The Little Things

     The holidays have me thinking that sometimes it really is the simple things that really matter the most. 
Bonfires. Old Friends. Family traditions. Fresh Coffee. Rainy days. 
     When my family gets together for the Thanksgiving holidays we always share something that we have been most thankful for the past year. I shared that I was thankful for supportive parents in college, when so many of my friends have predestined plans that their parents have for them. My parents have guided me in the right step but also not forgotten to enjoy the simple things.

Anyways, that’s what got me thinking about a few of my favorite simple memories.

     I was six years old and all my way older and cooler cousins had mastered the iconic Charlie Brown skiis before me. This was my third attempt to get up and I was getting quite discouraged. My last try had my little body getting dragged underwater as I refused to get let go of the rope. Swimming back again to the handlebars, I heard my cousin yell “Stand up Margaret! C'mon! You just have to stand up!” My uncle hit the boat motor and we were off and once I found my feet on the water I focused and hit the correct skiing position. Suddenly I was really up on the waves - and I sure felt like I was on top of the world! I’ll never forget that feeling as my whole family had turned around and was whooping and hollering and passing out high fives because of me!

     One of my other favorite memories was when I bought my first coffee maker. Growing up, parents were fearful of coffee, thinking it to be a toxic and chemically off-balence addicitve. They have also never tried a Starbucks hazenlut latte or any brewed beverage in their 50 years. So I don't put it too far past them. Anyways, when I went off to college, the first stop I made after moving in was to purchase my very own Kurig coffee maker. I was finally able to become the coffee connoisseur I had dreamed of becoming - that first cup of coffee couldn’t have tasted better! Now, a cup of freshly brewed light roast coffee is truly one of the simple day to to day matters that still makes me smile. 

     

Check this happy website for more simple wonders.   http://justlittlethings.net/page/7

    

Multitasking Media Mayhem

Upon watching a video of ongoing research on students who believe the can multitask with all their electronics, I really began to question how often I do the same. I realized that I literally cannot sit still and must have constant access to my phone, the computer or the television at some point in the day. When I recorded the hours one day as a semi-experiment I realized this further. In one 24 hour day I spent around six hours exposed to the media. Some days were longer and some days were shorter but that was around the average. I realized I am trying to multitask my electronics. On the certain day I monitored my media use, I would be typing a paper on the computer but keeping my iPhone right next to me in order to check constantly. Then later on into the evening I would watch TV, while trying to read a book or study for an exam. But the worst was the instant access to Facebook, Twitter and other entertaining websites that easily toke over my homework and study time. I was on Facebook constantly. I often get on Facebook the most and spend an hour easily, afterward forgetting why I opened my computer in the first place. Interestingly enough, this social website blocks true social skills as it prevents me from communicating and interacting with other people throughout the day. Therefore this media isolates me from me and I am usually using media alone. Given the expanse of the Internet, there is so many more valuable website I could be visiting and learning from instead of email and Facebook. Facebook provides a great way to share pictures and friends but the constant use of my time on it shows that I am addicted to being updated to minute matters. Honestly, the results of this log didn't surprise me because I knew that I was attached to the media in multiple forms. Just walking around my eyes are instantly drawn to newspaper and magazines being sold or to large billboard advertisements overhead. The majority of my thought process spring forth from the media I see around me and I am wrapped up in the latest ideas. I believe that media is accomplishing some great advances but in order to fully enjoy it we need to take steps back and balance the intake of the necessary and the unnecessary.