A Sign

You know, I am beginning to believe in fate. I will explain.

Now, I've always believed that things work out. If they haven't worked out then the story isn't over yet. I believe that still but now I also believe that events, opportunities lead me to 'the good' through greater self understanding. What I'm unsure of though is whether this fate exists only in the extent that I perceive of it - that through fate I organize the world around me - that it exists or whether fate exists outside of my perception. So, the question is, if I didn't think about it would events still lead me to greater self understanding and would help me? Or rather does it only exist because I internalize and reflect upon the world and my reflections are so significant that I cannot imagine it if I had not come upon them so therefore the events that facilitated them must have been meant to occur?

I have been thinking a lot about fate recently because it has just been amazing - beautiful - how the events and opportunities have lined up.

Here is only one example:
Today it was too windy for me to eat outside as I usually like to so I grabbed my lunch from my car and returned to the capitol cafeteria. There were several empty table but none of them were the small four-person ones so I sat at a very long one for ten people. I sat and started to eat, people watching and perusing the next chapter of Exploring the Heritage of American Higher Education. I am a social creature though so when I saw a man that I work with through the Utah System of Higher Education sitting down by himself nearby I said hello and started to pack up to join him. Cordially, he came over, said hello, asked me how I was doing, and asked for an update. He commented that he was being joined by a few other men for 'business,' suggesting that I couldn't join him, but he was very friendly. He left and I returned content to reading and watching.

Three girls came and joined me. They were from a school group and asked if they could join me. I talked to them for a few minutes, finding out that they were in seventh grade and learning about their career aspirations (an lawyer, a vet that will be a firefighter to pay for vet school, and a photographer and pilot for the air force). A few of their friends joined them slowly and they joined in the conversation. We talked about their lunches (one boy had homemade doughnut holes another girl had slim jims, they swapped) and about their impression of the capitol (lots of marble and interesting).

Soon I was surrounded by a dozen seventh graders. The girl that will be a photographer and pilot asked me how I felt being surrounded by "a bunch of seventh graders." I loved it. I wouldn't have traded their personalities, attitudes, and conversation for any other company in the cafeteria.

It completely changed my day. After I left the table, giving up my seat to another boy, I thought of how much I enjoyed talking with them. I thought of how lucky I was that they joined me. It came at the perfect timing as I've been thinking a lot about teaching and confirmed for me again that that is exactly what I want to do. And teach I believe I will even though one boy cautioned me against teaching because of what the kids are like that I would work with, kids like them. I told him and all of my young friends that they are worth it.

And for you, what do you think of fate?

The Week in Review

February 19th - February 26th

Road trip down to Dixie with Mom to film for my documentary
Listened to Mike Lee in the Senate (evil genius!)
Met with Mario Capeechi
Government Relations Board Meeting
Informally interviewed by Dr. Dan Jones to TA for him this summer and in the fall
Caught Rep. John Dougall's sneaky move with regard to the bill "Higher Education Governance"
Entertained by "Western Day" in the Senate. (Included Western Dress, two musical numbers, and St. George's mayor reciting a poem about the pioneers!)
Enjoyed "Emma" by Pioneer Memorial Theatre
Listened to Orrin Hatch in the Senate
Submitted research paper proposal examining higher education policy making as a result of different perspectives about the purpose of higher education
Ate delicious Indian food (Butternut Squash!) with new friends
Went to the movie theatre and watched The Vow with roomate Lindsay
Edited documentary
Researched higher education purpose and policy making.

Next: Tennis.
Looking ahead: Two weeks of the legislative session left.

Have a grand day.

3 simple steps to a happier life

I've never been one to wait for my life. I don't like waiting to get work done, waiting for opportunities, or waiting for my life to improve. I must have an active role in my life and I accept fully the responsibility that I have for my own happiness. So, in that line of thought, here are some of the things that I have done this week (or today) to make my life a little less stressful and a little bit better.
1. Write a thank you card every night. It is the last thing that I do before I go to bed and it is a wonderful way to end the day - full of gratitude. I have lots of people in my life to thank so it will take me a while.
2. Zumba. I went to Zumba tonight with a good friend that I have met through work. I enjoyed it so much that I decided that I deserved to go back so I bought a 10 class pass. Wonderful stress relief.
3. Off of facebook. While there are many benefits to facebook (family, good friends, photo sharing, student groups) I felt that overall facebook was a negative contribution in my life. I felt that I check it too often and saw too easily what everyone else in the world was up to. There is no need for that. I am already enjoying being off of it and it is funny when people comment that they noticed.
Well, life can be difficult and it is difficult. Paradise is a place in your mind though, and it is your job to obtain it the best you can.
(Now, I challenge you to find three simple ways that you can make your life better. Post them in the comments!)

Mid-week Legislative Update: Taiwan and Sarah Palin

Hello all.

I just couldn't save these two notes for the end of the week.
1. Yesterday and today I've been wearing my glasses, sometimes on top of my head and sometimes using them to better see the projected presentations. The first time Dave saw me wearing them he asked me if they were new, if I always wore glasses or if I usually wore contacts, and then commented that it was a "Sarah Palin look." Oh geez. I guess I can't wear them anymore.
2. Check out if you get a chance SJR2. I had to read the bill once I saw the title: "Joint Resolution on Taiwan." That's right, Taiwan. What could Utah have to say about Taiwan? Here is the general description from the bill: "This joint resolution of the Legislature urges the Obama Administration to take a specific action to support Taiwan's meanginful participation in the United Nations and to support sales of F-16 C/D series fighter jets to Taiwan." Thank you, Utah.

Onward.

The Second Weekly Legislative Report

More things that I have noted about the legislature (and myself):

1. I started to organize some of my thoughts this week as though they were a bill. I think I've been reading a lot of bills, what do you think?
2. Everyone I work with is very intelligent and they are excellent at quickly thinking of how to react to a situation. However, it does not seem that they consider very often whether what they are working on will be good or will have an impact. The implications of decisions and actions are rarely considered beyond the political ramifications and the fiscal notes.
3. I have greatly improved in my ability to parallel park.
4. Many at the capitol do not trust college students. Including the academic lobbyists that I work with, sadly. They don't want to be held "responsible" for the actions of students that seek to make higher education a priority with the legislature.
5. There is a new intern at the commissioner's office and we are now sharing a cubicle. He was at the last Utah System of Higher Education team meeting and we made introductions. I introduced myself as "Ali Sadler, we share a cubicle" since before the meeting he had actually already introduced himself and we had figured out that we would be working together. Dave immediately asked Greg (the new intern) if he was married. Greg somehow responded that he was not and Dave commented that we should date to the amusement of all of the male legislative liaisons that we work and meet with. Excuse me? Who says I'm interested? Although it was teasing, like Dave then apologized for as being inappropriate, I was not amused. Yeesh.
6. Not everyone thinks that education only has economic merit, thankfully. University of Utah President Pershing commented in a presentation to the Higher Education Appropriation Subcommittee, "I don't want you to get the impression that we only concerned with the economic impacts. Our priority is educating."
7. I should likely sleep and eat more.
8. Legislative interns aren't extremely warm to lobbyist interns (like me). But lobbyist interns sure get along well and I met this week the intern for the Canyons School District. She does nearly exactly the same thing that I do - what with attending committee meetings and tracking legislation - and she was very nice.

Well, on to a weekend to relax (and work on my documentary)!