NYE POV From The Realistic Idealist

I've got this thing with New Year's Eve.
Expectant anxiety.
Unnecessary anxiety.

My new year's celebrations have eerily earmarked what the rest of my year will be like. So how could I not feel some anxiety for it to be a fantastic celebration?

This is the same with my birthday. I get the same expectant, hopeful anxiousness. I'm a realistic idealist. I have my hopes and dreams, but I know that's not usually how things work out.

I'd rather be a complete realist or complete idealist because then I wouldn't have high expectations along with the anxiety that they probably aren't going to happen. At least an idealist would only have high expectations, and not waste energy feeling anxious. And a realist wouldn't have any anxiety since he's sans expectations.

But for some reason, I teeter between the two. I think it's because I always have the bright-eyed hope of the best happening, but I've had too many instances when the best hasn't happened so I can't deny that a lot of the time things just don't work out the way we desire.

I'm a reformed idealist; beaten by the drudgery of life but still hopeful and holding onto the belief that my heart's desires will come true as long as I never give up.

My Top Ten Christmas Movie Picks

     Three and a half hours until my Holiday begins!

Two weeks without work or school! I haven’t had two weeks off both in a loooong time; since November 2011.

     I’m trying to kill some time here. Sitting at this desk, waiting for the hours to go by. So here’s what I’ll do...my favorite Christmas movies! These are in no particular order.

1.) Christmas Vacation

2.) Charlie Brown Christmas

3.) Home Alone

4.) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

5.) It’s a Wonderful Life

6.) The Grinch (original version)

7.) Miracle on 34th Street (90s version)

8.) A Christmas Story

9.) The Santa Clause

10.) The tape of animated sing along Christmas songs I watched as a little kid. Gah, it was the best.

Fun Southern Reads

I’m finally reading books for fun again! For the past couple of years I’ve been inundating myself with social work, psychology, and non-fiction books. While that’s great and necessary for building my knowledge base, it’s time to read for pure pleasure again!

I started with a book that I’ve had on my shelf for two and half years, Whistlin Dixie in a Nor'easter. It’s a great, fun read that makes me appreciate being a southern gal. It was written by a wonderful lady I grew up around and dear friend of my Aunt’s, Lisa Patton. It's also a great winter read since most of it is set in Vermont at a cozy little Inn.

Now I’m onto the sequel, Yankee Doodle Dixie and so far it’s just as enticing as the first. Probably more so since I know the main character better.

Not sure what I’ll read next, but one of my new year’s resolutions is to read one fiction book a month.

Patrick

A leather jacket.

Guitar in hand.

On my tenth birthday

Heart shaped ear rings

Made of coal.

I lost the one.

And wear the other

Around my neck,

Knowing he’s close to me as I wear it.

Wishing so much I could hear his

Laughter one last time.

Wishing so much I remembered the last chance I had to hear it.

But we never now when the last time will be.

American Pie.

Blackbird.

Songs he would sing on his guitar,

Resonate in my mind.

With me now and with me always,

Ever-present in my heart.

5 Rules to Live By

1. "You are the master of your fate and captain of your soul."
2. You become what you believe, not what you wish for, and every choice makes it so.
3. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. Character or lack thereof always shows itself early.
4. My creed based on the third law of motion in physics: What you put out comes back always, in all ways
5. Trust your gut. It's your spiritual GPS.

This is from Oprah's blog on Huffington Post, and I wholeheartedly agree with each of these because they have proven true in my life.

A Tiny Triumph

I finally am doing it! I’m well on my way to giving up my 5 day a week Starbucks habit!

Since I’ve tried this before, and then fell back into the hands of the green mermaid, I put a twist to it.

Each month I’ve been spending between $80-$100 on Starbucks. If I can afford to throw that money at Starbucks, then I can afford to give that money to a charity.

So that’s what I’m doing. After 30 days, I am going to donate the money I would have spent at Starbucks to a charity. This has been the kick in the pants I needed because now, if I go to Starbucks, I feel like I’m cheating a charity out of money!

So far I’ve done well. It’s week three and I’ve only had Starbucks twice. (I'm allowing myself a once a week cheat day.)

Any idea on charities? I want to do donate to a charity that has to do with children. There are so many. I’m not sure what I’ll choose!

Side Note: This is a blog about Starbucks that I found interesting.

MSW Cohort

In class this weekend, our teacher had the brilliant idea to get a class picture. I'm so glad he did this. These are all my classmates (and I'm up front there). Every one of them is pretty fantastic.