Jacquelyn's Space

Today at school I ran into my friend Jeanette. She is a history major and was telling me all about a class she is taking, Southern Colonial History. It sounded really interesting when she first told me she was taking it this semester and I really wanted to take it but I couldn’t fit in in (plus I am not a history major but I do love history).

The class is turning out to be extremely interesting for her. The instructor had them read a book, The Shipwreck That Saved Jamestown, and write paper on it. The instructor even had the author of the book come in and give a lecture. Jeanette, like me, needs to look at the big picture instead of having a narrow focus or just concentrating on a small incident so she started doing some research. A bunch of extra research really. She is finding all kinds of interesting things about the founding of the colonies and what was going on during that time. She was telling me of all the discrepancies she has uncovered in the original story (not necessarily the book she has to write about) of the founding of the colonies. Some of them I had heard of before or had kind of surmised for myself but it was a very interesting discussion which led to talking of the connection between Shakespeare and the story of Jamestown. Supposedly Shakespeare wrote his play, The Tempest, based on this whole shipwreck/Jamestown story. Now I wanna’ know more! I told Jeanette to keep me updated on her discoveries.

So cool!! I love talking with Jeanette, we always have such interesting conversations but…

As I was sitting there talking with Jeanette, I was somewhat jealous because I want to take that class, I want to do that kind of research,  make connections and learn about history in depth. I was jealous of her scholarship. It seems I get focused on completing assignments and memorizing theories and rules and I often forget to be a scholar, to take part in the joy and wonder of discovery. Perhaps part of it is that I am a psychology major and there is so much to learn, memorize, and so many rules to follow that I have just gotten bogged down. Oh there is research but so much of it is based on stats (numbers) and research design, UGH!

Part of it is my lack of energy (Damn CFS!) and part of it is being pulled in too many directions – student, wife, step-mother, daughter, aunt, and friend. Go here, go there, got this to do, pick up this, the house is a mess, paper due, on and on and on…. It is hard for me to do everything that is expected of me let alone what I want to do. I don’t often have the time to extra research I want to do. And I squander time. For shame. I need to quit that and remember to feed my hunger for knowledge, (haha) – to feed my inner scholar so to speak.

I’ve had a couple of lovely days despite the weather. Yesterday I had lunch with a chum at school and we had an excellent conversation. I picked up my stepson and he, his father and I had a nice evening at home, if rather relaxed. We all had a good conversation about old times at dinner. That was nice.

Today, my school day went by quickly as it usually does because Tuesday and Thursdays are jam packed with classes. All my classes are going well so far and I don’t feel overwhelmed even though I have 5 (17 credits!). My research project for psychology is coming together quite nicely. Like last semester it is a group project and we are working on obesity, but this semester we actually get to run our experiment. I love my group too – everyone gets stuff done (hard-workers!) and we all work well together.

I had a test in Bio-psychology today and I did really well, only 2 wrong (A for me Yay!). I didn’t even write about the test before I took it, ha. I didn’t really need to – I wasn’t super worried about this test. The professor is a really good teacher and she cares. Luckily I have her for both Bio-psych and my Advanced Research and Writing in Psych class. I love her.

Now I get to spend the evening with my wonderful husband.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy. — Ernest Ben

Love this quote, stole it from a friend on facebook. Sums it up pretty well. To me politics is all about image  – trying to look important or the things you care about/want or are working on as important even though they are not OR just causing drama to get noticed – as well as agenda these days…

I love Mackinac Island, Michigan. I have loved it since my parents first took me there as a little girl. Of course I have only ever been in the warmer months. I would love to spend a year on the island to experience all the seasons – someday is what I tell myself.

For years I thought the islanders were basically stuck on the island through the winter but a few years ago I learned when it gets cold enough the straits freeze and an ice bridge is formed, allowing people to get to back and forth to the mainland. Cool! I heard that it is already frozen over this year. Plus I found out there are regular flights to the island also.

Someday I will make over there to see the island in winter. I have heard that cross country skiing is great on the island and I would love to try it. I must get in shape first.

That is my winter dream, a new goal to achieve … well to add to the list: Get in shape and go skiing on Mackinac Island.

According to one equation devised by Dr. Cliff Arnall, a British researcher from Cardiff University, Jan. 24 is 2011’s most depressing day, termed ‘Blue Monday’

MSN Health

Most Depressing Day Article

So today was being billed as the most depressing day of the year. It wasn’t such a bad day for me. Aside for the urge to stay at home in bed, snuggled under the covers while the wind whistled outside my window, I made it through the day fine. Thankfully I am feeling a lot better than I have in a while, certainly much better than this past fall, and past winter seasons/semesters. I am hoping it lasts -scratch that – I am going to make sure it lasts =)

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I really like the video contained within the article that points out the fact that the way to beat depression is a combination of medications and talk therapy. I truly believe that meds are not effective enough without talk therapy for most people. I wish more people would seek out therapy  – there are a lot of people out there that need treatment.

There are many reasons why they don’t seek treatment – time and money 0r lack of insurance being among the top reason, but also some people still have a negative view of therapy. Sadly, there is still somewhat of a stigma attached to going to a therapist. So many issues, so many problems in this country could be helped/healed if more people were open minded, sought help for their problems and sought help for healthier ways to deal with life.

More research fodder. It is all about writing down your fears/worries before a test – those that wrote did better on the test. This reminds me of the research I read about a few years ago when I first started this blog and going back to school – that writing about school and your schoolwork ultimately helps you do better.  Cool!

I must state though, it is not the act of writing that gives the benefit but the act of processing your thoughts through writing.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/68774/title/The_write_stuff_for_test_anxiety