Be Interesting! and BLOG!

So now I'm averaging about three posts a month. Not bad for a beginner... right?

Apparently wrong.

Russell Davies "teaches" us that you should be doing so much more blogging (and other creative activities) in his blog post, "How to be Interesting." There are two main theories associated with it- Be interested and share with others. Easy enough, right?

I never knew how much time it took to be interesting. I thought that my quirks were good enough tools. However, I suppose these are rules for how the uninteresting becomes interesting.

I think that many of the suggestions he makes is very interesting. A lot of it has to do with getting out into the world and seeing what others take for granted. I believe that taking a camera with you everywhere you go and photographing something each day would be a great idea. With a camera in my hand, I feel transformed and I tend to see the beauty in what I used to think mundane.

The magazine suggestion is interesting as well. Everyone knows that it is good to be a well-rounded person, but the more you learn and discover, the more you have to talk to people about. The better you connect to a person the more they like you (and perhaps think you're interesting). Besides, there is so much in this world that you will never see and never learn if you didn't put in a bit of effort, and how much time does it take to read a magazine? An hour maybe? Great to do on any commute. You might even find a new interest or passion.

These are only two suggestions that I thought I would comment about, but there are others that are equally interesting. The funny thing is, everything comes back to suggestion number 2: Blog. Share. Get your point of view out there. Even if no one is reading it, writing it on paper makes substance to your thoughts. They are put down in an orderly manner (sometimes) and are made more clear than if you just kept them in your head. It is also good practice in conversing. The more you write, the easier it will be to talk... perhaps even about something that you written. And wouldn't it be cool if someone subscribed to your blog? People who actually care about what you say. Now, that's nice.

The Tipping Point

Almost more interesting than The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell's ideas would be the discussions that I have found that surrounded it. I first received my copy from Amazon about a month ago, and it immediately struck me as familiar. I started to read and I knew that I never read the book before, because the concept of a tipping point was very new to me, however I could not shake that I have seen it before. What I thought was that I had it at home and I wasted my money.

Well, it turns out that I did have the book at home, or practically, but I would not call the book a waste of money. I spotted it this summer in my sister's apartment. It seemed interesting to me, but I never picked it up. I asked it about it the last time I was home. She told me that she thought the facts were really interesting and we entered in a discussion. My friend Amy was with me, thought she mostly observed the conversation.

I went back and continued to read. I have since starting the book I have referenced it a few times in conversation. My sister is responsible for over 200 people in her Team In Training group for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and she informed me that according to research that people are not comfortable in groups of more than 150 people. After 150, communication breaks down. She uses that as the reason she is having difficulties. I've actually have had discussions with my friends on who the connector of the group is. (In college, I think there are a bunch of different connectors. You are constantly meeting different people through different groups/organizations. However, my friend Sara turns out to be a big connector.) Also, I was thinking about those people who know tons of information and try to share it with the world. Their main reason for sharing information is to help, but their information is so well researched that you take their advice almost 100% of the time. I have one of those people in my family. My grandpa is always researching, especially about technology and medical advances, and whatever he sends you, you should look into. He is usually right. Things he has been talking about 10 years ago are now common day. He just has a knack and the research to know what works.

All-in-all I believe that The Tipping Point is a very thought provoking book. Its not only one of those books that you look smart if you mention in an interview, but a book that is easy enough to remember in order to use it in your daily life, as well as a way to think about life. For anyone who has not yet picked up the book, you should. It was the best $10 that I have spent in "textbooks."

Sick Days for College Students?

What should one do while they are sick?

I guess the best answer would be to get better, pronto. But sometimes you just cannot shake that cold, or that illness that is more than a cold. And then what do you do?

Well, I am sick. If you saw me right now you would know. I might as well be walking around campus with this neon sign over my head screaming, "Approach at your own risk." What is worse is that not only am I exhausted, I also have to sound like a frog if I attempt to speak. Believe me, its quite impressive during class participation. I am the new Kermet.

I would stay in bed and eat soup all day, watch cheezy movies and sleep... however, my life does not stop because I'm sick. I'm searching for a job, hopefully one in which will gain me experience in the hospitality industry, as well as applying for internships. I can't give up a week or more of my time "getting better" when my financial situation is not improving and the deadlines for internships are breathing down my neck. Honestly, I believe the stress of it all is just making me feel worse.

So, I'm doing the best that I can. I am still going to my 8:30 class even when I want to break my alarm for waking me up. I am going to bed early (though it's still not enough). And I'm doing research and homework when I can. I suppose that is all I can do for now.