It was time to retire the livejournal, and move on to bigger and better things.
Basically, that's what this summer has been about: out with the old, in with the new.
For example,
OUT: the Midwest ~ IN: New York City
OUT: my student years ~ IN: adulthood
OUT: couplehood ~ IN: singledom
OUT: Comerica ~ IN: Chase
OUT: LBB in Legally Blonde ~ IN: Title of Show
OUT: getting fat ~ IN: losing weight
OUT: art history class ~ IN: advanced ballet class
OUT: pizza combos ~ IN: roasted almonds
OUT: pessimism ~ IN: optimism with a touch of my old groundedness
That just about sums up my summer so far. Trading in the paying rent, skipping classes, slurpees, and drinking non-stop for:
living with my parents, saving money, a strict diet and exercise plan, and attending 3 dance classes a week.
It never ceases to amaze me how much can change in such little time. I believe my lifestyle has changed drastically. For the better, of course. The number one difference (besides the 8 pound weight loss) is my attitude. My general rule of thumb lately is to learn from people like Tim Pare and Karry and stop being so damn negative. And after researching all that Meyers-Briggs stuff with Maggie and on my own, I've learned lots about myself and other people and our relationships with each other. I've become more conscious of the judgment I often pass on to other people, and began trying to judge people less, or at least judge myself as harshly as I would them---basically to me, that means lightening the fuck up. This doesn't mean I'm not still a smart ass or that I don't automatically think the negative first; it just means that I'm working on it. Maybe someday I'll write the Foreword to Jordon's Book "How to Be a Person."
There's been good and bad aspects to all this change. Re-evaluation of friendships and acquaintances has sort of been part of this whole process of getting ready to leave the state, ending college, etc. I've recognized that through thick and thin, after it's all said and done: I can always count on my family, Laura, Maggie, Jordon, and Kenny to be there when the smoke clears. While Laura, Maggie, and Kenny seem to have been there forever, and I am very thankful they're still around and kickin'----I still find it amazing that I was able to find another friend like that in just three short years. I've learned so much from Jordon over the years, and am always gaining new-found respect for her, but I especially now appreciate how she has been there for me no matter what over the years. To be able to move to a brand new city with such a close friend like that is a total bonus and I consider myself very lucky.
Mind you, the mention of the above people obviously does not negate my other close friendships with people like Phil, Kamaal, Allison, Mark, and the list goes on. I don't know what I would have done the past four years without those people. Luckily, a lot of those people are moving to NYC, which is great. It's going to be weird without Kamaal around though. Especially after living with him for a whole year. But, I try not to think about that. And I pretend I will be in LA all the time and it will be fine and dandy. Totes.
As far as leaving some acquaintances behind, I am always learning about people. If there's one thing I value, it's friendship being a two-way street. So, as far as the people who continually do not keep up their end of the friendship and the people who have treated me as less of a person or felt that I needed to be judged harshly due to their own insecurities, well, those friendships have been put on the rocks, to say the least. Even some people I once admired......... eh, the jig is up, if you catch my drift. But hey, that's all a part of growing up and moving on, y'all.
With all that said, creating this blog is just another piece of the puzzle in this whole 'turning over a new leaf' thing I got goin' on this summer, and I am totes excited about it. Isn't it beauteous?
There will be much more from me later, I promise.
-kdm
