Music Cleanses

It should be noted that music is a way to speak to me. It feels like a song can say so much more than the words alone. With the lyrics, the music, the complete package working together to bring you something undeniably perfect… it’s pure magic.

There are quite a few authors who have enraptured me and captured my heart through their gift of song. I haven’t really been captured in quite some time, but find myself going back to the good ol’ favourites, such as:

•          Muse, “Hysteria,”
•           Kate Voegele, “Wish You Were,”
•           Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”
•           Paramore, “Still into You”
•           Guns N Roses, “Sweet Child of Mine”
•           Etta James, “At Last”
•           Cake, “Love You Madly”
•           Lady Gaga, “Poker Face”

And the list goes on…

Clearly each of these songs have completely different sounds, but each of them speaks to me… about love, loss, the effect of a taking a chance, and then just…being.

Each song reminds me of what it feels like to live. To be a part of a greater universe. Each of these songs changed my life, among thousands of other songs.

Music can be life-changing.  

These songs have the ability to change my mood in a complete 180-type way. Without them, I probably would find myself with a loss for words most of the time while I’m writing. Without these songs, I probably would have given up on love a long time ago. Without these words and the music behind them, movies would be boring. Without the sound to fill the silence… the silence would become deafening.

Music defeats the silence.

Music changes you.

Music is so much more than just music.

What songs speak to you?

A Journalist is an Amalgam

These past few months have been some of the most difficult in my entire lifetime. They’ve been loaded with so many ups and downs that I should consider becoming a professional rollercoaster tester (if only heights didn’t scare me). One of my main things I’ve been trying to work through is acquiring a new job. I know we’ve all heard the saying before, “It’s easier to find a job when you have one,” but let me just tell you, it’s been a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.

A little background for you… I’m currently in transition at my current job. The project I’m working for is coming to an end, and I’ve spent a good deal of time chasing new opportunities within my company and outside of it; however, what I’ve noticed is no one is actually in need of my soft skill set. I have been marketing myself as a “Great communicator with a diverse background,” but what folks really want and need is a computer developer or programmer.

I’ve never had an interest in computers outside of word processing, Googling, and the occasional blog posting. Computers in my lifetime have become relatively prominent in the last few years, so prominent that most jobs are now requiring some kind of computer degree or background. This is completely understandable, but then leaves folks like me out in the dust without a hope in the world.

However, I think companies are foolish to think that my journalism background is a blow-off degree... and before you ask me why I say that, here:

Don’t companies need a valuable communicator anymore to help share the message of their great work in the computer industry? 

Don’t companies need a person who is great at researching, getting to the bottom of an issue, or even selling something that folks don’t necessarily want or need?

Don't companies who promote their business in their industry need someone who can learn everything and anything they can without being prompted to do so? This means they can stay relevant in an age like the one we live.

I’m frustrated right now, but that's not the point of today's article. I'm mostly making a stand for my degree and background. I'm a great communicator, and here’s why…

I went to school to be a journalist. About halfway through my education, the internet was on a rise and the “information age” began… but what no one told me was that the need for a journalist would be in decline… so much so that it was one of the industries that was hurt the hardest in the great recession. After all, anyone on Twitter nowadays can be a journalist, right?

Wrong!

This falsification of my field is completely wrong and has led me down a path that there’s really no turning back now. When employers see a degree in journalism they immediately think of the lack of trust and lack of true and good researched information, but merely focus on the fluffy candor that news organizations like Fox spout about. Let me tell you something… A true and trained journalist such as myself not only has the ability to formulate a story, but they can research, absorb information, and jellyfish it into anything you need that information to be.

A journalist is an amalgam.

A journalist is power.

A journalist is someone you want, no wait, need working for you.

I hope the next time an employer checks out my resume, they see all the great things I’ve accomplished while working in the professional world these last four years, but also realize this… My journalism degree tells you I can learn and do anything. Any. Thing. There’s nothing I will shy away from learning, as long as I’m given the opportunity to do so. 

A bit of Arithmancy

Some of my NEWT work I did about analyzing my name. I know... myHogwarts is not real, but ya know what... it's real for us. Enjoy!

Character – 4

Heart – 6

Social – 7

As we learned in our OWL year, the character number represents the overall picture of a person; therefore, it’s derived from adding all of the letters in a person’s name together. After doing my math, and checking my work because let’s face it, math is not my strong point, I find that my character number is a 4. I suppose this is rather accurate. I’m a rather stable individual, and don’t have the tendency to budge on, well, anything. If I have a goal in mind, I will go the distance until I can achieve my goal. (Which is why I guarantee you, I was never going to drop out of mH *wink*) Unfortunately, a downside to me is I’m extremely predictable and far too logical, unless my emotional side takes over and I become pessimistic (which you’ll see pops up later on :lol: )… Lastly, I can admit this openly and without much shame, but I am extremely suspicious that everyone else is out to get me most of the time because I’m far too trusting, therefore, it could lead to my stubbornness about change at times. My practical side shows well when I need it to protect me from people who may hurt me. Overall, I believe I exhibit the 4 far too much.

My heart number is derived from adding the vowels, and therefore, leads me to being a 6. At first, I was a bit shocked let me just say, but then I read about the 6 and realized that it is totally me. My family is my most important part of who I am, without them, I would just be a number 1. In my heart I know that I am fiercely loyal, extremely loving, and when it comes to most things I am adaptable to change. Unfortunately, as we learned a bit earlier, I am stubborn, so I may joke about not wanting to change, but really, I mostly go with the flow and never really let anything actually get me down. If someone in my family or even my friendship circle needed something and I could provide it, I would do everything in my power to do so. Which, as you have seen here on mH, is exhibited through my constant need to please in my homework and offer my help where needed whenever I possibly can. I’ve also had a very successful career in writing and law, but so far, find the business world to be tedious and awful. Lastly, it’s unfortunate that it’s a quality of mine, but I am a gossip. Although, I can say that my loyalty side takes over more than anything, and if trusted with secrets, I do not share them unless it’s specified who I could possibly share it with. After reviewing the 6 and its qualities, I can tell you with confidence, that I am definitely a 6.

Ah the social number, derived from adding the consonants together, and in my case, I am a 7. This happens to be my lucky number. Score! In fact, it’s also known as the luckiest of numbers, so let’s see how it lines up with me, shall we? I love challenges, and challenges where I learn something in the end are even better. Suffice to say, I’ve always been able to pick up things rather quickly, and feel confident that I do things correct after just a few times of doing them. I have a wild, sometimes untamable, imagination that can only be shared through writing, painting, dancing, or photography, among many of my other hobbies. I don’t put a lot of value in money, and even find the fact that we need it to survive in this world tedious. Money isn’t going to buy me happiness, and therefore, I find it a nuisance. However, I do realize that I need it to survive, so will continue to work for it, but hopefully doing something that I love to do and that uses my creative side. Sarcasm is how I live, survive, go through the day; and as the famous Paramore song says, “For a pessimist, I’m rather optimistic.”

After reviewing the numbers related to my name, I find them to be rather accurate. In fact, after going through the exercise of analyzing them, I can see a pattern has arisen: I am happy, successful, and don’t put a lot of value in relationships that are passing. I suppose these three numbers wind me up in a nice bow quite well.

Getting perty and snacks

Peppermint Mocha

My favorite drink at Starbucks is a peppermint mocha. It's got my two favorite things: peppermint and chocolate.

Drinking one is not only delicious, but oddly refreshing.

I akin my life to the peppermint mocha. I feel like I am typically the person who brings perspective to my circle. The kind that most folks desperately need. I am torn, though, on my effectiveness just as I feel not quite the same.

I feel like I don't have enough chocolate to your peppermint, and the soy milk may be old... it's a different feeling, and one I'm not quite sure I enjoy.

Peppermint Mocha use to mean Christmas and the holiday season has come... but now that it's available year round, I feel like I need a new drink... something fresh, not well known, and only available on occasion.

Is this how I should feel?

The day after

Today I called you crying...

I don't feel worthy, I feel

Empty.

I don't feel worth time, or energy, and definitely feel like my world isn't mine anymore.

I want something more...
You're content.

Where do I go from here?

Christmastime

Inviting days have become so lonely. Christmas didn't feel like Christmas today... in fact, I was glad when it was finally over.

I feel like we're all grown and past the age where Santa Claus would get us excited, and in need of fresh perspective. Christmas should mean time spent with family... it should mean quality time with family.

But something has changed. I can't quite put my finger on it, but Christmas is not the same. Christmas needs a fresh perspective in my life and the people around me. Christmas needs a change.