Internal Exploration

I had to do this exersises for one of my classes: Group Dynamics. I thought I would share it here, because it fits into my theme of learning more about myself. For the first exercise, I had to write twenty things beginning with "I am". For the second, I had to finish the sentence. Enjoy!

Exercise 4:

I am a girl.

I am a wife to Ian.

I am generally happy with my life.

I am Caucasian (Norwegian and British).

I am a world traveler.

I am not happy when I wake up early.

I am a morning person (contradictory to the previous statement.)

I am an introvert.

I am an actress.

I am smart and do well in my classes.

I am happy with my figure, but wish I could loose a few pounds.

I am a great cook. 

I am a better baker than a am a cooker.

I am a good listener.

I am a nerd.

I am Disney FREAK!

I am self conscious when I do not dress nicely.

I am growing my hair out.

I am a painter and artist.

I am Miranda.

Exercise 5: Incomplete Sentences as Stimuli for Self-Disclosure

1. People who love me...take me for who I am.
2. One thing I really like about myself is...my ablility to forgive easily.
3. I dislike people who...dislike me.
4. When people ignore me, I...think that something is wrong with me.
5. The way I express my generosity to others is...to listen to them.
6. When someone praises me, I...blush.
7. When I relate to people, I...like them better.
8. When I don't like someone who likes me, I...worry about what is wrong with me.
9. Those who really know me...know that I need my space.
10. When I let someone know about the "dark side" of me...he fell in love with me.
11. My mother...is one of my best friends.
12. My moods...are stable – but circular.
13. I am at my best with people when...I have had time alone to think.
14. When I am in a group of strangers, I...get self-conscious and tired.
15. I feel lonely when...I am different than other people.
16. I envy...people who have carissma.
17. When someone is affectionate with me, I...appriciate it.
18. When I take a good look at my interpersonal life, I...generally am happy.
19. The way I handle jealousy is...try my best to either fix it, or deal.
20. I think I have hurt others by...overthinking how I answer.
21. Those who don't know me well...don’t know how nerdy I really am.
22. My brother...is non-existent.
23. The person who knows me best...is my mother. Ian is a close second.
24. An important interpersonal value for me is...?
25. What I am really looking for in my relationships is...truth.
26. I get hurt when...people don’t take the time to acknowledge my thoughts.
27. I daydream about...planning, projects, and lists.
28. My family...is new and exciting. J
29. When someone confronts me, I...listen, but stand my ground.
30. My favorite childhood memory is...playing dress up with my sister.
31. What I feel most guilty about in my relationships with others is...that I overthink things.
32. I like people who...take the time to hang out with me.
33. When someone gets angry with me, I...shut up.
34. My sister...is incredible, loving, and beautiful.
35. Few people know that I...like Family Guy.
36. When I think about intimacy, I think of...Ian.
37. When I meet someone who is very assertive, I...tend to follow, or get annoyed.
38. When someone gets to know the best of me...they like me.
39. When I'm not around, my friends...I am happy being alone.
40. Most people think that I...am smart.
41. One thing I really dislike about myself is...that I overthink things.
42. When I am with my group of friends, I...sit back and ovserve.
43. I get angry at others when...they take control of something creative, and don’t do a good job.
44. What I distrust is...people who have not proven themselves.
45. One thing that makes me nervous in interpersonal situations is...being in a new group.
46. When I really feel good about myself, I...am dressed well.
47. When others put me down, I...tend to believe them.
48. In relating to others, I get a big lift when...people tell me that I am fun to be with.
49. Regarding relating to others, this year I learned that...being myself is most important.
50. When I like someone who doesn't feel the same way about me, I...wonder why I am not good enough.
51. I feel awkward with others when...I don’t know what to say.
52. When others get parental with me, I...tend to get defensive, unless I am sick.
53. The thing that holds me back in my relationships with others is...my insecurity.
54. I feel let down when...someone doesn’t do what they say they will.
55. When I share my values with someone, I...expect respect.
56. I would like the person I married...to love me, and be there no matter what comes our way.
57. Others like it when I...use my talents to create things.
58. Interpersonal relationships are important, but...I still need my time alone.
59. When someone sees the ways in which I am vulnerable...they help me to be confident.
60. In interpersonal situations, what I run from most is...being open with people.

Love,

Miranda

Simply...Life

Over the last part of last week, and the WONDERFULLY long weekend, I have been inspired; I want to simplify my life.

How is came to this conclusion was through a series of things.

The first thing was a raunchy stink in my kitchen. Ian and I had been busy with leadership at our college for a whole week, and had not been able to eat all of the left overs that lived in our refridgerator. The stench was aweful. I knew I had to do something to eradicate it. So, I dedicated an entire afternoon to deep cleaning the kitchen; I scrubbed the fridge, I cleaned the cupboards, I emptied the garbage, and took stock of all the food that we have. The whole process was soothing to me. I forgot how much I love organizing and simplicity!

Later on that weekend, I was working (and in my line of work, I have a LOT of time to think) and mulled over this idea of simplicity. Now - I love using stumbleupon.com. It is a great way for me to explore topics and ideas that are new, without leaving one website. I was on there during my break, and stumbled upon a website all about fashion - not "fashion" per-se, but people's fashion - individual fashion. I was inspired. When I looked into my closet later that day, I realized that the my decision of what to wear that morning had hinged on "what do I have to wear", vs "what can I wear?"...and not just because we needed to do laundry. :)

I realized then that I wanted to simplify my closet. I chose one qualification: if I didn't LOVE what I had, it went. I now have a pile of twenty or thirty articles of clothing that other people will love when they find them at Goodwill. :) I am very happy when I look in my closet, because everything I see, I want to wear! It is so nice to love what I own. My closet is considerably smaller - and that is perfectly OK with me.

The last factor is not nice. Our car broke down - so now I have no way to drive - I have to walk if I want to go somewhere. The only saving grace to this circumstance is that I live in the middle of a city. I can walk anywhere that I want to go! And I will. I count this car-less experience as a blessing: I forget sometimes that I am independent and can go places on my own, that I can explore the place in which I live. I am excited to begin walking and re-exploring where I live. (Not to mention the benefits that come with daily exercise!)

With all that being said, I am learning that living simply is better. It is....well, simply wonderful. ;)

Love,
Miranda

Blessed Wednesday

So, I did get the WONDERFUL quiet afternoon that I was wishing for today - but I did not get my dress started.

Instead, I opened and played with my new Dell Streak....which is pretty awesome (awesome and huge)! I do like it....I still have to figure out all the quirks though. It is great for organized people like me who like to have everything together in one spot. I have my calendar, my to-do list (which I also value more than I should) and access to the internet and a phone all in one. IT IS BOGGLING MY MIND! (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

Anyways - I feel so much more rested than I did, and am ready to fully engage this new semester and all that it is about the throw at me! :)

Love,
Miranda

Running on Empty

I am an introvert. I need my quiet time to re-charge. I am sad to say, with it being welcome week at school, and with me being an orientation leader - I have not had any significant amount of alone time for the past five days. For me, alone time is like sleep. I get REALLY grumpy if I don't have time to sit, breathe, do something soothing, and just be alone. I am looking forward to Wednesday - I will have all afternoon to myself...and it is going to be WONDERFUL! :)

I think I am going to start the dress that I am sewing. I planned to make it for Christmas this year, but I never had time to make it. I have it all cut out and ready to go - I just need to sew it. I think I will start it on Wednesday. That thought makes me happy! And so, with that thought - I am going to make it through the next two super busy days.

Love,
Miranda

My Very First...

Hi.

My name is Miranda.

I love quiet afternoons. I hope for a quiet afternoon every day. I like doing projects (scrap booking, sewing, painting, cooking), and reading, and drinking tea - and lately doing yoga.

This blog is going to serve no other purpose than to document things that I learn, accomplish, create, and enjoy during my quiet afternoons.

Recently, my husband, Ian, has challenged me to find out more about who I am. I am hence forth dedicating my (hopefully quiet) afternoons to doing this; I will explore who I am by doing things that I love to do - and finding new things that I love, and seeing what I can do and create.

I am excited! And a little scared. This blog is my first step. My first step in branching out and finding something new that I could possibly love...so here goes nothing!

Here's to finding me!

- Miranda