One of the things I look forward to every week is when I check out the latest Sacramento News & Review on Thursdays. No, not for all of the deals on medical marijuana or the questionable underage Asian "masseuse" ads. My favorite is the advice column. It always features a "Meditation of the Week," and last week's was especially poignant. It was a quote from someone: "Be the chess player, not the chess piece."
That really hit home because the last couple weeks (hell, the last couple years), I've been feeling crippled with indecision. I'm never quite sure about what to do or where to go in life - what's my next career move? Do I want to still live in the suburbs?
That quote was a good reminder that my life is my own - I shouldn't just let things happen to me. I need to make them happen. I have full control!
That doesn't mean I won't have my down days. I've dubbed Tuesdays as "Bluesdays" because for some reason, I've been feeling down on those days. Last week, I had a volunteer meeting for my Sexual Assault Response Team and then a networking event I'd RSVP'd to. I ditched both, went home and barely left my couch. I don't know what it was - I just felt pretty blah.
Today I felt that same down feeling. I'm thinking I'm not busy enough - when that happens, I have too much time to think. Thankfully, my day is ending pretty well. I may be sitting on my bum on the couch now, but I did Zumba earlier, cooked my newest veggie tofu stir fry for dinner, and watched reruns of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." And my precious kitty is curled up next to me. So things are pretty good.
And now for an abrupt subject change...
A couple weeks ago, I spent a much-needed weekend in Nevada with the fam. First on the list - a family dinner that consisted of my parents meeting my sister's boyfriend for the first time. I chatted with the happy couple before we met up with my parents. I offered one bit of advice to them: absolutely, positively NO touching whatsoever.
I said this coming from experience. About 2 1/2 years ago, my parents met my new boyfriend at the time. It was a big moment for me because, well, frankly I thought that this would be the last guy I'd have to introduce to my parents.
It started off in traditional Dad fashion - he walked up to us on the street in front of the restaurant and pretended to be a homeless person. He walked with a limp and asked for spare change. Seriously.
I should have known the relationship was doomed.
But anyway - during lunch, my then-boyfriend nonchalantly kept his hand on my knee. Such a sweet, caring gesture, right? WRONG. To my parents, this was tantamount to fornicating over our sandwiches. They didn't appear surprised by it at the time, but my mom later informed me that my dad had been horrified by the guy touching me. On my knee. While I was wearing pants. In front of my parents. At a public place. Oh, the horror! It was literally like that scene in "Father of the Bride" when Steve Martin can't listen to a word his daughter's fiance is saying because he notices him rubbing her leg.
So I knew it was necessary to share this insight with my sis and her beau. Thankfully, they heeded my advice and kept their distance. I can only imagine the sinful thoughts going through my parents' heads if the guy had put his arm around my sister...yikes!
The dinner went really well, and the next day was even better - a spa day with my mom and sister! Such a blissful day of relaxation. I had the next day off from work since I'd worked the entire previous weekend, which meant another day of sleeping in and not wearing makeup! Those 2 things are truly essential when it comes to my weekends.
Speaking of weekends, this one is a 3-day weekend for me, thanks to Good Friday. The stock market is closed that day, so my firm will be also. Whoop whoop! It should be a fun weekend of a dinner with my girlfriends, catching up on chores and then spending Easter in Chico. Can't wait!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Confessions
I think this week I've eaten a nice slice of humble pie.
For the most part, I've always had pretty good self esteem. My parents have been nothing but 120% supportive of me, and I'm proud of all that I've accomplished in my life thus far.
But sometimes, amid my feeling good about myself, I fail to realize some of my downfalls. Not that I walk around thinking I'm perfect - I will be the first to admit my faults. But there are times when I assume that all of my good qualities somehow make up for my not-so-good qualities or choices. Like being nice, honest and successful is my "Get Out of Jail Free" card in the game of life.
This made me look back on myself and the way I've acted toward all of my friends, past and present. I can parade around, naming my good qualities as a friend, but that doesn't make it acceptable for me to do whatever I want when I feel like it. My actions can hurt people, and being good 98% of the time doesn't make that 2% OK.
I was raised Catholic, but I don't really believe in the idea of going to a priest to confess my sins (if anything, I can talk directly to God because he's everywhere, right?) So, here on my precious little blog, I'm going to do my Catholic-roots duty and confess some of my missteps as a friend (dating all the way back to the good ol' days of elementary school). Not that it will matter to anyone, but it's more just so I can get this off my chest and show that I do recognize my mistakes.
For the most part, I've always had pretty good self esteem. My parents have been nothing but 120% supportive of me, and I'm proud of all that I've accomplished in my life thus far.
But sometimes, amid my feeling good about myself, I fail to realize some of my downfalls. Not that I walk around thinking I'm perfect - I will be the first to admit my faults. But there are times when I assume that all of my good qualities somehow make up for my not-so-good qualities or choices. Like being nice, honest and successful is my "Get Out of Jail Free" card in the game of life.Recently, I upset a dear friend of mine. Instead of approaching the situation with the bottom line (which was, "I'm sorry for hurting you." Period. End.), I went on a whole diatribe to try and justify my actions. Sure, maybe to some what I'd done wasn't the worst thing in the world (i.e. murder, cheating, stealing, hatefulness), but the point is that I hurt someone. And someone's hurt is always justified because I don't ever want to be the reason someone is upset.
This made me look back on myself and the way I've acted toward all of my friends, past and present. I can parade around, naming my good qualities as a friend, but that doesn't make it acceptable for me to do whatever I want when I feel like it. My actions can hurt people, and being good 98% of the time doesn't make that 2% OK.
I was raised Catholic, but I don't really believe in the idea of going to a priest to confess my sins (if anything, I can talk directly to God because he's everywhere, right?) So, here on my precious little blog, I'm going to do my Catholic-roots duty and confess some of my missteps as a friend (dating all the way back to the good ol' days of elementary school). Not that it will matter to anyone, but it's more just so I can get this off my chest and show that I do recognize my mistakes.
- In 2nd grade, I told another girl to put my friend Diana's lunchbox in the girls' bathroom toilet. I lied to the yard duty about it and denied doing it, which technically was true, but I was the mastermind behind it.
- I promised one friend that she would be the first one to spend the night at my house, only to rescind my offer and invite another girl. Then when the first girl's mom called to chew me out, I hung up on her (I was 10).
- I started hanging out with a girl who was new to our 7th grade class and subsequently started ignoring another friend. That friend's mom told my mom that sometimes she wouldn't even want to come to school because she felt so abandoned. Boy, am I a bitch.
- I stole my friend's boyfriend in 8th grade.
- I talked A LOT of crap about my closest friend in high school. She and I were very competitive, and I wouldn't even be happy for her when good things happened to her. I would just feel jealousy and try to demean it. I'm really not proud of this stage of my life. Definitely took a page out of the "Mean Girls" book.
- In college, I messed around with my best friend's ex-boyfriend. She knows about it, but I should have never gone there, even if it had been years since they broke up. Exes are always off limits no matter what. It took me a long time to realize that.
- Nowadays, I'm making missteps in acknowledging my friends' feelings and where they need my support. I always lament about how hard it is to come by good friends. Maybe it's time I lead by example.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Goo Goo Over Gaga
Wednesday night goes down in the books - it was the long-awaited Lady Gaga concert with my sister!We bought our tickets back in October, so the wait for it seemed foreeeeever. I knew it would be quite the experience, and she didn't disappoint!
First off, the fans were crazy. Drag queens, leather, lace, booty shorts, wigs, glitter, bustiers, pantlessness - you name it, it was there. It felt like the Gay Pride Parade, and it was nothing short of fantastic! We even saw an almost-fight between some stubby short girl and a flamboyant gay guy. He didn't let her attitude get him down because he told her loudly, "Honey, just have a shot of Crowne and cheer up!"
Robyn and I were super close to the stage. Our tickets were general admission, which stressed me out for a minute because I was worried we wouldn't be able to push our way through and see the action. Sure, we ended up as sardines at one point, but it was beyond worth it! Her costumes, the stage setups, her voice - all of it was fabulous from start to finish. A lot of people think she can't sing, but she didn't lip sync one bit, and she sounded great. Plus, she stopped to thank her fans every so often and shared her personal struggles of feeling out of place growing up. She really makes it cool to be weird!So needless to say, it was an electric night. The show got out at about 11:30, and even though I'd been up since 6 and had to work the next day, I wasn't even tired because of the adrenaline rush. I want to go back and live it again!
Other than that, this week has been rather boring. Last week, however, was a bundle of excitement and action. First off, a long-time member of my team at work decided to go out and start a firm on his own, so his last day was last week. It was a shock to all of us and seemed very abrupt, but I think it was a long time coming for him, so I'm happy he's deciding to blaze a trail for himself.
His departure meant some good news for me - I'm now the lead on one of our biggest accounts and get to go to a huge event for it next weekend.....at a 5-star resort on the beach in Orange County! All-you-can-eat and drink, and virtually, our responsibilities there are minimal. My boss is going as well, but I get my own room! I'm beyond stoked.
Last week also was PR gold for my work - one of our clients was able to talk about radiation coming from Japan, and we got him in the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomberg, Forbes, CNBC and on an hour-long national radio show. It was such a rush and reminded me of why I love PR.
This weekend I'm planning on visiting Nicole in Sonoma since it was her birthday last week, and she's planning on moving to Portland soon. This means I'm not able to make it to my best friend's boyfriend's birthday party, and I think she might be a little miffed at me for that. It's always hard for me to have to cancel on people, especially because I really do love my friends and want to make everyone happy. I'm just a big believer in keeping the commitments I make first, so I have to go with that and hope people understand.
So that's the latest in my life. I think I've got the concert fever, so it's time for me to plan my next one! Oh yeah, I'm seeing the Glee concert in May with my mom and sis....well, I'll have to plan another one too! I just love going to shows :)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Pulling the Weeds, Keeping the Flowers
What can I say? Life has been good to me lately. There have been some days where I'm just skipping around, peppy all day. My theory is that A) I've started drinking more coffee B) Our office's coffee is a watered-down version of speed, and C) After reading a book on choice, I realized I've made some pretty good decisions and should be content in that.
I've been noticing more and more how much better I'm getting at relieving myself of negativity. I used to let guilt and regret weigh me down, and of course, I'm not 100% better, but I do find myself standing up more for what I want and really making my life my own. This might not be an accomplishment to some, but as a self-identified doormat, this is huge progress for me.
For one, I'm really realizing how much my good friends mean to me. My family members are truly my best friends, so I'm lucky in that department. As for my friends outside of family, I was feeling a little bit sad a couple weeks ago, and I have "Sex and the City" to blame.
After going on a binge watching that show non-stop for 3 weeks, I found myself yearning for that close girlfriend bonding. Even the girls who have boyfriends/husbands or kids or demanding careers are able to tear themselves away for cocktail hour in Manhattan (of course, the show wouldn't be much of a show if the girls were always cancelling on hanging out with one another in favor of catching up on laundry).
In real life, I'm noticing that it's getting harder and harder to have quality friendships where you spend a significant time with friends and not just every now and again when you can fit them in. I miss those days when you could call your girlfriends just to bitch about anything and then still hang out that night at the movies. Now, a weekly phone call or bi-weekly hangout is enough to satisfy the minimum friendship requirement, and so we all go on our merry way, living different lives that are barely intertwined.
Maybe I'm feeling this way because I never joined a sorority in college, so that female bonding was never fulfilled. Also, I was one competitive bitch in high school. I'll admit it! I took my friends for granted and instead focused on having a boyfriend (and a mean one, at that). Thankfully, a couple of my most cherished friends from those days have looked past my snatchy ways and are still friends with me.
So, anyway, I know we all are busy and have our own paths to go down. And I can't expect my life to be like a TV show. If I'm lucky enough to have at least one quality friend, then I'm golden. And I do have more than one! There are a couple people in my life who will probably be there forever - and then there are those that I just need to cut ties with.
My dad used to tell me "wean away" from this one bad seed that I was friends with in 8th grade (actually, he would over-emphasize the "wean" part, so it sounded more like "weeeeean away" every time he reminded me, which was often). I eventually did, and now I'm trying to repeat that with another girl in my life. She's been someone who's caused me a lot of stress this last year, and I realize now how much I don't need that. We haven't talked in awhile, and I'm a lot happier. So that's the sign right there - if my life is better without her, it's time to pull the weed and keep the flowers, a.k.a. the friends that really matter.
This past week has been fine - Monday I saw one of my feminist idols, Gloria Steinem, speak in Folsom. She was brilliant! She's exactly the kind of woman I want to be - strong, intelligent, reasonable, empathetic, humble and hopeful.
Some downsides to these last couple weeks - we lost out on some new prospective clients at work, and an award I applied for based on the work I did for a client of mine last year didn't win :( But I really don't have much to complain about, especially with bigger problems going on in the world. I'm just happy to be content, healthy and employed - and surrounded by good people!
All right, enough rambling.....for now....
I've been noticing more and more how much better I'm getting at relieving myself of negativity. I used to let guilt and regret weigh me down, and of course, I'm not 100% better, but I do find myself standing up more for what I want and really making my life my own. This might not be an accomplishment to some, but as a self-identified doormat, this is huge progress for me.
For one, I'm really realizing how much my good friends mean to me. My family members are truly my best friends, so I'm lucky in that department. As for my friends outside of family, I was feeling a little bit sad a couple weeks ago, and I have "Sex and the City" to blame.
After going on a binge watching that show non-stop for 3 weeks, I found myself yearning for that close girlfriend bonding. Even the girls who have boyfriends/husbands or kids or demanding careers are able to tear themselves away for cocktail hour in Manhattan (of course, the show wouldn't be much of a show if the girls were always cancelling on hanging out with one another in favor of catching up on laundry).
In real life, I'm noticing that it's getting harder and harder to have quality friendships where you spend a significant time with friends and not just every now and again when you can fit them in. I miss those days when you could call your girlfriends just to bitch about anything and then still hang out that night at the movies. Now, a weekly phone call or bi-weekly hangout is enough to satisfy the minimum friendship requirement, and so we all go on our merry way, living different lives that are barely intertwined.
Maybe I'm feeling this way because I never joined a sorority in college, so that female bonding was never fulfilled. Also, I was one competitive bitch in high school. I'll admit it! I took my friends for granted and instead focused on having a boyfriend (and a mean one, at that). Thankfully, a couple of my most cherished friends from those days have looked past my snatchy ways and are still friends with me.
So, anyway, I know we all are busy and have our own paths to go down. And I can't expect my life to be like a TV show. If I'm lucky enough to have at least one quality friend, then I'm golden. And I do have more than one! There are a couple people in my life who will probably be there forever - and then there are those that I just need to cut ties with.
My dad used to tell me "wean away" from this one bad seed that I was friends with in 8th grade (actually, he would over-emphasize the "wean" part, so it sounded more like "weeeeean away" every time he reminded me, which was often). I eventually did, and now I'm trying to repeat that with another girl in my life. She's been someone who's caused me a lot of stress this last year, and I realize now how much I don't need that. We haven't talked in awhile, and I'm a lot happier. So that's the sign right there - if my life is better without her, it's time to pull the weed and keep the flowers, a.k.a. the friends that really matter.In other news, this last weekend I visited Chico with Steve. Sooooo much fun! He showed me the night life, and I can see now why the town is known for its crazy partying ways. Alcohol is dirt cheap! There wasn't a bar we went to that wasn't packed, and our drink orders never totaled more than $7. We stopped by my cousin Jordin's apartment, which was fun. The next day, I went to a key tourist spot in Chico - the funeral home where a booted "Bachelor" contestant works! Yes, I am a dork. We spent time at Steve's parent's house since it was his mom's birthday, and I had such a good time. They are an awesome family!
This past week has been fine - Monday I saw one of my feminist idols, Gloria Steinem, speak in Folsom. She was brilliant! She's exactly the kind of woman I want to be - strong, intelligent, reasonable, empathetic, humble and hopeful.
Some downsides to these last couple weeks - we lost out on some new prospective clients at work, and an award I applied for based on the work I did for a client of mine last year didn't win :( But I really don't have much to complain about, especially with bigger problems going on in the world. I'm just happy to be content, healthy and employed - and surrounded by good people!
All right, enough rambling.....for now....
Friday, February 25, 2011
Choices, Choices
Lately I've been thinking about choices. I've touched on this in a previous blog, but I wonder if sometimes it's hindering to have too many options - like I have the whole world in my palm and I can make anything of myself if I just put some elbow grease into it. I sometimes feel so overwhelmed with where I can go in life, that it almost paralyzes me - it's scary to move forward, so I end up just standing still. I don't like to make decisions because if I choose the "wrong" thing, all I'm left with is regret and wondering "What if?"
Some choices seem easy - where to eat dinner tonight, what drink to get at happy hour, should I wear a scarf today. Even then, I struggle with making a decision. So forget about making significant choices like career, living situation, relationship. It's been a goal of mine to be more decisive - trust me, I know how frustrating it can be when you're out with someone and they ask, "Where do you want to sit?" and it takes 20 minutes to figure it out. Or how irritating it can be when someone says, "I don't care. You pick," every single time. That's me in a nutshell - leaving decisions to other people so that I don't have to make them.
This is why I excelled so much when I was younger. There were structured decisions - taking honors classes in high school, getting involved in this club, applying to this college, majoring in this subject, interning at this company. All of it was guided, for the most part. There was an unwritten manual that helped guide you to the next logical step. Adulthood? Nope. No such manual. It's an off-beaten path, so you have to make your own road.
This is a lot harder than I imagined. As a teenager and young adult, I only thought about what my next step was and what my immediate goals were. And my life changed pretty regularly from year to year - always moving, taking new classes, meeting new people. Now, I'm in a state of stability, which ironically makes me restless. Not because it's boring (well, at times it can be. Watching movies on a Friday night and bedtime by 9? Check.), but because I get nervous that maybe I'm not supposed to be "stable" yet. Shouldn't I be off galavanting in big cities, traveling the world or writing a novel? Or is it perfectly acceptable to just go to work, keep active, see my friends and family, go to bed at a decent hour, pay my bills and just live in my routine?
See, more questions. More choices. I know my neuroses is clearly showing here, but is there anyone else out there who feels/has felt like this? Anyone? All 2 of you reading this right now?
I'm very comfortable with my life right now, and as someone who welcomed change in the past, you'd think I'd be all for rocking the boat - like changing careers or moving to a cool midtown apartment away from the comfort of the suburbs. Is change necessary even when life is going well?
The reason I wonder all of this is because I always want to be growing - always want to be learning. I never want to rest on my laurels and just accept life as it comes. I want to make my life and feel somewhat in control of it. I'm 25 - this is not the time to be settling, by any means. I don't want to be on auto-pilot and wake up in 10 years, regretting that I didn't take certain chances.
So there it is. My latest analytical drama. If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I'd gladly welcome it! Just don't ask me to make any decisions, though. It might take awhile.
Some choices seem easy - where to eat dinner tonight, what drink to get at happy hour, should I wear a scarf today. Even then, I struggle with making a decision. So forget about making significant choices like career, living situation, relationship. It's been a goal of mine to be more decisive - trust me, I know how frustrating it can be when you're out with someone and they ask, "Where do you want to sit?" and it takes 20 minutes to figure it out. Or how irritating it can be when someone says, "I don't care. You pick," every single time. That's me in a nutshell - leaving decisions to other people so that I don't have to make them.
This is why I excelled so much when I was younger. There were structured decisions - taking honors classes in high school, getting involved in this club, applying to this college, majoring in this subject, interning at this company. All of it was guided, for the most part. There was an unwritten manual that helped guide you to the next logical step. Adulthood? Nope. No such manual. It's an off-beaten path, so you have to make your own road.
This is a lot harder than I imagined. As a teenager and young adult, I only thought about what my next step was and what my immediate goals were. And my life changed pretty regularly from year to year - always moving, taking new classes, meeting new people. Now, I'm in a state of stability, which ironically makes me restless. Not because it's boring (well, at times it can be. Watching movies on a Friday night and bedtime by 9? Check.), but because I get nervous that maybe I'm not supposed to be "stable" yet. Shouldn't I be off galavanting in big cities, traveling the world or writing a novel? Or is it perfectly acceptable to just go to work, keep active, see my friends and family, go to bed at a decent hour, pay my bills and just live in my routine?
See, more questions. More choices. I know my neuroses is clearly showing here, but is there anyone else out there who feels/has felt like this? Anyone? All 2 of you reading this right now?
I'm very comfortable with my life right now, and as someone who welcomed change in the past, you'd think I'd be all for rocking the boat - like changing careers or moving to a cool midtown apartment away from the comfort of the suburbs. Is change necessary even when life is going well?
The reason I wonder all of this is because I always want to be growing - always want to be learning. I never want to rest on my laurels and just accept life as it comes. I want to make my life and feel somewhat in control of it. I'm 25 - this is not the time to be settling, by any means. I don't want to be on auto-pilot and wake up in 10 years, regretting that I didn't take certain chances.
So there it is. My latest analytical drama. If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I'd gladly welcome it! Just don't ask me to make any decisions, though. It might take awhile.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thank You, Planned Parenthood
After hearing that the House of Representatives recently passed a bill to restrict federal funds from Planned Parenthood, I about lost my mind.
Of course, most people (read: conservative people) assume PP is just an abortion-performing machine (News flash! All kinds of doctors perform abortions outside of PP). I also think a lot of people who are against PP have never stepped foot in one. So this is why I felt compelled to write this blog. It does go into my personal story a bit (sorry, family members! I'm 25 and have been in serious relationships before, so the jig is up), but I feel like it's necessary to hear how such an important organization has touched the lives of many different people, including regular ol' me.
In high school, I first learned what Planned Parenthood was from my sister. I was lucky enough to have an older sister who knew about this stuff - I don't know how other teenagers would learn about this, especially in such a small (and small-minded) town as the one I grew up in. We were not low-income by any means, so my parents could easily afford to get me on the pill. And therein lies the rub.
What teenager would willingly and openly go to their parents to get them on birth control? I could barely tell my mom when I got my first period. I remember sitting in the living room with her after dinner, watching "Wheel of Fortune" or something. In my head, I was pressuring myself over and over, "Do it, Tracy! Just do it! Just tell her!" I finally blurted it out, but because of my nerves, it came out almost as one word: "Mom-I-started-my-period!"
Of course, she feigned excitement because this is the lie women have been telling younger girls for years - that it's the sign of "becoming a woman," when really it's a shitty, monthly inconvenience that we women would trade with men any day.
So, my point is this: if I could barely discuss normal, run-of-the-mill body issues with my mom, there was no way in hell I was going to ask for something that implicitly stated I wanted to get down to business with a guy.
Thankfully, I had friends and a sister I could talk to about this, and on our own, we figured out where to go (in the biiiiig city of Reno, Nevada) to find this hidden little clinic. I was nervous beyond belief to go there. I thought I would instantly be thrown out or that my dad would somehow know where I was and find me. It was terrifying, and it didn't get much better once I got there and had to answer personal questions about my sexual health. I couldn't talk to my parents about this, and now I have to tell some stranger if I'm sexually active or not?
I remember the nurse that helped me like it was yesterday. She answered every question I had without judgment and without making me feel like I was doing something wrong (because heaven forbid I take my health into my own hands). She explained everything clearly, about how the pill worked and how I needed to come back in 3 months to see if it was working well for me.
I went back to PP every few months to get birth control (FREE birth control, mind you. How much can a minimum wage-earning teen afford?). I remember one time, after waiting a good 2 hours (which was normal), the nurse told me she was being told to only give out 1 month's worth of pills to people because of funding cuts. I was horrified. Then you know what she did? She gave me 10 month's worth because she knew how vital it was. That lady is an angel! I will never forget that.
And that was the beginning of my years on birth control. Thanks to Planned Parenthood, I have not been knocked up by an asshole boyfriend. Thanks to them, I didn't have to deal with mind-numbing cramps or worrying about if my period would come unexpectedly and seep through the back of my cheerleading uniform.
And thanks to being on the pill, I did not have to face the decision to have an abortion or not to have one. The idea of going to my dad as a teenager and telling him I'm pregnant was the equivalent of committing suicide.
I quickly spread the word to other friends about PP, and even accompanied a couple of them in the waiting room. I know other friends of mine used their services for STD testing, too. Gasp! Young people taking care of themselves. Yes, we must defund such an awful organization that respects young people's privacy and choices.
I know the idea of abortion and young people having sex are scary thoughts to adults. When I look at my cousins who are now in high school, I still view them as the little kids running around at Grams' house. So I understand that mentality of wanting to protect young people in any way we can.
But defunding Planned Parenthood is not the way to go about it.
If anything, talking to a nurse about peeing in a cup so that she can check for chlamydia is enough to scare a lot of kids straight.
Young people are going to have sex - and as countless studies have shown, abstinence-only education is ineffective and even dangerous. Areas that promote it actually see higher rates of teen pregnancy and STDs.
And really, how realistic is it to wait until marriage when people are putting that off until their 30s?
So, I just want to say thanks to Planned Parenthood. Their employees always treated me with respect, which is hard to come by as a teenager. Most people brush you off and assume you don't know anything because you're young. But Planned Parenthood let me make decisions for myself, for which I will be eternally grateful.
Of course, most people (read: conservative people) assume PP is just an abortion-performing machine (News flash! All kinds of doctors perform abortions outside of PP). I also think a lot of people who are against PP have never stepped foot in one. So this is why I felt compelled to write this blog. It does go into my personal story a bit (sorry, family members! I'm 25 and have been in serious relationships before, so the jig is up), but I feel like it's necessary to hear how such an important organization has touched the lives of many different people, including regular ol' me.
In high school, I first learned what Planned Parenthood was from my sister. I was lucky enough to have an older sister who knew about this stuff - I don't know how other teenagers would learn about this, especially in such a small (and small-minded) town as the one I grew up in. We were not low-income by any means, so my parents could easily afford to get me on the pill. And therein lies the rub.
What teenager would willingly and openly go to their parents to get them on birth control? I could barely tell my mom when I got my first period. I remember sitting in the living room with her after dinner, watching "Wheel of Fortune" or something. In my head, I was pressuring myself over and over, "Do it, Tracy! Just do it! Just tell her!" I finally blurted it out, but because of my nerves, it came out almost as one word: "Mom-I-started-my-period!"
Of course, she feigned excitement because this is the lie women have been telling younger girls for years - that it's the sign of "becoming a woman," when really it's a shitty, monthly inconvenience that we women would trade with men any day.
So, my point is this: if I could barely discuss normal, run-of-the-mill body issues with my mom, there was no way in hell I was going to ask for something that implicitly stated I wanted to get down to business with a guy.
Thankfully, I had friends and a sister I could talk to about this, and on our own, we figured out where to go (in the biiiiig city of Reno, Nevada) to find this hidden little clinic. I was nervous beyond belief to go there. I thought I would instantly be thrown out or that my dad would somehow know where I was and find me. It was terrifying, and it didn't get much better once I got there and had to answer personal questions about my sexual health. I couldn't talk to my parents about this, and now I have to tell some stranger if I'm sexually active or not?
I remember the nurse that helped me like it was yesterday. She answered every question I had without judgment and without making me feel like I was doing something wrong (because heaven forbid I take my health into my own hands). She explained everything clearly, about how the pill worked and how I needed to come back in 3 months to see if it was working well for me.
I went back to PP every few months to get birth control (FREE birth control, mind you. How much can a minimum wage-earning teen afford?). I remember one time, after waiting a good 2 hours (which was normal), the nurse told me she was being told to only give out 1 month's worth of pills to people because of funding cuts. I was horrified. Then you know what she did? She gave me 10 month's worth because she knew how vital it was. That lady is an angel! I will never forget that.
And that was the beginning of my years on birth control. Thanks to Planned Parenthood, I have not been knocked up by an asshole boyfriend. Thanks to them, I didn't have to deal with mind-numbing cramps or worrying about if my period would come unexpectedly and seep through the back of my cheerleading uniform.
And thanks to being on the pill, I did not have to face the decision to have an abortion or not to have one. The idea of going to my dad as a teenager and telling him I'm pregnant was the equivalent of committing suicide.
I quickly spread the word to other friends about PP, and even accompanied a couple of them in the waiting room. I know other friends of mine used their services for STD testing, too. Gasp! Young people taking care of themselves. Yes, we must defund such an awful organization that respects young people's privacy and choices.
I know the idea of abortion and young people having sex are scary thoughts to adults. When I look at my cousins who are now in high school, I still view them as the little kids running around at Grams' house. So I understand that mentality of wanting to protect young people in any way we can.
But defunding Planned Parenthood is not the way to go about it.
If anything, talking to a nurse about peeing in a cup so that she can check for chlamydia is enough to scare a lot of kids straight.
Young people are going to have sex - and as countless studies have shown, abstinence-only education is ineffective and even dangerous. Areas that promote it actually see higher rates of teen pregnancy and STDs.
And really, how realistic is it to wait until marriage when people are putting that off until their 30s?
So, I just want to say thanks to Planned Parenthood. Their employees always treated me with respect, which is hard to come by as a teenager. Most people brush you off and assume you don't know anything because you're young. But Planned Parenthood let me make decisions for myself, for which I will be eternally grateful.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Older...and Wiser?
Last week I celebrated my 25th birthday, which is a big milestone if you're excited about renting a car for cheaper.
I actually get excited about every birthday, milestone or not - mostly because it's a day when I get a lot of attention. It's funny that even though every single one of us has a birthday, we act like the world centers around our own individual birthdays. Like as if each person with a birthday is the first to have one. Regardless - it's a day when I can feel totally special.
My parents were in town, so they took me to lunch. My co-workers decorated my office in pink galore. I even got THREE sets of flowers - one from Steve, another from my sister and then from my friend Erica. Ahhh, it was a good day. I ended the day with drinks and pizza at this new place downtown called Dive Bar where there's a tank with actual mermaids! OK, not actual ones, but just humans dressed as them.
Besides feeling special, I feel like birthdays are a time to reflect on life (as if I don't do enough of that already) and if I'm happy where I am at any given age. I'm not sure where I really pictured myself at 25, but overall, I feel like I'm where I want to be - living on my own and being a career girl.
I also think about happiness a lot. I'm always sitting at the edge of my seat, waiting for that turning point to happen when everything just fits together like a puzzle piece and I'm brimming with joy every day. But who's to say that's the definition of happiness? Maybe happiness is just being content, not shitting rainbows every day. Maybe I've been overlooking what I have and not realizing that I don't need to wait around for anything - I'm already happy! It's like that famous quote: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." So very true. I need to work on living in the present more.
In other updates, last week I had an embarrassing moment when I went to lunch with my co-workers. Now, for anyone that knows me, you'll know how much I loathe seeing people I know unexpectedly in public. Even seeing people I enjoy being around - it's a weird thing I have about seeing people outside of where I'm expecting to see them. I've been cursed with this affliction since childhood. I remember seeing a boy from school at the grocery store and almost peeing my My Little Pony underwear.
Anyway, I went to lunch to a place I rarely go, and in the parking lot I spot the car of a guy I went on like 2 "dates" with back in the fall. He was the guy whose mom is in my yoga class, and she actually got my number to give to him (umm, yes I noticed this as a red flag from the get-go). We hung out a couple times, and it went nowhere. He was just not my style. So I noticed his car in front of another restaurant, and I assumed he was there.
Nope. I spotted him once we were inside the place, and I turned 6 shades of red. Then what do I get? A text from a number not in my phone saying "I see you." Shit. No getting out of this one. So I popped over and said hi. Thankfully he was with his mom, whom I really like, so that made it less awkward. Ugh, I just hate seeing people I know in public! As I wrote in my last blog, my social graces are somewhat lacking when I'm caught off guard. I tend to say very ridiculous things. Like when I blurted out to them out of nowhere when it got silent, "Yesterday was my birthday!" Umm, Trace. No one gives a shit. Just stick with the weather. That's always a safe haven.
In other news, I slept more this weekend than I have in a long time. I went to bed at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Yeah, yeah. Break out the single lady jokes about crocheting and cuddling with my cat. Now I'm a grandma to boot. But I must admit - I awoke on Sunday feeling like a million bucks. Nothing beats a complete night of sleep!
I'm really looking forward to this weekend. I'm heading to San Diego for my grandma's memorial. OK, so that part is not exactly the type of hootenanny you look forward to, but I love spending time with my family. There's nothing I enjoy more! I'm also going to a spa - overnight! - with my sister and cousin. Sure, I'm poorer than Oliver Twist, but we planned this months ago, and I'm not going to let a little financial bump get in the way of one little (and much-needed) splurge.
So far, the start to my 25th year has been great.....and happy :)
I actually get excited about every birthday, milestone or not - mostly because it's a day when I get a lot of attention. It's funny that even though every single one of us has a birthday, we act like the world centers around our own individual birthdays. Like as if each person with a birthday is the first to have one. Regardless - it's a day when I can feel totally special.
My parents were in town, so they took me to lunch. My co-workers decorated my office in pink galore. I even got THREE sets of flowers - one from Steve, another from my sister and then from my friend Erica. Ahhh, it was a good day. I ended the day with drinks and pizza at this new place downtown called Dive Bar where there's a tank with actual mermaids! OK, not actual ones, but just humans dressed as them.
Besides feeling special, I feel like birthdays are a time to reflect on life (as if I don't do enough of that already) and if I'm happy where I am at any given age. I'm not sure where I really pictured myself at 25, but overall, I feel like I'm where I want to be - living on my own and being a career girl.
I also think about happiness a lot. I'm always sitting at the edge of my seat, waiting for that turning point to happen when everything just fits together like a puzzle piece and I'm brimming with joy every day. But who's to say that's the definition of happiness? Maybe happiness is just being content, not shitting rainbows every day. Maybe I've been overlooking what I have and not realizing that I don't need to wait around for anything - I'm already happy! It's like that famous quote: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." So very true. I need to work on living in the present more.
In other updates, last week I had an embarrassing moment when I went to lunch with my co-workers. Now, for anyone that knows me, you'll know how much I loathe seeing people I know unexpectedly in public. Even seeing people I enjoy being around - it's a weird thing I have about seeing people outside of where I'm expecting to see them. I've been cursed with this affliction since childhood. I remember seeing a boy from school at the grocery store and almost peeing my My Little Pony underwear.
Anyway, I went to lunch to a place I rarely go, and in the parking lot I spot the car of a guy I went on like 2 "dates" with back in the fall. He was the guy whose mom is in my yoga class, and she actually got my number to give to him (umm, yes I noticed this as a red flag from the get-go). We hung out a couple times, and it went nowhere. He was just not my style. So I noticed his car in front of another restaurant, and I assumed he was there.
Nope. I spotted him once we were inside the place, and I turned 6 shades of red. Then what do I get? A text from a number not in my phone saying "I see you." Shit. No getting out of this one. So I popped over and said hi. Thankfully he was with his mom, whom I really like, so that made it less awkward. Ugh, I just hate seeing people I know in public! As I wrote in my last blog, my social graces are somewhat lacking when I'm caught off guard. I tend to say very ridiculous things. Like when I blurted out to them out of nowhere when it got silent, "Yesterday was my birthday!" Umm, Trace. No one gives a shit. Just stick with the weather. That's always a safe haven.
In other news, I slept more this weekend than I have in a long time. I went to bed at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Yeah, yeah. Break out the single lady jokes about crocheting and cuddling with my cat. Now I'm a grandma to boot. But I must admit - I awoke on Sunday feeling like a million bucks. Nothing beats a complete night of sleep!
I'm really looking forward to this weekend. I'm heading to San Diego for my grandma's memorial. OK, so that part is not exactly the type of hootenanny you look forward to, but I love spending time with my family. There's nothing I enjoy more! I'm also going to a spa - overnight! - with my sister and cousin. Sure, I'm poorer than Oliver Twist, but we planned this months ago, and I'm not going to let a little financial bump get in the way of one little (and much-needed) splurge.
So far, the start to my 25th year has been great.....and happy :)
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