in an ideal world...

What does your ideal world look like?

As I'm sitting here thinking about my thesis proposal my mind is drifting a little, so I'm taking a break to dream about "when I grow up"...

My friends, my sister, and my cousins and I used to talk and dream about what our future lives would be like. When we were about 12, my cousin Olivia and I had big plans of going to law school and moving to New York or D.C to be big movers and shakers, and look fabulous doing it!

...and while we both look absolutely fabulous doing our respective jobs, I do NOT find a career in law or politics the least bit appealing. Elle Woods still inspires me.

At another point in life (only a few short years later) I was dead set on marine biology and was completely convinced that I was going to make my life swimming among the fish (because that's all marine biologists do, right?) and live in a big giant house on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii...

But in college I figured out a few things: first of all, marine biologists study marine life, but a lot of their job takes place in a lab doing research (which actually often involves a lot of ecology and toxicology), than swimming in the ocean...and that's much more chemistry than I was mentally willing to commit myself to. Also, despite what many might think, most researchers really aren't making "Hawaii Mansion" salaries. Who knew? Finally, it turns out living on Hawaii actually has many more drawbacks than advantages. Like the hellacious flight back to Michigan to see family, and outrageous cost of living, and possible looming threat of a tsunami.

So what is my ideal future now?


Well, I'm kind of living it :) After all, in a few weeks I will be in SPAIN for a conference!!

At least a very important part of it is being lived right now. Ever since I started taking part in scientific research labs I knew that I wanted to be a scientist (see pre-colligiate dream description above). Every day I get excited to get out of bed and head over to the lab and see my friends and debate topics dealing in human cognition; like reading comprehension, argumentation, and other various facets of discourse processes (how people understand and participate in discourse).

But in an ideal future world, I suppose it's my dream to get that coveted professorship at a university in a city reasonably close to the rest of my family. In my truly ideal world my family will live down the street from my sister's family, and our kids will be BFFs. Also my best friend and my twin cousin will live in the same town and we'll see them all the time. Is it a silly dream? Yep. Because I chose a field where I may not get to chose where I go next, and where the work is. Is this ideal world likely? probably about as likely as my Hawaiian mansion dream. But it's a dream. And I've ALWAYS had one (so it seems silly to stop now!). So even if it never comes true, as far as I can tell what ends up being the best fit for me ends up prevailing anyway.

But for now my thesis calls. Gotta go.

The Power of Games

I watched this really amazing Ted Talk this morning while I was getting ready for the day. Typically I watch documentaries or Ted Talks on Netflix while I'm making my coffee and breakfast in the morning --I think it helps puts me in an analytical mood for the day (helpful when one is about to spend the rest of the day thinking, scheming, and cognitive science-ing). Now that I have an iPhone I can stream these talks on my phone using my home wifi as an internet source, and that way the wise words of the brilliant featured presenters that grace the Ted Talk stage can follow me around wherever I go during my morning routine.

This morning as I did my hair in the bathroom, I listened to a talk that was categorized under the "Life Hacks" series. "Life Hacks" are relatively short talks about small ways in which one's life can be improved. Topics include meditation, body language, and (as was the case with this morning) the power of games in our everyday life.

There is no doubt that games are a big part of our lives. They take just about every form possible: pencil and paper games, board games, card games, verbal games, physical team sports, non team physical games, video games, computer games (online and offline). They also encompass all different kinds of skills -- some are strategic, some rely on luck, some are a bit of both. Some games require physical coordination and strategic skill (and those are to be avoided at all costs! ...kidding).
In her talk, game designer Jane McGonigal discussed the importance of different types of play -- how viewing challenges in life through the lens of strategic game play can positively impact quality of life and ultimately perceptions of happiness. While bed-ridden during recovery of a severe concussion, McGonigal invented an internal game she dubbed "Jane the Concussion Slayer" in which she received hypothetical life points for small bouts of exercise and social interaction, slowly working her way to a complete recovery.

While my situation certainly isn't that of Jane's (who was confined to 30 days without being allowed to watch movies or TV, read books, or go anywhere while her brain recovered and healed) games have recently become more important in my life. As I mentioned above, I have recently become the proud user of an iPhone, and spend a good deal of my energy on said phone staying connected to the people who mean the most to me. Much of that contact revolves around the games that I can now play with those people.

These phone games (Words with Friends, Draw Something, Ruzzle, etc.) let me know that somewhere, no matter how many miles away, my mom is kicking my butt AGAIN -- or that my Grandmother just played another word in Words with Friends, meaning she's still awake and that I have time this evening - even though it's late - to give her a call and chat for a while. It lets me know that Eric is still a good artist but always picks hard things to convey with a simple line drawing in Draw Something, and that my sister's drawings of school buses and Hummers look the same.


I think people tend to scoff when young people talk about their phone being their "lifeline", or being the number one thing they can't imagine life without. This topic was brought up on the local radio station that I tune into here in DeKalb last week, and the hosts of the morning show couldn't seem to stay away from an incredulous "are you kidding me???!".
I felt a sudden urge for the first time in my life to call the station and set them straight about the benefits of having near constant internet and cellular access in a society where more often than not, job opportunities and important career or life moves require an individual to pick up and relocate..if only temporarily. My call-in was featured a few minutes later, and got a lot of positive feedback from listeners I know are in my situation too.
We've all got to stay sane, work hard, and in our spare moments...try to beat our boyfriend's mom at yet another word game ;)

My Myspace Account Still Works

And let me tell you, the high school extension of myself as told through Myspace is hilarious.

Because I obviously thought I was way too awesome for life.

First, there are pictures where I think I am a model.

This is me as a 16 year old thinking that I'm totally going to make it big as a model (in my imagination). Side note, I still have that t-shirt, and I wear it to the gym all the time.

The funniest thing about finding my Myspace however, was reading the personal information and making fun of myself. Also, realizing how much has actually changed in all of those categories.

So the first thing I'd like to address is the WTH moment I had when I reread that first blurb, what kind of sassy 16 year old thing is that to say about myself? No details, you should already know me! However, it does smack heavily of the rule my parents gave me at the advent of my participation in social media which was that I wasn't allowed to have Facebook friends that I didn't know (really well) in person.

Secondly, who I'd like to meet. Nice people? Well I guess that's still true, but in terms of people I'd like to meet...I've got a new..more specific list. I'm sure those people are nice too.

Details

Status: Single
...not anymore! I think it would be funny to go back and tell my past self that my future self would meet a really cool guy who likes cars and puppies, and plays guitar, and has good taste in movies and literature, and agrees to wear a bike helmet because you want to wear a bike helmet, and that everything would be more than fine (it would be awesome!) but that just doesn't put hair on your chest.

Here for: friends
yep.

Body type: slim/slender
why was this a question??? who cares?? hahaha oh high school. I do NOT miss you.

Zodiac Sign: Cancer
well, July 15th is still my birthday.

Children: Someday
sure!

Smoke/Drink: no/no
again, this is a stupid question to answer as a teen. Of course the answer to both was "no"! But turning 21 in Grand Rapids did introduce me to the world of craft beers, and it's hard not to cultivate your wine expertise in northern Michigan (because if you haven't gone to a wine tasting in Traverse City you really are missing out on something special).

Education: High School
Now, it's a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology with a year completed toward a masters. A lot changes in 5 years!

Occupation: Being Cool.

Yup. That's my occupation... being cool. I'll be here all week, folks.

so....cool....

excuse me while I go write my mother a thank you note for putting up with my obvious teenage identity disaster of snarky too-cool attitude.