A Twisted View of the World

Sometimes I think my view of the world is warped. Occasionally it will seem terrible, like everybody and everything is out to get me. But on other days it seems like I am the luckiest person in the world. Why do these extreme contrasts exist? Why can't a day be "just ok" or "so-so" instead of "amazing" or "absolutely atrocious"?

Well, I actually kind of have the answers to these questions! A while back, I learned that (psychologically) humans need twice as many good things than bad things to happen to them in a day so that it qualifies as a Good Day. So that means that if someone had equal parts of exciting and dissapointing things occur within twenty-four hours,  it would appear to be a Bad Day. This may seem twisted, but it is actually a good example of how the human brain works. People focus such a large amount of their energy on the bad things in life, that they can forget about the good.

Last week I got visibly stressed when I was with some of my friends. One of them noticed, looked me straight in the face and said "It's the small things in life," knowing that it would get me to smile. And it worked. It's a good thing to remember; ninety-nine percent of the time, there is good in any situation. We all just have to do the best with what we are dealt.

A Late Love Story

Since I missed writing something about love on valentines day this year, here's a something to make up for it! It's just a little short story abut a couple on their first date. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think.

The rain pattered against the window of the coffee shop. The room smelled like every single other café on the planet, like pastries and coffee beans with a dash of tea.I had hoped that coming here and getting a latte would help me stay awake in order to finish my paper that I had to write for work. But my eyes kept wandering away from my laptop and papers to observe the other customers.

At the table next to me, a man sat across from his date,fiddling with his hands and picking at his nails. The woman sitting across from him swirled her drink around in the mug in her hands, and watched as it sloshed back and forth, back and forth. He sighed.

I knew I shouldn't be intruding on their privacy, but they were so much more interesting than my work that lay on the round table in front of me.

She glanced up and I could tell he tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"So..." I over heard her try to prompt.
"Soo..." He mimicked back, causing her to grin. He got the hint. "Tell me a little more about yourself." He said.
"No chance! I've been talking about myself and what I like to do and my job and blah blah blah who knows what for the past hour! It's your turn"

He paused and stared at her face, then at the coffee that was still swirling around in the cup, then back at her face again. "If you hadn't realized it already," He started, "I'm not the best at this, I, well I just don't know how to start. It's not as if you want to know my whole life story, and I just can't leave out the bad parts. You seem great and I know we just met but I honestly want you to know the real me. Not just some speech that I wrote in my head and prepared for every first date I've ever gone on." He stopped to take a breath.

Without knowing what to say next, she just looked at him and he looked back, studying each other's faces. Then she brushed her thick hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, and smiled. "Well then, let's see... Tell me something that annoys you."
"That annoys me?" He asked, incredulous.
"Yea, I don't know, just something that bugs you." She replied while laughing and trying to lift the mood. He just looked at her, and thought.
"People smacking their gum."
"Come on, be original!"
"I wasn't done yet!" He jokingly protested, "Aaand when people chew with their mouth open, when they take things for granted, and when people give up before they try something, I guess just stuff like that." He paused, "Is that better?"
"Much! Thank you."
"Not a problem, how about you? What bugs you?"

That made her stop and think, and he laughed. She obviously hadn't thought it the whole way through.
"Fake people. Those annoy me the most I think. And! This is just something I realized the other day, you know how in movies and shows, someone tries to find their 'true love' and it is usually seen as the main character looking for just one person who fits them perfectly, but they never talk about the fact that finding your true love could just be finding someone who will love you truly for as long as they live? There could be so many people out there who can love you for who you are, truly! I don't know, now that annoys me."

It was clear that he did not know what to say to that. He started fiddling his fingers again and looked down at his hands for a few seconds before interrupting the awkward silence with a clearing of his throat.

"Sorry, I guess that was too deep for a first date." She said quietly.
He looked up. "It's ok, I've just never talked about true love on a first date before. But yea, I agree, that is a bit annoying. I never thought about that before."

I sighed and forced myself to wrench my attention away from the couple. However interesting they were, I knew I needed to get back to work. They continued to talk as I put on my headphones, opened my computer back up, and started to write.

Reminiscing

Lately I've been going through many of the pictures that I have taken over that last year. I find it enjoyable to just reminisce and look back on all the memories that are attached to photos that I have taken. The ones below are just a few of my favorites. I am in no way a professional photographer, just someone who likes to travel with a phone and camera! If you have any tips for me on making my pictures better please let me know. I am always eager to improve my photography. Enjoy!

Taken while driving through the Southern California desert.

On the coast in Northern California.

Taking advantage of the rain in my backyard. 

On a coastal trail in Northern California. 

In a local cafe. 

Taken while hiking in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. 

Looking across the water to Vancouver. 

All photos were taken by and belong to me.
(c) 2014 The Logic of a Student All Rights Reserved.

Think Happy Thoughts

Lately, I have been feeling down. Maybe it's the weather, maybe I am fearing the upcoming changes in my life, maybe it is that school seems to becoming increasingly demanding every day, and maybe it is all three. It's not like I have never had this feeling before, and I have usually found ways to get through. I know that everyone has their ups and downs in life, so here are some ways that help me feel happier and more energetic when I am feeling down. I hope they help you too.

1. Dance! Dance like there is no one watching you. Turn on your favorite song and dance around your room until you are breathless. Let it out. Turn whatever is bothering you into movement and imagine of all your worries flying and falling off of you as you move around. 
2. Read! Whether it is a new book or an old familiar, read! Dive into a different world for a while, then come back to your own reality knowing that you are strong and that you can get through more than you know! :D 
3. Sing! Belt it out at the top of your lungs! Maybe even sing and dance at the same time! It's a win-win. Leave your worries at the door about whether you sound good or not and just sing. 
4. Write! Start a diary, start a book, start a blog. Anything! Get your thoughts out onto paper, shred them afterwards if they are filled with anguish and torment (if you want to), or save them if they turn out to be filled with joy to remind yourself if you feel sad later.
5. Drink Some Tea! Tea always makes me feel better. I have read before that holding a cup of hot tea or coffee in your hands mimics human touch. Whether this is true or not I do not know--and it could definitely be either in my mind--drinking something warm helps me. It is very calming, it forces one to stop and think for a while. 
6. Go Outside! Fresh air helps clear peoples minds. Many people are glued to their electronics too much, I myself will admit that I look at my phone way to often and spend way too much time on the computer. But it doesn't have to be that way! Find a park, go for a walk or a run and look at nature around you. Marvel at how beautiful this world can be. Even though earth can be a harsh place, it still contains so much wonder and artistry. Never forget that! 
7. Light a Candle! Or light many candles. Watch the flame slowly burning down the wick and imagine all your troubles burning with it.
8. Take a Bath! Fill up a tub with warm, bubbly water, light some candles, bring a book along and just soak. Then watch all your worries go down the drain with the water at the end of the bath.
9. Listen to Music! This is very much connected to number three but I felt like it should have its own category. I cannot stress how much of an influence music has on me. It has gotten me through more hardships than I would like to remember, I feel almost indebted to it. Music is a wonderful thing, do not forget it is there when you are sad. Music will never leave or betray you. That may sound pretty melodramatic, but it is true! It will always be there, waiting for you to come back. 

Homeless

I work in a bookstore, and today we got a visit by one of the local homeless people. This man is a war veteran and, I think he has PTSD and schizophrenia. I occasionally see him walking around town talking (and sometimes shouting) to himself, he has said before that this helps mute the voices in his head. These actions make a lot of people uncomfortable around him and they usually avoid eye contact and look away when he tries to talk to them. Which is sad, because it seems like he is honestly a nice person.

So today, I was working with my boss, just shelving books, and he came in and said hello and then told us to not worry because "we're not angry today" (referring to himself and the voices inside his head). He then continued to try to talk to my boss, who was mostly ignoring him but he just kept on talking, in broken sentences that for the most part didn't make sense. This went on for a few minutes, then my boss announced that she had to get back to work in an effort to get away from the homeless man. He saw this as a chance to go talk to one of the families who was in the store, who eventually left with disgusted and disgruntled expressions on their faces.

The man then came over and started to talk to me, stating that if the world ended right now or if he died he would not be punished, because he has done nothing wrong, that he is a good man. My boss then proceeded to tell him that I had to get back to work and that I couldn't talk. He replied, saying that I was his family and that he need to just check if I was okay, then he left. I am in no way related to this man, I think that by "family" he just meant that I act like family, and that he is thankful that I listen, unlike most people in my small town. He knows that a lot of people do not really like having him around, I think that he made this last statement in attempt to show his gratitude.

One thing that stuck with me was that when he told me that he has done nothing wrong, he looked sad. It seemed like he knows that people are scared of him because of his schizophrenia and his appearance (missing teeth, messy beard and hair, dirty clothing). By saying that he would not be punished for anything, he could have been acknowledging that fact to me, I think that he just wants to be accepted by those around him. OR, since he fought in the war and probably killed people, he could be saying that because he dearly wants it to be true. Either way, it was obvious that he was glad that someone listened.

In general, people are afraid of the homeless. They decide to avert their eyes when they see a beggar, it makes them feel better to just ignore their fellow suffering human being. I will admit that in some situations it is better to avoid some people because there are some humans out there in the world who are dangerous, but not all homeless people fall into that category. Not all people who live in the streets are bad people! Just because someone looks dirty and is not clean shaven doesn't automatically make them evil, a murderer, or a druggie. Just like the fact that a person wearing a suit does not automatically mean that they are people to be trusted.

Appearance is not everything.

Halloween

This last weekend my friends and I decided to visit our local theme park for some halloween-themed fun. This of course involved the occasional screaming as people dressed up in scary costumes and makeup jumped out  at us, the usual going on rides, and them (not me) visiting one of the haunted houses. Now, you should know that I do like some scary things but I am definitely not the type of person who is obsessed with being scared and who watches fright films all the time. 

While I was waiting for my friends who went inside the haunted house, I started thinking. I started to wonder exactly why some people love to be scared. Is it the rush of adrenaline that comes with it? Do they love the elevated heart beat that happens when they get surprised? Or is it something more deep set in us as human beings, maybe some people love to be occasionally frightened because our ancestors used to live in fear of the many natural disasters or problems that threatened ancient societies. Maybe people feel like like something is missing because they are comfortable enough in their own lives and the only thing that can fill that gap is fear. Who knows, it could be that we, as human beings, have to keep a balance in our lives as compared to our ancestors, that even though people live very differently now than they did back then maybe we still have to have the foundation of our lives the same. 

Then of course there are always adrenaline junkies. I know some people who watch horror films almost religiously, in some ways these people are addicted to the feeling they get when they watch a scary movie. They crave the feeling of adrenaline rushing throughout their body, and watching these types of movies satisfies their needs. I know I can love the feeling I get when I'm sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out if one of the characters in a book or movie will live or not. It keeps me motivated to keep watching or reading, it's hard to look away when there is so much tension in a story. 

Of course most thriller films are fake, and according to a lot of people getting haunted by an evil spirit or getting murdered by a serial killer "could never happen." But why do we think it's "fun" to sometimes watch actors get killed on the big screen. Do we all have an instinctual urge to kill that has become buried over that last who-knows-how-many years, is watching scary movies, going to haunted houses or reading spooky stories the only thing that satisfies it? These are a few of the many questions that haunt me. 

On that note, have a happy Halloween! 

The new remake of Carrie.

One of the Chucky movies, and in my opinion still one
 of the creepiest dolls ever. 

  

(I am in no way an expert in psychology or the way the human brain works. I am only very interested in it and love to think about the puzzling ways that humans think, please excuse any drastic mistakes in this.)

Life Goals

Everyone has goals. We all have dreams and aspirations, some we have kept from when we are young and some were made just last week. In my experience, both have importance. One of my life goals, that I've had since I was in elementary school, is to write a novel. I've been throwing around ideas in my head on what to write about for years (literally). Yet I still can't decide on if I am going to write a mystery, romance, thriller, science-fiction or even a teen book. I've had ideas for every single one of those topics, now if I could only narrow it down! That would make things so much easier. Some days I want to just sit down and start it, but other days I want to wait until I have attained more of an education, and I cannot decide. It would probably be better if I waited, but sometimes I am not a very patient person.

Pictures like this one inspire me to write. I stay motivated,
knowing that stories can have very strong effects on people. For me, this is a perfect illustration of that concept.  (disclaimer: not my illustration)

Honestly I do not know the first thing about getting a book published. Do you write it first, then try and find a company to see if they will publish it? Or do you present an idea to a company and see if they would be willing to publish if, then write it? But either way I would still need to figure out what I am going to write about. There is one thing I know for sure. That is: I will write a novel in my lifetime. There is no question about that. I have seen too many people give up on their childhood dreams, and I cannot let that happen to me. Sure, some kid dreams are obviously unobtainable, but that doesn't mean that they all are! I know that I gave up some of my dreams (it was a sad goodbye to the possibility of being a fairy). If everyone gave up on all of their dreams, whether they are old or new, what would they have to live for?

Movies and TV Shows

It is no secret to my friends and family that I love watching movies and TV shows. I love getting attached to the characters and knowing their stories just like they were a close friend of mine. It is for me, just like many others, and escape from my daily monotonous life to live in a different world for some time. However, even though my friends and family know that I love to do this, not all of them approve.

Many people see following a TV show or a  movie series to be something a typical lazy person or "couch potato" would do. I'm here to say that is not always the case. I know that some shows out there are mind numbing in their ability to let the viewer shut off their mind and become fully absorbed in the show, while not having to think. But that is not how every show is. It seems to me that some people group all shows and movies together in to one category, not allowing them to have any difference from each other. I know from experience that that is not true.

Some programs really can make you think. Well-made ones can envelope the viewer into the storyline and have them have guessed multiple outcomes by the time the final scene comes around. The ones that make people think the most are, your typical crime scene drama where the main characters do not figure out "who did it" until the end of the show, or a show that starts out normal but then has a huge plot twist in the middle(catching us all by surprise), and then there are always the mystery shows, like Sherlock (a personal favorite of mine). These all involve the viewer to almost become part of the story, maybe one of the investigators in a crime, or even a friend to the main character.

Movies can go along the same lines, just not usually over such drawn out periods of time that are offered by TV shows. I like to think of them as mini-escapes, only allowing you be leave your world for a few hours (or more if it is a series). Movies can be a way for someone to rest after a long work day, or sometimes a way for a one to open their mind to new ideas or stimulate their thoughts in a new way. There are so many things a movie can do, it is sad that in todays society it is considered bad to like to watch a lot of movies but not considered wrong to like to watch a lot of sports. Sure, watching sports can make one want to play more sports, but movies can do that and even more. Some could argue that sports films are not the same as it being played live on the television, but either way people are getting inspired, just in a different setting.

Now, sorry about the tangent, what I want the readers to take away from this is only this; do not close you mind to movies, TV shows (or anything) just because it is sometimes considered bad by society. It could open your mind to things you would have never expected.