Good coffee, good Monday!

What a beautiful July 1st. Worked out this morning and when I left my house it was probably 65 degrees. So refreshing! Now I'm enjoying some awesome coffee as I wait for our work's 2nd half employee meeting via webcast.

Here are 15 things I have learned about myself over the past couple of years. Some are unique. Some are funny, while others are a little more serious. A cornacopia of things you may or likely don't know about me. Enjoy!

1) I like to watch chiropractic adjustments on youtube. Its weird, but intoxicating. I just sit there any keep watching them. I'll watch one then click the related videos on the right and watch more. It make me want to go get an adjustment. Odd? Absolutely! 

2) I suffer from wanderlust. I love travelling- with groups or by myself. And there are times where I’m not sure the final destination. I’ve sat on a train  in the station in Brussels, and randomly deciding to get off the train and head for Amsterdam at the last minute. I love the idea of adventure, surprise, randomness and finding joy in the simplicity of a travel bag and a railpass. I was able to go to Asia in early 2013. This trip had a purpose other than just tourism.  I've included a picture from my East Asia trip this past April. Such a wonderful trip to minister to a specific city there. We learned how to play a mandolin (or something like that).

 

3) I have an easy time remembering in details in my long term memory but struggle remembering what happened last week. I vividly recall details of trips, conversations, moods, and relationships. I can probably name every person in my high school choir and what section they sang in. However, sometime I can’t remember what I did last Wednesday night. 

4) I love getting written words of affirmation. I can’t tell you how much I love getting a letter in the mail or even an email.  I really could care less about any gift of physical nature. I love getting encouraging, authentic words. A letter like that can lift my spirits for months. I think we all desire to be lifted up. I treasure these letters and keep them filed away for times when things aren’t going so well.

5)  I loathe hot weather. I love bundling up and having a roaring fire going all winter long.   As I have told Christine, I get cranky when temperatures get over 85 degrees. Ultimate solution would be me going to Crested Butte from Memorial Day to Oct 1 each year!

6) Serving others/giving is my love language. I want to do more of this.

7) I struggle with jealousy and envy. I noticed I wrote about this in a 2010 post too. The thing is, at 32 years old, I still struggle with some things I dealt with as I was younger. You aren’t in the same life status as your similarly aged friends. Things seem to be easier for some people when you work harder and they are lazy, etc. Or you see someone post on FB that makes you want that situation or thing, and wonder why you don’t. I’ve also struggled with people not reciprocating the value I place in them.  I’d like to say I’ve made progress in this issue here over the past 2 years.     

8) I am pretty competitive. I may come across as a soft, easy going guy but inside I want to win-----badly! Ask my basketball team about “the incident” where I was fighting for space down low. I ended up knocking a guy down and (this is not how I should of acted) walked away not helping him up. We both got double fouls and warned of getting thrown out of the game.  

9) I like pop/rap music sometimes. Jason Derulo, Nelly, Usher, JB (my old friend), Katy Perry, and even a song or two by Nicki Minaj (but I can’t stand her personality). I'm trying to ween myself off of it, but the music is so dang catchy.

10) I enjoy getting massages in the middle of the mall. There are Chinese massage people in Woodland Hills Mall that have 4 chairs set up. Some people might find it awkward to be massaged as people walk by. Not me. I throughly enjoy it! Its also the only reason I go to Irving Mall when I'm home.

11) I love dancing. Years at the Caravan have helped me love line dancing too.  I want to learn to Salsa dance. I would love to enter a Salsa Dance Competition (eating salsa is also something I love). Sometimes I’ll turn up a salsa-esque song at my house and pretend I’m on Dancing with Stars. As my grandma has said, we went to a Holiday Inn one time in Northern New Mexico and in the bar they were playing some music. I ran in there and started tapping my shoe on the dance floor and dancing around . They have called me a "dancing fool" over the years ever since that night.

12) I'd like to be a teacher in round 2 of my career. I may look into this if I ever leave sales. If I did work in a high school, I can tell you right now I would be the student council sponsor. Being the “Tiger Guard” sponsor would also be great!

13) I’ve challenged myself with a really fun task this year (I’m being vague on purpose). Only 1 person knows the details.  I’ve completed 3 tasks and need to continue to push through them. I get a lot of joy out of it!

14) I have become a big fan of trying to keep myself in shape through running races and working out. Getting up early is sometimes painful but feels really good to have accomplished something before 7 AM most days.

15) I really want to have chickens in my backyard. I was gone the 1st half of 2013 but I want to build a chicken coop and enjoy some VERY local eggs out of my backyard each morning.

16) Love me some roadtrips! Desitnation dinners (OKC, Talequah, McAlester, NW Arkansas) are always some of the best memories. I am a big fan and always go if I can.

Make it a great day!
Jeff