Implicit Test
This test is designed to test your internal biases towards race, gender, sex, sexual preference. It seems like it would be inaccurate, but I feel it is an accurate measure of my internal biases. People have biases and people judge. It is a condition of humanity to put people in categories and label everyone. One of my life goals is to stop judging and if possible, get rid of my biases and become a more selfless person. Knowing that I have these biases now (which I am not going to share in order to allow myself to grow personally and learn to live indiscriminately).
It's a fascinating test.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Friday Articles
I've decided to post a series on Friday. First Friday is today! I am just going to bookmark articles I find fascinating, interesting, terrifying. Captivating articles. Maybe I will jot a little note about each.
"If I can't accept you at your best..."
I, surprisingly, agree with this article. I don't believe in sugarcoating or playing with facts. This expresses that in a nice way. ;)
"What I learned from posting my weight on the internet.."
I don't know if I am brave enough to post mine, but I respect the people who can. It was an accomplishment for me to share mine with my man, who loves me wholeheartedly. I am definitely going to work on this fear of mine.
Organic Produce won't kill ya
Phew. Glad that my habit of forgetting to wash fruits and veggies isn't going to ruin me!
That's a good start for today! I am working on finding interesting content to post more regularly, even though this blog is mostly for me, and for Influenster when I get VoxBoxes. I am finding I enjoy having this outlet and writing more. Bonus. :)
"If I can't accept you at your best..."
I, surprisingly, agree with this article. I don't believe in sugarcoating or playing with facts. This expresses that in a nice way. ;)
"What I learned from posting my weight on the internet.."
I don't know if I am brave enough to post mine, but I respect the people who can. It was an accomplishment for me to share mine with my man, who loves me wholeheartedly. I am definitely going to work on this fear of mine.
Organic Produce won't kill ya
Phew. Glad that my habit of forgetting to wash fruits and veggies isn't going to ruin me!
That's a good start for today! I am working on finding interesting content to post more regularly, even though this blog is mostly for me, and for Influenster when I get VoxBoxes. I am finding I enjoy having this outlet and writing more. Bonus. :)
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
My thoughts on Amy Glass.
Article I am referencing.
Dear Amy,
Why are you the person to decide what is and is not fulfilling?
Who are you to decide what my goals should be and whether they are worthy goals or not?
Many women who read your article will be enraged. Many will be disappointed. See, I, like many women, had a fantastic childhood, largely due to my mom. My mom was a young, stay-at-home mom. She was home when I came home from school. She helped me with my homework. She cleaned the house. My brothers and I had snacks to come home to after school, and a mom who loves us more than she loves herself, fiercer than a mother bear's love. When I was hurt by people at school, my mom listened and consoled and soothed. If my mom was off traveling the world, or at work down the street, my life would be different. I could possibly be a vastly different person than I am right now. I had struggled and been through trauma - my mom has been a rock under my feet, right alongside my dad. I am lucky that my mom CHOSE to be a stay-at-home mom. I would choose the same for my own child(ren) if I decide to have them.
I know that my mom doesn't regret a second, not one second, that she spent with my brothers and I.
Don't judge my mom. Don't say my mom, or anyone else's mom for that matter, is not thrilled with the work she undertook to create, mold and shape three human beings.
Any woman who decides that raising children, creating a family is her goal, more power to you. That is a beautiful goal. It may not be your goal, Amy, but that makes it no less valid or fulfilling.
Sincerely,
Caitlin
Dear Amy,
Why are you the person to decide what is and is not fulfilling?
Who are you to decide what my goals should be and whether they are worthy goals or not?
Many women who read your article will be enraged. Many will be disappointed. See, I, like many women, had a fantastic childhood, largely due to my mom. My mom was a young, stay-at-home mom. She was home when I came home from school. She helped me with my homework. She cleaned the house. My brothers and I had snacks to come home to after school, and a mom who loves us more than she loves herself, fiercer than a mother bear's love. When I was hurt by people at school, my mom listened and consoled and soothed. If my mom was off traveling the world, or at work down the street, my life would be different. I could possibly be a vastly different person than I am right now. I had struggled and been through trauma - my mom has been a rock under my feet, right alongside my dad. I am lucky that my mom CHOSE to be a stay-at-home mom. I would choose the same for my own child(ren) if I decide to have them.
I know that my mom doesn't regret a second, not one second, that she spent with my brothers and I.
Don't judge my mom. Don't say my mom, or anyone else's mom for that matter, is not thrilled with the work she undertook to create, mold and shape three human beings.
Any woman who decides that raising children, creating a family is her goal, more power to you. That is a beautiful goal. It may not be your goal, Amy, but that makes it no less valid or fulfilling.
Sincerely,
Caitlin
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Behavior Modification
I am taking a course in Behavior Modification. We are expected to choose behaviors to modify personally and intrapersonally. I have not yet decided fully on what behaviors to modify, but I am leaning towards modifying how I spend and save money, my eating/bingeing habits, and how I treat other people.
I am not good at saving. I am not terrible at it by any means, and I do not have any debt, but I want to buy a house. One of my 2014 goals is to buy a house, this year, the sooner, the better. If I can't save for a larger down payment and for a back-up/emergency fund, I won't be able to achieve that goal. As I get more involved, I will update you on my progress and what techniques I will use to reach my goals.
I have a hard time with eating. I avoid saying I have an eating disorder because I am overweight and not super-thin. I feel that a lot of times when someone says they have an eating disorder, you don't expect them to be overweight. The judgment is difficult for me. I truly like fresh fruits and vegetables and eating healthy, but I also love candy. Once I start eating junk, I eat junk for days. It is a dark path for me. If I eat a now&later or cookie, suddenly I am binge-eating a bag of chips (not a giant bag, but a more-than-one-serving-size bag).
I am generally a very positive person and think highly of other people. However, I tend to make fun of other people and judge from the beginning. I don't let those judgments hold me back from being friends with people or affect a relationship with them, but it is a habit that is mean and cruel, and that is not the kind of person I want to be.
Some of these are things I don't want to be known for. I want to be known for positivity, strength and courage. I want to have better self-control and strength. Here's to starting the new year well!
I am not good at saving. I am not terrible at it by any means, and I do not have any debt, but I want to buy a house. One of my 2014 goals is to buy a house, this year, the sooner, the better. If I can't save for a larger down payment and for a back-up/emergency fund, I won't be able to achieve that goal. As I get more involved, I will update you on my progress and what techniques I will use to reach my goals.
I have a hard time with eating. I avoid saying I have an eating disorder because I am overweight and not super-thin. I feel that a lot of times when someone says they have an eating disorder, you don't expect them to be overweight. The judgment is difficult for me. I truly like fresh fruits and vegetables and eating healthy, but I also love candy. Once I start eating junk, I eat junk for days. It is a dark path for me. If I eat a now&later or cookie, suddenly I am binge-eating a bag of chips (not a giant bag, but a more-than-one-serving-size bag).
I am generally a very positive person and think highly of other people. However, I tend to make fun of other people and judge from the beginning. I don't let those judgments hold me back from being friends with people or affect a relationship with them, but it is a habit that is mean and cruel, and that is not the kind of person I want to be.
Some of these are things I don't want to be known for. I want to be known for positivity, strength and courage. I want to have better self-control and strength. Here's to starting the new year well!
Friday, January 24, 2014
I can't stop thinking about strawberries.
I just bought some because it's the beginning of strawberry season (or so Publix is telling me), and I just want to scarf the entire container, RIGHT NOW. mmm.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Fitness Update!
So I am finally updating on my fitness progress. I have been working hard. I and a dear friend have been working out together for somewhere around 6 months, and my boyfriend has been joining us for the last 2 or 3. It is going really, really well. I am sleeping better. My body is (according to friend and boyfriend) slimming down. I can run faster for longer (today, for example, I ran for 18 minutes 1.31 miles - may not be a ton to everyone, but I am proud of my progress). I am regularly working my core, upper and lower body.
I have only lost a pound or two, but I feel a lot stronger, and the sleep alone is worth it (not to mention the longer times and faster speeds running).
Here are our weekly goals. One upper body and cardio day. One lower body and cardio day. Three core and cardio days. We usually do one or two core exercises on the upper and lower body days.
For example, today was a core and cardio day. We did boxing sit-ups, plank/superman, kettlebell sit-ups on an incline and then had a run. I am SORE. It is such a nice feeling though! I enjoy it, honestly. Usually, we work out throughout the weekend due to school - I have classes on Mondays and Wednesdays so I don't love working out at 930 when I am finally coming home from school after a long day at work as well. It's alright though and if I know I am not going to be able to meet my 5-a-week goal later, I will suck it up and do it anyways. :)
Have you made or met any goals lately? What are they?
I have only lost a pound or two, but I feel a lot stronger, and the sleep alone is worth it (not to mention the longer times and faster speeds running).
Here are our weekly goals. One upper body and cardio day. One lower body and cardio day. Three core and cardio days. We usually do one or two core exercises on the upper and lower body days.
For example, today was a core and cardio day. We did boxing sit-ups, plank/superman, kettlebell sit-ups on an incline and then had a run. I am SORE. It is such a nice feeling though! I enjoy it, honestly. Usually, we work out throughout the weekend due to school - I have classes on Mondays and Wednesdays so I don't love working out at 930 when I am finally coming home from school after a long day at work as well. It's alright though and if I know I am not going to be able to meet my 5-a-week goal later, I will suck it up and do it anyways. :)
Have you made or met any goals lately? What are they?
Frustration, anger, disappointment
I started school this term at a community college nearby. I was originally just going to take a class or two in order to have a professor reference to get into graduate school, but now I am really leaning towards fully finishing out this program! It is a Counseling and Human Services program, which is exactly what I want to do! I began the coursework for this program when I was rejected from my choice Master's of Social Work program - for not having a professor reference, hence the applying to school. I started looking at other programs in an angry, frustrated light - that's the way it is sometimes. However, when I started looking, I found some pretty valuable programs out there that can up my resume and give me some of the experience I want (and need) to be able to become a Trauma Counselor. This is my dream job - to put my knowledge, love and skills to good use and help people overcome (to see my background and what led me to dream about this job, see my old blog at old Peace Corps blog! - warning, may be a trigger for those who are sensitive to issues with sexual abuse).
So I got into this program, on a whim, sad, disappointed and angry that I didn't get into the program I wanted to get into, and now I am in a great place which will give me an awesome background and starting point to leap into the future.
Have you ever had a disappointment? Did you find a positive door opening right after?
So I got into this program, on a whim, sad, disappointed and angry that I didn't get into the program I wanted to get into, and now I am in a great place which will give me an awesome background and starting point to leap into the future.
Have you ever had a disappointment? Did you find a positive door opening right after?
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Top Badgeholder for the Ponds BB+ BFF Challenge!
Opening my Prize VoxBox!
I was one of the top badgeholders for Influenster and Pond's BB+ BFF Challenge! I am super excited to try out this new product! This product is Pond's West Cleansing Towelettes in Original Fresh. I am a huge fan of wet towelettes, and use them daily, so I am ready to try a new brand.
How do you feel about towelettes, only for emergencies or for daily use?
I was one of the top badgeholders for Influenster and Pond's BB+ BFF Challenge! I am super excited to try out this new product! This product is Pond's West Cleansing Towelettes in Original Fresh. I am a huge fan of wet towelettes, and use them daily, so I am ready to try a new brand.
How do you feel about towelettes, only for emergencies or for daily use?
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
New Year!
It's crazy how fast time flies as you grow older. I spent my sixth New Year with Doug. It was a very happy time. I had such a blast with him (and my family).
I don't necessarily make resolutions every year, because I want to be constantly, consistently improving. My goals right now are losing weight, getting fit, eating healthy and running a half marathon sometime this year.
I am working out often, and working on eating healthier - I have lost some fat and gained muscle which is great! I am happier than ever before and sticking with it!
Do you make resolutions every year? Do you stick with them?
I don't necessarily make resolutions every year, because I want to be constantly, consistently improving. My goals right now are losing weight, getting fit, eating healthy and running a half marathon sometime this year.
I am working out often, and working on eating healthier - I have lost some fat and gained muscle which is great! I am happier than ever before and sticking with it!
Do you make resolutions every year? Do you stick with them?
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