Feeling Accepted

I think that people do you a huge favor when they reject you. It never feels good to be rejected, or let down, or put down. But it definitely lets you know that these people don't accept you or think you're good enough for whatever you applied for (job, volunteer, friendship, relationship) and in the long run; it's a great thing to know.

I'd been rejected by many people for many things, but what I got out of it is to - no matter what - take it in good stride. I would at first feel hurt, but after a moment of rationalizing, I would accept it, reach out (if possible) and then thank them for at least informing me. Because you never know, even if they are not be the right fit they might know someone else that is. There's always an upside and I always try to keep in positive spirits.

When I am accepted by someone, I know they appreciate me and what I offer because they can see my potential. It feels good when people genuinely like you, trust you, and have faith in your abilities. I never fully give up on what I truly believe in.

Incomplete

What I find I regret the most are things I never completed. For example, I didn't take my grade 10 RCM piano exam, I didn't take my RCM music history exam (even though I bought the textbook), and I never got braces (even though I suffer from TMJ). It plagues me in my dreams, or when I wake up in 4:00 in the morning and can't get back to sleep, that I left something incomplete. And although it's not too late for me to take the grade 10 RCM piano exam or RCM music history exam or even get braces - do I even want to do those things anymore? And especially for grade 10 piano, I don't know if I'll ever be technically good enough to play at that level again. I have only been playing easy church music and sight reading pieces. I haven't even been practicing scales regularly anymore. And for adult braces, if I get them, will they really help my TMJ (which is honestly, quite manageable)? I already look like a teenager, getting braces on top of vanity would require a lot of attention to eating specific foods, flossing between braces and wearing retainers afterwards...

I know I'm making excuses but on top of it I know there is the hope that someday, maybe, if I take the time and effort, these incompletes might become complete. Well, everything except the braces because I really don't want braces unless I know for sure that it will help my TMJ. But you know, I am always weighing the pros and cons. Imagine if I did go for the RCM music history exam or get braces as an adult. They are possibilities, but are they worth it? Maybe someday it will be something I accept as being incomplete, or unnecessary, because I have higher priorities. I don't know. I'm still figuring out my life, I shouldn't let these little things worry me. I think they worry me because I don't do enough self reflection or prayer daily. Maybe then I'll be able to accept that yes, these things are not finished, but it's never a completely closed book. I mean maybe once I'm done everything and have the money, I'll get lessons to finish grade 10 piano and music history. Who knows? But even if that never happens, I think that if I at least make up for it by accomplishing and finishing other things, I will definitely be satisfied.

Adventurous

Although I do tend to get used to routine and the same things, I always enjoy experiencing something new and different. Going to a foreign country, place, or restaurant is exciting for me. There's just something special about being somewhere for the first time. I've been to many provinces in Canada (specifically: Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan), and I've been to the Philippines, the U.S. (including: Boston, New York, and Hawaii), and Costa Rica.

I remember when I was on vacation in Hawaii and the Philippines and I brought my math homework with me. I was still in high school at the time. Nobody wants to bring homework with them on vacation. Thankfully, I got to get my homework done early with the help of my brother and the work I did actually boosted my math mark. But I'm definitely not bringing work with me on any future vacation.

Owning Pets

I have to admit, I have not always been a faithful pet owner. The easiest experience I had owning pets was taking care of my fishes. I just had to feed them flakes and dried blood worms from Big Al's and watch them swim around in their tank. Even when I didn't feed them for a couple of days they would be okay. They weren't needy and they never called for food or anything. I was so interested in fish at the time that I did one of my Science Fair projects on the schooling of neon tetra fish and won third place.

My first experience with pets to hold were my first two degus (which are small rodents), Speedy and Porsha. To be honest, I didn't even know their genders, I just named them based on their personalities. Speedy was a quick degu, not easy to hold and bigger than Porsha. Porsha was an angel, quiet, sweet, and easy to pick up without wriggling. Both degus were energetic, but my brother and I didn't know that at first. When my dad first brought them home, I was sick in bed and I remember my dad holding them (one on each hand) and I said, "What is that?" Afterward, he let me hold one (I think it was Speedy) and I subsequently dropped the one he gave me, because the degu started wriggling. We originally put them in the glass aquarium for the fish (the fish were long gone by them) but we realized they needed more room to roam and my dad made two big (one bigger than the other) cages which we could connect to each other. My brother and I had fun playing with the degus in my brother's bedroom and the basement but they were fast and Speedy was always the hardest to catch. I was a very immature (in age) pet owner at the time and my brother left the cages out one time and Porsha (the sweet one) escaped. For my birthday, I got another baby female degu to replace Porsha, Porsha Junior or P.J. But due to my negligence, I left their cage outside and they died because of the heavy rain.

I also had a dog at some point, an adopted whippet-cocker, a fast and young puppy that my dad really liked. I named him Bob, but he would occasionally nip at my brother and I. I once took Bob to my elementary school once and all the students that saw him loved him. However, we couldn't keep Bob because my mom had allergies.

My current pet is a cute guinea pig named Trixie. We adopted her from my mom's co-worker. And Trixie, like all of my pets, has a personality. She is very curious, but also a little shy. She doesn't like venturing to far away from familiar people or objects. She loves vegetables but she hates oranges. She loves sitting on your lap and eating from your fingers. She hates baths. I like Trixie and as an older owner I can take better care of her. I take her outside and she doesn't run away. I give her food. I clean her cage. I'm really the only one taking care of her, and I like that I'm more accountable now rather then when I didn't do anything but feed and play with my pets. I give her baths and cut her nails. Owning a pet does boost your mood and self-esteem, but it's nice caring for an animal and seeing them happy.