An order of happy with a side of giddiness? Yes please!

"On the whole, the happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so." William R. Inge

This quote was the Facebook status of a friend of mine earlier today, and it got me to thinking. The last few months have been a grand personal journey for me, and through it all I realized that somehow I had grown cynical. Looking back I can't say that I've always been the most positive person, but I remember being a child, and the only worry I had was what friend to play with that day. I remember finding joy in the simplest of things, and that is a quality that I had lost. In trying to regain, if only partially, that ability to be genuinely happy, I've learned to do things because I think they would be fun, and not let myself my hindered by how I thought others might view me. Things like, dressing up in funny clothes or jewelry while I'm working in the costume shop, or skipping down the road, should I feel so inclined.

I feel that at this point I should let you know that I have bouts of depression from time to time, and recently went through one of my lowest points. That had a major impact on how I view the world and try to live my life. But as they say, without the dark, how can you know what light is? I feel that it is because of the low points in my life that I am able to enjoy the little things: A breeze through the leaves of a tree, or watching a flock of sparrows as they bob along the ground searching for seeds. Things that I enjoy, mostly because of their subtlety, in that I'm forced to take a step back and relax before I can even notice them.

I'd like to leave you with a list of things that make me happy, in hopes that you will take the time to realize that which makes you happy.

Children's laughter, sunsets, sunrises, learning new things, learning to be ok with the fact that I can't do something well, music, dancing, laughing at myself, making others happy, teaching, having a conversation, being surrounded by friends even if we're just hanging out, going for walks, being in nature, seeing students of mine have breakthroughs in their understanding of a concept, rainbows, rain, knowing that I have a supportive family, making new friends, helping others, being a shoulder to cry on or an ear to talk to, puzzles, solving those puzzles...

Really the list could go on ad nauseum, so I think I'll stop there, and leave you with this final question:
What makes you happy?

 

Semester of big thoughts.

So here we are, one week into the semester and already I'm overwhelming myself. First off, my second project in my costume construction class is a project using 60% recycle materials. The good news? I can finally make beads out of paper for a reason, not just because I can. The bad news? I need to make thousands of them for my idea to work. Bead making party anyone?

In addition to the two classes I'm taking, I'm working 17 hours a week in the costume shop. Loving the experience and the money, and the best part is I'm done by five every night, so I almost have the chance for a social life.

Why almost, you ask? I'm still teaching with the After School Strings Program, even though it has been BUTCHERED by the powers that be. We have drastically reduced teaching time, but the upshot is I get to have control over how all of the low string students learn. Not to be trash talking anyone, but in the past there have been several differences of opinion in technique and teaching etiquette, so I'm sort of glad to have the confusion gone.

Along the same lines, I'm going to try to convince the high school age students that taking lessons is a beneficial experience, because I love teaching, and hopefully they like learning.

Also, apparently I'm a fashion designer of sorts, as well as a tailor of sorts. Weird.

All I can say to this semester is "Let's do this!"

FIRST BLOG!!!

Ok, so maybe the title is a little melodramatic, but what can you expect from a Theatre major? Besides, I think life's much to short to be boring all the time, so why not spice it up a bit with silly clothes, or disproportionate reactions to the world around you.

I can't promise how often I'll be able to update this, but crazy things happen all the time in my life, so whenever I get the chance, I'll fill you in on the excitement.

What will the first taste of the crazy that is my life be? Well, here it is:

 NEW BOWTIE!!!! (See what I mean about having disproportionate reactions? Fun, huh?)