The Power of Suggestion...

So, I think that "suggestion" is a very sharp, very powerful, double-edged sword. It is often the cause of the terrible body images held to fiercely by our girls, and women, of today. However, this power can also be used for good. As a result of the power of suggestion, and a passionate, heartfelt, continuous drone of insistence on its genius, I have directly or indirectly influenced at least 16 people to read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.

Why is that so great? It's great for a number of reasons. First of all, I don't know where we got this crazy idea that so many people reading a book could be a bad thing?!?! It happened back with Harry Potter, and has happened some with Twilight. I digress... First of all, it celebrates a new author, creating a wonderful, engaging, Young Adult series that features elements of fantasy. It shows that J.K. Rowling and her golden boy weren't a fluke. That a brilliant young adult book can be loved by people of all ages, not because it's an enigma, but because it's good. Because both women had a vision of something they thought was too good not to write down. Second of all, it reinforces the power of great writing. The Twilight series is so fantastic because the writing is fantastic. You can't help but be pulled into Stephenie Meyer's world, and you go willingly along for the ride, completely engrossed in the story and can hardly bear to tear yourself away from the pages, even for things like sleep, food, and work. Even the second or third (or fourth...) time through the series, it captivates you to your very soul.

Just my opinion? Nope, it's the opinion of millions of readers, and it is supported by the 16+ people that have devoured the books, because I insisted they give them a try. Is it because I'm almighty awesome? No, it's because the books are utterly FANTASTIC. For further proof of her brilliant writing, take a gander at The Host. It's an adult sci-fi book by Mrs. Meyer. She takes her captivating writing skills, and her ability to so accurately write human emotion, and translates it to a futuristic version of our world. What's my suggestion to you? Jump on the band wagon. Lose yourself in Twilight, get transported by The Host, and then come have coffee with me while we talk about the stories and anxiously await the chance to read anything she writes next.

Reflections, and Phoebe

Do you ever get tired of reflecting sometimes? We spent a LOT of time this past school year, learning the art and power of reflection. It is a process of looking back, examining what you've done, how it went, what went well, and what you could do better. It helps you to learn from your past, and helps you improve. I understand and respect the practice, especially in an important work setting such as teaching. However, is it always necessary in everyday life? I've spent much time reflecting, obsessing, focusing on what I've done and how I can learn from it. The problem is, if you spend all your time reflecting backward, you don't ever move forward. I'm beginning to think that there is a level of bliss that comes from living a Phoebe-esque life (See 10 years of Friends for the Phoebe reference). And things turned out well for her, right? She had a lot of fun, kept her friends, was a great and caring person, and even got to marry a great guy. In the end, they were even talking kids! And I don't think she was much of a reflector. She was more of a psychic-and-horoscope kind of girl. Go with what the universe brings to you, stay in touch with your karmic interactions with the world. It alleviates some obligation, but also the pressure to reflect over every little thing, because you let go a bit and trust that the universe brings things to you for a reason, and you learn from those experiences as new ones are presented. It's a fluid, cyclical process, and not one that requires obsessing over things in the past. "And, you can't be mad about the past. I mean, are you mad about the Louisiana Purchase? Exactly. Because it's in the past." (approximate quote, season 5) So I guess maybe I'll take a stab at not obsessing so much, and checking my horoscope more often. We'll see what happens. =)

A Few Thoughts About Friendship

Friendship is such an interesting thing. It can have all the commitment and involvement of a romantic relationship, without the romance. It can also be as flighty as the "hello" you exchange with the teens in the Dutch Bros. drive-thru. Some people can be fantastic friends to a multitude of people, and some can't even be a proper friend to themselves. What is amazing to me, is that everyone is different-- how they view friendship is different, and the value they place on it is different. So how do such differences come together to form the delicate interactions that friendships present?

I have found trouble with this lately, finding that I place a certain value on a friendship, where another person places a different value on that same friendship. It's a great learning experience, to climb out of your own view to see that same friendship through someone else's eyes. Instead of getting your feelings hurt, you find that you can adjust. You might even find that altering your view to match that of the other person brings clarity to your own life and in a strange way strengthens that friendship. In the end, it's all about balance.

This Week's Playlist

So, I have another playlist for you, encapsulating my week. Enjoy!

I Kissed A Girl-- Katie Perry
No Air-- Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown
Meet Virginia-- Train
I'm Yours-- Jason Mraz
The Garden-- Mirah
Cowboy, Take Me Away-- Dixie Chicks
What About Now-- Daughtry
Worry About You-- Ivy
Today-- Smashing Pumpkins
I'm Too Sexy-- Right Said Fred (This was on SM's BD playlist!!)
Invincible-- Ok Go
End of the Road-- Boyz II Men

A Pondering

Sometimes, it's nice to stop and appreciate the beauty of nature. Even more, sometimes we need to stop allow the inspirations of others to shed light on something we can't see. If someone else sees a magical, beautiful vision when they look through these branches, who am I to say it's not there, just because I don't see it? This happened to me recently, someone seeing a vision in a place that I saw darkness. I followed her through to her vision, and even though things didn't work out as she planned, it was a wonderful experience of trust for me to allow someone else's vision to dictate my participation in something, when I couldn't see where it was going. And in the end, the assignment came out great regardless. (It was during a group project for my final class.)