(Note: these may or may not be things I've personally experienced)
- You feel annoyed when you see other people being young and happy.
- You hate going out at night time because there are always hooligans out causing a ruckus.
- You'd rather stay at home and watch old TV shows on a Friday night than go to a rager.
- You look at teenagers and think that you know so much more than them.
- You start saying things like "When I was young..."
- You feel sleepy after just one beer.
- You feel sleepy around 10pm.
- Your limbs start getting sore and you think they're predicting the weather.
- You start enveloping yourself in oversize sweaters and grandpa cardigans.
This is what happens when you start growing up and having Real Life experiences and understanding the crazy things adults believe in. My parents were so right about my teenage self. Damn it.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Protip: Being Tired is a Good Excuse
How does one get out of doing something they don't want to, and yet decline in a polite manner? You don't feel like getting food with that guy - tell him you're broke. You don't want to go over and hang out - say it's too cold. The best and most vague reason though, in my opinion, is to say you're too tired.
No one can argue with being too tired. Say, for example, it's summer and you're working - can't use the "too broke" or "too cold" excuse. You can't even say you have homework to do. But anyone can say they stayed up till 5am and are now too tired - even if they were staying up playing Plants vs. Zombies.
People feel sorry for people who are tired. Everyone can relate to being tired. There is no cure for being tired other than sleeping or being lazy in general. You can even say you don't believe in caffeine or don't want to chug a Red Bull after 2pm.
The best part is that you can instantly go from "tired" to "not tired."
"Well I was tired but now I'm excited let's do it!"
"Oh wait, I feel tired again."
You're welcome.
No one can argue with being too tired. Say, for example, it's summer and you're working - can't use the "too broke" or "too cold" excuse. You can't even say you have homework to do. But anyone can say they stayed up till 5am and are now too tired - even if they were staying up playing Plants vs. Zombies.
People feel sorry for people who are tired. Everyone can relate to being tired. There is no cure for being tired other than sleeping or being lazy in general. You can even say you don't believe in caffeine or don't want to chug a Red Bull after 2pm.
The best part is that you can instantly go from "tired" to "not tired."
"Well I was tired but now I'm excited let's do it!"
"Oh wait, I feel tired again."
You're welcome.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Being an Adult comes with Expectations
For about a week or so I have felt quite like an Adult. I drove to work, I made monies, I came home and made dinner for the hubby and kids... I slept at a decent hour and got up when it was still a little dark outside.
I have discovered that being a grown-up comes with many unspoken expectations. When you do something wrong no one is next to you telling you not to do it. At work, no one teaches you how to make coffee. No one says stop when you open up a new window for Farmville. Once you get hired, you are trusted to always do your work and not mess around! You are expected to stride into the office with an air of belonging and knowledge and even if you sneak out to chase deer, people assume that you're doing something productive.
When you're young, parents consistently remind you not to do "bad things," to be polite and courteous, to do good things for other people. Eventually these admonishments are supposed to turn into your conscience. That is, when you are about to check Facebook for the millionth time that day, a little parental voice in your head should say, "Hey, don't do it."
But everyone has a different kind of little voice. How do you know what you have is good enough and above the normal threshold? What if your coworker believes in a healthy 10:90 facebook-to-work ratio and yours is more like 40:60? How are we all supposed to judge the same way, and how do we know exactly what we should be doing? How much is enough and how much is too little?
Ultimately these judgey decisions we made only affect our own lives and our own future. It is hard because you are making the most important decisions for your most important adult self. Because when someone tells you the broken car bumper is secure you're the one who's at risk if it fails and you have to trust your judgment.
Throughout my life I have always done things at just above the accepted level. I get by with being pretty good at tennis, decent at violin, above average at drawing, and better than other people at being smart (lol). But now as I become an Adult I have to get my act together and start being above average. Which means being better than other people who are already Adults and already above above average. This is difficult when I look 15.
In the end we all screw up a little, lose focus for a moment, make some mistakes. But isn't it nice to know that when this happens my parents are still willing to come to my aid, clean up my mess, and tell me I won't become a failure at life. I guess I'm still not quite that Adult.
I have discovered that being a grown-up comes with many unspoken expectations. When you do something wrong no one is next to you telling you not to do it. At work, no one teaches you how to make coffee. No one says stop when you open up a new window for Farmville. Once you get hired, you are trusted to always do your work and not mess around! You are expected to stride into the office with an air of belonging and knowledge and even if you sneak out to chase deer, people assume that you're doing something productive.
When you're young, parents consistently remind you not to do "bad things," to be polite and courteous, to do good things for other people. Eventually these admonishments are supposed to turn into your conscience. That is, when you are about to check Facebook for the millionth time that day, a little parental voice in your head should say, "Hey, don't do it."
But everyone has a different kind of little voice. How do you know what you have is good enough and above the normal threshold? What if your coworker believes in a healthy 10:90 facebook-to-work ratio and yours is more like 40:60? How are we all supposed to judge the same way, and how do we know exactly what we should be doing? How much is enough and how much is too little?
Ultimately these judgey decisions we made only affect our own lives and our own future. It is hard because you are making the most important decisions for your most important adult self. Because when someone tells you the broken car bumper is secure you're the one who's at risk if it fails and you have to trust your judgment.
Throughout my life I have always done things at just above the accepted level. I get by with being pretty good at tennis, decent at violin, above average at drawing, and better than other people at being smart (lol). But now as I become an Adult I have to get my act together and start being above average. Which means being better than other people who are already Adults and already above above average. This is difficult when I look 15.
In the end we all screw up a little, lose focus for a moment, make some mistakes. But isn't it nice to know that when this happens my parents are still willing to come to my aid, clean up my mess, and tell me I won't become a failure at life. I guess I'm still not quite that Adult.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
On asking questions, Part II
As we approach the end of the school year and another batch of seniors go off to graduate, here is the question that I've been asking them the most:
"So what are you doing after graduation?"
Although common, this can be a dangerous question to ask. On one hand, it is necessary to know where they disappear off to if you never see them again (except on Facebook). On the other, you can probably expect that they've been asked this a couple million times, and if they don't have a better answer than "bumming around" then it is probably also painful to answer.
If you've read the first part, On Asking Questions, you'll remember that it's annoying when people ask the same repetitive generic questions over and over, and you are continuously obligated to provide the same mundane answers. However, in this case I feel that the graduation question is an important boring question that must be asked. Perhaps it'd be better if you asked it in different ways:
"What are some plans of yours for the upcoming future?"
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"What are you going to do with your life???"
Or maybe it's easier to answer if you ask it in a more short-term fashion:
"Anything fun planned for the summer?"
"Where are you living next year?"
"What are you doing tonight??"
But all in all, as much as I hate getting asked the graduation question, I think the ask-ee should simply think of it as a silent plea: "DON'T LEAVE ME PLSPLSPLS." When I ask this question, that and other similar thoughts are probably going through my head - "LET'S HANG OUT DON'T GO FAR AWAY I DON'T WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS."
Yea. So hopefully now you'll feel a little more flattered when I or anyone else ask you this. Or better yet, don't even wait for me to ask! Just tell me! Don't leave! Pls.
"So what are you doing after graduation?"
Although common, this can be a dangerous question to ask. On one hand, it is necessary to know where they disappear off to if you never see them again (except on Facebook). On the other, you can probably expect that they've been asked this a couple million times, and if they don't have a better answer than "bumming around" then it is probably also painful to answer.
If you've read the first part, On Asking Questions, you'll remember that it's annoying when people ask the same repetitive generic questions over and over, and you are continuously obligated to provide the same mundane answers. However, in this case I feel that the graduation question is an important boring question that must be asked. Perhaps it'd be better if you asked it in different ways:
"What are some plans of yours for the upcoming future?"
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
"What are you going to do with your life???"
Or maybe it's easier to answer if you ask it in a more short-term fashion:
"Anything fun planned for the summer?"
"Where are you living next year?"
"What are you doing tonight??"
But all in all, as much as I hate getting asked the graduation question, I think the ask-ee should simply think of it as a silent plea: "DON'T LEAVE ME PLSPLSPLS." When I ask this question, that and other similar thoughts are probably going through my head - "LET'S HANG OUT DON'T GO FAR AWAY I DON'T WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS."
Yea. So hopefully now you'll feel a little more flattered when I or anyone else ask you this. Or better yet, don't even wait for me to ask! Just tell me! Don't leave! Pls.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Things to Rely on that Begin with 'M'
In Real Life, there are so few things you can consistently and regularly depend on. Places change, the weather varies, people come and go. You can put all your faith into something only to have your hopes dashed against a very sharp object, leaving it bleeding rivers of crimson.
Throughout all of this I thought I'd put together a small compilation of things I can always trust and believe in, because "some things never change."
1. Manga
I just read the 107th chapter of Full Metal Alchemist, a much-loved manga of mine. For a while it has been building up to this epic fight between the God-like evil antagonist figure and our heroes, Ed and Al and their friends. Of course it only follows that at the apex of the fight, when people have their eyes shot out or are impaled on the ground, that Al sacrifices himself for his brother. And because of his brother's undying love, Ed reaches into his deep reserves of emotional strength and begins to WIN.
Ed and all his friends. I wish I had this many friends.
As most fantasy fiction goes, in the end you win because of all the friends you made, supporting you, believing in you, filled with your heroic and selfless love. Then it turns out the antagonist's personal weakness is that he wishes he had such good friends as the protagonist. I can always trust this to be true and that is why manga is so satisfying in its EPIC-NESS.
2. Money
One can probably also count on money to be a definite universally influencing factor in our daily lives. This is probably why many people become workaholics and disregard others - they feel like people only disappoint, but money can always buy you what you want (if inflation isn't too high)
3. Music
Music is a great medium to channel in all your faith, because it won't run away from you, turn into something else, or stab you in the back. The same old song you loved a few years ago can help bring back the same good emotions when you listen to it again. How lovely.
4. Memories
Good memories cannot be ruined or taken away. That is why I keep a diary, to write them down and make sure I don't forget. Or take pictures. Now would also be a good opportunity for me to make a comparison of good memories to some sort of delicate and enticing chocolate desert, but I haven't thought of it yet.
What a Good Memory looks like.
For some reason all of these happened to begin with 'M'. These are all the ones I could think of.
Throughout all of this I thought I'd put together a small compilation of things I can always trust and believe in, because "some things never change."
1. Manga
I just read the 107th chapter of Full Metal Alchemist, a much-loved manga of mine. For a while it has been building up to this epic fight between the God-like evil antagonist figure and our heroes, Ed and Al and their friends. Of course it only follows that at the apex of the fight, when people have their eyes shot out or are impaled on the ground, that Al sacrifices himself for his brother. And because of his brother's undying love, Ed reaches into his deep reserves of emotional strength and begins to WIN.
Ed and all his friends. I wish I had this many friends.
As most fantasy fiction goes, in the end you win because of all the friends you made, supporting you, believing in you, filled with your heroic and selfless love. Then it turns out the antagonist's personal weakness is that he wishes he had such good friends as the protagonist. I can always trust this to be true and that is why manga is so satisfying in its EPIC-NESS.
2. Money
One can probably also count on money to be a definite universally influencing factor in our daily lives. This is probably why many people become workaholics and disregard others - they feel like people only disappoint, but money can always buy you what you want (if inflation isn't too high)
3. Music
Music is a great medium to channel in all your faith, because it won't run away from you, turn into something else, or stab you in the back. The same old song you loved a few years ago can help bring back the same good emotions when you listen to it again. How lovely.
4. Memories
Good memories cannot be ruined or taken away. That is why I keep a diary, to write them down and make sure I don't forget. Or take pictures. Now would also be a good opportunity for me to make a comparison of good memories to some sort of delicate and enticing chocolate desert, but I haven't thought of it yet.
What a Good Memory looks like.
For some reason all of these happened to begin with 'M'. These are all the ones I could think of.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Do your work. Be responsible. Don't be a potato.
It's about the end of the semester, about that time where you reflect upon the past few months and think, "How did I manage to accomplish so little and why do I not feel like doing anything except mope around about how I didn't do anything?" Well, I know exactly how you feel.
In the beginning of the semester, you are all pumped about how this will be THE semester, the BEST one, how EVERYTHING will change, how you will actually LEARN in your classes. You will make new friends, find that close-knit group of friends, get promoted at a job, and perhaps discover a new cool hairstyle.
This is basically how my level of productivity/motivation has trended this semester.
In the beginning you are filled with hope, because you have all the time you need ahead of you. You attend every single class or activity rapt with attention, just imagining all the glorious knowledge you will gain. When people ask how your classes are, you say "They're really interesting! I'm excited." (True story)
But as time passes, you begin to miss one class, and then suddenly you've missed it twelve times. By then you're so behind on the material that there's no point in going back to class. You realize that the super-fun class that you were taking for fun used superb advertising materials to entice you in.
For me, at some point I just get so overwhelmed that I become incredibly lazy, not even bothering to go out to hang with my new group of close-knit friends. Learning becomes memorizing names for tests, fun classes turn into tedious useless work that I try to finish as soon as I can. I haven't gotten a better job, and I even got the same haircut I've been getting for two years. noes.
Don't become lumpy and boring and lazy like a potato.
But not to worry, kids! I am here to remind you that, however late it is in the semester, you can still decide to up your motivation and productivity. You can still decide to pay attention and go to class and get your work done. Don't flake out now - there is hope yet! For example, just today I stayed awake for 2/3 of a 1.5 hour class, when I only stayed awake for 1/3 of it the week before.
While for some things it may be too late, like joining a club, there are still a few weeks to the semester, and I challenge you to make the most of it! What a cheery and cheesy message - but it's true! Suck it up, be a man, be responsible. Sit down and think about all the things you want to do and all the things you still can do, then find the union of the two lists. Then do it.
Here's a motivational poster to get you started:
"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."
In the beginning of the semester, you are all pumped about how this will be THE semester, the BEST one, how EVERYTHING will change, how you will actually LEARN in your classes. You will make new friends, find that close-knit group of friends, get promoted at a job, and perhaps discover a new cool hairstyle.
This is basically how my level of productivity/motivation has trended this semester.
In the beginning you are filled with hope, because you have all the time you need ahead of you. You attend every single class or activity rapt with attention, just imagining all the glorious knowledge you will gain. When people ask how your classes are, you say "They're really interesting! I'm excited." (True story)
But as time passes, you begin to miss one class, and then suddenly you've missed it twelve times. By then you're so behind on the material that there's no point in going back to class. You realize that the super-fun class that you were taking for fun used superb advertising materials to entice you in.
For me, at some point I just get so overwhelmed that I become incredibly lazy, not even bothering to go out to hang with my new group of close-knit friends. Learning becomes memorizing names for tests, fun classes turn into tedious useless work that I try to finish as soon as I can. I haven't gotten a better job, and I even got the same haircut I've been getting for two years. noes.
Don't become lumpy and boring and lazy like a potato.
But not to worry, kids! I am here to remind you that, however late it is in the semester, you can still decide to up your motivation and productivity. You can still decide to pay attention and go to class and get your work done. Don't flake out now - there is hope yet! For example, just today I stayed awake for 2/3 of a 1.5 hour class, when I only stayed awake for 1/3 of it the week before.
While for some things it may be too late, like joining a club, there are still a few weeks to the semester, and I challenge you to make the most of it! What a cheery and cheesy message - but it's true! Suck it up, be a man, be responsible. Sit down and think about all the things you want to do and all the things you still can do, then find the union of the two lists. Then do it.
Here's a motivational poster to get you started:
"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Emo Blogging is Interesting Blogging
Having had my Livejournal account for quite a few years (since July 2003, to be exact), and having been members of various online publishing/blogging sites like Twitter, Tumblr, Blogspot, and the like, I have made this sort of conclusion.
People only care about what you write if it's emo.
Now I may be (and probably am) exaggerating, but hear me out. The reason is that misery loves company, and when you start ranting about your sad excuse of a life people read and relate and provide feedback. No one cares when your life is going awesome because then you will just make the emo people more emo.
"My girlfriend just dumped me."
"This guy I thought I was exclusive with flirted with other girls."
"Well my boyfriend is great and caring and just bought me a horse."
Then you feel terrible and bad but it's not your fault you're happy! Because when you talk about how crappy the feeling of rejection is - everyone can relate. Other people feel the need to support you and "be there for you" because you "need" them. They think that if they are available when you are feeling sad and down, you will form a closer bond because they're opening themselves to you when they're vulnerable blah blah.
Maybe the train of thought is that happiness is easy! You can take substances to induce endorphins and make you feel good. Loneliness and sadness is a more substantial feeling, one that requires deep thought. Strangers can party together but you can only be emo to close friends.
Emo-tinted coloring is artistic and deep.
Well I say, this is totally not fair. I am happy and I have nothing to blog about. Friends being happy should be able to induce happiness into their friends, not the other way around. Although there is still a limit. People (including me) don't want to hear cheesy cheery posts filled with happy faces as I'm talking about serious issues. But of course, that is not the point of this blog. The point of this blog is to not be emo and sad but instead be... thoughtful. Or funny. Or laugh and be happy about other people's sad issues. (Just kidding on the last one). Sometimes I forget just what I made this blog for and now that I'm relatively happy the posts should be flooding in.
What is a happy but not cheesy topic to write about? Suggestions welcome.
People only care about what you write if it's emo.
Now I may be (and probably am) exaggerating, but hear me out. The reason is that misery loves company, and when you start ranting about your sad excuse of a life people read and relate and provide feedback. No one cares when your life is going awesome because then you will just make the emo people more emo.
"My girlfriend just dumped me."
"This guy I thought I was exclusive with flirted with other girls."
"Well my boyfriend is great and caring and just bought me a horse."
Then you feel terrible and bad but it's not your fault you're happy! Because when you talk about how crappy the feeling of rejection is - everyone can relate. Other people feel the need to support you and "be there for you" because you "need" them. They think that if they are available when you are feeling sad and down, you will form a closer bond because they're opening themselves to you when they're vulnerable blah blah.
Maybe the train of thought is that happiness is easy! You can take substances to induce endorphins and make you feel good. Loneliness and sadness is a more substantial feeling, one that requires deep thought. Strangers can party together but you can only be emo to close friends.
Emo-tinted coloring is artistic and deep.
Well I say, this is totally not fair. I am happy and I have nothing to blog about. Friends being happy should be able to induce happiness into their friends, not the other way around. Although there is still a limit. People (including me) don't want to hear cheesy cheery posts filled with happy faces as I'm talking about serious issues. But of course, that is not the point of this blog. The point of this blog is to not be emo and sad but instead be... thoughtful. Or funny. Or laugh and be happy about other people's sad issues. (Just kidding on the last one). Sometimes I forget just what I made this blog for and now that I'm relatively happy the posts should be flooding in.
What is a happy but not cheesy topic to write about? Suggestions welcome.
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