My favorite part of blogging is seeing everyone's pictures, so that's why I add random pictures when I don't have a relevant one.
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I consider my life to be very comfortable. There's really nothing I HAVE to do. My kids know how to make their own food, and I don't really have to leave the house if I don't want to.
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So I've been trying to branch out a little, try some new things, and say yes to opportunities that come my way.
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The first thing I did, was to try and find a new homeschool group. Since leaving religion, it's been hard for me to find a community. I also have been trying to find a non-christian oriented group. No offense to anyone, but I'd like my kids to meet other kids who believe like we do, so they don't feel so foreign. So I searched the internet for a secular group, and found four or five. I was really encouraged by my findings and decide to start visiting groups. The first few groups were really weird, I just didn't feel comfortable and couldn't relate to their lifestyles. Or they were really odd and unwelcoming. I was ready to give up, but then decided to finish out my list. My last group turned out to be a good one. All the women were so kind, and tried hard to include us. I'm so grateful to have found such a group and I look forward to getting to know these people over the next year.
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The next thing that happened, was that I had a conversation with Vic about how I've always wanted to take swimming lessons, but felt like a dork. Seriously, the next day, my neighbor was holding a schedule to the local pool and said, I was thinking about taking a swimming lesson, but it's cheaper if you find someone to do it with you. So I went out on a limb and said I'd try. We put it off for weeks, until finally she made the appointment. I was so anxious, I kept thinking of how I could back out of it. But I went... and I had so much fun. It was really hard, but I learned a lot and was proud of myself for even trying.
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The last thing I have scheduled, is I signed up to take a class from H&R Block to learn more about taxes. I have looked at this class for the last two years, and have put it off because it requires me to leave the house and meet new people. So I just signed up and will start in two weeks.
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Wish me luck and go try something new!
17 comments:
GOOD for you! I am proud of you for taking swimming lessons! I have taught a couple of adults before, and I have really enjoyed those classes. Because they actually listen. It was kind of like when I taught Taryn, she just worked and worked and I never had to ask her to be good or to pay attention.
I also want to take class on taxes let me know how it went, and good luck!
Good for you. I have a hard time introducing new things into my life. I've been trying to be more like that and say yes when people want to do things. I don't have time anymore so i'm in a safe place.
That's rad. It's really hard to start stretching your life when you've found such a comfortable place. You get stiff. I've been trying to branch out more and more this last year too. When people invite me to local music shows, or to go on a 3 hour airsoft gun tactical skrimmage or what have you, I've done my very best to say yes. And then not flake out. Which is very difficult for me not to do.
But it's satisfying, isn't it? So very satisfying.
Does that H&R Block class cost much?
Oh and two more things that I meant to mention:
The first: That picture of you is mighty nice. Very Cover Girl.... I could also see it as a Human Papilloma Virus magazine ad too. "One Less" it would say.
The second: I'm suspicious of H&R Block classes because it seems like it could be turned into a 4 hour sales pitch for their special programs. I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it.
Don't you love Kyle? But you would make a great one less STD model... I think you're awesome for doing that stuff. I'm trying to do the same, hence water aerobics and dance. And when old friends call I am trying to call them back and not just ignore them...
Okay. First off, I agree with everyone else in that you trying new things is very impressive, as at this point in my life I've been living like a shut-in...and enjoying it. I feel like maybe it's wrong, but it just seems so right. So I struggle with my inner-demons. Secondly, I don't think that I would ever sign up for a class that would teach me how to do my own taxes. It would be like my own private hell, and I hope that Wendy never, ever decides that I'm an adult and I should learn how to do it, myself. Third, I'm interested to know what your secular group is like. Way interested. Not in a snooty, looking down on you way, for sure, but I get really fed up with a lot of things here--a lot of people, I should say. And it always perks my interest when I remember that there are OTHERS out there. Living away from the "home land". It's sad that sometimes I yearn for Wyoming, just because of that. Anyway, I'm proud of you. I'm also greatly surprised, and I hope that's not offensive in any way, I just never saw it coming, and I envy how you've gone beyond everyone else and done what's good for you. I'm trying a similar mindset...but you know, babysteps and all that. :)
Oh, and I also agree that that's a really great picture.
First, that picture was taken by Vic while we were dating, before kids, before major depressions, and before fat and sagging. That's why I love it too.
Second, a secular group just means that we are homeschooling for reasons other than religion. It means you're there to talk about regular stuff, not to talk about how much you love Jesus or how you used the bible in your lessons. I haven't gotten to know the women well enough to know what they're religious beliefs are yet, but it's a ground rule that you're not there to evangelize. It's a relief for me to get away from that, as I'm just learning how to be brave enough to say, I don't really believe that.
Third, I can't tell you how much I love doing my taxes, because you'll think I'm a geek. I look forward to it every year and I start gathering my paper work in December so I can get started the second I get the W-2 in the mail. It's my favorite time of year.
Also, Rain, why are you so surprised? What does that mean?
Surprised--I guess because I've been with Jeff for so long, and change for him, is such a daunting thing. I've gotten used to him dreading anything new, and maybe that's rubbed off on me? He'll only do it if it's absolutely necessary...and then he'll hate it and slowly come to appreciate it. I guess the idea that you're just out there, looking for change, surprises me. Not because of you, really, I guess because of Jeff. It was an unfair statement, I realize, because a lot of the time, I group all Anderson kids together, because there are a lot of similarities. Also, a lot of differences. So, as I said before, no offense, I was just surprised because of my own limited thinking.
As far as my statement on secular ways of thinking, I guess sometimes I forget that there are people out there that don't NOTICE whether or not you have a garment line. Or if you swear, even a little one, look at you like, "Now, you know that's not right", or worry that someone is judging you because it's Sunday, and you need milk, and Wal-mart is practically your backyard. I just really miss the Gospel as being a major part of MY way of thinking, and a part of MY life. Not being pushed upon me daily, whenever and wherever I am. I sometimes feel like asking people if they have THEIR own opinion, instead of what brother or sister so and so says. As you can tell, I'm having issues at the moment. Not with stuff that's important to me, but with people just expecting to feel and respond to what they are saying the way they think I should.
Anyway, I hope that last part wasn't too preachy or pushy in my ways of belief and thinking...it's just sometimes I wish I could feel like I could say, "I don't know if I really believe that,", as well.
Yes, that's a tough environment to live in, which is why I don't live there. I wish it were different.
If I lived in Colonial times and had a cane I would be heartily stomping it on the ground in agreement with Rainey and Keri! (We've been watching the john adams miniseries and they do that a lot.)
I have yet to feel that way about this place.
Again, I am the last to comment. I don't know how I miss the new posts. I check them almost daily!
About the picture. You look pretty in it. But I like the current pictures of you better. They show the wisdom and woman-ness you have gained and I think that is beautiful.
About the new things. I have a lot to say about that and will probably have to write a blog about it.
About the religous thing. It's interesting to me that religion is such a community thing. I think it's important to share spirituality with others and that bond is helpful. Yet organized religion seems to have caused 90% of all the evil on this planet. Wars and hate and judgement and all of that. I wonder if it's time it became more personal and less community.
We just had a lesson on YW about this. Trying to teach the girls that it is very important to be involved with the community and not just the "Ward" Community. The sister teaching it did a great job, a lesson I would have dreaded teaching just because of the area we live in. There were a lot of suggestions about ways we can do things to help those outside our religion that I decided I was going to start taking on. I have also been brave and introduced myself to my new neighbor, who told me all about her hatred for young married mormons (unaware that I was one :) I just smiled and visited with her. But that is one of my new things I guess you could say. I don't think I mean to stay involved in only my ward and church, but it is hard when you serve in your church. It takes a lot if not all your free time. I really like that idea where religion is separated completely from the home school group, I think it is a great way for people to not segregate themselves from each other. It is hard, we all like being around people like us, I think its human nature, but I wish I lived in place where I was the one who felt segregated, just so I could gain more compassion.
oh man i hate trying new things, but 9 times out of 10 you're glad you did it. Way to be brave, that to me is the biggest kind of bravery there is, trying new things and following through with them!
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