The Power of Habit

I've been reading a lot lately, but mostly books related to marketing for work.  I read an article about The Power of Habit in the New York Times, and it intrigued me.  I decided to read it, even though I wasn't sure how applicable it would be to my job.

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I was wrong.  In fact, after I read it, everyone at work wanted to borrow it!

The Power of Habit is all about the science behind how habits are formed, and how we can change them.  Ever wonder how some people can quit smoking cold turkey, while others end up smoking their whole lives?   Ever wonder how some people fail at diets and stay obese, and others undergo incredible transformations?

This book is just fascinating... and it really made me a bit more introspective.  For example, I have always had issues with portion control.  I eat too much, too fast.  It started when I went to West Point, and we only have 15 minutes to eat.  We used to say, "Eat now, taste later!" as we hurried off to classes.  Well, I gained weight consistently from that point on, with the exception of my semester in France where I ate more slowly to fit in, and a year in Iraq where I made working out a part of my daily routine.

The more we learn about our habits, the more easily we can change them.  I learned that my brain creates habits so that I can make fewer decisions later on, keeping my brain alert and ready for other more "urgent" decisions.  So if I ate four slices of pizza, I would continue to eat four slices of pizza because my brain said so... until the day I experimented by eating that pizza with a knife and fork to slow down.  I ate TWO slices and was full.  You have to make a conscious effort to stop yourself from succumbing to built-in habits!

I'd recommend this book to anyone... smokers, those trying to lose weight, marketers, curious intellects, or those trying to change their lives.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

My friend JH, her daughter EH, and dog Cookie were passing by on a long road trip, and they decided to crash at my apartment along the way!  It was a hot weekend, but I really enjoyed spending all day Saturday with them.  (I visited them last November in Texas... remember?

We woke up bright and early and got some breakfast at Dotson's Restaurant, then headed to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.  It was incredibly hot, but we wanted EH to get a chance to see the animals.  She loved the fish in the small aquarium the best, but she also got a look at the elephants and giraffes.  (Giraffes are still my favorite zoo animal!)

Love the fishies!

Then, after a little nap, we went to the swimming pool at my apartment complex.  EH is such a water baby!  It was so fun to see her try to swim.  Even at 18 months, she is fearless about it, and she's always love bath time.  I was also impressed by her sign language; she is too young to do more than babble, but JH has taught her some ASL for "more", "please", "all done" and even "bath" that really made it easy to know what she wants.

Swimming with Aunt Aubrey

We also had some funnel cake at the Bluegrass Upon the Harpeth festival we happened upon in downtown Franklin.  It was all so exciting for EH, and she had a blast.

I'm sad I only had a day with them, but they'll be back through for one more night on their way home.  Can't wait!

Katy Perry: Part of Me!

So after work on a weekday, I grabbed some Pinkberry, hid it in my purse, and went to see Katy Perry: Part of Me at the movie theater.

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I thought it would be a fun romp, considering how much I've always loved her music.

Instead, I cried and cried.  Katy's movie isn't just a backstage pass to her concert tour and a timeline of her career like an E! True Hollywood Story.  It has raw emotion, and it is clear that Katy isn't playing a part, just being herself.

What made me cry?  Watching Katy's marriage end as her career is taking off, over the course of a year.  Watching her as she describes the dream lifelong relationships she wants, stresses about making it work across such distance but making huge effort, and then falling apart as thousands of fans are waiting to go on stage.  Some people watch their favorite singers and imagine what it's like to be them.  When I watched this movie, I KNEW what it was like to be Katy.  Because I went through the death of a marriage at the same young age, after the same huge hopes, and felt those same emotions.  As the tweens around me sang along and smiled, I wiped away tears as I saw Katy's pain.

But I also saw her resilience, and it all made me love her even more.  She, and her music, help me face every day... whether celebrating the good or persevering through the bad.