I had never really thought about the concept of being "taught" to pay attention before; I always assumed it was something that just comes naturally when you're intrigued by something. I know that's not the case, especially since I struggle with attention issues sometimes myself, but I never realized I could "learn" - in a classical way - to pay attention. I liked Chris' idea of mindfulness being the key to learning to pay attention. I think I could agree with that. I thought his demonstration with the chime was interesting, but I don't know if it was strong enough to back up his talk. I mean, anyone could pay attention for a chime for a handful of seconds, but I think people really struggle when they have to pay attention to something a) on their own accord and b) for long periods of time. But maybe the key to that is as simple as being mindful in that moment to what you're doing.
Showing posts with label Learning Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning Challenge. Show all posts
Monday, November 28, 2016
Learning Challenge: Paying Attention
With the end of the semester rapidly approaching, I've been extremely distracted, tired, and not paying much attention to school. I just can't seem to get or stay focused, so I decided to do a learning challenge about attention. I browsed YouTube and found a TED Talk given by Chris Fraser over paying attention, so I decided to give it a watch. Below are my thoughts.
I had never really thought about the concept of being "taught" to pay attention before; I always assumed it was something that just comes naturally when you're intrigued by something. I know that's not the case, especially since I struggle with attention issues sometimes myself, but I never realized I could "learn" - in a classical way - to pay attention. I liked Chris' idea of mindfulness being the key to learning to pay attention. I think I could agree with that. I thought his demonstration with the chime was interesting, but I don't know if it was strong enough to back up his talk. I mean, anyone could pay attention for a chime for a handful of seconds, but I think people really struggle when they have to pay attention to something a) on their own accord and b) for long periods of time. But maybe the key to that is as simple as being mindful in that moment to what you're doing.
I had never really thought about the concept of being "taught" to pay attention before; I always assumed it was something that just comes naturally when you're intrigued by something. I know that's not the case, especially since I struggle with attention issues sometimes myself, but I never realized I could "learn" - in a classical way - to pay attention. I liked Chris' idea of mindfulness being the key to learning to pay attention. I think I could agree with that. I thought his demonstration with the chime was interesting, but I don't know if it was strong enough to back up his talk. I mean, anyone could pay attention for a chime for a handful of seconds, but I think people really struggle when they have to pay attention to something a) on their own accord and b) for long periods of time. But maybe the key to that is as simple as being mindful in that moment to what you're doing.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
That Made My Day
The highlight of my day (what made me happy today):
Thursday 8/25
I got started on my first research project today! Officially streaked my first plate with a (likely) novel bacterial species, specimen PMP191F. What made me even happier was that after talking to Nisha about my research interests, she said that I would be able to incorporate research on antibiotic resistance into this project, and then when I'm finished with this project she'd give me one all about abx resistance! She also said there was a chance that I could be published with this project (though it's a pay to prove type project, so they may not even publish the findings?)
Friday 8/26
The two homeless people that frequently hang out around outside of the clinic found a precious baby kitten today on the side of the road, no mother or siblings in sight. They brought the kitten in, and we cleaned it up and bottle fed it! One of my coworkers decided to take it home to care for it.
It was so kind that, even though they don't have a home of their own, they cared enough to help an animal in need find a home and the care it deserved.
Monday 8/29
I'm happy and thankful that I'm working with such great grad students at the Lawson Lab.
Tuesday 8/30
Talking with my mom last night and today made me happy.
Wednesday 8/31
The Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast always makes me happy. Couldn't control my grinnin' today while listening to it as I walked to class.
Saturday 9/3
Someone banged on the door and yelled "EARTHQUAKE!!" during that 5.6 earthquake we had. I found it hilarious.
Sunday 9/4
I went by my favorite coffee place here in Norman (Cool Beans over on 12th and Alameda), but as I pulled up to the drive thru, the (presumably) owner informed me that they were closed for renovations. I was bummed, and was going to just go somewhere else, but then she asked me what I was going to order. I told her I was craving a large iced chai, and she said she could make it for me! I told her I didn't have cash, just my card, which she said was fine. She made the drink and brought it out to me, and then told me that it was on the house!
Monday 9/5
Obviously it made me happy that there was no class today, ha! But also, I got to see my friend Jessica today! We met up over a couple of drinks, she told me all about med school so far, and then I went and saw her new (awesome) house in OKC!
Sorry for the hiatus, I had a hectic last week!
Sunday 9/11
Today a female praying mantis hung out on my hand for a bit. It was really cool.
Tuesday 9/13
MY BEST FRIEND ANDREA FINALLY HAD HER BABY!!! It feels like it took forever, especially these last few days, but Piper is finally here! 7lbs 2oz, beautiful as can be :,)
I'm very happy she's finally here, and I'm also really happy I got to facetime with Andrea like, 20 minutes after the birth! Got to see her and Piper! I can't wait to meet her tomorrow!
Ps: this is in bold because it's probably the best thing that will happen all semester, and maybe even the rest of the year!
Wednesday 9/14
Drove straight to Tulsa after work to meet baby Piper today! She was as precious as can be :,)
Saturday 9/17
Trump did Harambe! That's all I've got to say about today.
Sunday 9/18
As simple as it sounds, spending some alone time and working on getting back on track was oddly fulfilling today. *Sigh of relief*
Monday 9/19
I finally got a phone, which definitely makes me happy
Tuesday 9/20
My broth cultures grew! I was afraid my cultures had died, and was worried if my subcultures would even grow, but they did and I'm happy.
Friday 9/23
I taped a photo of Bernie Sanders to my TV. Alec and I sang My Chemical Romance to it Thanks alcohol.
Saturday 9/24
I went to an OU Improv show, and really enjoyed it.
Sunday 9/25
The fair, the fair, the fair, the fair, and Alec! We rode a ton of rides and snuck into the snake woman exhibit - it was terrible! :)
Monday 9/26
It's a little early in the day to do this, but I ran into my old professor Herr Sullivan today after class! He is one of the best professors I've had, ever! I was delighted to see him, and very happy that he remembers me, even after a couple of semesters.
Tuesday 9/27
I just had a good day in lab today.
Saturday 10/1
It's October!!! And I got a raise!
Tuesday 10/4
The lightning storm last night made me really happy. It was so cool, I watched it for an hour or so.
Wednesday 10/5
This didn't necessarily make me "happy", but it did make me laugh, so that's close enough...
Today after my pathogenic micro class, Alec was walking in as I was walking out, and I got really excited about this picture of Harambe that my friend photoshopped into a clown that I wanted him to see, so I start walking toward him all happy and then I slip on the stairs and straight up fall on my ass (ok it was my knees, but still). It was pretty hilarious.
Friday 10/7
This is too easy - I was really happy to be out of school today! But I'm also really happy to get to go to Tulsa to see my family in friends today!
Saturday 10/8
The Tulsa State Fair - enough said!
Sunday 10/9
I'm happy to see my cats again! I missed them while I was in Tulsa.
Monday 10/10
I went in to get some coffee at the Circle K by my house, and the lady gave it to me for free! And then some teens outside told me to have a nice day in a non sarcastic tone. Weird series of events, but they made me smile.
Tuesday 10/11
The Norman Animal Shelter agreed to join my work's adoption event we are having next month! Yay!
Friday 10/14
It made me really happy to finally see my friend Jessica again! We went to the Art Walk on Main St. and had a lot of fun!
Saturday 10/15
Today I finally met Jessica's mom, whom I've heard so much about. She's a neurosurgeon with a PhD in microbiology, so she's someone I've been very eager to meet! We all got sushi and had a nice time!
I'm sorry I've been slacking!
Wednesday 10/19
Having lunch with some of my coworkers was enjoyable! Also, there was the sweetest little 3 legged kitten at work. She was too sweet.
Thursday 10/20
I talked on the phone with my friend Austin for about 3 hours! It was nice because I haven't gotten to talk to him in a while.
Saturday 10/22
Alec and I went to Oktoberfest in Tulsa! I got to see some of my friends I hadn't seen in awhile there too! Oh, and not to mention the delicious food... mmm
Sunday 10/23
Even though I only saw her for a little bit, I was happy to see my mom today.
Monday 10/24
ZACK came to Norman!!!!!!!!
Monday 11/7
Dang, I'm sorry I haven't posted in so, so long.... Life has been tough lately, and this election is stressing me out beyond belief. Hopefully soon I can get back to this.
Thursday 8/25
I got started on my first research project today! Officially streaked my first plate with a (likely) novel bacterial species, specimen PMP191F. What made me even happier was that after talking to Nisha about my research interests, she said that I would be able to incorporate research on antibiotic resistance into this project, and then when I'm finished with this project she'd give me one all about abx resistance! She also said there was a chance that I could be published with this project (though it's a pay to prove type project, so they may not even publish the findings?)
Friday 8/26
The two homeless people that frequently hang out around outside of the clinic found a precious baby kitten today on the side of the road, no mother or siblings in sight. They brought the kitten in, and we cleaned it up and bottle fed it! One of my coworkers decided to take it home to care for it.
It was so kind that, even though they don't have a home of their own, they cared enough to help an animal in need find a home and the care it deserved.
 |
| Foundling - Female kitten, ~2 weeks old after a bottle feeding; Photo credit: Me |
I'm happy and thankful that I'm working with such great grad students at the Lawson Lab.
Tuesday 8/30
Talking with my mom last night and today made me happy.
Wednesday 8/31
The Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast always makes me happy. Couldn't control my grinnin' today while listening to it as I walked to class.
Saturday 9/3
Someone banged on the door and yelled "EARTHQUAKE!!" during that 5.6 earthquake we had. I found it hilarious.
Sunday 9/4
I went by my favorite coffee place here in Norman (Cool Beans over on 12th and Alameda), but as I pulled up to the drive thru, the (presumably) owner informed me that they were closed for renovations. I was bummed, and was going to just go somewhere else, but then she asked me what I was going to order. I told her I was craving a large iced chai, and she said she could make it for me! I told her I didn't have cash, just my card, which she said was fine. She made the drink and brought it out to me, and then told me that it was on the house!
Monday 9/5
Obviously it made me happy that there was no class today, ha! But also, I got to see my friend Jessica today! We met up over a couple of drinks, she told me all about med school so far, and then I went and saw her new (awesome) house in OKC!
Sorry for the hiatus, I had a hectic last week!
Sunday 9/11
Today a female praying mantis hung out on my hand for a bit. It was really cool.
 |
| Praying Mantis by Shiva Shankar on the Wikipedia Commons |
Tuesday 9/13
MY BEST FRIEND ANDREA FINALLY HAD HER BABY!!! It feels like it took forever, especially these last few days, but Piper is finally here! 7lbs 2oz, beautiful as can be :,)
I'm very happy she's finally here, and I'm also really happy I got to facetime with Andrea like, 20 minutes after the birth! Got to see her and Piper! I can't wait to meet her tomorrow!
Ps: this is in bold because it's probably the best thing that will happen all semester, and maybe even the rest of the year!
 |
| Andrea & Piper - Photo courtesy of the Sawyers family, 2016 |
Drove straight to Tulsa after work to meet baby Piper today! She was as precious as can be :,)
Saturday 9/17
Trump did Harambe! That's all I've got to say about today.
Sunday 9/18
As simple as it sounds, spending some alone time and working on getting back on track was oddly fulfilling today. *Sigh of relief*
Monday 9/19
I finally got a phone, which definitely makes me happy
Tuesday 9/20
My broth cultures grew! I was afraid my cultures had died, and was worried if my subcultures would even grow, but they did and I'm happy.
Friday 9/23
I taped a photo of Bernie Sanders to my TV. Alec and I sang My Chemical Romance to it Thanks alcohol.
Saturday 9/24
I went to an OU Improv show, and really enjoyed it.
Sunday 9/25
The fair, the fair, the fair, the fair, and Alec! We rode a ton of rides and snuck into the snake woman exhibit - it was terrible! :)
Monday 9/26
It's a little early in the day to do this, but I ran into my old professor Herr Sullivan today after class! He is one of the best professors I've had, ever! I was delighted to see him, and very happy that he remembers me, even after a couple of semesters.
Tuesday 9/27
I just had a good day in lab today.
Saturday 10/1
It's October!!! And I got a raise!
Tuesday 10/4
The lightning storm last night made me really happy. It was so cool, I watched it for an hour or so.
Wednesday 10/5
This didn't necessarily make me "happy", but it did make me laugh, so that's close enough...
Today after my pathogenic micro class, Alec was walking in as I was walking out, and I got really excited about this picture of Harambe that my friend photoshopped into a clown that I wanted him to see, so I start walking toward him all happy and then I slip on the stairs and straight up fall on my ass (ok it was my knees, but still). It was pretty hilarious.
Friday 10/7
This is too easy - I was really happy to be out of school today! But I'm also really happy to get to go to Tulsa to see my family in friends today!
Saturday 10/8
The Tulsa State Fair - enough said!
 |
| This beautiful relic was spotted at the Tulsa State Fair. Credit: me. |
Sunday 10/9
I'm happy to see my cats again! I missed them while I was in Tulsa.
Monday 10/10
I went in to get some coffee at the Circle K by my house, and the lady gave it to me for free! And then some teens outside told me to have a nice day in a non sarcastic tone. Weird series of events, but they made me smile.
Tuesday 10/11
The Norman Animal Shelter agreed to join my work's adoption event we are having next month! Yay!
Friday 10/14
It made me really happy to finally see my friend Jessica again! We went to the Art Walk on Main St. and had a lot of fun!
Saturday 10/15
Today I finally met Jessica's mom, whom I've heard so much about. She's a neurosurgeon with a PhD in microbiology, so she's someone I've been very eager to meet! We all got sushi and had a nice time!
I'm sorry I've been slacking!
Wednesday 10/19
Having lunch with some of my coworkers was enjoyable! Also, there was the sweetest little 3 legged kitten at work. She was too sweet.
Thursday 10/20
I talked on the phone with my friend Austin for about 3 hours! It was nice because I haven't gotten to talk to him in a while.
Saturday 10/22
Alec and I went to Oktoberfest in Tulsa! I got to see some of my friends I hadn't seen in awhile there too! Oh, and not to mention the delicious food... mmm
 |
| Oktoberfest in Tulsa. Courtesy of TulsaTopics on Flickr |
Sunday 10/23
Even though I only saw her for a little bit, I was happy to see my mom today.
Monday 10/24
ZACK came to Norman!!!!!!!!
Monday 11/7
Dang, I'm sorry I haven't posted in so, so long.... Life has been tough lately, and this election is stressing me out beyond belief. Hopefully soon I can get back to this.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Learning Challenge: H.E.A.R.T, H - Happiness and Health
Today I decided to find out a little more about learning by HEART, specifically learning about happiness and health . I chose this topic because I often find myself feeling lonely or pessimistic (i.e. unhappy) instead of thinking positively, appreciating my time alone, or enjoying what I'm doing.
I did or learned about three things to improve my happiness today.
1. Being grateful is a good technique for feeling happier. Here is a short video about the effects of gratitude. To practice this in my own life, I wrote 2 thank you cards to people in my life that recently went out of their way to do something nice for me. They were addressed to:
My manager - she recently purchased every one at the clinic cat-themed (adult style) coloring books as well as a large, reusable bag covered in - you guessed it - cats.
My neighbor - just a couple of days ago she gave me a really cute coffee mug that she purchased while she was in Tulsa. I thought it was really nice that she was thinking of me while visiting my hometown.
2. Happiness Jar: I can't decide if I'd rather make a physical happiness jar, or just make a blog post that I update daily (or both?!) I think doing both would be the most fun - it'll be nice to have a tangible collection of notes, but I also think doing it here would help me be more accountable for it. I can't promise I'll do it every single day, but I'll do my best!
3. Read about how to be happy on zenhabits.net
This website/blog used to be my google chrome homepage on my old laptop. It's full of excellent posts, ideas, reflections, and more, on everything from happiness to productivity. It seems like it would be an obnoxious or scammy website judging by the title, but it's not at all. I'm glad I rediscovered it, because I had forgotten about it. The article I read talks about how being happy about what you're doing in the moment, instead of thinking about what you COULD be doing, is an important part of being happy.
 |
| Happiness Jar. Source |
This website/blog used to be my google chrome homepage on my old laptop. It's full of excellent posts, ideas, reflections, and more, on everything from happiness to productivity. It seems like it would be an obnoxious or scammy website judging by the title, but it's not at all. I'm glad I rediscovered it, because I had forgotten about it. The article I read talks about how being happy about what you're doing in the moment, instead of thinking about what you COULD be doing, is an important part of being happy.
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