Just let it be

This is what I've noticed: when I play tennis, my warm-up shots before the match are solid and nicely placed. Yet when I start to play the game, I get so conservative and hit floaters and shots down the middle. I get scared to lose the point and it affects the quality of my game. But when I don't care (like when I'm tired or hungry and all I want to do is end the match) I actually play better and go for the riskier corner shots - with, for the most part, consistent success. So I've been trying to convince myself not to try so hard, just let my natural ability come to play. Because when I start to think about it too much, it works against me.

This applies as well to work sometimes. Last week, I wrote about a horrible day (which kind of expanded to include the entire week) at my internship and I realized that part of the reason was because I was trying too hard. I was trying too hard to impress and thus over thinking things, which I think rubbed my supervisor the wrong way (which is another story with not so nice commentary, but not for this post). So I've decided to take the same approach at work as in tennis. I'm not going to worry too much about doing a good job and will just rely on my natural work ethic and skills, which I have every faith in.

-A

Library

The library is the greatest thing. I used to buy most of my books, but now that I don't have much discretionary income, I've found getting them from the library is just as great, if not better. If I don't like a particular book, I don't have to lament the $X I spent - I can just return it! This way, as well, I can purchase only the books I really enjoyed to fill my shelves. Also, the DVD section has some good and new selections. So check it out!

-A

Sleep

These past few days have reminded me just how precious sleep is and how I'm so grateful that during my time off, I am able to sleep an adequate number of hours per night. I've been helping M with her project recently and an early wake-up time is not a good thing for a night owl and acute insomniac like me. But I was happy to do it bc she is my friend and co-blogger - and I will be expecting rides to the airport for life! jk! I'm glad too that I don't usually have to wake up at an ungodly hour for any work, or even for my internship, and that I can still get a decent night's sleep when I go to bed at 3 or 4 am.

-A