This is the World, That We Live in

After four months of being an RA, I am a tad bit burned out. I don't know about you, but I have the tendency to emotionally invest completely in everything that I love (such as this job), which can lead to faster mental and emotional exhaustion. Due to the fact that I am completely enamored with this job, and with life, I was not going to stay burned out. (Insert cheesy metaphor about re-lighting my candle and such here.)

So I looked for ways to reverse my burn out. Locking myself in my room didn't work, and neither did avoiding this issue (which is never an effective way to deal with your problems, but who doesn't try it anyway?).

The answer came after a presentation that I gave for my Young Adult Literature class. My group and I ran a class on my favorite book, 'Looking for Alaska'. We noticed that my older copy of the book had a candle on it, while the newer editions just had smoke.

Little difference, I just assumed that it was a stylistic choice. A girl in my class, Ashley, didn't. She looked up this book after our class, unprovoked, and found this and posted it to my Facebook wall:

FROM WIKIPEDIA: YOUR ANSWER!

"In August 2012 blog, Green revealed details regarding the cover design of Looking for Alaska. Green acknowledged the fact that the supposedly extinguished candle did lead to an "improbable amount of smoke," and thus revealed that the initial cover design did not feature the candle. Green then revealed that certain book chains were uncomfortable about displaying or selling the book because they did not want to encourage what looked like cigarette smoke - which Green revealed was the actual 'cause' of the smoke. Thus, book chains added the candle beneath the smoke so that they weren't promoting smoking.

In John Green's box set, released on October 25, 2012, the candle element of the cover of Looking for Alaska has been removed, and features the original cover design. Further paperback releases of the book also have the candle removed."

After reading that, I realized that I have been too comfortable with the world in which we live, assuming things and not looking for answers. So, as of this moment, I am vowing to myself to be more inquisitive, of the people around me and the things that I take for granted. The results of that will be in posts to come.

"Stay thirsty, my friends"

Burned Out: It gets you down, we've all been there sometimes, but tonight, I'll make you feel beautiful once again

     Everyone (or at least most people) feels burned out at some point in their lives. I have been through this multiple times during various points in my life. Now is definitely one of those times. Dictionary.com defines burned out as exhausted or made listless through overwork, stress, or intemperance. 

It's easy to feel listless, restless, and useless. It'd be all too easy to lay on my couch (to climb onto my bed would require motivation), skip all of my classes, and binge on ice cream and candy. I have definitely debated doing that.

However, I have found that there are benefits to burn out, if one manipulates it correctly. As you guys have noticed by the extensive quantity of poetry review posts, I have been exploring my interest in modern poetry, from Andrea Gibson to "children's" poems to anything that catches my eye. I have also agreed to participate in more things that are outside of my comfort zone (raves, coffee, all-nighters, etc.)

Burn out is a fantastic reason to look into other hobbies. In order to not go completely crazy from stress (my tenth interview of the semester is next week, along with classes, and other stressors), I realized that I have to pick up other hobbies. 

Can't think of something to be interested in? Look around, check your Pinterest boards, ask your friends, or look up a list of hobbies, attach them to a dartboard, and then try the interest that you hit. Go with someone to an out-of-your-regular-routine activity. The possibilities are endless.

Crazy, right? Who knew there was a bonus to burn out?

So, next time you sigh the exasperated-burn-out sigh (you know the one),  just know that you are not alone, and might, in fact, be about to acquire a new interest.

Happy Soul Searching! 

 

We're Happy, Free, Confused, and Lonely in the Best Way

Do you ever just have those times where you are so burned out on life and you just want to do all of these crazy things in exotic places and cry and drink coffee and scream and make things and sign up for everything?

That is how I feel right about now. Maybe this is just a part of growing up, maybe this is just the grungy weather that is happening in my part of the globe, or maybe this is just me taking a Pocahontas dive off of the mental cliff.

 As much as I love my major, I just don't feel like teaching is where I belong in the world (sorry to get all Kumbaya on you guys). There are so many other things that I could be doing and loving more. Plus, every teacher that I have shadowed (at least ten) are super burned out, even some of the newer teachers.

As someone who is used to loving school, it has been extremely difficult for me to enjoy my classes this semester, which saddens me in a weird way.

And don't even get me started on the guy front...

Plus, I am doing an essay (for queer lit) on HOW LIFE IS CONFUSING...sometimes, literature has an uncanny ability to relate to my life.

So if you are confused or alone or burned out, never fear! You can, at the very least, eliminate alone from that list since I am right there with you.

Here's to hoping we all figure things out!