Self Help for the Stubborn

Before I even begin this post, let me assure you that I do not live within the 'self-help' section of Barnes and Noble. I'm much too cynical of a person to regularly indulge myself in someone else's criticism of my life. I went in for the sole purpose of finding my guidebook to Mr. Right, and left with more than I intended on buying. Typical. After a summer filled with Cosmopolitan and trashy romance novels, I was ready for something a little more enlightening. Literally spotting it on my way out of the store, I ran across Christine Hassler's “20 Something, 20 Everything”, my current read for the remainder of the summer.
With my 23^rd birthday coming up next month, I'm obviously well into my twenties. I've accomplished a lot for myself in the short time I've graduated high school, but sometimes I feel as if I'm not making the most out of the so-called “best years of my life”. I can list all that I've done, produce my blue print for what I have left to do, and yet I feel as if it's not enough. And despite their achievements and goals set for themselves, after endless Skype sessions and coffee dates with friends, I know I'm not alone. Hassler's book focuses on all of the above and so much more, shedding light on how prominent these feelings are amongst women post high school. Intertwining real-life scenarios with thought provoking questions, “20 Something, 20 Everything” therapeutically addresses concerns and issues that commonly arise within the ever changing and unsteady years of the twenties.
While I work and write on finding balance in health, schooling, work, and my social life, the most important, and often most difficult, aspect that needs constant attention is the balance of one's own self. It's difficult to be completely content in any area of your life if you aren't content in who you are as a person. With all of the decision making and life changing experiences that happen in your twenties, knowing and accepting yourself needs to be a priority. The book “20 Something, 20 Everything” not only forces you to look at who you are, but also what you want out of life. Hassler strips away the motivational cliches', promising, “...it will be more fun than studying, more rewarding than going to a psychic, and cheaper than seeing a therapist”. I will vouch for her when I say I've had plenty of experience in all three, and over halfway through the book, she's honest on all parts.
While my summer reading thus far has been anything but intelligent and inspirational, trust me when I say that Hassler's book is worth looking in to. Be ready to do some writing – making up for the financial cost that therapy rapes you of does not mean skimming through a large print book to find all of life's answers. I really considered skipping portions of the questions, and I can already say I'm happy I didn't. It may be time consuming, but so are my nights out drinking and riding mopeds. So that's hardly an excuse.
So my lovely readers, if you can relate to any of the feelings mentioned, if you're wanting to do some self-reflection, or if you're just looking for a little nudge in the right direction, I cannot recommend a better book. And that should mean a lot coming from a cynical, stubborn lush who once told a therapist that their degree meant nothing and declared they would never know more than her.

Plane Ride 9 Hours Too Long

I don't fare well when traveling. It's not that I don't enjoy it - I love a good vacation just as much as anyone else. It's the 'getting there' part that I struggle with. Flying used to be enjoyable for me. It didn't happen very often, so whenever I was able to take a plane, it was new and exciting. After four years of consistent air travel, it's safe to say the excitement has worn off. I may even go as far as to say it's beginning to make car trips feel a little more...accommodating. On car rides, I am at least able to vocally express my discomfort to the driver (aka daddy). I have the opportunity to persuade a stop at any given shopping center or coffee shop location, and am comforted by the fact that the bodies much too close to me are my siblings. This plane ride is especially awkward for me. Each conversation I hold starts off with Greek mumbo jumbo that I don't understand a word of, the man behind me somehow has his legs positioned in a way that prevents me from putting my seat back, and it's somewhere between four and eleven in the morning. But has been light out for the past two hours. The airplane food has caused mayja abdominal discomfort. And I'm definitely the only Dutch girl on here.

I came prepared of course, and I've already killed most of one of the two books I brought along. "Why Mr. Right Can't Find You". No, I'm not joking. And yes, it actually does have some good points - many of which I'll be writing about later. The unfortunate part of reading this self-help book, aside from the fact that the cashier was definitely trying not to smirk as he rang me up, is that the title in itself is a little embarrassing to be seen reading. It may as well say - "I'm single and Can't Find Anyone That Wants To Be With Me". But, I'm a little nerdy, and a lot studious, so research is going to be done. Scenarios such as Mr. Minnesota are not uncommon for me, and it's time to figure out what's going wrong.

I'll try and blog as much as I can while in Greece. Some of my posts are going to be written during the next eight hours of this plane ride, while others will be short updates and photo braggings of the trip. The blog may have an awkward feel to it for the next few weeks, and timing is going to be a little off with no consistent internet, but bear with me. I'll come back rejuvenated, ready to be a smart ass and test the self esteem of those around me once again. That's what my vacations are for, after all.