I’m Making a Plan to Make a Plan

For the past few days, I’ve been thinking of making one of those “30 before 30” lists. It seems like everyone has them, at least they seem to because I’ve been scouring the internet for other people’s lists* and ideas. For the record, I’ve been making lists like this since I was, I don’t know, seven? That’s right; I was making bucket lists before anyone had heard of a bucket list. Remember when I said I have a lot of notebooks? Well, besides house plans they are pretty much filled with lists and goals.

   

That being said, some earlier lists included things like “swim with dolphins” or “ride in a hot air balloon” which will not be included on my new list. Not because I’ve done them but because those aren’t things I actually care about. I mean, I wouldn’t say no to those options but I’m not going out of my way to making it a life goal. So my rule number one is only put things on the list that I really care about, not just because it sounds cool.

Rule Number Two is not to put something on my list that I couldn’t actually do. Like, I would love to trek Machu Picchu but I’m probably saving that one for my 40 before 40 list, because travel costs money and we have other uses for money at present. (There are a couple of travel items on the list so far but much less expensive than say “Backpack through Europe”.) I’m also trying to keep the list specific. I’ve seen goals on Pinterest like “Be genuinely happy”. (As opposed to what, being deceptively happy?) It’s just too broad. Having good relationships and doing good in the world are what make me happy, and I can’t put “Have good relationships” and “do good in the world” on my list, because when would I check them off? Plan a surprise for someone or donate money to a good cause are more specific and foster those other lifelong goals much better.

I’m also (Rule Number 3) not going to put a lot of crafty things on my list (sew a dress, crochet a scarf, make a scrapbook, buy something old and repaint it, etc.) At 26, I’ve finally accepted the fact that I am not a crafty person. I will buy the supplies for whatever awesome DIY thing I want to try and they will sit there, untouched, for months. It’s a huge waste of money for me to keep doing this. As much as I wish I was a crafty gal I’m just not. If you want a knitted blanket talk to Zach, I’m doing good just to have a garden going and I wouldn’t say a garden is a “craft”. (There are a couple of “crafty” things on the list but I think I can manage it. I tend to be crafty only when it comes to hand making a gift for someone, then I usually scrape by with a decent product.)

**I forgot to put this in the original post but in addition to no crafty things, I'm also not doing any athletic things like P90X or running a K of any kind. That's not how I roll.**

This list is not work related. Trust me, if when I get a teaching job again I have a whole other set of goals related to that. This list is just for fun.

So I’m finalizing it and I’ll post again when it’s complete. If you have any ideas that you would put on YOUR 30 before 30 list (or 20 before 20 or whatever) let me know. You know me, I love lists :)

*Sidenote: Try Pinteresting “Bucket List”. It seems that most people want to ride a horse, see the Eiffel Tower, and swim in every ocean (many of them naked, skinny dipping is a big goal too), and everyone wants to travel everywhere. A few want to send a letter by owl and see a mermaid, which would be amazing but highly improbable, and many goals seem to have been inspired by Nicolas Sparks movies (kiss in the rain, put a message in a bottle, lay in the road in the middle of the night). Some want things to happen to them, like receive an edible arrangement and others want to own a ‘67 Chevy Impala, of which I am sure there is a limited number. I find it fascinating.

But then I was like “Hiiiya!”

So I don’t know about you but there are a few random things in this life that scare me. Not like, truly awful things such as death or plague. My fears tend to be more on the silly side. Like tarantula sightings (so far this week: 2), or cars that appear to be following me home at night (even though they’re not), or popping balloons, or bugs that fly too close to my head.

Some people are afraid of roaches. Roaches actually just make me angry and I kill them ASAP, hitting them an average of seven times to ensure death. But you know what else is scary? What gets me every time?

Opening a can of biscuits.

                                                   

Is it not one of the more frightening occurrences in the Western World? It’s like playing Jack in the Box, but I never liked playing Jack in the Box because IT MAKES ME JUMP EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I’m not kidding, I’ve been known to ask Zach to open the biscuits for me because I was hungry but I really didn’t want to open them myself. I can’t do it and not jump.

It’s bad enough when you’re pulling the paper off the outside. If it pops in your hands that’s pretty scary. But what if it doesn’t pop? What if you tear all the paper off and the can is still intact? Then you’re supposed to hit it on the counter or press the line with a spoon and try to make it open, and I get really, really nervous about it.

However, I discussed this recently with a friend of mine and she gave me an excellent tip. Today I was opening a can of biscuits by myself and I did this and it seriously works

You have to make that can of biscuits know who’s boss!

You have to remember that, like roaches and tarantulas, and buzzy bugs around your head, YOU are bigger than that can of biscuits. You shouldn’t be afraid of it, it should be afraid of you!

So today when I needed to open the can of biscuits, I slowly, cautiously peeled the paper off. Then I grabbed the can and hit it on the counter with a loud “Hiya!” I did this two or three times, “Hiya! Hiya! Hiya!” and it busted open. I felt triumphant. No fear, just awesomeness.

Christine 1, Can of Doom 0.

I encourage any of you who have silly fears like mine to try the Hiya Tactic*. I’m pretty sure it can be adapted to many situations. You might get some strange looks from people but if you explain it I’m sure they’ll go and do the same, even thank you later.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. - Eleanor Roosevelt


You tell ‘em Ellie. You must do the thing you think you cannot do! You must open the biscuits! You must kill the bug! You must face your fears with a brave and fierce HIYA!

*The Hiya only works when yelled with a general attitude of bad*ssness. If done correctly I assure you it works.

What I’ve Learned from Jack Sparrow (No, really)

Wherever we want to go, we'll go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs but what a ship is... what the Black Pearl really is... is freedom. – Jack Sparrow

                               
                                  (Sidenote: Clicking on any of the pictures in this post will bring you to their original source, and some really good reads.)


It’s no secret Zach and I are into alternative ideas when it comes to living. We grow our own veggies in containers, we collect rainwater, we dream of someday living in a house under 800 square feet that we built ourselves, using reclaimed materials and perhaps straw bales. Most recently, and by recently I mean yesterday, Zach really wants to raise chickens. (I reminded him we need to take baby steps.)

Basically we’re hippies, but only in an environmentally friendly, non-consumeristic, “let it be” kind of way.

I’ve been following the tiny house movement for years, since I was in high school. The interesting thing about tiny houses (or small dwellings in general) is how hard it can be to obtain one, and I don’t mean the cost. I’m talking about the red tape.

There are many reasons to build small and I’ll probably explore them in another post someday. There are several companies who build beautiful small structures. There’s an entire philosophy behind the tiny house movement and the reclaimed materials movement (and both complement each other extremely well) so it’s worth exploring for yourself. But what stops many people joining in?

Zoning.

                        

In the 1950s, the average house size was around 900 square feet. Many people would balk at that kind of size for a house but think again. I’ve lived in some very nice 900 square foot houses, very comfortably. Most people live in the same amount of space right now. It’s called an apartment. However, few people dream of building an apartment sized house. Houses are supposed to be big, open, expensive. Houses are supposed to mean that you’ve arrived, you own your home, you can join the ranks of successful Americans who are living the dream.

The average house size today is somewhere between 2,400 and 2,500 square feet. Yes, that’s more than twice what it was in 1950.



Two questions for you:

Do we really need that much space?

What about the people who are less interested in arriving and more interested in becoming?

Think carefully.

Tiny/small houses are not for everyone. But zoning laws in most states force everyone to build huge if they want to own their own house. It’s not constitutional, and the reasons behind it are strictly mercenary. Bigger houses means more money for a lot of people. Not homeowners, other people.

Even if you dream of owning a huge house someday (and you have every right to) wouldn’t you agree that those of us interested in owning a home under 1,000 square feet should have that right as well? That the only say in your house the government should have is to make sure it’s structurally sound, not dictate how large it should be?

Building a tiny house should be a viable option, just like starting your own small business is. It takes work, and you’re not in it for “The Man”, you’re doing it for yourself. You have the freedom to do it, and it gives you freedom in return, to live the life you want. Life on your terms. (That’s where the Jack Sparrow quote comes in. Wherever we want to go, we'll go. That's what a tiny house is, you know. It's not just a roof and a floor and windows and walls , that's what a house needs but what a house is... what a tiny house really is... is freedom.)

                            

Tiny houses and small dwellings are not shacks. Most of them are beautiful, hand crafted, intentional homes built by people who want to live out their ideals.

                          

There is a petition to get the federal government to reform the zoning laws and allow homes under 1000 ft. to be built. In this economy, it could potentially help a lot of people live their dreams.

http://wh.gov/nBE

Please follow through to the petition and sign. Tell your friends, link to this post, get the word out. And while you’re at it, if you’ve never paid attention before, check out the tiny house movement. Google it. You might be surprised, and inspired, by all the things you find.

Guidelines for Holi Virgins

Today is the Holi Festival in India and all over the world. Holi, otherwise known as the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu festival celebrating the coming of Spring and the triumph of Good over Evil. It is celebrated by people throwing brightly colored powders and paints on each other and dancing. Generally all around good fun! (Did I mention there are water guns?)

My friend Becca and I went to a Holi celebration this past Saturday and had the time of our lives! If you've never been to Holi but you get the chance to go (major US cities with higher Indian populations will likely have celebrations) here are a few tips:

1. Wear as much white as possible, at least a white shirt. Whatever the color of your clothes, make sure you don’t care about them at all and plan on their being destroyed.

2. Leave jewelry at home, it won’t hurt them but I’d just rather not have to deal with it. DO bring sunglasses (I wish I had). Leave your bags in the car. Just bring some cash, your keys, and a picture taking device in your pockets.

3. Bring a towel for the ride home. (Hitchhiker’s is still right about this one.)

4. It doesn’t matter what age you are, where you come from, or what you look like, everyone is welcome. Unless you don’t intend to throw colors or dance. Then I’m not sure why you came and you’d be better off at home.

5. Hydrate.

6. Once you have your color throw it at anyone and everyone in a spirit of fun and community. Don’t forget to say “Happy Holi!”

7. DON’T throw colors in people’s face. Rub it on their face and in their hair with your fingers. I asked a girl who had yellow (a color I didn’t have “on” yet) if she would rub some on my face. She said sure and threw a handful in my face before I knew it. I guess I should have made myself clearer.

Like this. 

8. Try to keep your mouth shut as much as possible because the powder does get into your teeth and you’ll be spitting colors for a while. Also keep your eyes closed because it’s very uncomfortable getting it in your eyes (as when the girl threw it in my face). This is where sunglasses come in handy.

9. Dance. No one cares. Seriously. Just do what everyone else is doing (or channel your favorite Bollywood star) and have a good time.

10. Make new friends. Talk to strangers. Act the fool. It will be worth it and you will always remember it!

If I were really cool I would make one of those things they have on Pinterest but since I’m pretty thoroughly uncool I’ll just say it here:

What I think I look like on Holi:



What I actually look like:


                         



picture
picture this link has some amazing photos of Holi!
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For more photos of Holi just type "holi" into google and search images. You'll get the general idea. And for anyone who is wondering, yes, going to Holi for me (as a Bollywood fan) was like a nerdy kid going to a Star Wars convention. Best Day Ever!

Sip sip

In order for me to tell you the thought that occurred to me first I have to tell you a story.

The semester before Zach and I started dating he lived with 2 other guys in the dorms of his college campus (mind you it was a 2 person dorm, which meant one of them was sleeping on the floor). At the end of that semester between the three of them they had earned all of 6 credit hours.

Stop, think, do the math. Okay.*

The other night when we were talking about this he mentioned one of his roommates (an art major) did however manage to pull through with a 4.0, due to his dropping every class except sculpting and then acing it.

That’s when I made the flippant remark that the 4.0 shouldn’t really count because he was just an art student and the other two had real classes to go to (if only they had**).

About five seconds later I realized what I had just said. I never think I’m a judgmental person until I catch myself doing it (more than I like to admit). I never think the biases of society pertain to me until I find myself acting exactly as expected.

Oh no, not I. I’m above those sorts of things. I have an open mind. I watch documentaries. I read more books than I watch television shows. I don’t even HAVE a television I have a library card! I didn’t drink the Kool-Aid I just took a few sips. (What? It was red!)

But when did being an artist become a stupid, non-realistic, career only slackers try for? When did doing something as incredibly brave and challenging as creating put someone else lower on the food chain and allow the rest of us to feel entitled because at least we weren’t doing that?

So in the few seconds it took me to run through a much less elaborate analysis of my own bias I spoke up. “Actually I take it back,” I said, “I think maybe we’ve got it backwards. Because the rest of us were just sitting around in classes listening to lectures for the most part and making presentations of information we found in books. While art students were actually creating something. They had to come up with something on their own, work on it every day, and it had to be good and not just a copy. What they do is actually a lot harder.”

Zach thought about it. “Yeah, that’s true.”

                 

When I was a kid the first thing I remember wanting to be was an artist, or at the very least the person who gets to name the crayon colors. Somewhere along the way I gave up that dream for a more familiar path. I’m not saying I was meant to be a great painter. But if I had unknowingly allowed that prejudice to filter into my brain, what other areas of life might it be influencing? How I view other people? My students? Myself?

I mean, who wants to raise their hand and say “No I’m not creative and I look down on those who are.” Even if you don’t see yourself as creative don’t you still want to be?

And just in case, while we’re on the subject, have you been sipping the Kool-Aid too?

Think about it.


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*This is my sneaky teacher side tricking you into doing a word problem muahaha.
**I would like to point out that Zach didn’t miss a single class the entire last two years he was in college. And it wasn’t because of me either it was because he decided to do something about it.