Things.

Every now and then you get a sign that you did the right thing.

Everything is going to be alright.

I made my bed and I slept in it, I'm better for it.

Essentially it boils down to:

1. I love the life I'm currently living.

2. I cut and kept people in my life. Those who are still in it add so much to it and are fabulous. Those who aren't were draining, I can't have that anymore, I won't deal with it again.

3. I know who Jordan is and I embrace it, maybe even love it a little. For better or worse, I cannot change, I can grow as a person but I cannot change who I am.

cheers.

Jordan

Today, in Religious Ethics, the professor said something both profound and common sensical. We were discussing how one needs to observe religions from an academic standpoint as if you were both a member and an outsider.

"I cannot place my own expectations on others because I do not understand their context. We need to look at others from their context and then decide what is moral and ethical in their context."

After he said this it honestly made me stop and think. I've never had that happen in a class before (mostly due to the fact that science classes are very black and white). The statement above is so true, how can we place our own expectations, values, and beliefs on others when we have not taken the time to "put ourselves in their shoes." Maybe the key to understanding others is to not look at their actions and judge them because we would or wouldn't do it but rather try to see from their context and understand why they are doing the certain action. I guess the gist of what we talked about today was that one can find clarity in understanding or at the very least being open to something new and gaining a new perspective from the experience.

The example used in class today is extreme but I think it illustrates the point : People in Aztec religions would fight over who would get to be sacrificed because it was the highest religious honor one could attain. If we look at this from a Christian background with Christian expectations, morals, and ethics this seems savage and it is hard to comprehend. However, if we are willing to try to put ourselves in the context of Aztec society and religion we may be able to understand with more clarity the morals and ethics of the sitation.

I think I am going to try this approach in everyday life. Just something to think about.

lovelove.

Jordan

Blaire Says: Moving into College.

Twas the day of move in and the clock the clock struck 11 a.m. A pair of frantic parents sped down 95 in hopes of reaching our destination by 12:15 p.m. Typically, traveling in a car of Virden’s we are two hours late… but Mike drove just like his nick name, and we “smoothly” arrived only thirty minutes late. Mounds of anything you’d want need or couldn’t imagine you’d ever need were piled outside of my coastal Carolina housing area. Mike (the pack mule for the day) ventured up three flights of stairs having more than he could carry. When he came back down stairs a sarcastic grin stretched across his tried face. He leaned in my ear and said your roommate got switched. Before arriving I had been the butt of all jokes seeing as the room mate I’d anticipated on was … well opposite of me. I’ll leave it at that.

I skipped the stair master part and walked my ass to the elevators, not knowing what to expect. A New York happy Italian family welcomed me. My roommate is a former cheerleader too. She was a real cheerleader capable of doing back handsprings not like a Centennial cheerleader who does face plants. We squished all our stuff in bundles of bins and baskets. After complaining after four years of rising to the top only to re-get shit on with that lovely small freshmen housing. As my dad begin shifting things and setting up stuff my mom played Martha Stewart for a few hours. I on the other hand could not stop starring at my open door. This door I would soon realize was something more than just our hallway entrance. It was weird somehow lights lit up on both sides of the rug and raging techno super pop beats began to play. It was like a runway and it also was when I happened to see our neighbors on the other side of the hall. They were meaty and smelled delicious. They also happened to be the freshmen boys. Shortly after setting up Gabby and I had to go to a meeting for “welcome week”.

This week was an exclusive invite. You had to meet all the requirements to be apart of it:

1. Must be clueless as to where you will be attending classes for the next three months.

2. You must be a little awkwardly shy and the babies of the group.

3. Anyone you talk to will be a complete stranger (sorry mom).

As you can tell it was pretty much v.i.p. for all the really cool kids on campus. But anyways when we arrived in the auditorium we were quickly notified of Coastal code of bullshit, I mean conduct. We came back to our dorms and I realized how adorable my mother made my room. Our floor was full of friendly freshmen running around walking into everyone’s new dorms. I extolled a sigh of relief seeing how open everyone was to getting to know new people. I learned a lot of new things. One being a new numbing cream you can use when practicing the art of giving self-inflected piercings. (Sorry mom) Also all these different types of food I can gain my freshmen 15 with.

We then went out. Chaos ensued. This is just the first night of many other new interesting indeviours.

A scientific inquiry of sorts.

*This is all very, very scientific.

Making out: to the Americans.

To the French: French Kissing. To the Canadians: Tonsil Hockey(Eh?). To the British: Snogging.We've all seen it, maybe while watching a movie or perhaps maybe while "watching" a movie. What is it about this coming of age right of passage that makes people so uncomfortable/ awkward/ nervous? Could it be the intense build up of all the years of watching gooey romance movies or listening to overly sappy love songs (I'm about about you Buble and Celine). Maybe you forgot your Chapstick (how dreadful) or the worst, you have absolutely no idea what you're doing.

Romantic movies and songs have made making out to be the end all be all moment where you will most definitely know if that girl/guy you just met at the grocery store / dark alley / coffee shop is your soul mate. False. I was listening to the radio the other day and I hear Miranda Cosgrove's- Kissing U (really U.) and if you listen to the words it just all sounds so ridiculous. Do I think you can be attracted to someone you just met? Yes. Can you fall madly in love with them, negative. Remember this one thing will not cement your future happiness.

Chapstick, some would say it is so necessary. The Chapstick industries success over the years and through the economic downfall can best be attributed to those keen young people who know that the very worst situation is when your special someone moves in for the kill and your lips are desert storm. Tragic. Next time, calm down, relax, and remember to apply that cherry/ vanilla/ tutti frutti Chapstick you just sniped from CVS generously.

Finally, what if you have no idea what you're doing. It's like a there's a war going on in there and you're losing. Badly. Thanks to the world wide web (and to Al Gore for inventing it, haha.) there is a plethora of information out there! Just typing in "how to" in Google will reveal kissing or making out to be a top choice. If you are looking for more of a visual, You tube has videos for days. Maybe you need a play by play, if this is the case http://www.howdoyoumakeout.com/ is probably your best bet. Study hard, maybe print/ laminate / highlight all your notes or hide these little gems of information in your phone (no one will know you aren't reading a text from your Mom!). If you are wondering if you should feel ashamed for looking these things up online, the answer is yes. However, after you clear your internet's history the only people who will know are you and Google, score!

Relax and have fun high fiving with your tongues!

Sorority + Lilly = lovvee!

I am in love with the new Lilly Pulitzer sorority collection. End of story. The Kappa Kappa Gamma print is so adorable and preppy. Yay Kappa and Lilly!

Kappa Print!