Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sometimes the sky smiles back
When thinking of my last bad day, I know there are few things that could have cheered me up. But I have to say that if I would have looked up to the sky and seen a smile, I think I might have had to join in. Sometimes it just takes a little coincidence to make me feel like maybe it's all good even if my day was not the best.
... in two weeks I'll be good
Pretty recently my swimming has been a little bit discouraging. I have had a lot of troubles getting back down to the times I was going last year, and I was beginning to feel like it was never going to happen. My 100 butterfly time was about two seconds behind and my 100 backstroke was pretty consistently about a second and a half slower than that of last year.
On top of the disappointing times, I was also having some medical issues. It seemed like every week I had a new issue that was prohibiting me from swimming at practice. First, I pulled my diaphragm (no idea how) so breathing was difficult and swimming at any speed above snail was out of the question. Next I got swimmer's ear. About five weeks in a row. Every Thursday I would be feeling fine in the morning, and sure enough, by afternoon practice my ear would be throbbing. I did a lot of kicking in order to keep my sore ear out of the water. After it seemed my ear had healed by hip began acting up. We went on a run one morning and by the afternoon I could hardly walk without my hip feeling like a nerve was being pinched. I spent a practice simply trying to figure out which stretch would be effective.
But the worst of all began two weeks ago. I woke up one Tuesday morning at about three to a throbbing pain in my right ear. I spent the next two hour trying to go back to sleep after taking too much Advil and while trying to balance a heating pad on the side of my head. Needless to say it was pretty unsuccessful. We scheduled an emergency doctor's appointment. She determined that I had both an inner and outer ear infection. Painful. I did not get in the water until Thursday when I attempted to swim in a meet. That did not go over well. I ended up scratching both of my individual events and suffering through the relays. When it seemed like the pain had passed my luck reminded me I had not gotten off that easily. Apparently after the infection is gone it can still be excruciating. After another visit to the doctor it was determined I just have to wait it out.
Yesterday at my meet I was feeling pretty bad. The whole side of my head was throbbing during the warm-up and my coach and I had a serious talk about scratching that meet as well. But it was the conference championship meet and the last meet before regionals. Also, my team was in serious contention to beat our rival team who had already beaten us once this season. So I decided to swim, for the team. After struggling through my first event things were not looking promising. The pain was pretty bad.
Going into my second event, the 100 butterfly, I was seated sixth. After watching the heat before me I decided my goal was to beat the top time, 1:05.60, so I could make the podium. As I was swimming I tried to concentrate on my stroke so the pain would be less noticeable. As I came to the end of fifty yards I was surprised. I was ahead of the people in my heat, all of whom were supposed to be beating me. I just kept on swimming, and when I touched the wall my time had not shown up on the board yet. My coach yelled "TWO" really loud, and as I looked up not only had I gotten second place in the event, but I had gotten 1:02.43, a lifetime best. My luck carried on through the rest of the meet. I did well in the 100 back and the 400 free relay. And yes, we did beat our rivals.
This best time makes me optimistic. If I can get great times when I feel like crap, then two weeks from now when it comes time to qualify for state I can surely do it again. I will hopefully have recovered from my most recent sickness by then, so I can swim fast with no interruptions. I am optimistic that in two weeks, I will be good to go.
On top of the disappointing times, I was also having some medical issues. It seemed like every week I had a new issue that was prohibiting me from swimming at practice. First, I pulled my diaphragm (no idea how) so breathing was difficult and swimming at any speed above snail was out of the question. Next I got swimmer's ear. About five weeks in a row. Every Thursday I would be feeling fine in the morning, and sure enough, by afternoon practice my ear would be throbbing. I did a lot of kicking in order to keep my sore ear out of the water. After it seemed my ear had healed by hip began acting up. We went on a run one morning and by the afternoon I could hardly walk without my hip feeling like a nerve was being pinched. I spent a practice simply trying to figure out which stretch would be effective.
But the worst of all began two weeks ago. I woke up one Tuesday morning at about three to a throbbing pain in my right ear. I spent the next two hour trying to go back to sleep after taking too much Advil and while trying to balance a heating pad on the side of my head. Needless to say it was pretty unsuccessful. We scheduled an emergency doctor's appointment. She determined that I had both an inner and outer ear infection. Painful. I did not get in the water until Thursday when I attempted to swim in a meet. That did not go over well. I ended up scratching both of my individual events and suffering through the relays. When it seemed like the pain had passed my luck reminded me I had not gotten off that easily. Apparently after the infection is gone it can still be excruciating. After another visit to the doctor it was determined I just have to wait it out.
Yesterday at my meet I was feeling pretty bad. The whole side of my head was throbbing during the warm-up and my coach and I had a serious talk about scratching that meet as well. But it was the conference championship meet and the last meet before regionals. Also, my team was in serious contention to beat our rival team who had already beaten us once this season. So I decided to swim, for the team. After struggling through my first event things were not looking promising. The pain was pretty bad.
Going into my second event, the 100 butterfly, I was seated sixth. After watching the heat before me I decided my goal was to beat the top time, 1:05.60, so I could make the podium. As I was swimming I tried to concentrate on my stroke so the pain would be less noticeable. As I came to the end of fifty yards I was surprised. I was ahead of the people in my heat, all of whom were supposed to be beating me. I just kept on swimming, and when I touched the wall my time had not shown up on the board yet. My coach yelled "TWO" really loud, and as I looked up not only had I gotten second place in the event, but I had gotten 1:02.43, a lifetime best. My luck carried on through the rest of the meet. I did well in the 100 back and the 400 free relay. And yes, we did beat our rivals.
This best time makes me optimistic. If I can get great times when I feel like crap, then two weeks from now when it comes time to qualify for state I can surely do it again. I will hopefully have recovered from my most recent sickness by then, so I can swim fast with no interruptions. I am optimistic that in two weeks, I will be good to go.
... some things never change
This weekend, my sister came home from college for her fall break. Although I saw her only two weeks ago, it still seems like it has been quite a while since we have spoken. Last time I saw my sister it was only for one night, so you would think that this longer break would give us more time together. But it does not. Our quality bonding time has been limited.
My sister arrived at home on Friday around seven. We had a family dinner and hung out until around eleven, so that is four hours. On Saturday I had a swim meet about an hour away. I left the house at eight without seeing her and got back around five-thirty. She came to watch the swim meet, but I was with the team most of the time so I did not get to spend time with my sister. A friend of mine was having a birthday party on Saturday so I left around six and did not get home until around eleven-thirty. Finally, at eleven-thirty my sister and I hung out. We got a movie and some snacks from the grocery store, but I was fast asleep by one. So that brings our total to five and one-half hours.
Today, my mom, sister and I went on a walk for about an hour. But as soon as I got home I had to begin working on my pile of homework due the next day. We will probably get another hour or two in tonight, but that is maxing out. And tomorrow I have school and swimming. So my sister and I might see each other for two hours total where I am not trying to multitask by studying and talking. Even though our time together is limited I have still noticed some similarities.
Now that we are back at home in our familiar setting rather than in her dorm room we are acting more like ourselves. We even got in an arguement about her watching TV while I was trying to type up a Spanish oral. When we were together last night it felt just like hanging out during the summer before she moved out. We just kind of chilled for a while. So even though we see a lot less of each other, our relationship is pretty similar to before (minus most arguements). Now I know this might change over time but I feel like there will always be an underlying bond.
That bond makes me optimistic. My sister and I can spend weeks and months apart but still be able to just hang out. It makes me optimistic that some things never change.
My sister arrived at home on Friday around seven. We had a family dinner and hung out until around eleven, so that is four hours. On Saturday I had a swim meet about an hour away. I left the house at eight without seeing her and got back around five-thirty. She came to watch the swim meet, but I was with the team most of the time so I did not get to spend time with my sister. A friend of mine was having a birthday party on Saturday so I left around six and did not get home until around eleven-thirty. Finally, at eleven-thirty my sister and I hung out. We got a movie and some snacks from the grocery store, but I was fast asleep by one. So that brings our total to five and one-half hours.
Today, my mom, sister and I went on a walk for about an hour. But as soon as I got home I had to begin working on my pile of homework due the next day. We will probably get another hour or two in tonight, but that is maxing out. And tomorrow I have school and swimming. So my sister and I might see each other for two hours total where I am not trying to multitask by studying and talking. Even though our time together is limited I have still noticed some similarities.
Now that we are back at home in our familiar setting rather than in her dorm room we are acting more like ourselves. We even got in an arguement about her watching TV while I was trying to type up a Spanish oral. When we were together last night it felt just like hanging out during the summer before she moved out. We just kind of chilled for a while. So even though we see a lot less of each other, our relationship is pretty similar to before (minus most arguements). Now I know this might change over time but I feel like there will always be an underlying bond.
That bond makes me optimistic. My sister and I can spend weeks and months apart but still be able to just hang out. It makes me optimistic that some things never change.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
... people can change for the better
In the UK, Talk Talk is launching something new. Instead of pick pocketing it is called put pocketing. A former pick pocket uses his discreet skills to give back to people in the community. At optimal times for pick pocketing, he instead inserts money into their pockets and bags. Everyone he put pockets is pleasantly surprised, and when interviewed make the comment that they never noticed him behind them.
This new put pocketing makes me optimistic that people can change for the better. If the former criminal decided to change his ways and instead give money, can't everyone change? People can turn away from the negative things they have done, and even if they can not be reversed, they can at least give back. There is no way the former pick pocket could return money to everyone he stole from, but he was committed to give some money back. He had a great change in himself.
Here is the complete video of the Talk Talk story.
... the end will be sweet
It is official. Birthday season is over. This not only means a decrease in the amount of cake and various desserts around my house but also a change in festivities.
From August 26th to October 5th we have three birthdays in my house. The first is my mother's, the second (and most important) is mine on September 28th and the last is my dad's, falling exactly one week later. This time of year marks exceptional desserts and cheerfulness. With my mom's birthday there is always a fantastic cake and dinner (she makes them extra good considering she is honoring herself). This year it was a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Delicious. For my birthday it was a strawberry cake, and my dad had an angel food cake with lemon frosting (not all that delicious). But now, as the happy birthday balloons are deflating and the leftovers are dwindling, the mood is changing.
No, not for Halloween, but for championship season. Maybe one of the most stressful times of the year. The big swim meets are coming up. Three weeks from yesterday is the regional meet, and perhaps the most nerve-wracking meet of them all. This is the meet where the state qualifiers are decided. Everyone in the top 24 people in each event gets a spot at the meet. You would think "That's not that hard, it's a lot of people," but you are wrong. Qualifying for state is real tough.
My freshmen year I was fortunate to have qualified in one race, the 100 yard backstroke. I was the twentieth qualifier, and had I gone three tenths of a second slower I would not have made the cut at all. Last year was more successful. I qualified in the 100 yard backstroke and the 100 yard butterfly along with two relays, the 200 yard medley and the 400 yard freestyle. However, this year things are different. There are a lot of fast backstrokers, which makes the qualifying time much faster and the competition fiercer. The race I have always seemed to pull out for state is in question.
The stress is not overwhelming me though. I have an almost sure spot on the state team. Our medley relay is super fast and basically as long as we do not get disqualified at the regional meet we will get to go to state. The only thing is, it is kind of a disappointment. I realize people would kill for one spot at state, but since I went in four events last year it would be kind of upsetting to do less. Not that some great swimmers have not missed qualifying times before. One swimmer at our rival high school qualified in the 100 back as a freshmen and sophomore but not again until she was a senior.
But there is still hope. I always drop a lot of time at regionals, and sometimes other people do not. This means the time slows down a little bit. So I can qualify, it just might be difficult.
No matter how you look at it, swim season is almost over. This, after all the grueling practices, makes me happy. There is only one more week of our regular two-a-days until we start the fantastic taper. One practice a day, and an easy one at that. We are resting so we can be flying for the meets at the end of the season. And I am okay with that. Frankly, I could use some rest. And after taper, swimming is over! I am sure everyone on the team is looking forward to their first day of freedom as much as they look forward to Christmas. So I am optimistic that after all the hard work, when the end comes it is going to pay off. And then I will have some well deserved rest.
From August 26th to October 5th we have three birthdays in my house. The first is my mother's, the second (and most important) is mine on September 28th and the last is my dad's, falling exactly one week later. This time of year marks exceptional desserts and cheerfulness. With my mom's birthday there is always a fantastic cake and dinner (she makes them extra good considering she is honoring herself). This year it was a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Delicious. For my birthday it was a strawberry cake, and my dad had an angel food cake with lemon frosting (not all that delicious). But now, as the happy birthday balloons are deflating and the leftovers are dwindling, the mood is changing.
No, not for Halloween, but for championship season. Maybe one of the most stressful times of the year. The big swim meets are coming up. Three weeks from yesterday is the regional meet, and perhaps the most nerve-wracking meet of them all. This is the meet where the state qualifiers are decided. Everyone in the top 24 people in each event gets a spot at the meet. You would think "That's not that hard, it's a lot of people," but you are wrong. Qualifying for state is real tough.
My freshmen year I was fortunate to have qualified in one race, the 100 yard backstroke. I was the twentieth qualifier, and had I gone three tenths of a second slower I would not have made the cut at all. Last year was more successful. I qualified in the 100 yard backstroke and the 100 yard butterfly along with two relays, the 200 yard medley and the 400 yard freestyle. However, this year things are different. There are a lot of fast backstrokers, which makes the qualifying time much faster and the competition fiercer. The race I have always seemed to pull out for state is in question.
The stress is not overwhelming me though. I have an almost sure spot on the state team. Our medley relay is super fast and basically as long as we do not get disqualified at the regional meet we will get to go to state. The only thing is, it is kind of a disappointment. I realize people would kill for one spot at state, but since I went in four events last year it would be kind of upsetting to do less. Not that some great swimmers have not missed qualifying times before. One swimmer at our rival high school qualified in the 100 back as a freshmen and sophomore but not again until she was a senior.
But there is still hope. I always drop a lot of time at regionals, and sometimes other people do not. This means the time slows down a little bit. So I can qualify, it just might be difficult.
No matter how you look at it, swim season is almost over. This, after all the grueling practices, makes me happy. There is only one more week of our regular two-a-days until we start the fantastic taper. One practice a day, and an easy one at that. We are resting so we can be flying for the meets at the end of the season. And I am okay with that. Frankly, I could use some rest. And after taper, swimming is over! I am sure everyone on the team is looking forward to their first day of freedom as much as they look forward to Christmas. So I am optimistic that after all the hard work, when the end comes it is going to pay off. And then I will have some well deserved rest.
... smiles are worth something
Recently SapientNitro and Unilever have created a new kind of vending machine, a smile-activated ice cream vending machine. Optimist World reports "The technology behind it is sophisticated, but the concept is simple: consumers walk up to the machine, smile and are rewarded with a frozen treat... Using facial recognition technology, it can recognize a person's age, gender and emotion, a measure their smile using a 'smile-o-meter'. If their grin is wide enough they get free ice cream. Users can also opt to have a picture of their happy self uploaded to Facebook, which ties in perfectly with Unilever's brand message: 'share happy'."
What does this ice cream machine mean for people? Smiling and being happy are finally getting rewarded. I think this idea is not only revolutionary but spectacular. The machine gets groups of strangers to stand around and smile together in busy places where this is usually unheard of. New York City has a reputation for having some of the coldest residents, but when smile-activated ice cream is in the mix, the people are all friendly smiles. SapientNitro and Unilever are increasing smiles.
Smiling has benefits of its own. Psychological studies show that simply by smiling and activating the facial muscles used in a smile will make you feel happier. If you put a pen between your teeth and do not let your lips touch you are activating the same muscles. Try it. This will also lead to a better mood. The free ice cream only adds to these benefits. Anyone offered a free frozen treat (unless they are lactose intolerant) will feel an automatic sense of happiness. So these machines are making the world happier one smile-filled ice cream treat at a time.
But, perhaps what sticks out to me most about these machines is the obvious lack of profit they are producing. SapientNitro and Unilever are not getting paid for these smiles. In fact, they must be loosing money. The machines have quite a bit of revolutionary technology behind them that certainly was not free to develop, and the scientists' labor had to have cost something. Not to mention the ice cream that is inside the machines. But wherever the funds are coming from, the idea is fantastic.
These smile-activated ice cream machines make me optimistic. In a world where everything seems to be about money and profit and stepping on the other corporations something is different. SapientNitro and Unilever are changing the game. Instead of demanding money and profit, they are demanding smiles and happiness. SapientNitro and Unilever's policies make me optimistic that smiles are worth something. And what is better than a currency of happiness?
Read the full article from Optimist World here.
What does this ice cream machine mean for people? Smiling and being happy are finally getting rewarded. I think this idea is not only revolutionary but spectacular. The machine gets groups of strangers to stand around and smile together in busy places where this is usually unheard of. New York City has a reputation for having some of the coldest residents, but when smile-activated ice cream is in the mix, the people are all friendly smiles. SapientNitro and Unilever are increasing smiles.
Smiling has benefits of its own. Psychological studies show that simply by smiling and activating the facial muscles used in a smile will make you feel happier. If you put a pen between your teeth and do not let your lips touch you are activating the same muscles. Try it. This will also lead to a better mood. The free ice cream only adds to these benefits. Anyone offered a free frozen treat (unless they are lactose intolerant) will feel an automatic sense of happiness. So these machines are making the world happier one smile-filled ice cream treat at a time.
But, perhaps what sticks out to me most about these machines is the obvious lack of profit they are producing. SapientNitro and Unilever are not getting paid for these smiles. In fact, they must be loosing money. The machines have quite a bit of revolutionary technology behind them that certainly was not free to develop, and the scientists' labor had to have cost something. Not to mention the ice cream that is inside the machines. But wherever the funds are coming from, the idea is fantastic.
These smile-activated ice cream machines make me optimistic. In a world where everything seems to be about money and profit and stepping on the other corporations something is different. SapientNitro and Unilever are changing the game. Instead of demanding money and profit, they are demanding smiles and happiness. SapientNitro and Unilever's policies make me optimistic that smiles are worth something. And what is better than a currency of happiness?
Read the full article from Optimist World here.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
... questions will do the most good
In John Brockman's book What Are You Optimistic About? the entries range from a single sentence to three or four pages. When reading I usually skip the longer ones looking for a shorter, better passage. And I think I've found one. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, psychologist and director of the Quality of Life Research Center, answered the question simply. He says "I am optimistic for the simple reason that given the incredible odds against the existence of entities that can ask such questions, of laptops on which to answer them, and so on - here we are, asking and answering!"
I guess one thing I like about his response is that it ends in an exclamation point, which always seems to add optimism to a statement. Also, it's only one sentence long. Obviously it's easier for me to interpret and make sense of his response. But the main appeal is that Mihaly's response, similar to that of Nicholas Humphrey's, is simple, yet still incredibly optimistic.
Csikszentmihalyi is optimistic simply because people can ask questions and through communication such as the internet, they can be answered. So as people continue to ask questions and learn the answers we continue to learn. He is optimistic because people even exist with the capability to want to learn and know.
And I am too. What if people couldn't ask and find answers? Where would we be? Probably no where. The cavemen would have seen fire and never thought to ask "What is that and how do I make it?". And the progression of humans would have stopped. Language wouldn't exist and technology would be unheard of. So I'm optimistic that questions will continue to further our knowledge. I'm optimistic that questions will do the most good.
I guess one thing I like about his response is that it ends in an exclamation point, which always seems to add optimism to a statement. Also, it's only one sentence long. Obviously it's easier for me to interpret and make sense of his response. But the main appeal is that Mihaly's response, similar to that of Nicholas Humphrey's, is simple, yet still incredibly optimistic.
Csikszentmihalyi is optimistic simply because people can ask questions and through communication such as the internet, they can be answered. So as people continue to ask questions and learn the answers we continue to learn. He is optimistic because people even exist with the capability to want to learn and know.
And I am too. What if people couldn't ask and find answers? Where would we be? Probably no where. The cavemen would have seen fire and never thought to ask "What is that and how do I make it?". And the progression of humans would have stopped. Language wouldn't exist and technology would be unheard of. So I'm optimistic that questions will continue to further our knowledge. I'm optimistic that questions will do the most good.
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