Information Age and Endangered Kindness

If interacting with people is part of your job description, then you may know how awkward you feel when you greet someone and don't know that they have earbuds in until they walk past you.



Is it just me or is our generation incredibly disengaged? I mean don't get me wrong, talking to complete strangers has been an unspoken no-no since we were kids, but with all the technology perpetually glued to our bodies, its easy to forget common courtesy. Another thing is no one knows how unpleasant they look when walking by. Not sure how other regions are but here in the south, its considered good manners to at least smile when (despite your best efforts) you accidentally make eye contact with another person.
 
   
Despite the advent of the Age of Information and how "tuned in" we think we are to the world (our world mostly), the multitasking/social networking is what has made interacting so awkward and unnecessary. Anything that requires feedback outside of commenting, "liking" or "tweeting" is too much of a hassle.

 

Granted this particular blog is ironic and more serious than the others, I make it a daily ambition to be as pleasant and selfless as possible both during and outside of work. Sure it requires cognitively engaging others outside our comfort zone, but it makes a positive impact.



This includes looking up from my phone, pausing my ipod from time to time, smiling, saying hello, holding open doors and generally offering the same courtesy that I'd appreciate, even if it isn't returned.

Here's why...

   

Because everyone else is fighting their own battle.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

Reach out to someone today. You never know what they may be going through.

Just a few funny pics I found

End of Semester Madness

So its 2 weeks and down to the wire. Ya know those last few pushes during birthing scenes on TV where the women are like "I can't push anymore!!!" Totally there in my head. Granted I'm definitely not comparing finals with giving birth, but if you've ever depended on the last couple grades in order to pass a class, you can see a similarity.
  
   Not exactly a "zen" moment for any woman...
   
   ...but then THEY had 9 months to prepare for it.

I don't mind doing schoolwork. Its the combination of panic/paranoia that follows me wherever I go that I hate. I go to take a nap in the afternoon, wake up at sunset with a start because I think I missed my work shift (6am - 9am). Peeling downstairs through the kitchen, only to find my mother making dinner...

And the classes with alot of complicated assignments and due dates that you forget about from time to time...  Those are my FAVORITE!

                                              
 (To the point where your semester long project no longer makes any coherent sense and the mere sight of your computer prompts the same physiological reaction as one would have to the smell of hot garbage)

Two days ago, I spent my time between classes avoiding my project like the plague. So I cleaned until there was nothing left to clean. Justifying every moment in denial as "being productive". All I know is that if I have to extend my academic sentence by having to repeat any more classes, I cannot be responsible for the beast that will be unleashed upon the city.


On a brighter note, there are 2 weeks left in the semester which means I'm making preparations to visit my husband. Which typically means sanity is not far behind. He's my proverbial "island in the sun" and is attempting to relocate back to my side of the country, but for karma's ears, lets just assume it'll never happen, because when karma hears you planning your happiness, she will thwart it EVERY TIME.

 Oh, it happens...

So I make it a point to never emotionally invest in plans that seem too good to be true (because they typically are) until he's actually moved. This way, when the military decides to throw a proverbial wrench in our plans, my disappointment will be minimal. Yet another coping mechanism I've picked up in my lovely stint as a Sweetheart.

Hopefully the semester will end on the highest note (grades) possible


...yeah.

MSS Promo & Managing Finals Frustrations

Good day all my lovely sweethearts! So the MSS promotion is slowly but surely getting underway. This semester has been INSANE and I am only now just doing something about the snail's pace at which the word is getting out.


Right now its just me myself and I, so whoever sees this blog and wants to actively participate in the Society, email me some of your ideas and your stories. I can't wait to see how many Sweethearts KSU has on campus! Even if its just a few people, we need to stick together. MSS should be up on the student life website directory within a few days!

So about these finals..... Okay, even the word "final" sounds ominous like "death" or "taxes".


 Granted I'm a part time student with a 15 hour work week and don't have near the course load some of you do, it still turns the heat up a noticeable amount on campus. Around the end of every semester, people get cranky, tired, lazy and before you know it you're in the fetal position on the floor, yanking hair out from all the stress.

 

Not only that but some of us have to work and/or have children to care for. To my military sweethearts in this category, you have my utmost respect, my every sympathy and you're definitely not alone here (although much of the time thats what it may feel like).


So for the sake of your sanity, I hope you invest what little time you have available to eat decent meals and get plenty of sleep because if you don't sleep/eat properly, the stress is exponentially increased and then you're left alone, exhausted and crabby because your now bigger ass has more say in your daily wardrobe than you do.














In case anyone hasn't figured out their own system for managing the madness here's a few tips from my own system:

1. Knock out the hard stuff first, as quickly as possible (i.e. that 10 page paper thats due next week that you haven't started) so the other stuff doesn't pile up behind it and avalanche you with homework that weekend. (Still working on turning off the TV whenever "House" is on...)


2. Flashback to age 10 and give yourself an "allowance" for the week in cash so you always know how much you have without overdrafting on a debit card or incurring debt with a credit card.


3. Plan (and track) your meals for the week on sundays. Use those coupons!!! Buy easy (but healthy) meals that require little assembly like celery and ranch, turkey sandwiches, fruit salad, trail mix, apples & peanut butter or tuna & crackers to snack on between classes so you don't hit the commons like a Tazmanian Devil (...or me. nom nom nom!)



4. Save looking "cute" for when your servicemember is home with you or when you've finished an important goal (like passing an exam or doing an extra hour of cardio) and you're going out to reward yourself.


Otherwise, toss that hair up, put the razor away and relish those sweats!
 "MY COCOA PUFFS!!!"