Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

     The other day I was asked by a gentleman if I liked sports.  Not particularly was my answer.  Why, I asked.  He said that his wife of four years was lamenting over football starting in a few weeks and that she would lose her husband to it until the season was over.  I looked over at him as if I were waiting for the punchline.  I was thinking, where was the problem in this situation?  The sports lover asked me what my take on spouses spending time watching sports instead of being with their spouses was.  I stated that there were no issues for me that my husband spent his time watching sports instead of being with me.  Actually, I let him know that I thought it was great that my husband was able to enjoy watching sports without me.

     In fact I really preferred him to go enjoy his favorite pastime.  With a curious look on his face the man cautiously asked me why.  My reason was simple.  While my husband was busy watching sports, I was studying, shopping, or enjoying my favorite pastimes.  I enjoy listening to all types of music while I quilt, write poetry, read novels.  I do not expect my husband to like everything I do.  Let's face it, its not like your spouse is out handing out bills at a strip joint!  They are just enjoying some sports either alone or with other sports lovers.  Hey better them than me!  

     Yes, I do admit that when I was younger I was insecure and clung to my man.  I even endured sitting on the couch and watching (actually sleeping through) hours of endless sports.  Heck, I even bought him tickets to different sports events and attended with him.  That was the young me who wanted to please my man and overlooked my likes and wants.  Now that I am more mature, I realize that in order to make one another happy you need to communicate, trust and  support one another.  If sports makes my spouse happy then more power to him watching it.  Likewise, I know that my husband also wants me to do what makes me happy.  

     After we indulge in our hobbies we do come together and enjoy doing things we both like.  Being in a committed relationship takes give and take.  If you allow for time apart from one another you will both grow to appreciate the time you do have together all the more.  The old saying, "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder" is really true.  The time you spend doing your own thing will nurture your relationship and show your partner that you care enough to give them space.  You will reap the rewards when your loved one enjoys the time you do spend together! Have a positively Blessed day!

I'm a College Student!!!

   The new Monster's Inc. movie stands as one of my favorite animated movies this year.  Mike, the one eyed monster with high self-esteem, is the character I can most relate to.  It cracks me up that he goes through life not even seeing the obstacles to his dream of being a scare monster; I love Mike's positive motivation.  Nothing will stop him from reaching his goals.  Meanwhile, other monsters are negative and cannot understand Mike's vision of success as theirs are so muddled and lackluster.

     I can relate to this character 100%.  Almost seven months ago I embarked on finally achieving my goal of returning and finishing my college degree.  I am not your average aged college student, so returning to a place of education that houses students roughly the age of my own child made me feel out of sorts to say the least.  The age disparity was the least of my worries.  My stress stemmed from the class subject matters.  I had not been back to school in so many years and was worried about not understanding the modern day concepts taught.   Once the classes started, my stress was unfounded.  My mind casually nestled itself into the subjects easily and absorbed every ounce of knowledge.  It was as if it soaking the knowledge in was quenching my minds long standing thirst.  My surprise was one of happiness and fulfillment.  Returning to college revived me in a way I never thought would happen. 

     Returning to college opened up doors in my mind that had long been secured and left dusty and cobwebbed.  Once these doors were cracked open, floods of creativity poured out of them.  I realized that I had strengths in activities I had always shied away from, like poetry.  Now writing, poetry, photography and other creative processes exude out of my mind.   It was a difficult journey to decide to return to college.  I struggled within myself to find reasons not to return.  At the time I was living through my doubts and negative thinking.  Once I snapped out of the destructive thinking phase, I got back on the track to my goal of gaining my degree.  Returning allowed me to find myself once again and pursue avenues I had not dared to in the past.

     My happiness at returning to college pervades my life daily.  It is not possible for me to contain my pride and happiness since I am finally where I want to be.  My family is proud of my excellent grades and I am proud of myself too.  My gratefulness at being able to attend college is beyond measure and I daily encourage my kids to reach for that goal too.  I think the only thing that my entire family is not thrilled about is that, like Mike the Monster, I am constantly running around yelling “I’m a COLLEGE STUDENT”!!!

 Remember your long forgotten goals?  Pull them out of the dusty cobwebs and start toward them again! Have a positively blessed day everyone!!!