High Expectations

I think it is important to set GOALS in life. This is a task that I try to do periodically--daily, weekly, yearly, and even long term. Personally, I have to write them down or else they become nothing more than vaporizing thoughts in my head that I won't remember thirty minutes after they were birthed. Goals give you something to focus on and something to work towards. Goals are important to have in every aspect of life: relationships, school, career, financial, etc etc etc. In case you can't tell, I am a HUGE advocate of setting goals--even my goals have goals. If you don't have goals, then what are you actually trying to achieve? People tend to meander around life from day to day with no real clear purpose and nothing substantial to strive for and that is just pure sillyness if you ask me. How can you make something of yourself if you don't know your purpose?

Another thought occurred to me during one of my advanced interpersonal communications classes the other day when talking about relationships and such when talking about what attracts people to each other...and I really got to thinking about what I want in a potential mate. Sometimes I see odd couples and I ask myself, "how on earth they found each other!?!" And that is usually followed by, "how on earth am I still single?!?"

Those 2 thoughts made me want to jot down a list.

WHAT JOANNE SLATER IS LOOKING FOR IN A MAN: (please tell me he exists!)

1. Must have a great sense of humor/personality
2. Similar values, beliefs, and morals
3. Proficient ability to hold down an interesting and intellectual conversation
4. Must be attractive and knows how to dress
5. Must be well educated/hard-working/ambitious--makes a reputable income
6. Must want at least 2 and at most 3 kids
7. Open to culture/travel/music/arts/etc
8. Must possess excellent financial skills/decisions
9. Must be inclined to offer spontaneous romantic gestures
10. Not afraid of PDA yet not embarrassing about it
11. Cannot be a mama's boy or hold any weird familial relationships
12. Has to be take charge/good leadership/makes decision
13. Must appreciate and adhere somewhat to health/exercise/good eating
14. Must not smoke or do drugs.
15. Must be able to keep me from getting bored with the relationship
16. Must be supportive/understanding/caring/ unselfish/sensitive
17. Must be willing to humor me from time to time and make me think I am right
18. Must be someone who holds himself to a high standard at everything he does
19. Must be a mans man--into sports, etc
20. Must have irresistible arms
21. Must ask questions about me/show interest in things that I like
22. Be willing to buy me gifts/cards/something for every holiday, birthday, special occasion, and random moments
23. Must be outgoing, and overly confident--on the verge of cocky yet not too over the top

I am sure I am forgetting somethings so I might come back to edit this list later. Some would say I am too "picky" and yes, maybe to some degree they are right. I have high expectations and I am not one to settle. I am approaching 30 at a rapid rate...I am not in a hurry. I would just assume be single forever then to accept less than the best for myself. So far, I haven't come across anyone who I felt I couldn't live without and that's what I am looking for. I want someone to be looking for higher expectations when they find me as well. If I felt someone was settling for me I wouldn't have it...at all.

So I have high expectations? I really don't think so. Just trying to get the most out of life and if the most doesn't exist then I can reason with that because I am happy and content with myself.

Procrastination

So I should be diligently typing my 750 word paper that is due tonight. Actually it is due every single Wednesday night. I usually have about 4 papers per week to complete. This week I also have a presentation, an exam, and volunteer work to add to the mix.

Procrastination is my enemy yet I sit here embracing it's meaning whole heartedly. It is the #1 key to stress in my life and I feel at best when I don't let it creep up from day to day. I like to stay organized...be on top of things. But 750 words? Seriously, that's a lot of nothingness I have to come up with to write about. Such is life.

Mirriam-Webster describes it as:

Main Entry: pro·cras·ti·nate

Pronunciation: \prə-ˈkras-tə-ˌnāt, prō-\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): pro·cras·ti·nat·ed; pro·cras·ti·nat·ing

Etymology: Latin procrastinatus, past participle of procrastinare, from pro- forward + crastinus of tomorrow, from cras tomorrow

Date: 1588

transitive verb : to put off intentionally and habitually (check)

intransitive verb : to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done (check)

It is confirmed, I have a problem and I have been told admitting it is the first step.

Quote Of The Day

Inspired by my last presentation as an undergrad today in my Advanced Interpersonal Communications course on the topic of Attraction:

"Everyone has beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~Confucius

Here is the video I made for the presentation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRmEcqFrna4

Currently Reading

I am currently reading book one of the Sookie Stackhouse books--The True Blood series by Charlaine Harris.

My Preliminary thoughts:

Sookie gets on my nerves. I want to slap her. The book is well-written. I read about a chapter per night so it is not as addictive as Twilight was but it is still good. I like Bill so far but we shall see.

Tip of the day:

NEVER date a man who drives a fancy car. Chances are all his money goes into that car.

This has 2 implications:

1. The more money that he puts in that car means the less money he has to spend on you.

2. This is not the first nor the last horrible financial decision he will make in his life and you don't want to be a part of that mess!

What to do:

GET OUT ASAP!

The Past

Everyone has a past...the good, the bad, and the ugly...everyone has one. We are a product of our environment to some degree. I believe in the "live and learn" philosophy of life along with the "everything happens for a reason."

Everyone wants to cast blame on someone or something for why they are the way they are. It's true, how you are raised and the things that occur in life from the time you are a wee child have a dramatic impact on who you will become. This concept allows many people to end up with a victim mentality. They never try to change who they are even if their flaws hit them in the face every other second.

I don't believe you can be a success if you can't embrace change and you don't try to change the things about yourself that hinder you from making something of yourself. Just because nobody else pushed you to be better, to do better...why can't you push yourself? I believe in the power of overcoming adversities. I believe you can look to heroes and mentors, read inspirational books and music, hanging out with people who will lift you up, belief in something greater than science, etc etc etc can and will empower someone to make the changes they need to change the course of their life and become something greater than what his or her past tells them they should be.

AMBITION

This year has brought on many ambitions in my life and since I usually feel from time to time that my life is a movie/drama I feel I should start documenting this mess...and the thoughts that go on in my head. I feel I have something to say...