Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Principle of Balance

I know I've never been much of a fan, but last week I couldn't help myself. It all started when I revisited a favorite book of mine, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. It's an interesting book to admit to reading because in other peoples eyes it means you are either an over achiever because your favorite book is a self-help book, or an under achiever because you aren't a teen any more and should read the adult version. Just so you know, I have read the non-teen 7 Habits but it is terribly dull and reads like a doctorate paper (no offense Stephen Covey). So as I was reading the part on how to be principle centered and when you feel confused remember your principles and find the one that you need to focus on. Like if you find people don't trust you, work on the principle of honesty. You want to learn to play the guitar in a month, the principle of hard work. If you are feeling worn out and beaten up by life, the principle of balance. This last one almost screamed at me. I was feeling completely worn out, and it was all my fault because I had been so focused on school that I hadn't taken out the time to do anything else except watch tv at the end of the day because I was to completely exhauseted to do anything else. So in an endeavor to be more balanced Mentally, Physically, Spiritually, and socially I made goals for the next day. I would eat a healthy breakfast, read my scriptures, and call my sisters to see about having a girls night out.
Well, that week happened to be the opening week of New Moon and of course that would be what they were doing. Knowing full well what I was setting myself up for I called my sister Britta and asked if it was possible if I could get a ticket and go see the movie with them. She said sure and she would get me one. So I planned to go up friday and spend some quality time with my sisters. The next morning (Thursday morning, I procrastinate) I realized I didn't know what time we were getting together and I texted my sister about the movie. Here's how it went:
Me: Hey I was wondering what time is the movie
Britta. Midnight
Me: Tonight
Britta: yep
Britta: is that a problem?
If you can believe it, I was actually excited. I love going to opening night movies and over the past few years I haven't been able to because I've been working every thursday night. I love going to opening nights so much, I even dress up for it. When Star Wars I first came out I remember going with my mom and wearing a starwars T-shirt that I had found at DI. I've worn a witch hat to many a Harry Potter movie. And I even put on elf ears for going to see Lord of the Rings. I'm not a fanatic about any of these movies, in fact I don't think I own any of them, it just fun. Unfortunately this time I didn't dress up, I didn't have enough time to prepare, but to be honest I don't know what I would have worn. I was so excited until I was brought back to reality and realized I had a test the next day, one that I was not at all prepared for. I contemplated not going but the fact that I wasn't doing anything like this on a regular basis was the reason that I wasn't ready. I had studied, but it was tired studying, the kind where you read a paragraph over and over and over again. So I decided I would go, I would just have to study at the same time too. The more I thought about it the better I felt. I could study while we were waiting in line for the movie. Plus my sisters have always been very good at helping me study for tests and I've done well on every one that they have helped me with. So that night Annicka, Britta, Brittany (the neighbor who practically is one of my sisters) and I went to the movie (Selina who I love, wouldn't be caught dead there). So we went to the theater at about 8:00 pm, got our ticket and our bracelet that marks our spot in line, and went to the Layton Hills mall. There we visited with Selina who was working at the Popcorn Cottage, Britta showed me a coat that she had been wanting to get and looked great on her, and Matt and Annicka met up with us. It was fun hanging out with my sisters and walking around the mall, something I haven't done in years. Then we went and found our spot in line where my sisters proceeded to help me study. I admit I wasn't to terribly into studying at that point in time, but they helped me anyway. Then we were taken into the theater where we were seated and I, without warning, manifested my age. I feel asleep. I have never fallen asleep in a theater before, even when I have wanted to. But there I was sacked out, thankful that the noise of the theater was too loud for anyone but my sisters to notice that I was snoring. But I didn't miss the movie because when it started there was a loud applause, it was like my own personal alarm clock. My sister had a large caffeinated soda which she offered me and I took advantage of so that I could at least stay awake through the previews (my favorite part of any movie). I have to admit, the movie wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It could just be that sleep deprivation made the movie less cheesey to me, but it seemed like an ok movie. Sure Edward looks like a heroine addict and Bella talks only into peoples necks. Even among the screams of young and middle aged women every time a guy took off his shirt, there were some sweet moments and even a few whitty lines. In all it was a good night, even though I was completely tired. And just so you know, that test was the highest test score I've gotten in this class all semester.
Neck Talker:

Close talker:

3 comments:

Carolanne said...

I love that book! In fact, I think you were the one who got me to read it. Balance is such a hard principle to achieve sometimes, but it is so important. Congratulations on the fun night out and awesome test score!

Brittany said...

Oh Ann Marie you are hilarious! I'm so glad you got a girls night with your sisters, and what a girls night to choose! :) About the movie, I was surprised at how many women over the age of 45 were screaming over the 17 year old. (But you have to admit that he is hot. :) And I am so glad someone finally agrees with me that Edward looks sickly...not at all how I pictured him in the book. Oh well! Next time you need some balance, call me and we'll get together! Are you guys coming to Bry's open house on the 13th?

Crystal said...

I need to go back to the 7 habits for teens, I never made it all the way through but what I did read was awesome. And its funny you were reluctant about new moon...I have a love/hate relationship with those books (guiltily love the first 3, absolutely loathe the last one) and though I mildly liked the 1st movie, this one was better. And yeah, Edward is NOT cute. Jacob though...but I've always been a biceps girl. :)