dianabrunson.com

Perception of Time

“It’s a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up”. ~J.K. Rowling, “The Hungarian Horntail,” Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2000

The older I get, the faster the time seems to go. You know that saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun”? It’s because when we are enjoying ourselves, we are less likely to check the time. It’s like when we are involved in our creative pursuits (writing, painting, drawing, etc.), we are in the flow. When we are in that flow, there is no sense of time. Time doesn’t exist for us.

I’ve always thought the word “fun” should be replaced with the word, “busy”. Because from my own experiences I’m not always “having fun” when it seems like the time is going fast. Cleaning, for instance.

Isn’t it funny how when we’re kids, we can’t wait to grow up and then when we’re adults, we (well some of us – not me) wish we were kids again? Or we just wish that time would slow down. And yet, the fact is, the time is going at the same rate as it always has (or is it?) It’s our perception that sees otherwise. When we are bored the time seems to go at a snail’s pace and when we’re busy time seems to fly.

I noticed this perception of time within myself when I was 25 years old. Before I knew it I was turning 30. And then 40. I’m now 45 and getting closer and closer to 46. And now I’m a grandmother. This month I was blessed with my second grandchld. Her father is 25. I’m still trying to grasp a hold of the fact that I have two adult children. I think it’s time to accept it.

Who forces time is pushed back by time; who yields to time finds time on his side. ~The Talmud

My 16 year old daughter turns 17 in October. My baby sister’s birthday is on Halloween. She’s almost 40. Summer only began a month ago and since the time seems to be going so quickly for me, my thoughts are that it’s almost time to look for halloween costumes or for making them and for seeing halloween candy (they start so early anyway) in the stores and for sending out Halloween invitations.

You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by; but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by. ~James Matthew Barrie

On those days that seem to drag on, maybe we need to change our mindset and find a nugget in that time to be joyful about. Not so that the time will fly by, but so that maybe we can maybe actually notice what’s going on around us when we’re not in the flow and find something good rather than complain about what we experiencing during slow periods.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ~Gandalf~

Review: The University of Scranton

“Don’t go to Harvard, but to the business school at The University of Scranton. That’s where they are changing lives.”

The Late Peter F. Drucker,
The “father of modern management”
Los Angeles Times, Nov. 5, 2005

That’s what is at the top of the page about The University of Scranton’s national recognition. From what I’ve read about it, I don’t doubt this huge compliment. This is why, although I have never been a student, I feel honored to have been asked to write this review.

This 119 year old private Catholic and Jesuit institution allows for a student to receive an MBA, which is the only top ranked AACSB accredited program to be available completely online.

The online MBA program is the same as the University of Scranton’s program offered on campus and can be completed in two years. Most AACSB programs take three years to complete.

There are many online schools that can be beneficial to anyone and especially to those who wish to continue their education, but don’t have the time to physically attend college.

With an internet connection, students have access to their coursework and can also communicate with other students through forums and virtual meetings. They can also email professors and contact them through online forums.

This is a university that has provided a higher education for notable people such as Kalanidhi Maran, founder and chairman of Sun Network and the richest men in India. And also the actor who played Father Damien in The Exorcist and The Exorcist III.

There is a lot more information on their web site and links to their other web site where you can learn about each building that has been either newly built or renevated since 1984. Also, read about their extensive academic library and the technology which connects students and faculty to each other on campus as well as around the world.

Ebbs, Flows, and Synchronicities

I need to stop allowing myself to get so distracted. And when I have something to write about, I need to just get it done. I love to write, so why don’t I write more? Because I pay too much attention to the inner critic, that’s why. This is why I am just now getting it done.

I love when my synchronicities are connected with others. This happens a lot with me. Very soon after I wrote this blog post about the beach, I found that I had a new follower on Twitter. Jayson is from Hawaii and he talks about the beach on his blog. No surprise there.

This was his most recent tweet when I first visited his twitter page:

“I have an honest confession for you…I had an accident in my pants yesterday and want to hear your thoughts…http://bit.ly/12wc5X.”

Gross. I wasn’t sure if I should click the link or not, but then I read some more of his tweets and learned that he was doing a Master Cleanse. Although I was still unsure, I clicked the link. I could always close the window if I didn’t like what I saw, right?. I’m glad I clicked it.

I couldn’t watch the video (Flash problems) which is probably a good thing. But I love what I’ve been reading on his blog. Very inspirational. Just what this soul wants.

Then, on Saturday, a few minutes after turning on the television late in the morning, there was a show on about surfing. I think they were in Bali. Watching the waves as the surfers rode them reminded me of the ebb and flow of life.

Which do you do? Ride the wave of life or push against it? ~sigh~ For me it depends on how focused I am. The more focused the better the flow, the less struggle.

Imagining the Beach

I was thinking about the beach the other day. Like I often do. Imagining myself being right there so close to the ocean and can smell it, feel it and hear it. Me. Sinking my toes in the sand. Or sitting on the sand quietly listening to all the sounds. Right now I can only imagine. But imagination is the first step of being there.

When I think like this, I begin having synchronicities. It only takes one thought for it to begin. Now I keep seeing shows on tv that show the beach. New shows. Old shows. Doesn’t matter. It might because it’s summer. But some shows are about Christmas. I always wonder why they air them at this time of year. Is it supposed to help us to think of something cold to cool us off? I’d rather not have that kind of help.

I don’t like extremely hot weather, but I never get anxious for winter to come. The perfect weather in which it wouldn’t be too hot or too cold would be between 75 and 80 degrees. No more snow? I think I could handle that. Maybe California.

If I ever decide to do that, and when I think about the beach, it does come to mind, I should probably look into some moving companies Los Angeles has to offer. But first I should imagine it has already happened. That’s the LOA way. So the ‘experts’ say. I don’t want to repeat what others keep saying unless I have experienced it myself. Which I have.

Right now I don’t know where I would like to go. All I know right now, is I want to live somewhere near the ocean. But not so close that I need to worry about hurricanes. So, how do we do that? How do we imagine having what we want without worrying? How do you do it? I’ll share my thoughts about that later.

The Joke of a Diamond Ring

No woman needs a significant other to buy her a diamond ring. It’s perfectly OK to buy one for yourself. For no other reason than for the brilliance you’ll be wearing on your finger. Or simply because you are special.

I used to have a diamond ring. It was so pretty. Simple. Not too big. Not to small. It was perfect. I didn’t need anything fancy. I didn’t even need the ring. My 22 year old daughter’s father bought it for me on Valentine’s Day many years ago. Funny. I don’t even remember the year now. It doesn’t matter any more.

If I had been aware that we could check to make sure the diamonds we were looking at were certified diamonds, I would have asked, but if it cost more than what he spent, he would have commented on the price and I would have told him I didn’t want it (whether I did or not).

I don’t even know why he bought the ring for me in the first place. He suggested that I wear it on my right hand and consider it a promise ring and then if we decided to get engaged, I’d wear it on my left hand. I had no problem with that. I thought it was sweet that he wanted to buy it for me in the first place.

What a joke.

Years later I found out from my daughter that he was already married but she said that he didn’t think it mattered because his wife was in Vietnam where he is from.

Diamonds are beautiful. They are considered to be a symbol of love, a “girl’s best friend”. And depending on your perspective and how much importance you put on them, they can be. But in this case, it was a joke and the joke was on me. He later asked for the ring back saying that it was an engagement ring and that he never called it a promise ring.

I wonder if he wanted to give it to his wife or if he wanted to pawn it. Too bad. It was stolen and the reason that bothered me at the time was because I liked to wear it as an engagement ring to keep guys from hitting on me when I went to the bar. It worked most of the time. Some guys either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

Now the ring would just be a reminder of a love that never existed and since I don’t go out, that reason is gone. If it wouldn’t have been stolen, I probably would’ve ended up pawning it myself.

It’s not important anymore, though. I’m glad those days are over. I’m also glad to know that not all men are like him and that there are a lot of good men out there. Not that I’m looking for one.:)

Why I Love Twitter

Do you know what Twitter is? It’s more than just letting friends, family, and co-workers know what you are doing. For me it’s where I get inspired and an uplift on a down day. It’s getting to know little bits about someone from the other side of the world or just across the state line.

I wasn’t that interested in signing up, but now that I have (at the request of a company I work for), I’m glad I did. I love Twitter. Since I follow a lot of inspirational people, when I’m feeling down, it’s where I like to go to help me feel better. I know that there are other ways to get uplifeted, but this way is fun. And I don’t read, I usually retweet (tweet what others have tweeted) what inspires me and resonates with me at the moment.

Now there’s a new place for those who love Twitter, but who are too busy or just can’t keep up with all of the tweets. After all, there are some who send tweet after tweet and that can dominate your Twitter page, pushing other tweets right off into anothr realm.

Twitter For Busy People makes reading tweets a lot easier. It’s a great way to keep up with those you follow. You don’t have to sign up. Just enter your Twitter username and it’ll show you those you follow up to 500.