It's hard to live in the moment, focus on school and exams when I'm applying for jobs in Germany, for a work visa, etc. There are just so many things to figure out. Where to store everything, how to get my finances in order, etc. I'm confident that it will all work out in the end, but the taxing part is right now and I don't particularly like dealing with it all.
I just need to focus and do my best work these last few months and then it's BASTA mit studieren. Then it's on to teaching English, which will be a challenge in and of itself-but I'm excited to do something different and to challenge myself in a different way.
I just wish those acceptance/rejection letters were here already! Would love to know who's going to take me, who won't, and where in the world I'll be teaching next year!
-M
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Cookbook
Today my first cookbook that I've ever bought for myself came in the mail. It's a cookbook for college students that is supposed to offer healthy recipes (with calorie counts) for students on a budget. My goal is to try one new recipe each week. I will post them here.
I was so afraid that after I lost the weight the weight would start to come back. Nope-didn't happen ;) I'm starting to realize that those extra pounds I was carrying had little to do with food itself. It had to do with the self-confidence I didn't have. And now that I do, I realize that I am worth it. It's worth it to me to exercise, eat healthy and to buy organic.
<3
I was so afraid that after I lost the weight the weight would start to come back. Nope-didn't happen ;) I'm starting to realize that those extra pounds I was carrying had little to do with food itself. It had to do with the self-confidence I didn't have. And now that I do, I realize that I am worth it. It's worth it to me to exercise, eat healthy and to buy organic.
<3
Monday, January 23, 2012
Mood Swings
It's funny how suddenly little things can make me so unbelievably happy. Today I got a term paper back from last semester that I had written for the Faces of Germany seminar I took last semester. My professor gave me an A- and said that she was very impressed by what I wrote. I feel like I've come so far and improved in more ways than I ever thought possible. I think this graduate program was just what the doctor ordered. I have fate, my family and friends, God, and myself to thank for that. ;-)
What will the future hold for me? I'm not entirely sure, but based on the opportunities that are coming my way, I have a feeling that I will end up in Europe for the next couple of years. I'm pretty excited, despite the drawbacks; it will be hard not having my family around. Thank goodness for internet and Skype.
Right now, however, I'm enjoying my final semester in graduate school. How wonderful to be able to end my career as a student by taking a German theater course. Combining my two loves, German and theater has been quite the interesting experience so far.
It's nice to finally be in a good place. I'm proud of the person I've become. An imperfect work in progress. As soon as I figured out that I don't have to be perfect, I started delving in to things more freely without the fear that I had previously had.;-)
<3 Molly
What will the future hold for me? I'm not entirely sure, but based on the opportunities that are coming my way, I have a feeling that I will end up in Europe for the next couple of years. I'm pretty excited, despite the drawbacks; it will be hard not having my family around. Thank goodness for internet and Skype.
Right now, however, I'm enjoying my final semester in graduate school. How wonderful to be able to end my career as a student by taking a German theater course. Combining my two loves, German and theater has been quite the interesting experience so far.
It's nice to finally be in a good place. I'm proud of the person I've become. An imperfect work in progress. As soon as I figured out that I don't have to be perfect, I started delving in to things more freely without the fear that I had previously had.;-)
<3 Molly
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Week 1 without Facebook=complete
I haven't used my Facebook since last Monday and here is what I have to report: I don't miss it at all. It is occasionally annoying when people want to contact me and I have to explain I'm not currently using Facebook, but that is easily remedied by providing them with my phone number. Other than that, there isn't much to miss. I'm not currently abroad and thus don't have photos to share, so I really don't feel the need to use it. What will I be saying in a few months? Who knows.
Apparently this is the year for changes in my life. I've lost weight, am taking up cooking (I can only eat salad and pasta so many times before it gets to be mundane), and giving up Facebook. I suppose I've gone mad :) There are other changes that I'd like to implement in my life, such as trying to go to bed earlier (yeah that's working out well; it's currently 2:30 am) so that I can get up in the morning more easily. I've also decided to try and eat organic if possible. These aren't so much New Year's Resolutions as lifestyle changes. Other than that, I'm very happy with the way my life is going and have developed more self-confidence than I've ever thought possible. I suppose this comes with age and life experience.
-Molly
Apparently this is the year for changes in my life. I've lost weight, am taking up cooking (I can only eat salad and pasta so many times before it gets to be mundane), and giving up Facebook. I suppose I've gone mad :) There are other changes that I'd like to implement in my life, such as trying to go to bed earlier (yeah that's working out well; it's currently 2:30 am) so that I can get up in the morning more easily. I've also decided to try and eat organic if possible. These aren't so much New Year's Resolutions as lifestyle changes. Other than that, I'm very happy with the way my life is going and have developed more self-confidence than I've ever thought possible. I suppose this comes with age and life experience.
-Molly
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Facebook Break
I've always been more of the letter-writing, phone call type. So, back in 2006, sitting in a restaurant with two of my closest high school friends, I was rather skeptical when they talked with me about a new social networking site called Facebook. The whole thing sounded rather stupid to me. What was this Facebook? But my friends convinced me it was the new in thing, so I tried it. At 18, it was fun. The rules back then were simple: go out, get drunk, take pictures. Meet hot guys, take pictures. Post to Facebook so that you impress your friends. Rinse and repeat.
Years after that I traveled abroad and stayed on Facebook simply because it was easier to stay in touch with family. But recently I've gotten tired of constantly being in contact with people that I don't necessarily care about, and this whole Facebook thing has gotten to a point of insanity. People communicate almost solely through an online social network. You may not see your friends for months, but you feel you're still connected b/c of their status updates and private messages. That's all well and good, until you meet up with them for the first time in forever and have absolutely nothing to say to each other. Getting married? Facebook already told me that. Oh you and your fiance have created a gift registry? Didn't I read that somewhere? Oh yes, on Facebook. That sex change your brother is having? Yes, I've read all about him becoming a new woman on Facebook. You see these statuses, these links, and they are for everyone to read. There is nothing personal about them.
How is E-mail different? E-mails tend to be more like letters-they are sent less often and tend to be more personal. Facebook is more like putting your life on display for everyone that is on your friend's list to judge. All of these things have lead to my most recent challenge for myself: 3 1/2 months without Facebook.
The past 1 1/2 years have resulted in amazing changes in my life. I've traveled the world, developed more self-confidence, and lost 19 pounds, and become the person I've always wanted to be. So why not say goodbye to Facebook for a while and see if that allows me to have more time for things/people that matter?
Which brings me to another point. Those that are my true friends will still e-mail, still call, and still find ways to communicate with me other than via Facebook. Those that don't didn't matter in the first place. I'm excited to see what will happen ;-)
-Molly
PS-To contact me over my facebook break e-mail me at Molly.Rowland@hotmail.de
;)
Years after that I traveled abroad and stayed on Facebook simply because it was easier to stay in touch with family. But recently I've gotten tired of constantly being in contact with people that I don't necessarily care about, and this whole Facebook thing has gotten to a point of insanity. People communicate almost solely through an online social network. You may not see your friends for months, but you feel you're still connected b/c of their status updates and private messages. That's all well and good, until you meet up with them for the first time in forever and have absolutely nothing to say to each other. Getting married? Facebook already told me that. Oh you and your fiance have created a gift registry? Didn't I read that somewhere? Oh yes, on Facebook. That sex change your brother is having? Yes, I've read all about him becoming a new woman on Facebook. You see these statuses, these links, and they are for everyone to read. There is nothing personal about them.
How is E-mail different? E-mails tend to be more like letters-they are sent less often and tend to be more personal. Facebook is more like putting your life on display for everyone that is on your friend's list to judge. All of these things have lead to my most recent challenge for myself: 3 1/2 months without Facebook.
The past 1 1/2 years have resulted in amazing changes in my life. I've traveled the world, developed more self-confidence, and lost 19 pounds, and become the person I've always wanted to be. So why not say goodbye to Facebook for a while and see if that allows me to have more time for things/people that matter?
Which brings me to another point. Those that are my true friends will still e-mail, still call, and still find ways to communicate with me other than via Facebook. Those that don't didn't matter in the first place. I'm excited to see what will happen ;-)
-Molly
PS-To contact me over my facebook break e-mail me at Molly.Rowland@hotmail.de
;)
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Alles hat seine Zeit.
It really is very true that there is a season for everything. I wasn't sure why I had to go back to Ohio to complete the second year of my master's, but I'm beginning to understand. So far this year has allowed to reconnect with my family (I've gotten a lot closer to my siblings), think more about what direction I'd like to go in life), and to allow me to improve myself. I never thought I'd love going to the gym regularly or reading Reklam Bücher, but that is what has what happened to me this year. I'm changing. I'm still me, "just enhanced" as Madame Simone would say, a character from my favorite lifetime movie.
Alles hat seine Zeit.
Love from rainy Ohio,
Molly
Alles hat seine Zeit.
Love from rainy Ohio,
Molly
Molly's Weight Loss Tips
After losing 10 pounds slowly I decided that I'd like to share my weight loss tips with you:
1) Do not set yourself up for failure by starting a diet when you have big issues in your life that need to be dealt with first. I myself dealt with other things in my life before I tackled those pesky extra 10 pounds that I was carrying around. (This is not, however, and excuse to put off weight loss indefinitely if you really would like to lose some weight. I'm going to a family party next week is not a good excuse. Life happens during weight loss. You have to deal with it).
2) Start small. I started by attending yoga classes 1 time a week and walking around my apartment complex. It was only a couple weeks after making the effort to exercise that I started to change my diet. And by that time I increased my physical activity and try to go to the gym 3-4 times per week.
3) Eat more fruits and veggies.
4) Eat less carbs.
5) You can eat everything you love (wait, what?) just in moderation, and not on the same day. Restricting any food completely will just make you crave it. On the first day of my diet I told myself: no chocolate. By the end of the day I was ready to raid the kitchen (which was never my style before. I ate too many sweets but never had more than a few cookies or a candy bar at a time). I realized then that I had to simply cut down on the sweet foods. So I started savoring the few pieces of dark chocolate I allow myself to have everyday. I don't stuff it in my mouth. I sit and enjoy it and feel satisfied.
6) Have a special day each week where you can splurge a little bit. (We're talking 250-500 calories here on an alcoholic beverage or a piece of cake, not going crazy and eating 3000 extra calories. You won't lose weight that way). It will make it easier to stick to your diet the rest of the week if you know that you can enjoy a cocktail with the girls on the weekend.
7) Sometimes you will have to say no to that extra piece of cake or pizza. And that is hard because you may not see the results on the scale the next day or the day after that. But if you keep eating healthier you will eventually see results. And the best feeling in the world was when I put on a pair of jeans that had been too tight for me all last year...and suddenly they were baggy on me. That's just priceless :-)
8) Eating badly one day doesn't mean that you should stop trying. Last night I'm pretty sure I had 3,000 crackers (and by 3000 I mean probably a good 300 calories worth. Needless to say that wasn't within the parameters of my diet), but today I compensated by eating a little less and a little healthier.
9) Don't get obsessed. After measuring things out for a bit things will become more like second nature. Soon you won't have to look at the calorie count before you eat something. It should be a change in lifestyle that should lead to a healthier you. The goal here isn't to become the next "Twiggy." Remember that there are also more important things in life.
1) Do not set yourself up for failure by starting a diet when you have big issues in your life that need to be dealt with first. I myself dealt with other things in my life before I tackled those pesky extra 10 pounds that I was carrying around. (This is not, however, and excuse to put off weight loss indefinitely if you really would like to lose some weight. I'm going to a family party next week is not a good excuse. Life happens during weight loss. You have to deal with it).
2) Start small. I started by attending yoga classes 1 time a week and walking around my apartment complex. It was only a couple weeks after making the effort to exercise that I started to change my diet. And by that time I increased my physical activity and try to go to the gym 3-4 times per week.
3) Eat more fruits and veggies.
4) Eat less carbs.
5) You can eat everything you love (wait, what?) just in moderation, and not on the same day. Restricting any food completely will just make you crave it. On the first day of my diet I told myself: no chocolate. By the end of the day I was ready to raid the kitchen (which was never my style before. I ate too many sweets but never had more than a few cookies or a candy bar at a time). I realized then that I had to simply cut down on the sweet foods. So I started savoring the few pieces of dark chocolate I allow myself to have everyday. I don't stuff it in my mouth. I sit and enjoy it and feel satisfied.
6) Have a special day each week where you can splurge a little bit. (We're talking 250-500 calories here on an alcoholic beverage or a piece of cake, not going crazy and eating 3000 extra calories. You won't lose weight that way). It will make it easier to stick to your diet the rest of the week if you know that you can enjoy a cocktail with the girls on the weekend.
7) Sometimes you will have to say no to that extra piece of cake or pizza. And that is hard because you may not see the results on the scale the next day or the day after that. But if you keep eating healthier you will eventually see results. And the best feeling in the world was when I put on a pair of jeans that had been too tight for me all last year...and suddenly they were baggy on me. That's just priceless :-)
8) Eating badly one day doesn't mean that you should stop trying. Last night I'm pretty sure I had 3,000 crackers (and by 3000 I mean probably a good 300 calories worth. Needless to say that wasn't within the parameters of my diet), but today I compensated by eating a little less and a little healthier.
9) Don't get obsessed. After measuring things out for a bit things will become more like second nature. Soon you won't have to look at the calorie count before you eat something. It should be a change in lifestyle that should lead to a healthier you. The goal here isn't to become the next "Twiggy." Remember that there are also more important things in life.
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