Modeling of the Mind

What do you think people see when they look at you? Just take a moment and think about it. Do they see arrogance? Kindness? Anger? Patience? What is it that you are displaying for them to absorb and remember you by? Some people never think about it, when in fact it should be an imperative piece of knowledge that each person knows about themselves. What are you putting out there for the world to see, and does anyone even really notice?

One thing everyone should know, is that people are constantly observing each other, and when I say that I mean it in the least creepy way possible. You know what I'm talking about. Say you're in the local McDonald's (Let me say I'm sorry for the constant food comparisons, but a good Micky D's large fry is constantly in the back of my mind telling me that the honey roasted peanuts and Diet Mountain Dew that always accompanies me to my desk does nothing to sway the snack craving one always gets around three o'clock in the afternoon. Oh the horrors of fast food.) and you hear the person in front of you order three Big Mac's, two large fries, and an Oreo Mcflurry to go. You immediately have thoughts along the lines of  'Gosh what a cow! Who orders all of that in one go?' rushing through your consciousness. You then take a step back and quickly survey their body weight and style to check if the crime of calories fits the suspect. We've all done it, but that grease-craving individual in front of you usually has no idea you noticed anything about their order, much less had a brain battle deciding if they might actually be able to consume such a beefy meal, and used variables such as their current body weight and appearance to help form your hypocritical hypothesis. (Let's remember you're in line yourself, so you aren't exactly guilt free there buddy.) But anyway, you get what I'm saying, we notice each other more than we think.

This subject was brought to my attention yesterday afternoon when I received an email on Facebook from a teammate of mine concerning herself and the practice that we had had earlier that day. It read:

"Hey girl ;) I just wanted to say thank you for encouraging me today in weight lifting . It really helped .

& I know I get upset & stuff in prac but that's only bc I get frustrated bc we all work really hard & things still don't go right so I was wondering If you could help me get better at being more positive with everyone that would be great :) I don't mean what I say it just comes out & I notice how your really good at staying positive w everyone so I was just wondering . Thanks girl ! ;)"

Just melt my heart why don't you.

Now please don't think I'm writing this to brag about how great of a person I am, because that is certainly not the case. I suck at being nice most of the time just like any other moody teenager. But I really wanted to share this with you guys because it shocked me so much. I never realised anyone ever took notice of my behavior. Much less would ask for my help with their own. Talk about an eye-opener, and the fact that she had the maturity to say anything in the first place just amazed me.

One thing you all should know about me, is that I'm never happier than when I'm out on that volleyball court. My demeanor changes completely from being a passive, calm person into this annoyingly cheery little girl who is just overjoyed at getting to run around and play ball with the people I love. My team is my family and together we do some crazy, awful, and amazing things. They might as well be my blood-relatives, because I would do anything for any one of them, and am constantly trying to make them as giddy and annoying as I am when we play and work. But until yesterday, I never thought anyone noticed. It just goes to show you that little things really can make a difference to those around you, even if you don't know it. So the next time you go out, think about how you might be being perceived by people, because you never know who you might be impacting; who's mindset you could help change. Go out with the goal of being a role model, one that can help us make this big place we live in all the better. 

"People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy." - Oliver Goldsmith

Heaven on Earth

Two weeks is a long time.

It doesn't sound very long, but when spent in only one place it seems endless; a moment in time that suspends itself from all other pieces of our everyday lives. There are so many things that one could get done in two weeks, if one wanted. I on the other hand, chose to spend my two weeks in Captiva Island, Florida becoming a professional beach bum.

Every year, my family takes a two week trip to this amazing little island. Located right off the coast of Ft. Myers, Florida, it is a tiny hidden gem in the treasure that is the Gulf of Mexico. Being only four miles long and only a half mile wide, you can imagine how easy it is to pass by.

   Getting to that little red dot on the map from my home takes roughly thirteen hours by car. I cannot say enough how much I adore my ipod on this drive. Praise be to Apple!

Our secret little paradise is merely a home away from home now. My family has been coming here for over forty years, so we're quite past the point of being tourists.

Every year the trip is fantastic, but this year has been even more so than usual. The wildlife has been surreal. A few days ago, while fishing off of the dock behind our house on the bay side of the island, a wild manatee swam right up to us and proceeded to take a nice little shower and a drink from the hose we had running on the side of the dock.

He stayed barely half a foot away from the dock until we had to go inside and turn the hose off. Silly guy seemed a bit disgruntled when we cut his nice shower short.

Captiva is the most peaceful place I've ever been to. There is no rushing around, no extreme amount of people, not even one traffic light. Stress has no meaning here, and all worries about work, school, or whatever is lost as soon as you cross the bridge onto the island. People here have a different way about them, and easygoing, carefree and friendly nature that can't be captured anywhere else. Some call it island magic, but I think the absence of so many things that are found on the mainland creates a different mind set in people. There are no chain restaurants, grocery stores, or shops, save for one Dairy Queen on Captiva's sister island, Sanibel. That means no Walmart, no McDonald's, no mall. (A few of you reading this just fell out of your chair.) But somehow no one really cares. All there is here are two independently owned grocery stores (both about a quarter of the size of your average Walmart), a handful of surf shops, and of course a number of restaurants found no where else. Other than the one Dairy Queen (no idea how that sucker even got here) there is nothing that is similar to anything found on the mainland.

Captiva changes people. It makes one feel as if time has no meaning, as if there is nothing and no one surrounding us save for the four miles of beach and cottages. Of course, island life isn't for everyone. Those people that can never slow down, can never just stop and do nothing for once in their life, would never enjoy a vacation here. There isn't a multitude of things to do, no theme park, no huge attraction, save for maybe a few jet ski rides, some deep sea fishing, and maybe a para sailing trip. Other than that, the island itself is enough for most people. It has the ability to erase the mind's usual and somewhat annoying thoughts and replace them with gull calls, soft sand, cool breezes, and the smell and feel of ocean spray. There is simply nothing like it. I'm hoping and praying that I will forever be able to enjoy and appreciate such a special place. Just another one of those simple, wonderful things that life has to offer.

"The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen