Other Thoughts | BulgingButtons

October 27, 2013
by BulgingButtons 7 Comments

Daily Prompt: The Golden Hour

“You can’t hoot with the owls and then soar with the eagles.”

This quote, attributed to Hubert Humphrey, vice president under Lyndon B. Johnson, is displayed prominently on my mother’s refrigerator. It shares space with, “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips,” and a warning not to eat processed meats, which have not been a part of her diet for as long as I can remember. I guess better safe, than sorry.

Personally I don’t agree. With any of it. I also don’t agree with covering your refrigerator in quotes, clippings, and inane magnets, but that’s another story all together.

Let’s get back to the owls and eagles thing. I have to assume that once upon a time it made sense for human beings to wake with the sun and sleep in the darkness most of the time. Of course it would have depended on what old homo sapiens was up to. Planting and tending crops required daylight, while hunting might have been a better activity for twilight or later, depending on the prey.

I think we’re pretty much past all of that. Like it or not we live in a more or less 24 hour world now, at least in much of the world. We’re globally connected, so working across times zones frequently means that we’re connecting to one another at different times of the day and night. We also have far fewer restrictions on our activities based on time of day. You can buy your groceries, wash your car, or watch your favorite soap opera at 3 am if you desire.

Still, the whole world isn’t operating on the 24 hours open model. I’m a school teacher in a traditional school. The morning bell rings at 7:55 and by gum I better be ready when it does. In order for that to happen, and all of the things that lead up to it to happen, I have to be up by 5:25. It is unholy. Still, there are alternatives starting to emerge, such as online schools that operate with different schedules.

The world is moving away from the nine to five model. More people are telecommuting and more employers are recognizing that flexible scheduling can increase productivity, as our world economy continues to shift from manufacturing based to information based.

As for me, I’ve always thought that if I could go to bed at 2 am and wake at 9 am I would be at my most productive. Over the years, though, I’ve started waking earlier and earlier. Too many 5:25 alarms have warped my inner timepiece. Soar with the eagles, huh? Honestly, I’d rather be back in the nest.

6:00AM: the best hour of the day, or too close to your 3:00AM bedtime?

October 23, 2013
by BulgingButtons 8 Comments

Suck it up and JUMP! – Courage in the Face of Fear

My friend Jessie jumped out of a plane. She did it on purpose, and she loved it. I had the extreme pleasure of hearing her retell her experience, with vivid detail. She is an extraordinary story teller. I know other people who have jumped out of planes. On purpose. I’ve never understood what compels them to do this. I’m a chicken. A fraidy cat. A wuss. Whatever. I don’t jump out of airplanes. At least I never have before, and I honestly don’t anticipate partaking in that particular activity any time in the future, but you just never know.

Here’s the thing about Jessie’s story that really made me stop and think: she was scared, really scared, but she did it. Not only did she do it, but she put on a brave face (for the handsome photographer that she was paying to capture the event) and then she actually enjoyed it. Loved it, in fact. Hmmmm. Maybe there’s something to this. Let me see if I’ve got this:

Rock Star Jessie

1. Set a big, but attainable goal

2. Alert the media (ok, friends and other supporters)

3. Show up

4. Allow yourself to be scared

5. Do it anyway

6. Smile big

7. Enjoy the experience

There is definitely a life lesson here. I’ve got some big goals, many of them are posted on the 47 for 47 challenge page. I’m alerting the media (via this blog and other outlets) and I’m showing up. I’m frequently scared (sometimes of failure, but also of success), but I’m putting on my smile, and mustering through it. I just need to learn to enjoy the experience. I’m still not jumping out of any planes, though. At least not on purpose.

October 20, 2013
by BulgingButtons 12 Comments

Another Award!

Can I get a woot woot?! Mama, of Reinvention of Mama, has given me a shout out with a Sunshine Award. This one is for bloggers who, “Positively and Creatively Inspire Others in the Blogosphere.” Wow, I like the sound of that! Thanks, Mama.

Blogging awards are fun, and a great way to find and follow blogs you may not have seen before. That being said, not all bloggers have the time or inclination to accept awards, and in my opinion that’s fine. They are not meant to be a burden!

If you do choose to accept, the rules for this award are:

1) Use the Sunshine Award logo in the post. 2) Link to whoever nominated you. 3) Write ten pieces of information about yourself. 4) Nominate ten fellow bloggers “who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.” 5) Leave a comment on the nominees’ blogs to tell them of the award.

Ten pieces of information about me:

I just signed up for NaNoWriMo and I’m scared! The goal is 50,000 words in 30 days. Gulp. If you’re doing it, let’s be writing buddies!
I’m probably more excited than I ought to be about my new MacBook, just for blogging and writing. It’s actually five years old, but new to me.
When people get my name wrong they always call me Wendy.
I’ve been slacking off on exercise and it feels bad. Ew.
I like my belly dance DVD but it’s really difficult for me. Practice, practice, practice.
The State Fair simultaneously intrigues me and creeps me out.
I’m an adoptee who knows virtually nothing about the circumstances of my existence. Most days I don’t think about this, but deep down I find it somewhat unsettling and deeply unjust. I have no problem with the fact that it happened. It’s the secrets and lies that bother me.
I wish my sweet tooth had a dial on it so I could turn it down, or even off at times. The more sweets I eat, the more I crave them, and I usually cave in to the craving.
I’m still trying to figure out why some blog posts get lots of traffic and reactions and others get very little. What’s the secret?
I’m messier than I would like to be and I wish there was a little cleaning fairy who would stop by my house once in a while. She/he could also stop by my classroom now and then, too.