The Life of Bon: What amazes me

Sunday, January 12, 2014

What amazes me



Leggings:  Chicnova  Cardigan: Chicnova.  (I also love it in cream)  
Boots:  Old Navy  Undertee: Downeast Outfitters
I am absolutely in love with these pleather leggings.  I have wanted leather pants for a while but haven't wanted to spend the money, so these leggings are the perfect compromise.  They are just as comfortable as normal leggings but with just a little bit of edge on them.  I'm in love!  The boots are compliments of Greg as part of my Christmas gift.  The man has good taste.

I want to thank you all for your love and comments on Friday's post.  That post had been floating around in my head for close to a year and it took me that long to gather my thoughts, find an appropriate way to write about it, and work up the bravery to air that all out on the internet.  You have all been so kind about it. My main point I wanted to get across through writing the post is that we are all deeply flawed human beings.  No one has a perfect marriage or an easy life regardless of what it may look like on blogs, instagram or facebook.  The best things in life take a lot of work, love, and sacrifice.

---

Yesterday I finished a book.

Winter has its downfalls, there is no doubt about it, but one thing I will always thank winter for is the power it has to send me into complete hibernation mode.  I am high energy and antsy by nature, always having to be on the go, seeing someone, doing something.  I generally like this about myself, but sometimes it is exhausting. Spring and summer make it even worse.  I am wrought with guilt if I stay inside when the weather is nice.  I can't read today!  It's too beautiful!  No time for movies!  I must be outside!  Beautiful days make the ants in my pants start crawling full force and there is no time for relaxation and long mornings in bed and cuddles and pjs.  The sun is shining!

Which is why sometimes I am glad for January. There is something beautiful about holing up in a warm home with a book and hot chocolate and a six pound toy poodle.  Yesterday morning I woke up about 9. (Oh Saturdays!)  I haven't been feeling 100% well this week, so I let go of any guilt or nagging pressure I had to get up and get stuff done and allowed myself to stay in bed.  It's winter after all, and what better way to spend a Saturday morning then under the covers?  I picked my book from off my desk stand and next thing I knew it was noon and I was done with the book.

Thank you January, for that.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit that the book I finished was We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver.  Embarrassed because this was the book club selection (that I host!) for December and because I finished it on January 11.  I'm a crummy host if I finish the book half way through the next month, but I at least finished it eventually so... half credit?

I am glad I finished it.  I wasn't going to.  The first 100-150 pages were so slow.  I couldn't connect to the main character.  She uses many many words to say would could easily be said in a few words.  I was bogged down.

But at the insistence of some of you blog readers, I finished.  Many of you commented (on my pitiful excuse for a book discussion) that you wanted more discussion of the book and wanted to hear my thoughts on the end.  (For more complete thoughts on the book with spoilers, check out my comments on this post.)

The part of the book, interestingly enough, that struck me the most was the main character's description of what "amazed" her.  She talks about the deterioration of our world, how we hear about rapes and murders and child pornography on the news and we're not even surprised by it anymore.  We're almost used to it- so desensitized to the evil that we hardly bat an eye.  In her words:

“Holocausts do not amaze me. Rapes and child slavery do not amaze me. And Franklin, I know you feel otherwise, but Kevin does not amaze me. I am amazed when I drop a glove in the street and a teenager runs two blocks to return it. I am amazed when a checkout girl flashes me a wide smile with my change, though my own face had been a mask of expedience. Lost wallets posted to their owners, strangers who furnish meticulous directions, neighbors who water each other's houseplants - these things amaze me.” 

There is so much negativity, hate and misery in this world.  But there is just as much beauty and goodness, too.  This is what deserves the attention and the spotlight. That's what I want to focus on and celebrate in 2014.  I'm want spend more time being amazed at people's goodness.

About a week before Christmas it snowed all day long.  Looking outside my classroom, I knew a good 6-8 inches had dropped.  When I walked out to my car, a fellow teacher had cleared the snow off of the front and back windows of all the cars in faculty parking so we wouldn't have to.

Greg drove me to Price last Friday night for my little sister's open house on his one night off from performing.  It is about a two hour drive from where we live.  On the way back the canyon was closed because of an accident, and we had to take a detour, making our drive home over three hours.  He never once complained or acted annoyed.

One morning over Christmas break, staying at Greg's parents house, my father in law spent a morning searching for my car keys so he could change my oil while I slept in.

A co worker dropped by my room the day before Christmas with a bubble bath set.  "A student gave this to me... I never take baths, and I know you love them so I thought I'd give it to you instead..."

A missionary who I served with in Argentina sent me the nicest Christmas card out of the blue.  I haven't seen her since we served together five years ago and have had limited correspondence with her via facebook and instagram since.  The card was sincere and heartfelt and made me cry.

I stopped by my mom's house unexpectedly one Friday night a few weeks ago.  She was popping popcorn for eleven grand children that she was babysitting so my siblings and their spouses could go out for the night.

These are the kind of things I want to spend my time being amazed by.

Happy Monday, folks.  I hope you find some beauty and kindness in this most cruel of weekdays.

34 comments:

  1. I love that outfit on you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. First of all, I have a pair of leather leggings and I am OBSESSED with them. Seriously. I would wear them every day if I could, but people would start to notice and probably start asking me if I wash my clothes. Also, I love the idea of being amazed with people's goodness. People can be so good and most of the time we don't even notice. I really love the quote that says something along the lines of "our biggest flaw is that we are always talking about our troubles. We need to start talking about our joys" I really want to start thinking about all the joy in my life and I grateful for that reminder!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree completely! And I am convinced this world would be a much better place if we could all just wear leggings all day every day.

      Delete
  3. I really love this post and all the goodness in everyone you mentioned.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this. It is so true, how sad that we are so amazed by the good things in life because the bad just seem all too common. But then again it really helps us to realize and acknowledge those great things that people do that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is sad, I totally agree, but the silver lining is that we can choose to focus on being amazed by other people's kindness. It's out there, but like you said, it usually just goes unnoticed.

      Delete
  5. I totally love that outfit! You look awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  6. U just gotta look for the good in life. It makes it all seem worthwhile :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This post is beautiful! I love reading about the good things. There are so many if we just look!

    You look so cute in that outfit! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you! I am definitely an "outfit picture" amateur!

      Delete
  8. Exactly the kind of post I needed to read on a Monday morning. :) Sometimes I find myself getting so wrapped up in all of the negative in the world, and I feel myself slowing sinking into a life of cynicism. Then I take a few moments to remember all of the GOOD in the world, and it fills me with joy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! I can be so cynical and feel so jaded about the world... it helps to try to focus on the good you see because we all see it every day, just sometimes don't acknowledge it.

      Delete
  9. Love this! So nice to find amazement in the little things in life. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm totally LOVING those pleather leggins! And I'm also a huge fan of winter because it makes me more of a book reader ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Perfect for book reading. Also, I need to meet you! It seems like I always miss the blogging get togethers that you are at!

      Delete
  11. "There is so much negativity, hate and misery in this world. But there is just as much beauty and goodness, too. This is what deserves the attention and the spotlight. That's what I want to focus on and celebrate in 2014. I'm want spend more time being amazed at people's goodness."

    THAT. One of my missions in life is to do the nice things. If I get good service at a restaurant or a store, I like to tell people's managers, because so many people do nothing but complain. I thank people like bus drivers and maintenance workers, because even though they are doing their jobs, it is making my life easier and better.

    Also, I finished a book on Saturday and was way more excited than I probably should have been as well. It's the little things, right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that idea- to be purposeful in our kindness. I agree that it is way too easy to complain about bad service but never say a word about good service. Makes me want to go out of my way a bit more to show thanks.

      Delete
  12. I love that description too. Once when I was in college, I was leaving a grocery store and I stopped to let a woman cross. Instead of the regular "thank-you wave" she did the peace sign, and I thought she was so flipping cool, and I've never forgotten it. Such a small thing, but it made me feel good and more connected to her, so I've started to do it to other people as well. A pay-it-forward, if you will, and it feels good.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Those are all things to be amazed by indeed - my bf is the same way, he'll remain calm in the most tedious of situations while I'm the one that becomes frantic. I don't watch the news much and that's why - too much spotlight is placed on the bad and negative with limited appreciation for the good around us. I don't need it, I'm anxious enough by myself. Whew God bless your mom with 11 grandkids, that takes patience! :) Happy Monday Bonnie, loving the leather leggings! -Iva

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting thought about watching the news. It's hard because I don't want to "shield" myself from the terrible things that are going on- I think awareness is key. But at the same time it is hard to watch without becoming convinced that this is the way the whole world is living their life now.

      Delete
  14. Just wanted to say that I loved this post! I am always interested to see what you are writing about but this one was excellent! I am not a fan of TV or the internet because there is an abundance of negative. If we all stopped looking for the negative and were amazed by the more common experiences in our lives, the world would be a much better place!!! Thanks for adding a bright spot to my day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kimberly! Your comment is a bright spot in my day so I guess what goes around comes around! :)

      Delete
  15. I just bought two pairs of those leggings and was excited to get 20% off my order bc I am a first-time customer! And they are soooo inexpensive to begin with! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YEA! So glad! And yes, you are right- they are so inexpensive to begin with that you practically feel like you are robbing the place!

      Delete
  16. Wow, I haven't heard of that before & am completely humbled by the thought, as well as saddened that our "norm" is to expect the negative. Let's change that around! & honestly, January's my spirit animal - it gets me and my need to hole in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "January's my spirit animal"- I love that! I think my spirit animal is May or June for sure!

      Delete
  17. What amazes me is how damn good you look

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love this post.

    ReplyDelete
  19. spotted the puppy!! From now on with photos you posted I am going to play the game, find the puppy ;) I love it, so much lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He does his best to make an appearance in all "fashion" photos so keep your eyes peeled! :)

      Delete