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| May Day 2012 |
Happy May Day! I am back! I spent a week cruising from NYC to the Bahamas with my folks and sisters in honor of my mom's 60th birthday! It was an amazing time. Now, back home, as usual after a vacation, I am in need of rest as well as in need of moving quickly and effectively on some awesome short term goals! Waking up this morning, my thoughts went to how proud I am of the Occupy Movement, its endurance, and its strength! Also, I realized I wouldn't be making the demonstration I have been wanting to go to. Also, I really can't make some of the social outings I would love to be a part of- something has to give when you have big things to accomplish in a short amount of time. The problem with having a handful of passions as well as many good friends is that there are lots of places to be and your friends are always up to something and you really want to be with them as much as possible! I am so blessed because I love feeling passionate about something I believe in and have the best friends a girl could ever ask for! Beyond my besties, I have really good and close friends that I love to spend time with. Let me not even get started on my family network- endless cousins! Anyhoo, I have 15 Days before I take off for Arizona (the state of backwards legislation, but it houses some of my beautiful family) and tons to do! I have doctors to see, blog posts to write, a research job to do, and academic papers to write... ay ay ay!! Time to FOCUS, wouldn't you say!
Activism
Today is May 1, 2012. It is May Day! Demonstrations, protests, and teach-ins will go on as those in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, or "Occupy" bring out the big guns as the 2nd Phase of the Occupy Movement begins on this day that historically has been a symbol for the fight for labor rights and then immigration reform- this day recognizes the need for dismantling oppressive forces. As I come to the end of my 5th year of as a PhD student, I am part of the Occupy Movement primarily from the student angle- we value education at its core and we understand that putting a price tag to it, creates a system where young people often say, "I can't afford college" and then do not go to college! One of the greatest demands of the Occupy Student Movements is free education. You recognize free education when your child goes to public school from pre-K to 12th grade. It is not out of the scope of possibility to make out public college education, free as well, so that no student has to mutter the words, "I can't afford to go to school." With that said, the best I can do today, is stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters of the Occupy Movement and spread the word! If you want to get involved with other students you can! Come together today and tomorrow! INFO:
Free University of New York City
TUESDAY May 1, 2012 — MAYDAY
A public experiment in education — 10am to 3pm
Convergence of students, teachers, and the public
demanding free education for all — 3pm
demanding free education for all — 3pm
Madison Square Park, 23rd St./5th Ave./Broadway
Subway: N/R to 23rd St. / 6 to 23rd, and 1 block west / F/M to 23rd St., and 1 block east
CUNY-wide manifestation on May 2 at the Brooklyn College Quad 12pm)
Contact the Free University: maydayfreeu@gmail.
Press Inquiries/General Info: (347) 670-FREU (3738)
Twitter: Follow @FreeUnivNYC #FreeU
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/
Video Trailer: http://bit.ly/
Press Inquiries/General Info: (347) 670-FREU (3738)
Twitter: Follow @FreeUnivNYC #FreeU
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/
Video Trailer: http://bit.ly/
My Health These Days
I so appreciate all the people in my life who have asked me how I have been doing post-hospitalization and recovery. It has been over two months later and I feel as close to 100% as I'm gonna feel! With that said, there are a few issues that I will continue to monitor- that abdominal pain that I experience about 6 days/times in the given month, some pain and discomfort when I use the bathroom during these times, and fatigue. A reason why I cannot take part in as much of the activism activities that I would love to be a part of is that my energy level isn't up there to handle that just yet, but I'm working on it! So far, the GI Specialists have tentatively concluded that I am suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, but I have a few more tests within the next few months. Am I happy with the diagnosis? For now, I am happy it's something that is not connected with cancers or other diseases.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to abdominal pain and cramping, changes in bowel movements, and other symptoms. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In IBS, the structure of the bowel is not abnormal.
IBS is not something that goes away or can be cured from what I have read, but I am learning more about what I can do to feel better.
Academics
The reality is, the 2011-2012 Fall and Spring semesters have been my least successful ones if you measure it according to reaching program milestones. I can't let that reality, cloud my present REAL potential- I keep reminding myself, "I am closer to my my PhD than I have ever been." That's the truth no matter how "bad" this academic year was! The Spring semester is coming to a close and my wish is to finish strong and then make some leaps during Summer. To do that, my plan of action must get me THINKING, WRITING, and SUBMITTING! It helps to remember that this started as a dream... I'm living the dream... and now to shape it!
Dating, Relationships & Romance
This Sunday evening I was at one of my dearest bestie's apartment in honor of her two month old baby. There were a handful of my bestie's friends there, but once they left I got to some special quality time with her. As usual, we got to talking about relationships and what we want in our future life partners. I think the reason why these conversations never get old is because there is always a real need to remind ourselves of the best things we want, to fine tune it, and express it more clearly! Some really important insights came through in this discussion:Dating, Relationships & Romance
- You can try to work things out, but at the end of the day, if you have learned all you can from a relationship, have given your best effort in trying to make it work, and have sought outside help via a therapist, a relationship workshop, or other expert, and it has not brought you closer to a healthy loving and reciprocated dynamic, then that's when you can make an informed decision about leaving each other peacefully so that you both can welcome better suited partners- yes, even and especially when children are involved. Ask yourself, if you have done all of the above?...
- "It will be okay"- is actually true, but it doesn't mean you get what you want or that things work out exactly as you plan in your mind. It means that any rough waters you experience, given you have a partner that values the relationship, as a committed couple, you will be strong enough to ride those waters into calmer waters. Also, if the relationship is not really working, "It will be okay", means that you will be able to get to the other side of that- that could mean a break-up, or a make-up, or getting third party help (to help you work your way to a better relationship or to help you leave each other peacefully).
- Relationships are about two people choosing each other! When you are with someone, look at yourself and see how this other person is showing you why you chose them. We are always evolving so even though you both bring your own stuff to a relationship, this stuff changes as we heal areas of hurt, as we learn new ways to deal with the stuff a partner shows us about ourselves, and as we discover new hurts and places to heal.
Still, right now, I am enjoying being single, dating, and having the anticipation of what could be!
My next post will be about Dreams.... Let's Live Them!
Wishes of Kindness & Kisses,
Vicky B.
Happy may Day!! Glad to see you were out there too! :)
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