On being a better self.

I often joke that being a stellar employee is the only role at which I have never failed spectacularly. It's true though. I would be mortified at work if I didn't bring my A game and a boss called me out on it. So why, then, am I so willing to accept mediocrity in other areas of my life? Why is it OK to let myself down but not others?

These are deep thoughts for this lunch hour. I'm thinking I'm going to actively need to work on this though. I hope it's an achievable goal to do things simply because they are right and good for me or my family. I hope that's not too much to ask in this lifetime.

Now with more white space!

Oh dear. Forgive me blogger for I have sinned. It has been one month since my last confession post. I don't know what to say. Literally.

I guess I'll start with this: Go America! Apparently we all, or, well, 53% of us at least, managed to come together and elect Barack Obama president only because of the color of his skin. Furthermore, it is so clear, and has been since the dawn of time, that John McCain was purposely trying to lose this election (hello, Sarah Palin?!?) because why in the hell would the Republicans want to go in and mop up W's mess?

In other news, I've been spending some of my non-blogging internet hours perusing the web-rantings of Bitter Republicans. Because they're HI-larious. Seriously, Bitter Republicans? He was only elected because he was black?? What do y'all suppose we should call that phenomenon--reverse racism? And John McCain purposely foiled his own chances of winning? Really? Was it all just a publicity stunt to drum up a little business for Joe the Plumber?

All sarcasm aside, I truly am very excited about the results of the election. I've always kept myself an arm's length away from politics. It always felt to me that politics bred angry and narrow-minded passion in some people, and sparred the kinds of arguments that lower my comfort level to somewhere close to steel wool rubbing on bare skin. I simply can't handle opinion-based debate. So you like wine and I like beer, who the hell cares? No amount of you spouting made-up "Anheuser Busch eats babies" statistics is going to change my palate. So let's shut up and drink already. But I digress.

It's not that I don't have political opinions, it's just that I form them and then keep them to myself. I've always seen politics as a necessary evil. But this time around, I must admit, I really got into it! For the first time I really felt some of that passion. It wasn't a my-side-is-better-than-your-side passion, but more of a yearning to be part of something great. I can't really explain it. I just wanted to get involved.

In any case, it's late and I'm rambling. It's time for me to turn in.

[Upon a quick re-read of what I've written, I feel the need to elaborate on two points, because I know that tone is hard to gauge through writing. 1) I do not believe that all republicans are bitter about the results of the election; I was simply referring to a specific few who made some ridiculous comments that I read. 2) I also do not believe that all people who are passionate are angry and narrow-minded. That is simply not the case. ]