A New Home

There has been a slight change in plans. I've moved! If you'd like read about my wonderfully delightful moments this week, go ahead and email me and I can re-direct you-- aliciamtemple@gmail.com. See you at my new home :)

Putting A Blog To Good Use

Blogs are kind of a silly thing. Sometimes I wonder, why is it that I keep this? I'm not in VN anymore--I dont need to keep people updated on the life that is happening far away. Maybe I just like the sound of my own words? Maybe it's just egotistical nonsense? Quite possibly. For a while I didn't write very much. Recently I have been more. Its a nice thing to fill the spaces I have between various activities; I enjoy brainstorming ideas for it during the day despite the fact that the majority of the time I dont write anything worth while. But I don't know, I like having it. I like remembering through my past blogs. I like tracking when I write and what I feel compelled to actually post. So for now, I'll keep it.

And if I'm going to keep it, I might as well put it to good use. I was inspired by the blog of a beautiful friend who excells at dwelling on happy things. Once upon a time, she encouraged me to write a tangible list of things that make me smile. It was one of the greatest things I've ever done--I started and just couldn't stop. I had that notebook of things that made me happy for years. I mean, who doesn't love lists?! And lists of completely random and ridiculous, as well as sincere, things that bring you joy? Well now, if that isn't just the simpliest and greatest idea ever. Unfortunately I then had this brillant idea to make my list more "creative" and through an attempt at making it cool completely ruined it. Conveniently, lists are easily rewritten.

So for a week, my blog will be my list. Well, my one a day list. You will get to hear whatever it is that brings me complete and utter joy each day. Maybe even some music. Because...well...why not!? Technically it's Sunday now, so today will probably have another post to serve as my first installment of the list of pure joy. You're excited, I just know it ;)

Ok, actually, I can't wait. Today this song is bringing me A LOT of joy. I'm months and months behind, but it makes me think of August and being in Akron, PA and it just..well, it just makes me smile:

Catching Up

I have this pretty sticker chart to document my training for a 15k run I'm doing in March and, unfortunately, it is missng a few stickers from this last week. I had a few personal set backs, including a vicious cold, and just didn't make it to the gym this week. But falling behind in the schedule is not a choice! So today I jumped right back in and joined a friend on her five mile run on the path near my house. Now, 5 miles really isn't that bad. But after stopping for a while and then adding a mile to what I'd been doing...man...I'm sore and its only 2 hours later! And tomorrow I'm attempting a new trail that I hear is, contrary to the ideas of geographical possibilities, uphill both ways. Nothing gets a person caught up like just doing it, right?! And my training team--a pretty serious group of two :)-- decided we can retroactively apply stickers to missed runs if we make up for them. So do not worry, my elementary chart will look complete by March!

Part 2

Hello Again, Temp Job,

I'm so glad the feeling is mutual! I'm sorry your usual receptionist will be trapped in the HR office tackling files for longer, but I would be honored to come back one more day. And I will even consider coming again to cover the desk during your staff conference in a few weeks. I apologize that the mailing labels project required me to use the laminator so often and cause you to think things were burning down/melting multiple times a day but I promise, as long as you don't have more turn over in the next few days, those labels will last and...they look gooood. I would be proud to tackle another such project during my time with you on Monday.

See you soon!
amt

Dear Temp Job,

Thank you for the delightful reprieve from the monotony of unemployment. Answering the phone is a welcome change from constantly checking my own phone. I enjoy reading the emails from your CEO and learning about your yearly profits. While I might not recognize faces of your permanent employees, I can recite the names of almost all of them after my lovely mail box labels project. The ones I do recognize have been exceedingly friendly and I am loving the new interactions. Now, if only you would last longer than 5 days. Or, you know, tell your temp job friends about the great job I've done this week. I'm open to new friendships.

Sincerely,
amt

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Roe v. Wade Anniversary!!

Ok, well it was actually 38 years ago yesterday that the Roe v. Wade decision was made and the privacy laws were extended, allowing woman to have access to safe abortions and disallowing many state restrictions on women's reproductive rights at the time. Interning with Planned Parenthood has given me a shiny new perspective on what that actually means. Last month when I was making fundraising calls, a woman on the phone said she remembered the day Roe v. Wade happened and she is dismayed at how much work there is left to be done to protect women's rights. And, unfortunately, she's right. Oregon is one of only six states that doesn't have abortion restrictions. Only six!

In honor of the day, I went with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon (PPAO) to a leadership training in Salem. PPAO has exciting legislation they are trying to pass this coming session and it was so fun to learn about. I love hearing about the political process from people who are actively engaged in it. I'm looking forward to being a part of it these next few months.

To Thrive

I've been listening to a bit of Nicki Minaj recently. Well, that and Taylor Swift--it's ok to be baffled by my music tastes, they really make no sense. But this Nicki song is currently my fav (sorry for the lack of interesting visuals, there isn't a video to go with it):



Mostly what gets me in this song is the word thrive. That is something I talked a lot about last year. Wanting to thrive. Wanting the people I care about to feel like they are thriving. Wanting to make choices that led to flourishing emotionally, relationally and mentally. Encouraging myself and the people around me to pursue things that make us thrive. I felt like I was thriving during my year in Vietnam, albeit in very unexpected ways. And I had big visions for what thriving would look like here. Nicki reminds me of that hope I had for myself and for the people I love: that we would all figure out how to thrive together.

In addition, its a pretty great song. I'm loving all the new music I've acquired over that last few months. Turns out, there is an upside to everything.