mardi 25 mars 2008
Minor milestone
At this very moment, I feel a bit more lighthearted :) I have just finished two courses, which is the remainder of the coursework for my degree! Yes, I still have the massively overwhelming thesis over my head but I am free from everything else now - hooray! I'm afraid I've been using this blog as nothing more than a way to keep track of everything I've had to do all semester, but it has been nice to chart my slow progress. It's come later than expected but regardless, I'm thrilled that my attention is no longer divided between four other classes and that I can concentrate solely on my thesis topic!
There's a verse on my wall that I posted when I began seminary. It's from Matthew 25:21 and it says,
His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"I knew when I started school again that I would need a constant reminder to be a diligent worker with my assignments on a daily basis. I have such a long way to go but I'm grateful that I've been able to change my perspective on tasks that I once thought to be only tedious. However, as I look back now, I'm able to see the ways in which those little things have built up. I'm hoping that I can keep this perspective as I tackle my one last thing now; I want to be faithful with what God has entrusted me with, which includes completing my project well. I want my words to be edifying and to serve a purpose as I put them together. It'll be a daunting few weeks but I am praying that I won't see this thesis as merely a hurdle to cross to get to graduation but that it will be something that points to His glory. If it can be a paper that I am actually delighted with (as opposed to resigned with), then I have to believe that it will have all been worth it!
Libellés : procrastination, thesis
vendredi 25 mai 2007
Life pre-travelling
At this point, I have to admit that I'm a bit worried about getting everything ready before I move out east this summer. My spring class, as interesting as it is, is also quite demanding - in fact, I have to write a final exam this weekend! It's hard knowing that I won't be able to give my personal best to it but I guess that's reality. I have to curb my perfectionistic tendencies at some point, so I might as well start now ;) I read through some time management book earlier this year for one of my leadership classes and it listed a variety of reasons why people procrastinate; I think I've always known that my cause is perfectionism. I'm trying to be much better about starting things earlier but alas, I have not succeeded this time around for the spring semester. I just had too many things to do and even if I did temporarily kick my procrastination habit, I still would have been behind. Thus, I will have to lug my research with me across the country, which is horrible because it will make for heavier luggage and because it'll detract from the whole idea of "summer".
The one thing I don't tend to be late on though is packing. For some reason, I really enjoy the process of preparing a list and comparing it to previous packing lists and then calculating what I would need and such. I probably like it because it's analytical or something. But I am happy that I've been able to sneak in shopping a couple of times these past few weeks to get the things I need. Just one more shopping excursion and I should be ready (I'm making it a point to buy most of what I'll need beforehand because taxes double once I hit Quebec). I do have a lot from my previous time in Montreal but I go so often that my travel stuff depletes pretty quickly. Anyways, here's to hoping that I can complete everything that needs to be done before I go. God has been so good to help me get through a lot, but I know that I'm not being the best steward of time either. Sorry, Lord!
Libellés : procrastination
lundi 23 octobre 2006
Cornucopia of thoughts
1. It has been many a day since I've signed into Blogger now that I'm trying to cut back on Internet time to work on homework instead.
2. I feel a bit guilty that I've neglected this blog so much but relieved that I've been able to do other things like read or catch up on errands.
3. I'm saddened to hear the latest news of Quebec's plans for sovereignty by 2015.
4. What's worse is the indifference of young Western Canadians who could care less about this separation issue.
5. Admittedly, I was one of those indifferent people back in 1995 (although my excuse is that I was a little kid and Quebec didn't affect me then as it does now).
6. I don't know why I don't listen to French radio more often. It's been pleasant to hear bands like Malajube and Les Cowboys Fringants again.
7. I get to return to Quebec in just a few months (providing I survive this semester)!!
8. In non-Quebec/French news, I'm getting there with my clutterless room. I'm waiting until Christmas break when I can finish what I had planned to do this summer - purge through all the papers I've collected since kindergarten!
9. I found this "Praying with Scripture" booklet from my first year of Bible college and realized that there are really bizarre things in there I didn't notice before.
10. Such as: "Posture - Relaxed and peaceful. A harmony of body with spirit."
11. And, "Read aloud or whisper in a rhythm with your breathing - a phrase at a time - with pauses and repetitions when and where you feel like it."
12. I think I've mentioned before how uncomfortable I am with this type of theology but I'll leave it at that.
13. I just finished a great book on evangelism for one of my courses which I recommend: Evangelism for "Normal" People. It's even on sale for ten bucks less than I had to pay for it (sigh, the fluctuating market of books which I can never benefit from)!
14. God has been teaching me so much through one of my Old Testament classes and I have really enjoyed spending this year taking a deeper look at the OT books.
15. I'm going to get back to my assignments now but I don't think I'll be as sporadic this time around on posting. After all, term papers are coming up and the opportunity for procrastination abounds!
Libellés : books, Montreal, procrastination
mardi 19 septembre 2006
Procrastination
I am such a procrastinator - a theme that has probably been repeated in every other post on here. I can actually pinpoint it back to grade eight when I decided that I was way too diligent in grade seven with all my extra-credit assignments that I didn't even receive credit for doing! Somehow my brain came up with this regrettable thought: "That's it. No more doing things on time; I'm going to act like a normal teenager!" Well, act like whatever my opinion was of normal teenagers at that time (I probably had no clue).
Unfortunately, it's continued until now and it's really making seminary difficult for me. It shouldn't be because I'm not in the same boat as most other students who have to juggle marriage, kids and work. I really am blessed that I don't have all these other things in my life yet I keep putting myself into situations where I put off schoolwork until later and later. It's like Paul says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Ahh, so frustrating!
One of my profs gave a blurb about procrastinators which labels me to a tee:
- They overestimate the time they have left to complete the task.
- They underestimate the time they need to complete the task.
- They overestimate the motivation they will have later.
I don't think I have this problem when I work, only when I'm in school. But I pray that I can learn good habits and curb the bad ones before I enter the working world. I'd hate to still be dealing with this after I finish school!
Procrastinator's tip: While conducting research on the internet, somehow through some very bizarre chain of events you can end up finding a hilarious music video from high school.
Libellés : procrastination, seminary
dimanche 20 novembre 2005
So true
Libellés : procrastination
lundi 20 septembre 2004
To put off intentionally and habitually
My procrastination problem is not going away easily. I was supposed to write two papers for this week but I've been so behind that I've postponed them for another time. Right now, I am dead tired and I need to read three textbooks, finish an exercise, memorize some words, study for a test and listen to a lecture on CD-ROM but I am instead lamenting about my problem and feeling drowsier by the minute. Only the third week of school and I'm slipping behind. I don't know how I'm going to survive this semester, much less the year. I just have to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and on my last year when it will be a breeze (I hope). Easier said than done!
Libellés : procrastination
dimanche 12 septembre 2004
A to Z of busyness
Posts have been scarce lately because:
a) I am trying to kick my procrastination habit.
b) Meaning I've actually done some homework.
c) Ahead of time too!
d) But that won't be for long.
e) However, I'm getting much better at it.
f) I might just survive this semester!
g) Also, I'm juggling school and work now.
h) For the first time in four years.
i) But I'm not complaining since that's reality.
j) I'm also trying to give myself a Sabbath.
k) This used to be extremely hard.
l) Mainly because I worked at church on Sundays.
m) I've cut back on those commitments though.
n) All in all, I'm actually excited about this year.
o) I think with God's help, I won't fall behind.
p) I love that I'm getting to take some neat courses.
q) Such as philosophy, history, theology and Greek.
r) The last one will be challenging.
s) I'm ready for it.
t) Speaking on behalf of Lissa, she's busy too.
u) She is back at school and still working.
v) We'll try to write sometimes.
w) Just to keep this blog from going into oblivion.
x) Hey, I could have used the Greek alphabet here.
y) But I think I like the English alphabet more.
z) Thanks for reading all 26 sentences (if you did) :)
Libellés : procrastination
mercredi 26 mai 2004
Working and working
I've been fairly busy lately with my new job but I'm enjoying every minute of it. Today, a surge protector went off and kept shrilling for a few minutes, causing my ears to ring for the rest of the day. I didn't even notice that an ambulance with lights flashing and sirens blaring was right behind me when I went home... heh, whoops.
Well, I watched a bit of the news today and saw a clip on Canadian hospitality. Click here to watch the news story. I thought that was awesome. You know, it's been said that in July, you can basically get free food everyday if you time everything right and don't mind the long lineups.
I'm going to go watch one of my favourite movies before I need to return it. And try to get around to my spring course stuff. You know you're the worst procrastinator in the world when the professor for one of your courses is moving to the States, and you still have work to submit to them. Maybe that means I'm the best procrastinator there is.
Oh yeah, I found this out today and thought it was hilarious. There are ten people in my major. Nine of them are female. The only male is graduating this year. You would laugh your head off if you knew what major I was in ;)
Libellés : procrastination, work
mardi 30 mars 2004
The traffic is stuck...
This has been my life lately: Procrastination at its worst, thanks to the power of the couch, resulting in me looking like this.
Anyways, I got a chance to see Jersey Girl tonight and it's absolutely the most blasphemous movie I've seen to date. I thought it was going to be a light-hearted comedy, but instead I got crude, sacrilegious junk. I do not recommend that anybody go see it. The only redeeming thing to come of it was the little girl who played Gertie, but even then the film was filled with much profanities (including the breaking of the 3rd majorly) where even some spewed from the little girl! Oh well Lissa, best four out of five, right?
I have a school production coming up. I've been asked to help with the tech but it's not with the usual crew I've worked with over the last few years. But here are some pros for doing the tech: more experience under my belt, free ticket, work with a different crew, learn in a new environment. And here are some pros for attending the show instead: no technical distractions, get to enjoy the show, really hear the music, be with my friends.
I have one day to decide. I wish I was more decisive.
Libellés : procrastination
mardi 6 janvier 2004
Procrastination bites the dust
I'm going to read all of my assigned readings this semester. I'm going to start all of my papers early and complete them days before they're due. I'm going to do my homework early in the evenings. I am going to use time; it will not use me!
So saith the eager student on the first day of classes. Within no time, I'll be back to pulling all-nighters, not reading textbooks (or reading them at 2am the night before), and doing homework minutes before class. I really shouldn't be doing that. If I actually disciplined myself and put to work what they call my potential, I'd have nothing to worry about. But who does that anymore?
But then it hits me
Time is not the answer
You've given me all the time in the world
All that I need is...
A little more life in my day
A little more of your light
To show me the way
If I'm gonna be in this world but nor be of it
Lord, I need more of you
In all that I do
Put a little more life in my day
- Newsong "Life in My Day"
Libellés : procrastination, songs
lundi 23 juin 2003
Did I mention I procrastinate?
Hello again, I'm back... and I still haven't started my paper! Although I do have to say this shouldn't surprise anybody who knows me. I will, however get started after I finish this post and add some stuff to my page. I wish I had more time for learning all this fun computer stuff, but alas I have to work. Which was actually really good today; God has been so faithful in providing for us :) He totally answered our prayers today and I'm excited for what will come the rest of this week! So keep us in your prayers and we'll see how things go the first week of camp!
So we finally set the date for the viewing party at church. It took a while but now I can actually anticipate when it will be coming. We will get to watch the telecast and our live production tape for the Vibe Awards in about a week! I can't wait, I've been waiting almost a month for this!! It's too bad that it's illegal to copy the tape though; I wanted to show my friends what I got to do since none of them came :(
I suppose I should end this soon and get started on my exegetical paper on a pretty cool topic: Jesus' High Priestly Prayer. It's too bad it has to be over 15 pages! I believe that length should not matter in a paper. Of course it would be ridiculous to hand in a 1-page research paper but I think a 5-page paper that is written well can express just as much as a 10-page paper. Because everyone knows that long papers just get tedious after a while, and then you can usually pick up on when the student starts to ramble and repeat themselves. Not like I've ever done that before *grin*.
Be back tomorrow and hopefully with the good news that I am done my paper!! Pray that God will give me the words I need to communicate His truth and to be an instrument He uses through whom He is glorified :D
Libellés : procrastination
Procrastination... once again
Sigh, trying to learn all these codes in one night can be fun yet frustrating at the same time. I'll be honest, I haven't done any website coding since the good old days of Computer Club, and now I'm finding that everything I learned was maybe a tiny fraction (if even) to what's out there now. I don't mind though, I like learning new things :)
Well again, I haven't started my paper yet. I plan to right after I finish this page to the best of my ability... at least get rid of all the mistakes I've made thus far! But I better not procrastinate too much, it's my only fourth year course so if I do pretty badly in this class, it won't be good. At least I wasn't late this morning though! Things went pretty smoothly surprisingly; we got to play one of my favourite songs during church, Audio Adrenaline's "Hands and Feet"! And then I watched a pretty strange movie this afternoon with my best friend, "The Other Side of Heaven". It started off fine but then we realized that it was a Mormon missionary movie, which I guess we had our suspicions about but nonetheless it was a clean flick, more than I can say about all the movies out there right now.
So something from my Daily Bread reading yesterday that I should really apply to my life:
If you shirk today's tasks, you increase tomorrow's burdens.
I guess I better get started on my paper! Have a good night! And if there are funny looking things on my page, ignore them... I'll be back after I'm done my paper (pray for me!) to fix them.
Libellés : procrastination
