(no subject)

[hummingwolf]

For some reason, I woke up thinking about a conversation I had in college, sometime after my health problems began but before I had to drop out of school. The man I was speaking with was someone who seemed to me to be fairly bold and adventurous, traveling around the world (including some places which, if not exactly terrorist hot spots at the time, were at least warmer than most tourists would like) for pleasure and profit, that sort of thing.

Anyway, the conversation meandered to a discussion of the classes I was taking that semester, which included the usual courses in linguistics (my major), psychology (part of my "supporting area" (the school didn't have "minors")), and a design course in the art department.

"Why are you taking the art course?" he asked. "That's not required for your major, is it?"

"No."

"Is art something you do professionally?"

"No, I've never made a living at it. This class isn't very easy, either..."

After a while I finally got through to him the idea that I was taking the class for fun, just because I wanted to. He was shocked. He was amazed. He thought I was incredibly courageous for taking a class I didn't have to take when it could easily lower my grade point average. I thought it was kinda bizarre that he thought taking a class could be an act of courage.

Then again, it's amazing sometimes how much courage people need in order to be themselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

New stuff in my life: Two new housemates moved in this week, which fills the house quota for female tenants. Now all we need is to find 3 men whom we all think we can live with. Also new is an orange-and-white striped pavilion that's sprung up in the woods behind the house 2 houses down the street. Music comes out of it on occasion, though so far it's mostly been soporific (Why oh Why does it have to be Smooth Jazz?).

There were other things I wanted to talk about, but I'm too tired to say anything interesting. For a few days there I even managed to lose my sense of humor, though it seems to be slowly crawling back to me. Blah. I'll be glad when the weather cools down enough for me to get a decent night's sleep.

Comments

[meretia]

Never can tell what people will be impressed by. I was told I was brave to fly to Europe commercially these days. My Dad's been flying our family around since before I was born in his little single-engine planes. It was a bloody treat to be in an airplane with food and bathrooms. And a gal I know who works for a wildlife rescue park says that it's no big thing for her to deal with these poor traumatized leopards and things that hate people because after all, someone has to do it.

But geesh. There are times that you have to take an extra class whether you need it or not. Part of college is learning about things you enjoy, or new things that might be challenging. Doing just the basic requirements is dull.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

I know there were lots of times I had to take classes unrelated to my major just to keep things itneresting. Heck, there was one semester where I felt like I was reading the same textbook three times, the classes were so similar--so I signed up for a criminal justice class 'cos it had nothing to do with anything (and 'cos the beekeeping class was too early in the morning for me).

[skygypsy.livejournal.com]

hee. amusing irony that adventure boy not so adventurous. ;)

makes me think about courage tho.

like mystic penguin with flying, my family moved a lot geographically when i was growing up, so when i graduated college i thought nothing of moving to a new city for a job without knowing anyone there. but many people couldn't believe i would move somewhere that i didn't know anyone... they thought i was so brave, and i found that odd.

dunno whether we should use such awareness to appreciate our actions and give ourself credit. or hope that we inspire others.

or maybe it is only courage when we do something despite our fears of failing and unknowns...

interesting idea...

good luck w/the new roomies :)

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Even if it's only courage when we do something despite our fears, a current lack of fear may be the result of some long-forgotten courageous act in our past. Or maybe not. But yeah, we can hope we'll inspire others just as others inspire us.

Thanks for wishing me luck with the roomies. One of them was busy cleaning the downstairs bathroom yesterday, so I think she'll work out all right. :-)