Naggers About My Future Might Have a Point After All

Note to self: this thought might not be as coherent as it was before. However, coincidentally, (or maybe it's not so coincidental, maybe something up there is fixing this up for me, or maybe i've getting messages all along and have just been oblivious)

Anyway, for the last few days, I keep getting pestered. First, from my dearest younger brother, who keeps asking me what dreams or talents are. When he found out that I just had my career dream for 8 years basically crushed and that I now have to look into another direction and start from scratch...well, I told him, "It's back to the drawing board for me." (well--to be fair, it was not that recent), he said, "well, do you mind telling me what's on your drawing board?" Well, yes, I do mind. Why do I mind, bc the same stuff is on the drawing board. Maybe I'll take up pschology, or maybe I'll take up nursing, or maybe...etc., etc.,

THEN...a couple days later, (well, basically today), I had a guy come in and asked me where I go to school. I told him I'm done with school and thinking about whether or not I should go back. I told him I hesitate to just jump in bc I don't want to randomly pick something impulsively (well, I didn't say "randomly" or "impulsively," but that's what I was thinking) only to find that I can't or won't make a career out of it and just end up going back to waiting tables to pay off my loans (of course, it would be really worth it if I had a huge passion for a subject like Sim does for English and Medievel History, but the reality, is, I don't have one, not really). He responded that I should just jump in bc that's what he did, apparently he jumped into culinary school and was able to pay off the %52,000 in a year (bear in mind, this is the same guy who told me he also works weekends and that today was his first day off in 6 months O_O to which I responded he shouldn't work himself into an early grave and his comeback to that was that he had already outlived both of his parents--and he's only 29--and I know this bc he showed his ID to serve him sake--he voluntarily showed it---I didn't bother asking bc the guy already has really deep wrinkles! THAT'S how hard this guy works himself!!! Do not want to be him!) He said I should just go into whatever my talents are or do I just want to sweep floors for the rest of my life? (I was sweeping as I was talking to him).

To be fair, I think I will be waiting tables off and on in life to help with making some residual income. But yeah, as frustrated as I am with the audacity of my brother and this random guy to just butt in my life, he's got a point, I don't want that to be my only skillset. And if I want an actual professional career, I should try picking it up when I'm young and have tons of energy.

So what's on my drawing board? I think I shall have to make that a separate post!

On Sitting & Wasting Away vs. Challenging and Growing...

"Do you know how it feels to sit and waste away in the same routine everyday? Saitmitsu is supposed to sit here waiting for the end of time to be useful? Am I supposed to relinquish the ability to challenge myself and grow and become better than I am? All because you fear losing a subordinate, especially one so close to you!" The tension melted from his face into a sad realization.

Emotion vs. Calamity for Resolve, Execution, and Accomplishment

In retrospect, emotion occasionally can assist in one's resolve to accomplish the mission. It augments the sense of duty and gives a greater drive to be successful.

from fanfic, The Book of Ise by unevilgirl

My "Medicine Cabinet"

Maybe it's bc I was raised by two cultures or maybe bc I've always been a sickly child or just MAYBE I'm just really really clumsy but my medicine cabinet is ALWAYS stocked. With what you say? Well, depends on what you need...

I really really think I should invest in a health journal documenting all my vaccinations and well, all sicknesses really.

To be ingested:

-zyrtec (for allergies)
-ibuprofen
-tylenol
-aspirin
-robitussin dm (for cough)
-pepto-bismal
-maalox
-tums
-ginger tea packets (for cough)

For allergies/athsma:

-albuterol
-nasal steroid (flonase)
-nasal antihistamine
-neti pot
-non-iodized salt (for neti pot)

Topical:

-hydrocortisone cream
-triple antibiotic ointment
-rubbing alcohol
-hydrogen peroxide
-"bo sum on" oils
-other topical oils

Other Materials:
-heating pads
-cooling pads
-bandages of all shapes and sizes
-long wrap bandages
-liquid bandage or super glue

Making Oatmeal

Whenever I get sick, I put myself on a strict diet: nothing inflammatory--which eliminates fried foods, foods high on MSG, sesame oil, butter, chocolate, chili peppers, certain fruits, and ANYTHING that contains those. The list is surprisingly high and makes eating during the holidays quite sad. And according to some Chinese alternative medicinal sayings, you should avoid most meats other than fish and pork (even chicken--chicken is NOT good for a cough). Luckily, I love the foods I'm restricted to.

Hence, I learned to make oatmeal. Like, yesterday. I'm not sure if I even made it correctly. I only added salt and water--as I believe it's important to know an ingredient's inherent flavor before figuring out what "goes well" with it.

Recipe ratios:

1 cup (and a bit more) water
1/2 cup oats
1/8 tsp salt

Boil water. Add salt upon boiling. Add oats to boiled water. Lower heat. Cover. Cook for 5 minutes.

Apparently, there are other things you can do for it.

Danika's suggestions:
-add some cinnamon, a little almond milk (i use chocolate), and this flax seed powder stuff i get from trader joe's
-i know people like to make it with milk instead of water and it's creamier
-my dad likes to add brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon
- apple chunks, banana slices, pretty much any fruit
-yogurt is good too, a yummy berry yogurt
-mix oatmeal and some form of dairy + sugar and whatever else you want and sticking it in the fridge for a couple hours to make a delicious cold sort of chewy cereal
-Muesli?
-to "make" instant oatmeal, put some oats (1/2 cup?) in a blender, puree it, and then stick it in a baggie with the "stuff" you like. If you want blue berries and cream, a good one is using dried berries and coffee mate creamer. Or just add cinnamon and raisins.

On Self-Talk

The conversations you have with yourself influence EVERY part of your life. Let me encourage you to start being aware of your self-talk. Determine which conversations are helpful and which ones are harmful. Be mindful that your internal conversations not only affect how you view yourself, but also how you react and respond to others.

-Totally forgot where I got this from.