December 31.

Quote of the Day.

Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, 
the philosophy which does not laugh, 
and the greatness which does not bow before children. 

Kahlil Gibran 

2013. 
let's do this.

End of the Year Quotes.

December 26.

We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong 
- the amount of work is the same. 
Carlos Castaneda

December 27. 

Home that our feet may leave, 
but not our hearts. 
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Received a delayed Christmas present / early birthday present today --> flights home!

December 28.

Babies are such a nice way to start people. 
Don Herrold

Welcome little Caleb!!!

December 29.

How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. 
Anne Frank

December 30. 

When a child is born, so is a mother. 
Unknown

A second little one arrived into our world in a matter of two days! Cannot wait to meet the little princess and get to know my friends as parents! What a great way to head into the new year.

December 24 + 25.

There's no quote for these days.
I quieted down to celebrate Christmas with loved ones both last year and now, so the wise words I leave you with are:

December 23.

Quote of the Day. 

I am not what happened to me; 
I am what I choose to become. 
C.G. Jung


The different psychology theories are interesting, and when as a psychology student I read through them, it's often easy to agree with more than one of them, even if they seemingly conflict.
I'm not sure that I believe 100% in the ability to choose, to rule your own life, to step away from all the influencing forces of your rearing, your childhood, your youth..But thinking in this direction gives one a nice sense of autonomy and strength to overcome obstacles.
As we near the new year, perhaps it's good to direct my thoughts more toward Jung's words, believing that, even if I can't run away from all that I already am and what has taken place in the past to shape me, I can choose to change and to work with what I have but not be ruled by it.

December 22.

Quote of the Day. 

Once upon a midnight dreary, 
while I pondered weak and weary. 
Edgar Allan Poe

It is usually rather late by the time I remind myself of the promise I made myself a year ago and drag myself infront of the computer to write a line or two.
I'm usually  - as today -  more than ready to go to bed, and my brain is a little fuzzy. I think of today and I think of tomorrow's plans, and in the midst of it all, I ponder upon these quotes. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary...Why is it that I always find myself exhausted, at 2am, not really doing anything, yet not going to bed?

December 21.

Quote of the Day. 

Happy Birthday, love!!

It's a good day to end a hugely taxing semester!

December 17. 18. 19. 20.

Quote of the Day. 

Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true? Does it improve on the silence?
Sai Baba

I have spoken, and above all written, a lot more than should have been necessary in the past few days. Page after page of frustrating assignments resulted in less than kind and definitely unnecessary bursts of anger, frustration, and self-pity that both I and those around me had to take in. 

With last week's horrific ending, and my assignment to evaluate a mass murdering school shooter this week, the effect life and those in it can have on us has been on my mind a lot. I can make a difference in someone's life, in my life especially, by considering the consequences of all of my behaviors, words, and even thoughts more carefully. I can contribute to a better world by living a life of love. 

This quote has some New Year's resolution potential; think about it for a while, and try to remember it for the coming years. 
Humankind will definitely benefit from all of us trying to adopt a kinder, more thought out demeanor toward those near and dear to us.

December 15 + 16.

Quote of the Days. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel. 
Unknown

I don't think I've ever felt as drained as a result of a semester of school as I've been feeling in the past month or so. Granted, my lack of exercise is surely part to blame, but feeling mentally and even physically exhausted 24/7, 7 days a week, does not make it easy to get back on the running track or to the free weights.

I am absolutely done with being able to push and get involved in things, and taking everything on this semester was obviously a bit too much. I'm now looking into the coming weekend with hope, yet perceiving it as a somewhat unreachable goal, lightyears of writing and brainstorming away. And the way things are working right now, the brainstorming is very unlikely to be "much more than a few sprinkles," as a wise character on Mad Men put it. :D
Still, deadlines seem to emerge as if there's some constantly feeding pool of things to do for school, and I'll have to continue writing a research article right after taking a breath on Christmas Day. Just the thought of it all weighs down on my chest, yet I keep believing that some relieve will arrive in the form of the new year and the coming spring.

So I cling on to this little light somewhere in the far off distance. At least for now.

December 11, 12, 13, 14.

Quotes quotes quotes.

Finals time,
so my quotes at this time consist of research on human trafficking, methods of forensic psychological assessment, and psychopathology measurements.
Good times.

I CAN'T WAIT TIL CHRISTMAS!!

December 10.

Quote of the Day. 

You go to prison as punishment, 
you don't go to prison for punishment. 
Ken Ricci

Today was an insanely full day, but a good one.
Got an article submitted, took the next steps toward an amazing internship, and got both work and research done. Good grad student, I am. *taps self on shoulder*

December 9.

Quote of the Day. 

I've permitted myself to learn and to fail with some regularity.
And that is probably the one thing that I was given that I'm still grateful for.
John Malkovich

I always knew he was a wise man.

photo source:
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/john-malkovich-will-battle-zombies-in-warm-bodies/john-malkovich-4/

December 8.

Quote of the Day. 

Friendship enriches life beyond anything else imaginable. 
me. 


The simple fact that who I am, how I feel, where I go and where I come from has always been and will always be hugely affected and even defined by those around me, those I love, those I value and who share their lives and my life with me is something I have been reminded of tonight.

I was putting up holiday decorations and baking in preparation for a get together for the afternoon, and spending time with my love, regardless of it being to a large extent with a room of separation between us was calming and lovely. Then the house filled up with friends' beautiful faces, and my heart filled up with joy. There's such a wonderful blessing in sharing your home with those you love!

Afterwards, we took some time to clean up and were just looking at the signs of the past few hours: crumpled napkins, leftovers, burnt candles, and empty bottles and plates around moved around chairs. It feels our home became much more alive and homey after having friends visit. No wonder they call it a house warming party!

Of course, we didn't manage to make any pictures while people were here,
so these post-clean up pictures will have to do. 

December 7.

Quote of the Day

Change is the process by which the future invades our lives. 
Alvin Toffler

Working on Christmas decorations and baking tonight. What a great way to end another week of late late nights and long long days. 

December 6.

Quote of the Day.

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself. 
Michel de Montaigne

This December 6th Finland celebrates 95 years of independence.
In country-years that may not be much, but she's one tough yet sweet lady at almost a century, and I've never been prouder to be Finnish.
Another celebration on December 6th is the anniversary of my baptism years ago, and I think the above quote applies to such a decision and celebration as much as it applies to gaining independence from another ruler, as it applies to simply standing on your own two feet and living your life for you. A baptism is an interesting thing - you're in a way finding yourself - in that moment, you feel that you've found "it," and you're in peace with your innermost thoughts and feelings, if just for a moment. Yet, by some definition, you're "dying to yourself" and giving the reign of your life to something intangible that you feel deserves it. That you feel is a part of you, yet is something much much bigger. Well, I don't necessarily have much to say about what that decision caused in my life or how defining it was or what a right or wrong choice it was at the time, but I'm glad I have this day to think about it. To celebrate it. To celebrate not being bound by it, yet allowing it to be a part of me.
I'm glad that on this day that I celebrate my home-country's 95th birthday, I also get to celebrate the insight I've gained along the years in not only embracing my baptism years ago, but embracing it so that it's a part of me, and not the other way around...as in..through it I and my independence and my identity and my decisions - whether in some way fitting or unfitting - drowned in a sea of something much much much larger.

December 5.

Quote of the Day.

Love does not die, people do. 
So when all that is left of me is love...Give me away. 
John Wayne Schlatter

On December 5th, I usually pause to think about my grandmother, who passed away on this day when I was ten. I love her as much today as I did now almost twenty years ago, and am forever grateful to have had her in my life for those blessed ten years.

Here we are:

Tanja ja Sirkka-mummo

December 4.

Quote of the Day.

Go as far as you can see; 
When you get there you'll be able to see farther. 
Thomas Carlyle

December 3.

Quote of the Day. 

She writes the poetry she cannot live- living, breathing, heated words.yet at once, excruciatingly, She lives the poetry she cannot write.modified after Oscar Wilde 

December 2.

Quote of the Day. 


It is never too late to be what you might have been. 
the ever-wise, ever-wonderful fridge magnet


       Today we opened our chocolate advent calendar's first door a day late. That may not be the world's greatest tragedy - in fact, it wasn't a tragedy at all, but simply meant I had a piece of chocolate all for myself, while my love had one he could call his own - but it is a tiny example of how missing the mark does not have to mean that you'll now spiral down down down and away from the path you should've been on and the dreams you needed to chase.
       Put in another way, perhaps getting a degree or two in a field you might not exactly pursue does not mean you can't take a few additional steps to move toward the direction that you decided not to move in in your post-high school wisdom..Right? As a matter of fact, what this magnet that I once gave my love and that now stares me in the eye every time I go for some snacks makes me think of are the opportunities that lie ahead just because I took this road that I now feel may not have been the best to take. I must say, even in my head, the combo of criminal justice, forensic psychology, and design sounds unique. And in its uniqueness, exciting and door-opening! Ultimately, I am the one who can decide that it is not too late to look back, grab that part of my dream that I let slip out of my fingers a while ago, and stick in the pot that is now my life. And deciding to incorporate a set aside love into my aspirations for the future sounds a lot better than forever wavering between two paths and wondering "what if?"

December 1.

Quote of the Day.

The busiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The truth is, they are afraid to fight the good fight. 
Paulo Coelho 'the Pilgrimage'

This might explain the sense of calm I experienced late in the past week, as my rather full schedule was swamped with two more deadlines within the coming weeks. Suddenly, a sneaky sense of 'I can do this' descended upon and over the stress and chaos that I was filled with the weeks prior.

Let's get this semester done and over with!