Self-reflection comes at the strangest times and when it does, you can't brush it away like a pestering mosquito - you have to sit with it, marinate in it, and be willing to ride that sucker to the end.
This time last year I was essentially unemployed, had moved out of my parents' house, and was seriously contemplating changing career paths as frustration had set in. I was qualified for nothing but was willing to try anything....well....almost anything.
Hit fast forward >>. Suddenly I've found a way to combine my existing psychology degree with my new-found love for teaching and TA-DA! Magic, freakin' magic. Part of me thinks that the reason for my struggle and strife was to teach me patience - and lots of it. I mean seriously, I work with Junior High kids, THAT'S patience! But if you would have told me that the reason I had no job, no money and a big stack of rejected resumes was that I was supposed to be learning something, I probably would have told you to stick it.
Patience is a big lesson to learn. As a highly industrialized, urbanized, technologically advanced, Tweeting, status-updating, texting, blue-toothing society, we don't often have to wait more than a couple minutes for what we want. We are so used to this type virtually instant-gratification, that when we are told "not right now" and made to wait, we get cranky. Really cranky.
Solution? Stop. Take a deep breath. Count your blessings and tell that guy behind you in line at the grocery store to quit rushing you. Why? You're teaching him a lesson.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
post-grad frustrations
I think I'm beyond the point of saying that I've "neglected" my blog, but rather I've just plain forgotten about it for the better part of a year. I could argue that it's partially due to the fact that the period of transition between graduation and starting a career has almost rendered me speechless. Though not because nothing has happened in the last year, but rather that so much has happened that I was hard-pressed to find a way to coherently express my frustration without being unreasonably crass and foul-mouthed about it. That's right - frustration.
From the time we enter Kindergarten, or for some of you, Preschool, our lives for the next 12 years or so are pretty much laid out in terms of education and routine. For the most part, we spend weekdays going to school, playing sports, learning to socialize with our peers and so on. Then when Grade 12 comes and it's time to graduate, there are two common choices: find a job or go back to school. If you've chosen option 2, congratulations, you've won yourself an average of another 3 - 4 years of school, where you will stress, lose sleep, and if you're lucky, finish with almost a full head of hair still intact and a really expensive piece of paper to hang on your wall.
Good decision right? You've opened up your career options, right? Not entirely. What I have learned, more so than anything, is that you've now paid for an opportunity to apply for jobs, be told you're "not quite the right fit" and that you have been bumped for "someone else who has more experience." Great. Thanks. Awesome. Where does the experience come from? Oh, well volunteering gives you experience but you don't need school for that, (so already we're over-qualified) and sorry guys, volunteer hours don't pay bills. Trust me, I tried.
Despite my displeasure (understatement of the year) with this entire situation, would I have chosen differently? Not at all. Do I wish someone would have been a little more brutally honest about how hard it is to get yourself going again after you've reached the end of your, up until this point, fairly linear and straight-forward routine? Absolutely. If there is one piece of advice I could give to those coming up on the end of their scholarly journey, it would be to move forward with extreme patience; and while you're waiting for your "big break", find a job doing something you love because then at least the time you spend waiting won't feel like an eternity, but rather a nice little holiday from those late night study marathons and buckets of bad cafeteria coffee.
From the time we enter Kindergarten, or for some of you, Preschool, our lives for the next 12 years or so are pretty much laid out in terms of education and routine. For the most part, we spend weekdays going to school, playing sports, learning to socialize with our peers and so on. Then when Grade 12 comes and it's time to graduate, there are two common choices: find a job or go back to school. If you've chosen option 2, congratulations, you've won yourself an average of another 3 - 4 years of school, where you will stress, lose sleep, and if you're lucky, finish with almost a full head of hair still intact and a really expensive piece of paper to hang on your wall.
Good decision right? You've opened up your career options, right? Not entirely. What I have learned, more so than anything, is that you've now paid for an opportunity to apply for jobs, be told you're "not quite the right fit" and that you have been bumped for "someone else who has more experience." Great. Thanks. Awesome. Where does the experience come from? Oh, well volunteering gives you experience but you don't need school for that, (so already we're over-qualified) and sorry guys, volunteer hours don't pay bills. Trust me, I tried.
Despite my displeasure (understatement of the year) with this entire situation, would I have chosen differently? Not at all. Do I wish someone would have been a little more brutally honest about how hard it is to get yourself going again after you've reached the end of your, up until this point, fairly linear and straight-forward routine? Absolutely. If there is one piece of advice I could give to those coming up on the end of their scholarly journey, it would be to move forward with extreme patience; and while you're waiting for your "big break", find a job doing something you love because then at least the time you spend waiting won't feel like an eternity, but rather a nice little holiday from those late night study marathons and buckets of bad cafeteria coffee.
Friday, November 20, 2009
WTF Moment #003
So it has come to my attention that I have been a tiny bit neglectful in my blogging lately. To be honest, it's been a combination of a lack of time, and a lack of anything noteworthy to write about. Well today is your lucky day folks! Not only am I back in business, but with one hell of a WTF moment for you! Behold...
Grant MacEwan University, an institution designed for optimal learning and higher education, plays host to a large number of people who despite their reach for intellectual enlightenment, have sadly lost the social skills to make any of that brain power useful. I over-heard a conversation today during which I found myself being embarrassed FOR this person.
While innocently enjoying my chocolate milk, I heard a spry young man trying desperately to convince a young women, whom he'd just recently met, that his style of dress was in fact, and I quote, "above average". "At school I just wear whatever," he says "jeans and a shirt. But when I go out, believe me, I step it up. My wardrobe is far to nice for school. Even me dressing down is usually above average." This guy was so intent on impressing her with his designer jeans and jacket that it was like watching a used car salesman trying to sell a Pinto to the manager of a Lexus dealership - fruitless and beyond shameful.
Luckily this woman not fooled by his douche-baggery, however, she was not all that adept at remedying the situation either. She proceeded to show him how far she could bend the tip of her index finger back. ....WHAT??? WTF are you doing??? Is this where "flirting" is headed?? Are we so far gone that something that once required confidence and charm has turned into a who's-who of freak show talents?? I was appalled.
It was sometime before, or after this part of the conversation (the exact sequence has escaped me...some call it repression) that this young man had broken into song, attempting to croon his way into this girls heart...or pants, for that matter. (the latter probably the more likely of the two scenarios) But regardless of how it unfolded, the result was the same. Train wreck.
Moral of the story: Unless you're Michael Bublé, keep the singing in the shower.
Grant MacEwan University, an institution designed for optimal learning and higher education, plays host to a large number of people who despite their reach for intellectual enlightenment, have sadly lost the social skills to make any of that brain power useful. I over-heard a conversation today during which I found myself being embarrassed FOR this person.
While innocently enjoying my chocolate milk, I heard a spry young man trying desperately to convince a young women, whom he'd just recently met, that his style of dress was in fact, and I quote, "above average". "At school I just wear whatever," he says "jeans and a shirt. But when I go out, believe me, I step it up. My wardrobe is far to nice for school. Even me dressing down is usually above average." This guy was so intent on impressing her with his designer jeans and jacket that it was like watching a used car salesman trying to sell a Pinto to the manager of a Lexus dealership - fruitless and beyond shameful.
Luckily this woman not fooled by his douche-baggery, however, she was not all that adept at remedying the situation either. She proceeded to show him how far she could bend the tip of her index finger back. ....WHAT??? WTF are you doing??? Is this where "flirting" is headed?? Are we so far gone that something that once required confidence and charm has turned into a who's-who of freak show talents?? I was appalled.
It was sometime before, or after this part of the conversation (the exact sequence has escaped me...some call it repression) that this young man had broken into song, attempting to croon his way into this girls heart...or pants, for that matter. (the latter probably the more likely of the two scenarios) But regardless of how it unfolded, the result was the same. Train wreck.
Moral of the story: Unless you're Michael Bublé, keep the singing in the shower.
Monday, September 7, 2009
you can find me in da club - remixed
So after consideration, I realized, I wasn't finished with the club analysis. Two separate conversations with my two brothers has brought something interesting to my attention - in that nearly all recent hip hop/R&B/rap songs include some kind of scenario within the walls of this ever so popular "club".
With all these shawtys' fire-burnin on the dancefloors and young bling-laden gents makin love in the clubs, it makes me wonder, what else do these people do, besides be buyin the drinks we be sippin? Do they have day jobs? Perhaps playa by night, IT consultant or telemarketer by day? I mean, how are they affording these Cadillacs with rims spinnin', the Reeboks with the straps, the "crunk juice bombs" (what are these?), and the Oakley shades?
And where are the songs for those of us who are a little more in touch with reality? Like the ones that say "I met this respectably dressed young lady at a community event. We exchanged numbers and are moving at a reasonable pace, as to not put undue pressure on either of us, as I don't wish to be too forward." And maybe instead of "damn you's a sexy bitch", we might try "my, I find your appearance to be very aesthetically pleasing".....ok so maybe that's pushing it, but you understand the direction I'm going in.
Regardless of what kinds of questions we commonfolk have about the secret lives of these playas with their sick beats and "crunk juice bombs" (seriously, what are these?), it makes for good entertainment and it's the foundation that MTV is built on.
"If the beat's alright, they'll dance all night" - Chris Rock
With all these shawtys' fire-burnin on the dancefloors and young bling-laden gents makin love in the clubs, it makes me wonder, what else do these people do, besides be buyin the drinks we be sippin? Do they have day jobs? Perhaps playa by night, IT consultant or telemarketer by day? I mean, how are they affording these Cadillacs with rims spinnin', the Reeboks with the straps, the "crunk juice bombs" (what are these?), and the Oakley shades?
And where are the songs for those of us who are a little more in touch with reality? Like the ones that say "I met this respectably dressed young lady at a community event. We exchanged numbers and are moving at a reasonable pace, as to not put undue pressure on either of us, as I don't wish to be too forward." And maybe instead of "damn you's a sexy bitch", we might try "my, I find your appearance to be very aesthetically pleasing".....ok so maybe that's pushing it, but you understand the direction I'm going in.
Regardless of what kinds of questions we commonfolk have about the secret lives of these playas with their sick beats and "crunk juice bombs" (seriously, what are these?), it makes for good entertainment and it's the foundation that MTV is built on.
"If the beat's alright, they'll dance all night" - Chris Rock
Sunday, August 30, 2009
you can find me in da club...
When the music is turned up and the tables are pushed to the side, bar-goers are drawn to the small 12ft x 12ft space in the corner of the bar like moths to a frickin flame. This is where the party is...THIS is their time to shine.
The bar is entertaining on so many levels, I find. Unlike Celebrities (ahhh BoyTech), Hudson's here in Edmonton draws a different crowd all together - often spanning several age and socioeconomic demographics. Unlike clubs such as Dirty Pretty and Suite 69, who target a more specific population, the Hudson's crowd contains anyone from fresh faced 18 year olds, to 50 year old 'roid monkies to that unsavoury-looking fellow at the end of the bar dancing to no particular beat that the rest of us are aware of. There's also a touch of irony that floats across these floors. Allow me to illustrate.
In one corner, you have the young man who is probably freshly 18, has not grown into his limbs yet and who will, in all likelihood, be going home to re-join his LAN party (he looked like a young Drew Carrey) dancing...sorry, "dancing" with not one, but TWO girls. In the other corner, there is a tall, fit, relatively good looking chap dancing with only one girl - simply because she was too drunk to shake him off her leg....I should also mention this is the same fellow who 20 minutes later, paused in front of me and my companions to drop a giant air biscuit and then proceed to the bar. This may have contributed to his difficulty in finding a dance partner - it is unclear at this time.
Geek: 1 Jock: 0
The bar is entertaining on so many levels, I find. Unlike Celebrities (ahhh BoyTech), Hudson's here in Edmonton draws a different crowd all together - often spanning several age and socioeconomic demographics. Unlike clubs such as Dirty Pretty and Suite 69, who target a more specific population, the Hudson's crowd contains anyone from fresh faced 18 year olds, to 50 year old 'roid monkies to that unsavoury-looking fellow at the end of the bar dancing to no particular beat that the rest of us are aware of. There's also a touch of irony that floats across these floors. Allow me to illustrate.
In one corner, you have the young man who is probably freshly 18, has not grown into his limbs yet and who will, in all likelihood, be going home to re-join his LAN party (he looked like a young Drew Carrey) dancing...sorry, "dancing" with not one, but TWO girls. In the other corner, there is a tall, fit, relatively good looking chap dancing with only one girl - simply because she was too drunk to shake him off her leg....I should also mention this is the same fellow who 20 minutes later, paused in front of me and my companions to drop a giant air biscuit and then proceed to the bar. This may have contributed to his difficulty in finding a dance partner - it is unclear at this time.
Geek: 1 Jock: 0
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Did someone say cookies?
What's the one thing that regardless of who we are, where we live or what fancy-pants car we drive, we all have in common? We all eat. Food is the unifying factor that everyone can relate to and that everyone has an opinion about. Whether it be what the last most amazing meal you had was or how tragically your favorite restaurant closed its doors, every person I know has a story involving something so simple that we often as North Americans take for granted. Food.
Food can grease the wheels of social interaction at any occasion - board meetings, open houses, dates(!), you name it. Even those little candies at the front desk of any establishment say "hey, I don't know you, but here, have a mint." Weddings are another good example, where it's quite possible that you'll be sitting at a table with people you barely know - if all else fails conversationally, at least you can talk about how good the food is, right?
We not only use food as a social unifier, but we are drawn to it and motivated by it. I once walked upwards of 14 blocks in 30 degree Celcius heat in search of sushi - but this was not any sushi...this was Umi sushi (utterly spectacular, by the way) and despite the requirement of the iPhone Urban Spoon app, a GPS and a 8 block back-track, it was worth every step.
Those of you who know me well, know that food is not only a social binding agent, or a motivator, but it's a passion of sorts - I take great pride in my creations and there's nothing I love more than spending my day off in the kitchen baking cookies or simmering a pot of homemade soup. I'd dare to make the argument that a lot of our memories are triggered by a taste, or a smell (sometimes good, sometimes not so much) and that food is more of an experience rather than "something we have to do."
Now if you don't mind, there's a cookie with my name on it.....it calls to me.
Food can grease the wheels of social interaction at any occasion - board meetings, open houses, dates(!), you name it. Even those little candies at the front desk of any establishment say "hey, I don't know you, but here, have a mint." Weddings are another good example, where it's quite possible that you'll be sitting at a table with people you barely know - if all else fails conversationally, at least you can talk about how good the food is, right?
We not only use food as a social unifier, but we are drawn to it and motivated by it. I once walked upwards of 14 blocks in 30 degree Celcius heat in search of sushi - but this was not any sushi...this was Umi sushi (utterly spectacular, by the way) and despite the requirement of the iPhone Urban Spoon app, a GPS and a 8 block back-track, it was worth every step.
Those of you who know me well, know that food is not only a social binding agent, or a motivator, but it's a passion of sorts - I take great pride in my creations and there's nothing I love more than spending my day off in the kitchen baking cookies or simmering a pot of homemade soup. I'd dare to make the argument that a lot of our memories are triggered by a taste, or a smell (sometimes good, sometimes not so much) and that food is more of an experience rather than "something we have to do."
Now if you don't mind, there's a cookie with my name on it.....it calls to me.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
WTF Moment #002
As the mercury rises, a number of things happen, wardrobe wise. Shorts get shorter and shirts get smaller, revealing all sorts of little treats and treasures of the human body, which in most cases, should not be so prominantly displayed. Aside from that, another phenomenon is occurring - bras are suddenly disappearing. It's as if the phrase "lift and separate" has become a thing of the past - evaporated into the hot and stale air and simply erased from our dressing requirements. WTF is goin on?
This past week I was at A Taste of Edmonton, where I noticed FAR too many women in need of some serious support. Not only that, but a slightly larger shirt would have also been beneficial - you know, one that comes down far enough to meet the waistline of your pants. With the shirt coming up and the girls comin down, a good sneeze would have scarred about 2 dozen people for life.
Ladies - NOT OK! If you can tuck those girls into your pants - you need a bra. If a light jog would increase the possibility of losing an eye - you need a bra. Despite what you may think, the heat does not exempt you from keeping yourself together.
Just keep in mind, though YOU might be more comfortable, the people around you are not.
This past week I was at A Taste of Edmonton, where I noticed FAR too many women in need of some serious support. Not only that, but a slightly larger shirt would have also been beneficial - you know, one that comes down far enough to meet the waistline of your pants. With the shirt coming up and the girls comin down, a good sneeze would have scarred about 2 dozen people for life.
Ladies - NOT OK! If you can tuck those girls into your pants - you need a bra. If a light jog would increase the possibility of losing an eye - you need a bra. Despite what you may think, the heat does not exempt you from keeping yourself together.
Just keep in mind, though YOU might be more comfortable, the people around you are not.
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