Wonderemployment

Last week I shared the first part of a list I made when I was 14, with all the things I wanted to do in my lifetime. Here is the second part, with one more coming soon. For a little context of who I was when I wrote this list, here is a picture of me from that time (Y2K!).   In the words of today's teenagers, #awkward. At least my sister loved me. Now without further ado...   Things I would like to do in my lifetime (not in any order): Part 2   8. Get a degree in college B.S. in Planning, Public Policy, and Management. Check! Me, with the PPPM department internship coordinator, and my mentor. 9. Have a reunion with all the cousins Hmm, I have a LOT of cousins. My mom has nine older siblings (though one died as a child). Each of my living aunts and uncles had at least two children. Most of my cousins are older than me, and many of them have their own children. They are spread across three continents, at least five counties, and some still in Vietnam, wi...

Recently when I went back home to Portland, I dug up my old journals from 8th and 9th grade. I proceeded to spend the flight, and a few hours after, reading them straight through. I remember many events of those tender years vividly, but holy moly, I had forgotten the thought process of that age. I was obsessed with this boy, and then the next day another one. I spent pages and pages interpreting every act, every word, every absence of acts or words. I truly seemed to feel that one failed relationship meant I was doomed to never find love. I felt my options of people out there for me were limited to the five boys I interacted with most frequently. I did things I knew weren't smart, and even admitted it to myself in writing. One of the best finds in my journals was a list I made in 9th grade, at age 14, titled, Things I would like to do in my lifetime (not in any order). I had remembered this list vaguely and a couple of the items on it, but I had forgotten about most of it. It...

I started this blog to remind myself of good things I've been doing during my "wonderemployment", to keep my spirits up, and give myself a place to reflect on this indefinite period of transition. Lately, it has really been serving its purpose because I have needed all these things badly. The last month has been extremely trying for me, emotionally and spiritually. At the end of June I was informed that when the new fiscal year began (July 1st), there would only be enough funds for me to work 2-3 days a week. This came as a startle to me, and I knew that this would be problematic for our financial situation. To make matters worse, July 1st came around, and our state contract for my project had not been signed for the new fiscal year, meaning there was no money for me to work at all, until that got finalized. So I was told to wait it out at home, and now nearly three weeks later, I am still at home. Waiting. I've been keeping busy doing the things I like to do... c...

After I returned from my trip to Anaheim, I wanted to keep the good vibes going and bring some of the lessons I had developed for my teen workshop home to my favorite teen, G. One of the elements of my workshop involved positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are statements that can remind you of your self-worth and capabilities. They generally are first-person, present tense statements that are meant to be repeated daily. It is thought that the more you repeat these positive affirmations, the more you will internalize them and start to believe them. Positive affirmations are not a magic genie that will suddenly make you smarter, prettier, or more successful, but our minds our powerful tools that can effect the way we approach challenges and opportunities in our life, whether we step up, back down, or choose to shut them out altogether. Positive affirmations are a way to counterbalance the negativity and judgement that can permeate our mind. Here is an idea sheet I made for the ...