Skeptickle

I realized that I don’t tend to write a whole lot of personal stuff on this blog, mostly to protect myself against people who don’t/won’t understand or are just plain mean. Fortunately, I recently turned 26 and have developed a thicker skin over the past year so I care less about the approval of others.

I loved this idea from Holly Becker of decor8 because it’s so me. I’m usually neither a glass half-empty nor a glass half-full person because I can see things from both perspectives. I always start out with analyzing one side and then I take a look from the other side too.

Hmm, why are we talking about glasses when we can eat ice cream instead? Num num num...

Half Empty: Our little apartment is a mess and is cluttered due to our rapid accumulation of material possessions in the past year from wedding gifts, Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, etc. Both Rob and I have been very busy this past week so most chores have been neglected. I’d be ashamed to invite anyone over.

Half Full: I can still invite my brother over because he loves me unconditionally, sort of. We’re moving into a place that will accommodate these gifted possessions, or as I’d like to call them “artifacts of love”. I’m also being productive by doing the laundry I’ve put off doing for the past few days. Yay me!

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Half Empty: Our realtor and mortgage broker seem annoyed at us (mostly me) for wanting them to fulfill verbal promises they gave at our first meeting. Also they don’t appreciate me asking too many questions or thinking for myself in this process of buying a home. Rob trusts them and isn’t worried, but (being how I am) I’m more cautious because I know that there’s a fundamental conflict of interest here. I also didn’t appreciate when we were looking at houses that whenever I point out anything negative about them (termites, leaky roofs, ungrounded wires, etc), the realtor would jump in and negate my concerns. Very frustrating.

Half Full: I’m thankful for them anyways. If it wasn’t for our realtor, we most likely wouldn’t have found this house. If it wasn’t for our mortgage broker, we probably wouldn’t have gotten a loan that meets our needs. And best of all, we will be moving into our first house! In a few weeks time this will be all over and I can relax and nest my heart out. I can then plant a garden and fruit trees and have space to make things and fix things. We will be homeowners, which will be fulfilling one of my lifelong dreams.

Half Empty: I haven’t gotten to spend quality time with Rob this week. He’s so busy churning out something for work (and will continue to for next week) and I’m so busy going to various events that we only see each other right before bedtime.

Half Full: We have a dinner date tonight (but then he has to work again afterwards, so bittersweet).

Half Empty: The aunt of the child I’m advocating for is not flexible with scheduling. It makes me feel under-appreciated for volunteering for this. I’m setting aside 9-5 for my internship, it will take me 15-30 minutes depending on traffic to pick her up, and the kid’s bedtime is at 7pm (!!). I was told by the SW that weekends are off-limits. So I only get a little over an hour to spend quality time with the kid during one weekday because the aunt doesn’t want me seeing her twice a week either. Btw, I’m supposed to be volunteering 3 hours a week every week. And there goes my fantasies about taking her to concerts, movies, sporting events, and pretty much anything that takes over an hour to do.

Half Full: I’m grateful to even be in the position to volunteer. Someone Up There has allowed my life to come full circle in order to help a foster child when I once was one myself. I’m glad that no matter how little time I spend with her, it will still be worth it. She is a very sweet kid and reminds me of myself at that age with her black Converse Chuck Taylors and the love of dancing, sports, and creating art. I’m looking forward to being her friend and mentor.

Wow, that whole process of writing things down and ending with happy thoughts has really helped me feel better. I’ll probably continue this exercise during times where I’m feeling down or frustrated about stuff.

How is the glass half-empty and half-full in your life?

Update 1/5: We cleaned the house before the preliminary inspection and the inspection results were favorable. Our mortgage broker and realtor has been extremely helpful and accommodating this week so I’m feeling better about our relationship with them now. I feel bad for the aunt of the child I’m advocating for. She has a lot on her plate with taking care of three kids all of a sudden when she doesn’t have any of her own to teach her how. I hope I can help make some things easier for her. Rob’s still busy but a little less so. I’m looking forward to giving him his Valentine’s gift .