In need of a vacation

Well, we're back to the icky weather. Cold, cold, cold rain. It is so dreary that I actually have my lights on in my office, which probably like the fourth time I've turned them on all year. I would much rather have the sun light up the room.

I'd love to run away to somewhere warm right now. Somewhere that had one of these...

from

list

Yes, please

puppy

Thank You

I want to take the time to thank the people who inspired me to start blogging. Since I don't want to get too much into my personal life on here, I stay away from specifics and actual events and just write about how I'm feeling. I think this has really made me pay attention to my reactions to things and how I handle different aspects of my life.

Gratitude

So, thank you!

I am so happy to have flowers in my apartment. I went out the other day and saw some pretty ones so I bought them to bring some springtime in (and I got to put them in my new vase from Anthropologie...bonus!!).

Then my dad came on Friday and brought me some roses for Valentines Day.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Valentines Day but I am having a great day. My weekend was full of friends.

Yesterday I had dinner with my students. It was great. I made some heart shaped cupcakes for them.

Today I took the day off of work (it had nothing to do with the fact that it was Valentine's Day) and the weather was perfect. I was able to get a lot done and now I feel relaxed again.

I hope you're all having a love-filled day!

Perfect Only In Her Imperfections

Here comes the sun...

Today I am finally feeling better. I was dragging for a little while, hoping that the weather would get better and I would be able to see a little bit of sun. It was so yucky out for a while and I was having trouble snapping out of my bad mood.

sun

I can't wait for it to get warm out so I can spend time outside. I want to go down to the water and just sit. I want to wander around the city for hours and not have to come back to defrost.

I think February is the perfect time to come up with a "Summer To-Do List"

Boston Harborwalk

Haymarket

 Boston's Public Garden

Cape Cod Canal

Happy Valentines Day weekend everyone! 

Investment

With my students, I sometimes do priority lists. What do you spend most of your time doing? What tasks are most important to you? This helps them to figure out how to break up their time and hopefully become better at managing their time.

I think it applies to our thinking, too. What do you spend most of your time thinking about?

For me, I want to try to think most about myself. I don't mean that in an egotistical way, but in a "be the change you wish to see in the world" kind of way. I can't change people's behaviors. I can give my opinions if I decide that's appropriate, but I can't change people. I can only decide how I want to react to them.

I try my best to understand why people act the way they do. Why would someone say that? Why do they think that is productive and helping the relationship? This way of thinking helps, somewhat. It is more helpful though to just let it go. Let people say what they want to me. If they need to get things off their chest in order to feel better, great. As long as I know that I am doing what I want to do, what makes me happy, then I am okay.

I know things won't always be perfect and I certainly don't want to hurt people. I also know that sometimes you hurt the people you love without wanting to. I think about the effect that I am having on others, but sometimes I just need to think about what is making me happy.