Saturday, September 20, 2014
May 10, 2014
I never really got the meek shall inherit the earth shit from the bible. I didn't get the moral. Why should they get the earth? But I don't think I understood meek properly. To be meek is to look at the greater good. Mother Teresa was meek. Not because she was weak or didn't have strong beliefs and ideals but that, no matter what they were, they were geared towards the greater good. Gandhi too even. To be meek is to have a selflessness that is so rare in our world that the word we use for it is misconstrued and what we actually use the word selfless for has nothing at all to do with being truly giving. And it's not even a literal inherit but all the world is ours. Give up yourself and gain everything. I mean it's what god preaches all the time but he was off in that he only wants you to give yourself to him but really it's when you give yourself to the people, the world, our society, humanity, species, existence.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
every step a struggle and every struggle an opportunity
Hi there. Mav here.
2014 will contain the least posts yet. Though, to be fair, I haven't had a computer for months now. I am moving to Portland, Oregon on Nov. 1st. I am so excited. I'm moving in with my boyfriend. Words cannot express how wonderful he is. Portland will be a whole new adventure.
10 things I've learned moving cross-country solo:
1) save at least $5,000 before moving. [this won't be nearly enough] if you rent a u-haul, expect to pay $1k up front for that and another $500 on gas (for the smallest truck capable of towing an SUV). At least. That's just to get you there. If you want to move, even if you think it's two years in the future, go ahead and start saving now.
2) it's ok to only get a studio apartment for your first. [you will still think you don't need all that "space" every month when rent is due.] especially if you are trying to live downtown or near the local scene. You don't need a breakfast nook and a big bedroom. You're going to be working and coming home to pass out for at least several months. Work your way up to a bigger apartment. Don't waste your money on furniture...mine was donated to me. Starting with nothing can be more fun. It really will give you that sense of accomplishment when you have money to buy a couch. You can sink into its cushions and know you made it happen.
3) balconies are a wonderful wonderful thing. If you can find a studio (or any apartment) with a balcony or patio then you should consider yourself lucky. It makes all the difference, especially if you have animals. My cats love to sit on the balcony and watch the birds and squirrels and catch bugs. It's extra square footage to put a chair and some plants. Because keeping nature close is important.
4) your apartment, in general, is super important. If you don't have a place you can come to relax then everything will be a lot more difficult.
5) walking saves gas, which is expensive. You will learn all the places right by your dwelling and walk the mile radius around it often to avoid spending your precious gas [which is used to drive to work].
6) places you can walk to get food with your dog are awesome in every way [kill two birds with one stone]
7) finding a job is a difficult and tedious process. constant applications will make you want to pull your hair out. [and with two jobs you still won't make enough to pay all your bills on time.] (you'll consider getting a third job, maybe you even will.)
8) hand washing your clothes is therapeutic. hand washing your dishes is gross. both are necessary.
9) it will be difficult. You will second guess every decision you've made that led you to move far away from everyone you know by yourself. You will wish you hadn't. You will wonder how you're going to make it. You will doubt your ability to survive. You'll want to go back home and also feel embarrassed to show your face there.
10) you will survive. You will be so glad you took this risk. You will learn about yourself and become a stronger individual. You'll gain appreciation for your parents and how hard they worked to raise three kids: then you'll convince yourself it wasn't as hard for them. You'll visit home the first time and feel older, wiser.
I'm ready for this next step in my life. I'm excited to explore more, learn more, grow more. In the end, that's all you have: the experiences.
Milky Chance - Down By The River
This band is awesome. I'm sure you've heard "Stolen Dance" by them on the radio (if not, now's your milky chance :P) this whole album is great, so just go ahead and take the afternoon exploring them.
Simply,
Mav
PS: the music page is updated! Whoop!
2014 will contain the least posts yet. Though, to be fair, I haven't had a computer for months now. I am moving to Portland, Oregon on Nov. 1st. I am so excited. I'm moving in with my boyfriend. Words cannot express how wonderful he is. Portland will be a whole new adventure.
10 things I've learned moving cross-country solo:
1) save at least $5,000 before moving. [this won't be nearly enough] if you rent a u-haul, expect to pay $1k up front for that and another $500 on gas (for the smallest truck capable of towing an SUV). At least. That's just to get you there. If you want to move, even if you think it's two years in the future, go ahead and start saving now.
2) it's ok to only get a studio apartment for your first. [you will still think you don't need all that "space" every month when rent is due.] especially if you are trying to live downtown or near the local scene. You don't need a breakfast nook and a big bedroom. You're going to be working and coming home to pass out for at least several months. Work your way up to a bigger apartment. Don't waste your money on furniture...mine was donated to me. Starting with nothing can be more fun. It really will give you that sense of accomplishment when you have money to buy a couch. You can sink into its cushions and know you made it happen.
3) balconies are a wonderful wonderful thing. If you can find a studio (or any apartment) with a balcony or patio then you should consider yourself lucky. It makes all the difference, especially if you have animals. My cats love to sit on the balcony and watch the birds and squirrels and catch bugs. It's extra square footage to put a chair and some plants. Because keeping nature close is important.
4) your apartment, in general, is super important. If you don't have a place you can come to relax then everything will be a lot more difficult.
5) walking saves gas, which is expensive. You will learn all the places right by your dwelling and walk the mile radius around it often to avoid spending your precious gas [which is used to drive to work].
6) places you can walk to get food with your dog are awesome in every way [kill two birds with one stone]
7) finding a job is a difficult and tedious process. constant applications will make you want to pull your hair out. [and with two jobs you still won't make enough to pay all your bills on time.] (you'll consider getting a third job, maybe you even will.)
8) hand washing your clothes is therapeutic. hand washing your dishes is gross. both are necessary.
9) it will be difficult. You will second guess every decision you've made that led you to move far away from everyone you know by yourself. You will wish you hadn't. You will wonder how you're going to make it. You will doubt your ability to survive. You'll want to go back home and also feel embarrassed to show your face there.
10) you will survive. You will be so glad you took this risk. You will learn about yourself and become a stronger individual. You'll gain appreciation for your parents and how hard they worked to raise three kids: then you'll convince yourself it wasn't as hard for them. You'll visit home the first time and feel older, wiser.
I'm ready for this next step in my life. I'm excited to explore more, learn more, grow more. In the end, that's all you have: the experiences.
Milky Chance - Down By The River
This band is awesome. I'm sure you've heard "Stolen Dance" by them on the radio (if not, now's your milky chance :P) this whole album is great, so just go ahead and take the afternoon exploring them.
Simply,
Mav
PS: the music page is updated! Whoop!
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