An Update on Life

Some days I feel a bit sad. I have some friends who are doing epic life things. I have two friends gallivanting all over South America, a dear friend falling madly in love with both her research and a swarthy Frenchman in Paris, and several friends studying at universities whose names anyone would recognize.

And what do I have?

Some days, I feel as if I made a huge mistake deciding to teach here in Oklahoma. Some days, I feel like a failure at life.

But most days, I am pretty sure I have the best life ever.

First, I live in Oklahoma, one of the most boring states in the entire country. No one expects anything of this state, which is how I like it. I have dreams, people, dreams for my state. OKC is going places! It is getting bigger. It will be, so I hope, the new NYC of America!

Second, I teach. And boy do I teach. I spend so much time doing this. I love teaching. I hate teaching. My students both bring me exuberant joy and the worst despair. In a slight way, I think it is like having kids (only you don't have to do half as much work, I know, I know). But, that moment when you give that student who always seems to fail a test and you just hope with all your heart that she will do well. Ugh. It gets me every time. These kids mean so much to me and for no apparent reason except I teach them for a few hours every week. Strange. Oh and they have given me great stories! So many blog posts could be written about what they say, but alas, along with stories, they give me the homework I assign. And grading is pretty much the worst thing ever. Maybe I should just stop assigning homework...

Third, Jesus. I was going to put this first, but then I felt cliched so I put it third. But I still feel cliched. Anyway, I have a great church that I am involved in. (Banjos make worship better!). And, I am involved in planting a new church too. What? Yeah, City Pres. It's going to be even more awesome (i.e. banjo + cowbell).

Fourth, I play music. So, I have this uber talented friend who plays music with me. We almost jam (I am still not good enough to jam). It is like I get music lessons for free. Of course, I am about as gifted at music as a fish is at underwater basket-weaving above water. But, no matter, I love it and I have been so taken with the banjo that I may never stop. It is not a habit...it's cool. Furthermore, I have an assortment of other instruments including a dobro, which is awesome and super hard to play (Shout out to sister for the epic birthday gift).

Fifth, I read. I love reading so much. Right now, I am reading the Wheel of Time series. It is fourteen long books long. I am slightly addicted and my social life is suffering. Blame Alex Kelley.

Sixth, I have three coffee shops (all independently owned!) where I sit and think about any independent thing. I have two corporately owned ones where I sit and think about corporate things. Note: I still switch cooperate and corporate. Sigh.

Seventh, I run. Okay, so I just got over my epic battle with the three week long virus, and went for a short run today and realized I couldn't run at all anymore, but for the most part, I have been doing p90x and running regularly and it has been great. Next summer, my goal is the marathon at Marathon.

So, that's my life. Sure, it doesn't sound epic or have the words "death-defying," "international," or "romantic" in the them. But, it is my life.

And I like it just fine.