I have so much things to do this coming fall! And all for the good.
I go see Sherrilyn Kenyon when she's in DC in August- that reminds me, I need to call the book store to ensure that there is an interpreter for when she do the reading and autograph signing. Waiting for the book, Archeron to come out (24 days left), and knowing that the author will stop in DC/VA on the book tour is a reward in itself, in which I am doing for passing my comps in mental health graduate program..and the comps was tough!
Then there is the Dragon-Con in Atlanta, GA, which is during the Labor Day weekend, in which I hope to see Laurell K. Hamilton, Anne McCaffrey, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Susan Sizemore, Margaret Weis, Joseph Michael Linsner, Robert Englund, Linda Blair (yeah, of Exorcist), and so on. Just let us hope that there'd be no assignments for me to do during THAT weekend or I'll do it on the road! Planning all the travelling, stays, activities/events to see (including checking out the Atlanta aquarium and the Dawn look-like contest at the Dragon con) is rewarding in itself, abetting the joy of seeing it all happening in the end.
Then there is the exercising. I had put it up on the shelves due to the track repairs, so I couldn't do fast walking. Soon the track will be complete and so I'll exercise again. I look forward to lose some more pounds. In weeks if not months, I'd get to lose some more weight that will end up making it easier for me to walk without stressing my legs out, and reducing asthma attacks.
I hit my toe on the doorway today and I hit the doorway in retribution. I knew the doorway didn't get in my way, but in anger and pain, I didn't think. It was gratifying to 'hit back' anyway, right away, now.
There are some classes I look forward for the fall semester, such as grief and loss, advanced therapy skills and assessment. Then I'll be off for internship in the spring semester. One thing I'll say about attending classes during summer, it means getting to the degree sooner than later! I have been working so hard, busting my ass (pardon my French), doing assignments, doing research (loved it), helping each other, knowing that in the long run, we all will be rewarded with degrees presented to us at the graduation of May 2009.
I had eaten some chocolate with chili in it today, to get the bite that I was in mood. I wanted to eat chocolate right away because I felt like chocolate would save my sanity right away.
Now that's the difference between instant gratification and reaping what had been planned for weeks if not months. I have issues with people wanting things now and they mean it..NOW, right away, immediately, at this minute if not earlier, yesterday, you get the idea. I observe how people would get frustrated when they are told that "the loveseat will not come in until next week", "it will take three-five months before you can see obvious changes in your body", or "It will take some days before we can get this part for your car so we can't do repairs now." I have seen people going ugly when they are told that there are things they HAVE to wait on. I feel that the society is over-depending on instant gratification. Fast food, you have it. Instant customer service, you have it. Kids wanting this or that, parents get those for them immediately. It is not the younger generation alone, I had seen people my age fretting if they don't get their Starbucks coffee right away!
It seems to me that some people have trouble understanding that setting up long goals, planning in the long run, it is very rewarding in itself. You can see how plans grow, domino-like, affecting oneself mentally, physically and emotionally. Putting money in a saving account for a goal of having a vacation in Ireland can be enriching in itself, knowing, that the money is growing and closer the vacation comes to reality. Seeing a child building a tree house by himself, without parents helping out, can help the child learn that if he does things himself, will increase his self-esteem and confidence in completing things. I had seen a friend putting pennies, dimes, quarters, and nickels in a huge bottle, saying that he wants to visit Germany. I thought "wow- a long way to go, it's impossible!" But she proved me wrong, after three years of saving all pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters, she had gone to Germany and had a wonderous trip there for three weeks. It is taking me two years to go through the mental health graduate program, with sweat, frustrations, tears, laughter and flares of temper, I am seeing how much I had gone through, and I am so much closer to my degree that I could actually 'feel' it in my hands. So, I would say that the longer the gratification is, more rewarding it is, compard to instant gratification. Don't you agree?
P.S.
Some friends say that they write a lot for their blogs and wonder why I don't write much. I have to admit that I don't write much because I had been told that some people are uncomfortable with what I write, exposing what "should be" hidden, and that there are people concerned that if I continue writing, it may endanger my chances as a future mental health therapist, on basis of confidentality and ethics. As it is, there are a lot of things I would like to write about, but I have to decide if I'm willing to take the risk of damaging the potential reputation that I would as a counselor later on, even if information is not related to therapy or counseling at all.
I hadn't yet decided if I will continue writing or stay on 'the surface' because I am still testing the water with my toe, trying to decide if I want to do a 'bomb-dive' or go into the murky water of risk, slowly a bit by bit. So we'll see.
