About Me
- elizabeth
- A recent graduate of Ohio Northern University, I picked up my entire life 3 weeks after graduation and moved to Louisville, Kentucky to begin my professional career and new life.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Life Lesson: Sleeping with Wet Hair = No Bueno
Basically, I slept with wet hair and my ceiling fan on and woke up with a running nose and scratchy throat. Cool.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Life Lesson: Sometimes You Just Need to Sit Down
My MO is go, go go. This is the way it has always been. I was that girl in college who would take too many classes, get too little sleep, be in too many organizations and then still sign up for more. This part of me made the move to Louisville, too. I took on the motto of never saying no. If someone asked me to do something I did it. I saw it as a way to try new things and make new friends. Now, here I am 7 months later having tried a lot and with a lot of friends and I really just need to sit down for a hot sec.
In the past month I have literally had one evening at home where I sat and did nothing. I by no means want to be a couch potato, but I have grown to understand the importance of taking time to breathe and just be. The simple pleasure of sitting in cozy clothes and watching a movie is one not to be taken for granted.
I don't make new years resolutions because I think you should do something when you want to do it, not just because it is a new year, but to each his own. In any case, I am deciding now, and coincidentally it is the beginning of the year, that I will take more time to just be. To sit still, sit back and look at the life that I am leading.
In the past month I have literally had one evening at home where I sat and did nothing. I by no means want to be a couch potato, but I have grown to understand the importance of taking time to breathe and just be. The simple pleasure of sitting in cozy clothes and watching a movie is one not to be taken for granted.
I don't make new years resolutions because I think you should do something when you want to do it, not just because it is a new year, but to each his own. In any case, I am deciding now, and coincidentally it is the beginning of the year, that I will take more time to just be. To sit still, sit back and look at the life that I am leading.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Life Lesson: The Friend Date
I am not 100% sure if I came up with the concept of "the friend date" or if my ever witty friend Brittney, but nonetheless, it is a one of the best things EVER. So basically here is how it works: you meet a new person, you get their number and then you meet for drinks and/or dinner depending on comfort level at first meeting. This could be a man, woman or whatever. Just someone new you are interested in getting to know.
When you move to a new town and do not know anyone it is like you have to go on a first date with everyone you meet. You have to decide if your interests are similar enough, if you can get along with each other, etc. before you decide if you can be friends or not. You worry about your hair, your clothes, do you have something in your teeth, do you like the same music. All the things that come along with a regular date and maybe even more important. Because lets face it, you are not just choosing someone to smooch on, you are choosing the people you will tell about the person you smooched on. Bros before hoes, chicks before...well you know. Important stuff here, guys. I would say I have gone on about 25 friend dates in the almost seven months I have been in the Ville. Some good, some bad and some ugly. Believe you me, there are so really good stories that come out of friend dates just like romantic dates.
I have made several great friends through the friend dating process and no longer have to go on "friend dates" with them. There are some folks though that require multiple friend dates. I really need to come up with a cut off point. How many friend dates are enough to determine if you can be friends? Where is the line drawn between those you have good enough dates to be really good friends or just acquaintances? My answer to these questions: 5 1/2 and sushi.
I have been on about 6 friend dates with a person I met at a social function. This young woman is very nice and we had a lot in common. We decided to meet for a lunch friend date. This turned into 2 lunches and so on. I could never quite make the jump though to considering this person my friend. Something always just seemed to not fit quite right. And then one fateful Thursday I discovered what it was...sushi. I do not care for sushi. The dater was aware of this, but told me we would go someplace where there was something else to eat besides sushi. We get there and there isn't. I am stuck then in a tiny restaurant with not time to go anywhere else and starving and having to chow down on some sushi. It. was. awful.
Now, I understand that I should be open to new foods and I try to be, but it is the principle of the matter. A dinner friend date? Sure, lets grab some sushi and I will give it a go. A lunch friend date? No, I don't have time to not enjoy my lunch when I have to be back at work.
This is just one of the many friend date experiences I have had and because of all the other great experiences I have had, I am a big supporter of a friend date. Just word to the wise, when a friend on a date says they do not care for something....listen. The end.
When you move to a new town and do not know anyone it is like you have to go on a first date with everyone you meet. You have to decide if your interests are similar enough, if you can get along with each other, etc. before you decide if you can be friends or not. You worry about your hair, your clothes, do you have something in your teeth, do you like the same music. All the things that come along with a regular date and maybe even more important. Because lets face it, you are not just choosing someone to smooch on, you are choosing the people you will tell about the person you smooched on. Bros before hoes, chicks before...well you know. Important stuff here, guys. I would say I have gone on about 25 friend dates in the almost seven months I have been in the Ville. Some good, some bad and some ugly. Believe you me, there are so really good stories that come out of friend dates just like romantic dates.
I have made several great friends through the friend dating process and no longer have to go on "friend dates" with them. There are some folks though that require multiple friend dates. I really need to come up with a cut off point. How many friend dates are enough to determine if you can be friends? Where is the line drawn between those you have good enough dates to be really good friends or just acquaintances? My answer to these questions: 5 1/2 and sushi.
I have been on about 6 friend dates with a person I met at a social function. This young woman is very nice and we had a lot in common. We decided to meet for a lunch friend date. This turned into 2 lunches and so on. I could never quite make the jump though to considering this person my friend. Something always just seemed to not fit quite right. And then one fateful Thursday I discovered what it was...sushi. I do not care for sushi. The dater was aware of this, but told me we would go someplace where there was something else to eat besides sushi. We get there and there isn't. I am stuck then in a tiny restaurant with not time to go anywhere else and starving and having to chow down on some sushi. It. was. awful.
Now, I understand that I should be open to new foods and I try to be, but it is the principle of the matter. A dinner friend date? Sure, lets grab some sushi and I will give it a go. A lunch friend date? No, I don't have time to not enjoy my lunch when I have to be back at work.
This is just one of the many friend date experiences I have had and because of all the other great experiences I have had, I am a big supporter of a friend date. Just word to the wise, when a friend on a date says they do not care for something....listen. The end.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Life Lesson: Breaking Up Isn't So Hard to Do
Best life decisions I have made in the past six months:
1. Move to a new city on my own without knowing a single soul
2. Break up with my college boyfriend
Yep, this just got real, kids. The second decision may sound harsh, but it is the truth. I spent two and a half years with a boy I met in college who we will call Sam (names have been changed to protect the innocent). Sam was nice and kind, but did not have the drive and zest for life that I do. I kept putting off ending things with Sam in hopes that one day he would turn into the man that I wanted and needed. I used to say that when we started dating he was wearing sweat pants and after about two years was wearing jeans and I was just waiting for the khaki pants to be put on, his "big boy pants." Unfortunately, it became quite apparent that those pants were not going to fit him.
At first the thought of moving on from Sam was terrifying to me. I tried to convince myself for a long time that I could live the life Sam wanted in a small town with no aspirations for something more. I tried to convince myself that Sam could one day live the life I wanted in a city with room to grow. I tried to convince myself that the way Sam treated me would improve. I tried to convince myself that he would one day realize that he was lucky to have me and would appreciate me. I tried to convince myself of all of these things, but in February I stopped trying to convince myself and started to live for myself and myself only. I realized in trying to hold on to something for the sake of not hurting Sam that I was actually hurting myself. At that point I no longer factored Sam into my decision making. I actually took him completely out of it. I decided to bide my time until I felt I was ready to let go of this part of my life.
So if you are a math whiz you are realizing that the decision I made did not come in February 2011 because that is longer than six months. You are correct. One of the worst things I did was not end things with Sam sooner. I held on until June 2011. I was afraid of ruining the end of the school year and wanted to try and enjoy the time that I had even though our relationship was completely dysfunctional.
It took me one week of being on my own in Louisville to break up with Sam. Things came to a head when Sam told me my decision to move was selfish and inconsiderate. I knew at that point that there was never going to be a change of heart for Sam. He would never understand why I needed to move somewhere on my own. I needed to prove to myself that I could and go on an adventure. I had to bite the bullet and tell Sam the one thing I knew would hurt him most in the world. I had to tell him I was no longer in love with him and hadn't been for quite a while. And that was that.
Sad story, huh? Then why is the title of this post, "breaking up isn't that hard to do"? Because in my case it wasn't hard. Of course I did not want to hurt Sam, but I also had been grieving about losing this relationship for about six months. I had moved past it in my head and all of my hurt came mostly before we actually broke up. I detached myself from him in order to protect myself. When we finally did break up I was able to see the reasons why it was for the best immediately. I cried for one day and that was it. All of my other crying came while I was still in the relationship. Looking back, I think I ended the relationship at exactly the right time. It was a great springing step into my new life. A complete fresh start.
Wisdom to share:
1. When you love someone you want their happiness to come first, but not when it means sacrificing your own.
2. Everything happens for a reason and at the right time.
3. There is a big difference between loving someone and being IN love with someone
4. Be true to you
Not all of my posts will be this intense....promise!
1. Move to a new city on my own without knowing a single soul
2. Break up with my college boyfriend
Yep, this just got real, kids. The second decision may sound harsh, but it is the truth. I spent two and a half years with a boy I met in college who we will call Sam (names have been changed to protect the innocent). Sam was nice and kind, but did not have the drive and zest for life that I do. I kept putting off ending things with Sam in hopes that one day he would turn into the man that I wanted and needed. I used to say that when we started dating he was wearing sweat pants and after about two years was wearing jeans and I was just waiting for the khaki pants to be put on, his "big boy pants." Unfortunately, it became quite apparent that those pants were not going to fit him.
At first the thought of moving on from Sam was terrifying to me. I tried to convince myself for a long time that I could live the life Sam wanted in a small town with no aspirations for something more. I tried to convince myself that Sam could one day live the life I wanted in a city with room to grow. I tried to convince myself that the way Sam treated me would improve. I tried to convince myself that he would one day realize that he was lucky to have me and would appreciate me. I tried to convince myself of all of these things, but in February I stopped trying to convince myself and started to live for myself and myself only. I realized in trying to hold on to something for the sake of not hurting Sam that I was actually hurting myself. At that point I no longer factored Sam into my decision making. I actually took him completely out of it. I decided to bide my time until I felt I was ready to let go of this part of my life.
So if you are a math whiz you are realizing that the decision I made did not come in February 2011 because that is longer than six months. You are correct. One of the worst things I did was not end things with Sam sooner. I held on until June 2011. I was afraid of ruining the end of the school year and wanted to try and enjoy the time that I had even though our relationship was completely dysfunctional.
It took me one week of being on my own in Louisville to break up with Sam. Things came to a head when Sam told me my decision to move was selfish and inconsiderate. I knew at that point that there was never going to be a change of heart for Sam. He would never understand why I needed to move somewhere on my own. I needed to prove to myself that I could and go on an adventure. I had to bite the bullet and tell Sam the one thing I knew would hurt him most in the world. I had to tell him I was no longer in love with him and hadn't been for quite a while. And that was that.
Sad story, huh? Then why is the title of this post, "breaking up isn't that hard to do"? Because in my case it wasn't hard. Of course I did not want to hurt Sam, but I also had been grieving about losing this relationship for about six months. I had moved past it in my head and all of my hurt came mostly before we actually broke up. I detached myself from him in order to protect myself. When we finally did break up I was able to see the reasons why it was for the best immediately. I cried for one day and that was it. All of my other crying came while I was still in the relationship. Looking back, I think I ended the relationship at exactly the right time. It was a great springing step into my new life. A complete fresh start.
Wisdom to share:
1. When you love someone you want their happiness to come first, but not when it means sacrificing your own.
2. Everything happens for a reason and at the right time.
3. There is a big difference between loving someone and being IN love with someone
4. Be true to you
Not all of my posts will be this intense....promise!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
New Beginnings
Ok folks, let's get a little better acquainted. You may be looking over my previous blog posts and thinking "what is this?" Well, let me explain. I originally created this blog for my social media class at Ohio Northern University during my final quarter in school. I stopped blogging as soon as the class was over, but realized today at lunch with my new friend Laura that blogging needs to come back into my life. Why, you may ask? We will get to that in a second.
You now might be thinking, "okay, then why leave the old posts up, why not delete them and start over?" Valid question, grasshopper. There is also a valid answer. I think they set the perfect stage for what this blog is all about, my journey into big girl life. There are over 30 posts about academic subjects that were written as I was closing one chapter of my life and preparing to start a new one. It all flows together and shows the transition that my life has made.
Now, why blogging? Well, again, valid question. I think it is important to take time to reflect on your life and not simply go through the motions. I think about all the different experiences I have had and new opportunities that have come my way since I moved and set out on my own and I do not want to simply let them rest without fully appreciating them for what they were. I have learned so much already in 6 months and I think in order to hold onto this knowledge and continue to grow I need to share it and really make myself think. It is so easy to just float along through life, but I am not a floater. I am a thinker and a doer. So, this blog is more for me than anyone else, but if it helps you along the way, makes you laugh, cry or feel any sort of emotion, then it will make it 100 times more worth it for me to write it. So, here we go! Please let me know what you think. Give me feedback and share your life lessons too!
You now might be thinking, "okay, then why leave the old posts up, why not delete them and start over?" Valid question, grasshopper. There is also a valid answer. I think they set the perfect stage for what this blog is all about, my journey into big girl life. There are over 30 posts about academic subjects that were written as I was closing one chapter of my life and preparing to start a new one. It all flows together and shows the transition that my life has made.
Now, why blogging? Well, again, valid question. I think it is important to take time to reflect on your life and not simply go through the motions. I think about all the different experiences I have had and new opportunities that have come my way since I moved and set out on my own and I do not want to simply let them rest without fully appreciating them for what they were. I have learned so much already in 6 months and I think in order to hold onto this knowledge and continue to grow I need to share it and really make myself think. It is so easy to just float along through life, but I am not a floater. I am a thinker and a doer. So, this blog is more for me than anyone else, but if it helps you along the way, makes you laugh, cry or feel any sort of emotion, then it will make it 100 times more worth it for me to write it. So, here we go! Please let me know what you think. Give me feedback and share your life lessons too!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Peace Out
Its finally here, week 10 of my very last quarter at ONU. This week is filled with various awards banquets, end of the year parties and various other commitments. Along with all of this comes a sense of finality. The last time I will be heading to a 10 am class, my last University Singers rehearsal and my last Thursday night dinner creation. I've had a great experience at ONU, but I feel completely prepared to head into the real world on my own. Bring it on!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
I Got a Job!
As it comes down to the final weeks before graduation, I am proud to say that I have a job! Woohoo! After sending out at least 75 job applications, I got the call on Tuesday from the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. I was so determined to know what I was going to be doing after May 22 that I set a goal for myself of one application a day. This turned into about five a day. I got a call from the Kentucky Center three weeks ago for a phone interview the next week, then they called me down to Louisville the following week for an in person interview and then offered me the position a week later. I will be working as an event services coordinator doing contract writing, bookings and other odds and ends. I am so excited and happy that I have a path set out after graduation. Now, I just need to find an apartment, but that the fun part!
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