etc., life — Valerie on January 17, 2008 at 7:32 am
When I was around seven, I was just slightly taller than the level at which most car door mirrors sit. I also had a tendency to run into things. The combination of the two lead to several black eyes acquired in parking lots.
I got ketchup on my shirt almost every day of seventh grade. This combined with the braces and overall awkwardness made it a rough year.
In eighth grade, I tore a ligament in my right ankle. A couple months later, I tore its counterpart in my left ankle. Both occurred while running.
Sometimes things jump out of my hands. Like eggs. And toothbrushes. Especially toothbrushes.
I’m watching an episode of True Life and a girl is talking her boyfriend about how she didn’t sleep the night before because she was worrying about her very real financial and familial problems. He is less than sympathetic:
“I didn’t sleep last night.”
“Well, who’s fault is that?”
“It’s no one’s fault. I just don’t sleep.”
“You just need to relax is all.”
This girl is a kinder, more patient person than me, because she just responds with a sigh. I would have responded with a punch in the face. While I have virtually no physical symptoms of anxiety since switching jobs, I have strong memories of how it felt. It’s frustrating. It’s crippling. And no one wants to feel that way.
A person with anxiety knows that he or she needs to relax. Pointing this out only makes them feel inadequate, not comforted.
Consider some of these alternatives:
“Why do you think you’re having such a hard time relaxing?”
“Is there anything I can do to help you out?”
or, best of all…
“I’m sorry you’re having a hard time. I love you.”
While I don’t have the 21st off, my company is being awesome enough to give us time throughout the day to perform community service. Hopefully you’ll consider giving back in some way, too.
The video below is footage of King’s last speech. Pretty incredible considering the context.
These are one of the reasons why 1) Susan is awesome* and 2) my life is better than most.** Outsourced baking, friends. It’s the wave of the future.
*The recipe for these involves orange juice WHICH SHE SQUEEZED BY HAND.
**Please note the bowl from Urban Outfitters and the towel from Anthropologie. Yes, I have become that girl.
Friday: Work. Home to gussy up. Work holiday party. Home. Bed.
Saturday: All day hang outs and dinner with Matt and Maura. To bed pretty late.
Sunday: Puttering around the house. Church. Sent another friend off to a foreign country for far too long. Picked up dinner. Various bleh activities until bed.
zappturday — Valerie on January 13, 2008 at 10:10 am
Last week was nuts and yesterday was completely busy in the best possible way. So, it took me until Sunday to let the Internets know that I’ve got nothing for Zappturday but this cute picture that I already posted a long time ago, but hopefully you don’t remember it:
Best Diarist “I feel like I know Valerie like a best friend. I think if I saw her in Ukrop’s, I’d be compelled to ask how Ross’s birthday was. Does she have a clue who I am? No.”
