First Morning Blog!

Today, I made myself do things I knew I'd be happy about later. This is a skill that quite a few species of animals have in relation to migration even in their youngest years, but not that very many humans of "superior intellect" in their college years have come to acquire. I woke up bright and early at 7:10, and got to mass a half hour early at 7:30 for some journaling and reading and other stuff that makes my soul happy. After mass, at about 9:15, I went for a run...with ashes still on my forehead. I thought about washing them off first, but I remembered that when you're away from home, it's harder to remember holy days of obligation. I decided that I'd be very grateful to see a reminder if I had, by chance, forgotten. The interactions with people were obviously different. Some people, not unlike when I'm running without a big black cross on my forehead, looked determinedly forward or downward. Others looked confused. Others exchanged knowing smiles with me. People squinted through car windows, and my security guard said "Oh, hey! It's ash wednesday!" I laughed and joked "Aw, no, I just thought this would look cute..." We laughed together and I told him I just got back from mass. He smiled and wished me a nice day. Reactions are always going to be different when you mark yourself obviously as a Catholic, or a Christian, even. I have heard stories from nuns and priests that go through this every day. It kind of made me think about how simply a mark can identify a person. Words also can boldly state affiliations and beliefs. How clear, how significant would acts need to be in order to be unquestionable evidence of being a follower of Christ?
My audition the other day was fun, not too sure how I did, but I did it for fun, so no worries. I ended up singing paparazzi into telephone- it sounds sweet acoustically. My unbirthday is in two days...
Oh! Lent! I'm giving up gossiping, complaining at work, and facebook, and I'm going to start doing morning prayer every morning. Excited!! The sermon at mass was talking about cutting out not just what is impeding your walk with Christ, but things that are keeping it from being the best it could possibly be. Although I think facebook has many honest, good uses, it eats so much of my time that I could be using to do awesome reading and learning and other better things. Complaining and gossiping are just mood-draggers. Morning prayer will be a challenge for me, but the priest (who is new to Mary, Queen of the Universe and it is my favorite priest I've heard since I've been here) also said looking for little things that could do big things in our spiritual lives. Making time in the morning is definitely one of those things.
Anyways, I officially can have animal instincts, was my first point. Now I'm writing in my blog at an hour earlier than 3 am on my day off, and I'm quite pleased with myself.
...Now I'm off to do more adult things. aka go to Disney World.


update: I already want facebook. But! I did learn a good chunk of French today from the friends with whom I went to Typhoon Lagoon. My favorite is "Je suis très dégoûté!" It means "I am very disgusted!" It's just very fun to say. I also learned to say things like "You are cute, I am hungry, I want to eat, she is small, kiss, I love you, you are goofy, sarcastic, who is he?" and lots more. It's really fun, and making fun of accents is even more fun... for them. It's times like these that build up humility :)