May Wrap-Up

I'm not even going to apologize for not posting anything. May has been busy and stressful, with every weekend having an obligation and every day at work being demanding. I knew it was going to be a hectic month, but to be honest, I wasn't prepared for what it was. I'm finding myself, going into June, to be exhausted... but we have a quick beach trip planned for this weekend, so I've got my books, sunscreen, and shades and I am SO ready to do a whole lot of nothing.

Physical Lessons

This goes along with my Monthly Mantra, but in the beginning of May, I signed up with Weight Watchers. I've been pretty good at getting in at least three days of physical activity a week, but it always comes back to my eating. I've lost four pounds so far, which was really just getting me back to where I was when I tried losing weight in March. It keeps me accountable, which I like. I just haven't worked up the courage yet to go to a meeting . . . I'm working on it. But other than that, WW forces me *because I'm paying for that shit* to keep track of my eating, and to look at my poor eating habits right in the face. It's hard, bruh!

For the month of June, I'd really like to sign up for a few classes at my gym. I found out, because I finally asked a couple weeks ago, that EVERY class my gym offers is free if you're a member. (Wait, I'M a member... I felt so dumb.) So, with options like cycling, hot yoga, and Zumba, I'm sure I'll be able to find something I really enjoy. Also, now that Robby is officially on summer break, it's going to prove a challenge for me to get up before him and get motivated. I already know he'll be staying up late and waking up even later!

Relationship Growth

Being raised by a single mother, it's easier to take on a more protective role over my mom when I got older. So, this month quite a bit of personal issues have arose between her and my step-dad, and it was second nature to get defensive and want to take control of the situation to "save" my mom from herself. However, it's also been easier to know when she just needs to vent versus when she wants to take action. I've had to rein myself in, and remind myself that, in the end, I need to stay out of their personal problems, especially when she wants to vent to me about them. Lately, I've found myself volunteering to remain out of the loop. "Ma, this really is something between you and him. I'm not qualified to take on your burdens and deal with them in a healthy way. Please don't involve me."

And that's hard. Of course I want to shield my mom from hurt and pain. But at the end of the day, she is an adult, in her own relationship. If the situation were reversed, I certainly wouldn't want her involved in my relationship... so why am I putting myself in hers?

Twitter Highlights

Professional Skills

So, this past month saw the wrapping up of the Annual Report, a big project I was put in charge of. It started out as a project I was really looking forward to and enjoyed working on, but eventually turned into a stress-inducing nightmare by the end. I've learned a lot from the experience, though, that I will most definitely apply next year. First things first, the word "FINAL" freaks people out and should probably be said earlier than the deadline so they can get all their meltdowns out right away. After this experience, I'm 100% ready for a vacation. BUT, on the plus side, my superiors have been more friendly toward me, and I've learned to take criticism better (because we all know I've been working on not taking things personally, but rather as "more aggressive" notes on how to improve). However, I have been feeling more vulnerable and less independent/confident in my position, so hopefully in June, I can gain more of those empowering attitudes back.

Books I've Read

Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave.

I went on a little Twitter rant about this because I read so many reviews about people being disappointed in it. Over things the book never promised to deliver in the first place! However, I feel like I should say: I liked the book. I bought it when it first came out because it promised to be descriptive (which it was, very much) and to have a story I was mildly interested in: it follows four 20-something people, with some supporting roles as well, during 1939-1942 in London and Malta. The beginning is a little slow, and the ending is real-ish. It's not a "happy ending, everything is solved" kind of novel. It brings up topics such as racism, classism, "love" during wartime, and PTSD without delving deep into them. It touches on a lot of things, but doesn't detail them because that wasn't the purpose. I enjoyed it. Although, I've found that I'll find redeeming qualities in just about anything I invest my time in, even if most people find the same thing unenjoyable. So, if you end up reading it, let's chat about it - even if we have different opinions. Especially if we have different opinions.

I also finished Me, My Hair, and I: Twenty-seven Women Untangle an Obsession edited by Elizabeth Benedict. I enjoyed this book when I broke it up and gave time in between reading it. The times that I took to read big chunks of it at once, I found it to be a little too much of the same thing repeated. It's a good social narrative about women's histories as told by their hair stories. It's interesting, and I think it's important as it opens the door to many different lifestyles, religious practices, sexuality, etc. But by the end of the book, I was ready for it to be the end. I think maybe 27 stories with slightly similar threads was just a tad bit of an overkill when read in big sections.

Monthly Mantra

May Reflections

This month, as said before, has been hectic. The first week of May was my 10-year high school reunion, and my best friend had her second child. It was great reconnecting with friends I hadn't spoken to in a while. The following weekend was Mother's Day - we went into Rising Sun to be with Robby's mom for one half of the weekend and then came back and spent 10 hours on Mother's Day helping my mom with yardwork she's been wanting done for a while. The next weekend was a Bat Mitzvah - my first. Robby and I were separated for three hours listening to Hebrew, and watching curiously as Orthodox Jews carried out their Shabbat service. It was definitely an interesting experience. And lastly, this past weekend was spending time with friends, attending a high school graduation, and taking care of things around the house that needed attention.

I'm ready for vacation! :)

Movies I watched this month: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Hacksaw Ridge. I liked them both a lot. Especially with Hacksaw Ridge, because it was about someone in the Adventist community that I've been taught to admire for a long time, I was blown away by the story from Mel Gibson's perspective. It's just so much different when you're seeing it as opposed to listening to it, and I'm aware I will never fully understand what that was like. And I'm so thankful that I don't have to.

Top five things I was thankful for this month include:

1. Taking time with friends to enjoy local experiences for the first time (long overdue)

2. Sun, sun, sun (and suntans)

3. Banana plants! :) I'm attempting one again!

4. Realizing that asking for help isn't a bad thing

5. Getting major projects around the house accomplished (aka. ripping out a bush that was at LEAST 15 years old, and huge)

I'm not promising much for June, so let's see what happens, shall we? Leave a comment if there is anything you'd be interested in reading about.