In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?

In 5 years I think I probably will remember today, yesterday, and the day before. These are times to be remembered. My university's faculty have begun a strike due to unsuccessful negotiations with the administration. It has certainly been an interesting time. Watching how others react to the situation has been like a case study. I'd like to think that I will be able to learn some sort of lesson from the current status here on campus. I will have to wait and see what lesson that will be.

If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Learn something new everyday.

What areas of my life am I short-changing?

This question strikes a cord with me because I feel like I (like most others in my age range) overextend myself. Even more than that, others expect that we overextend ourselves. There are things that I let go of simply because I don't have the energy to do them. My apartment, that I've sat in for most of the day today, is a disaster. It did not become this way without my knowing, I have just put it off because there are more pressing matters in my life. I'll get to it eventually (before Monday because staff training begins and people will be coming here). I also have tons of half-read books because I move on to new ones when I become bored.

I sacrifice "me time" every week day.
I neglect homework on a regular basis.
I have week old dishes in the sink.

I let things go. Period. In these busy times of constantly juggling, it feels impossible to keep all of the balls in the air.

The thing that I most dislike short-changing are my friendships that are not "tangible" (read those with people not in a 20-minute circumference of myself). I feel guilty every time I see a missed call from one of my friends and even family members that I don't see often. Unfortunately, I just don't always make the time. I need to stop making excuses, be there, be present for everyone that's important.

I'd also like to think that I'm not alone in this. A question to everyone (myself included):

When do you realize your mistake and give back the change?

Purpose

I decided to jump on the blog bandwagon. Rather than just writing about my day-to-day life (though inevitably it will surface throughout) I wanted there to be a purpose or guide to my blogs. So I will structure my blogs based on a prompt that I find somewhere, whether a prompt list, something I have read, something someone else poses, or from some other sort. If you are reading this, please bare with me that it may not be that exciting.

First Prompt: "What 5 things do you want to do on your next birthday?"

I have almost 4 months until my next birthday. If I had to choose what I would be doing then now, I would have to say I would love to be home at Nana & Papa's house sitting at the long table with my cousins. We would have Pumpkin Pie instead of cake (that's what happens for Turkey Day babies) and we wouldn't be able to fit the candles on this year. However, living in Michigan now, that probably won't happen.

Instead I'd like to:

1. Spend time reflecting by myself in the morning. Probably with coffee in my bed.
2. Set some goals for the year. Being on Thanksgiving Day, I can reflect on the good things that happened this year and where I'd like to be by my next birthday.
3. Have a physical connection with someone else. Be it family or a total stranger, physical connection is important.
4. Buy myself a new book.
5. Cuddle up with a blanket, a glass of wine, and maybe a friend and watch a good movie.