, but thank goodness because I was emotionally spent after the whirlwind of ASOS. I was 12 when the Columbine shootings occurred, and didn't remember much, but turns out, most of what I remembered was wrong. I found his profile of the shooters and how the media covered the event to be the most interesting.
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore: I read this book pretty quickly, but dang, let me just say it is challenging to my thoughts about homelessness and friendship. It is a story about two unlikely friends, an international art dealer from Ft. Worth and a modern day slave and also about God. I cried like 7 times.
Currently reading: Kisses from Katie, In Defense of Food, A Feast of Crows, and always reading The Wisdom of the Enneagram
During the semester, I get to read. I get to read Shakespeare plays, Southern Women writings, literary theory (oh joy), and sometimes I have the brain power afterwards to read a magazine. But, non-class related reading? A thing of fiction. So this summer, I'm soaking it up. Here's what I've read so far:
A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords from A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R. R. Marin: Y'all. Have you seen Game of Thrones on HBO? That is where this started. Last summer, I watched, marathon, skipping meals, social events, and personal hygiene to watch the 10 episode HBO series. And it is epic. So, over Christmas Break, I read Game of Thrones (the first book in the series). The characters are so rich and there are so many characters. That can be a little hard to keep up with, but I love these books. ASOS was emotionally exhausting to the point that I am taking a short hiatus before continuing with the 4th book. I recommend this book even if you aren't a fan of fantasy (which I am generally not). Deep characters, fantastic plots. I feel almost like it is really good historical fiction about power, family, honor, love, and a vast array of other things humans deal with.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker: I have read a little bit of Jen Hatmaker before, but this might be my favorite of hers. She is, first of all, hilarious. Reading her book is like having a conversation with a friend. The premise of the book is: she tired of the excess of American culture and what it has done to her heart, so for 7 months she takes a different area of excess (food, clothing, media, etc) and does a 7-related fast for it. It is hilarious and insightful and will ruin your life a little bit. In a good way.
Columbine by Dave Cullen: In the style of In Cold Blood, Cullen examines the Columbine shootings over a decade after they happen. He looks at the days leading up to the shootings, stories of survivors and victims and families, media coverage, police and FBI investigations, and the shooters. The journalistic style of the story, for me, made it less chilling then the situation maybe should have been, but thank goodness because I was emotionally spent after the whirlwind of ASOS. I was 12 when the Columbine shootings occurred, and didn't remember much, but turns out, most of what I remembered was wrong. I found his profile of the shooters and how the media covered the event to be the most interesting.
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore: I read this book pretty quickly, but dang, let me just say it is challenging to my thoughts about homelessness and friendship. It is a story about two unlikely friends, an international art dealer from Ft. Worth and a modern day slave and also about God. I cried like 7 times.
Currently reading: Kisses from Katie, In Defense of Food, A Feast of Crows, and always reading The Wisdom of the Enneagram
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Word of the Day: Confetti
con·fet·ti
[kuhn-fet-ee for 1; It. kawn-fet-tee for 2]
plural noun, singular con·fet·to [It. -fet-taw]
1. Complete, unadulterated joy. In the form of BabyGirlJuneBug, dance parties, laughing until you cry, best friends, and wine in celebration.
2. The little pieces of life that sing you to sleep when you need a break, a little break from this weary life, and stick in your hair long after the celebration is over.
See also: sparkling magic, fireflies, gratitude, and deep hope
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Ha, trick.
After much thoughtful deliberation, I'm just going to plunge back into blogging and I need to keep this blog for some reason. My original. Ok, let's be honest, my original blog was xanga and you are welcome for that link and a little insight into Whitney Jones, circa 2003.
So, I've been putting off blogging again because of this enormous pressure I was putting on myself to have just the greatest come back post. It would wisely explain why I'd been gone and cleverly entice you back into reading. Unfortunately, that's not how life works and instead I am going to tell you about why the alarm on my phone is ruining my life.
I have a horrible habit of setting my alarm for so very much earlier than I will get up. I mean, in an ideal world, I would get up 2 1/2 hours before I needed to be somewhere. I cherish slow mornings. This might happen in real life if I never had to leave the house before 11. But, since I don't get to live in that parallel universe, I just set my alarm really early and reset it and hit snooze a lot.
Regardless of what "science" might suggest, this has worked for me. I have been doing this for so long and I just know. I can reset alarms in my sleep and add 9 minutes to weird times without waking up. I was making it work, ok?
Until I got this new phone. Well, guess what new phone does? When my alarm goes off and a little thing pops up with the options of "Snooze" or "Dismiss" it shows me the time I set my alarm for. So, it is not until I hit whichever button my heart desires (read: the snooze button) and then it tells me the real time.
95% of the time I close my eyes before I finish hitting snooze. You have to use every second, you know? Usually, I reset my alarm for my final wake up call, so I don't get stuck in a snooze cycle of regret, but this week so far my alarm is up on tricking me 2-0.
I bet you've been waiting on the edge of your seats for just such a post. You're welcome.
So, I've been putting off blogging again because of this enormous pressure I was putting on myself to have just the greatest come back post. It would wisely explain why I'd been gone and cleverly entice you back into reading. Unfortunately, that's not how life works and instead I am going to tell you about why the alarm on my phone is ruining my life.
I have a horrible habit of setting my alarm for so very much earlier than I will get up. I mean, in an ideal world, I would get up 2 1/2 hours before I needed to be somewhere. I cherish slow mornings. This might happen in real life if I never had to leave the house before 11. But, since I don't get to live in that parallel universe, I just set my alarm really early and reset it and hit snooze a lot.
Regardless of what "science" might suggest, this has worked for me. I have been doing this for so long and I just know. I can reset alarms in my sleep and add 9 minutes to weird times without waking up. I was making it work, ok?
Until I got this new phone. Well, guess what new phone does? When my alarm goes off and a little thing pops up with the options of "Snooze" or "Dismiss" it shows me the time I set my alarm for. So, it is not until I hit whichever button my heart desires (read: the snooze button) and then it tells me the real time.
95% of the time I close my eyes before I finish hitting snooze. You have to use every second, you know? Usually, I reset my alarm for my final wake up call, so I don't get stuck in a snooze cycle of regret, but this week so far my alarm is up on tricking me 2-0.
I bet you've been waiting on the edge of your seats for just such a post. You're welcome.
Friday, September 30, 2011
The One Wherein I Quote a Country Song
"If you see me getting smaller, I'm leaving, don't be grieving, just gotta get away from here. If you see me getting smaller, don't worry, and no hurry, I've got the right to disappear." - Waylond Jennings*
Ok, I'm not disappearing entirely, just from this blog. You can find me here: http://www.whitneyand.blogspot.com/
*I don't want to make anyone falsely impressed by my knowledge of country music, which is rather limited, though slowly growing. I only know this song because of Country Strong.
Ok, I'm not disappearing entirely, just from this blog. You can find me here: http://www.whitneyand.blogspot.com/
*I don't want to make anyone falsely impressed by my knowledge of country music, which is rather limited, though slowly growing. I only know this song because of Country Strong.
Friday, December 17, 2010
A Long Time
Dear World,
It has been a long time. Since I've written here, yes, but more than that, since I've felt that secret space in my spirit where I can write. This has been a hard year in more ways than one. A year that is nearly over. And as I spend it celebrating with my friends and family, I can't help but to feel something big beginning. It's the freshest breath of air I could hope for now.
So, until I have the space to write out about friendship, endings, beginnings, hope, change - know this: I am finding my way again.
It has been a long time. Since I've written here, yes, but more than that, since I've felt that secret space in my spirit where I can write. This has been a hard year in more ways than one. A year that is nearly over. And as I spend it celebrating with my friends and family, I can't help but to feel something big beginning. It's the freshest breath of air I could hope for now.
So, until I have the space to write out about friendship, endings, beginnings, hope, change - know this: I am finding my way again.
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