I’m happy to say that not only am I (mostly) recovered from whatever illness plagued me last week, but I also think I may (emphasis on may) have figured out how I want to do this whole having my own beat thing.
Though I have absolutely no insight into what my 23 weekly readers (shoutout you guys) find interesting, my main topics, for now at least, include a weekly recap, some fact or concept I think all of you should know and my beloved (loved by me, that is) weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
Weekly update
This week was busier than I anticipated. With meetings, classes, homework and somewhat of a social life, I found myself constantly overwhelmed with how much I had on my plate.
There were, regardless of my extensive workload, standout moments.
As usual, I had meetings for Blugold Radio Monday, The Spectator and Society of Professional Journalists (say hello to your new SPJ president, by the way).
I recorded for the radio for the first time with my friend Cora. We haven’t set a name for our show yet, but I know we’ll decide … eventually. I usually hate hearing my own voice, but recording in the studio was actually really exciting.
I had my first in-class exam. It was for my cognitive psychology class. I may not know how I did yet, but I do know my brain never wants to absorb that much about perception ever again.
Outside of all of this, my week mainly consisted of hours worth of note-taking and the occasional hang-out with my roommates. Exciting, I know.
From me to you
I think that I’ll take the time to share something that has recently been consuming a good chunk of my brain power: Reading “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes for my modern political theory class.
Hobbes is a philosopher, political theorist and the creator of social contract theory, which is essentially the idea that people live together in a society in accordance with an agreement, or contract, that establishes the moral and political rules for behavior.
Hobbes believes that, if you were to strip away all of the differing characteristics people hold, like race, gender, sexuality, religion or culture, we would all be composed of only a few things: speech, imagination, materialism, reason and will. All of this combines to establish what we need to feel content.
We learned that humans, unlike other living things, always somehow find a way to get what we want. We are creatures filled with the desire and the yearning for power, and those feelings will not cease until we die. Our desire to get what we want will continue even after we get it. A part of us will always crave to get what we want.
Desire is not to enjoy once, but forever. It’s not always about the “stuff” we have, it’s about being able to hold on to what we have by continually seeking the power to protect it all.
This, being philosophical. isn’t necessarily accurate to who we are as humans. Regardless, it’s definitely interesting to think about.
Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.
Reading: “My Life With Words” by Barbara F. Luebke, “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert and “City of Ashes” by Cassandra Clare.
I think that it’s important to set realistic goals for ourselves. At this point, my goal is to finish these books by Thanksgiving. Still, that might be pushing it.
Eating: Chocolate chip pancakes.
I made chocolate chip pancakes this morning. I can’t remember the last time I had them, but it made me feel like a child. Not that that’s a bad thing whatsoever.
Playing: The album “Escaper” by Sarah Kinsley and the lovely Lizzy McAlpine’s new deluxe album “Older (and Wiser).”
Sarah Kinsley and Lizzy McAlpine are probably two of the best musicians I’ve ever listened to. I think that if you like one of them, you’ll like the other.
Obsessing: Currently, I’m obsessing over how terrible the movie “Zombies 2” is.
My best friends Elise and Lindsay Mangan, who I grew up with, both go to UW-Eau Claire. Listen, I love those girls like sisters, but the movie Lindsay made us watch last night, “Zombies 2,” was earth-shatteringly bad. I’m not sure what I expected. All Disney Channel original movies that came out after 2015 are a complete eyesore.
Recommending: Daily to-do lists.
This is nothing revolutionary, and most people already do this. However, I started the semester truly believing I could commit my assignments and events to memory. That method very quickly became unreliable. While it freaks me out a little to see just how many things I have to do, it has been unbelievably efficient.
Treating: Grace.
I am a busy woman, so my to-do lists start to look like an entire essay as I keep adding more tasks. I usually cram as much as possible into a single day. This is unrealistic and is never accomplished, and I sometimes feel like I should have gotten everything done.
I am trying to give myself grace for the unrealistic expectations I set. It’s not that I’m telling myself to give up, but rather that I know I completed everything I possibly could while maintaining a healthy balance with my social life and mental health.
That’s it for this week. Thank you for joining me.
-E.
Braun can be reached at [email protected].
