Any more advice?

I've gotten quite the stack of advice lately. Since most of it has come from reputable sources, I'll take it all into consideration.

• Don't go to grad school unless you know what you want to study
• But take the GRE now, while you still remember how to multiply
  
• Check your work (especially if it's algebra on the GRE)
• Stop being so closed off
• Don't be afraid to realize you don't want something you think you've wanted for a long time
• Change is important, and you have to let it happen (even kicking and screaming)
  
• Go to sleep--stop being the last one awake and the first one to wake up
• Find the balance of giving things time and not settling for something that's not right
• No need to be in such a rush
• Have another glass of wine
• Give people (boys) a chance
• Make sure you find things to fill your life other than the 9-5
• Leave your hair down, instead of pulling it back in a pony tail
• It's ok to ask for what you need, and it's ok to say no.
  

Had a long conversation with a potential client of a friend today (check out the friend if you're in need of graphic/web design!). Entrepreneurs are refreshing--that need to DO something, try something a different way, figure out what they don't like about the status quo and offer another option, even if there's the huge potential to flounder or fail along the way. The process of planning and surveying is part of the joy for them. I love asking someone starting out in a new project all the questions, trying to find the "sweet spot" of what someone is looking to create or offer. It's like editing your own work--almost impossible to find the holes or grey areas in your own writing, or your own ideas. Gaining the perspective of others is crucial to the self-discovery process. If you just continue to self-examine, you'll magnify things or let others fall by the wayside, instead of allowing an outside observer to draw your attention to what's not immediately obvious to you at short distance.

""He left any job where he wasn't learning or when his dignity, however defined, was anywhere compromised" , from You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers. Another book that made me laugh out loud on the T. If someone's not giving you a weird look, you're living too quietly.

Can't Help But Fill Up the Calendar

Now that I've been at work for almost two months, it's about time to get back into a busy little routine. I miss classes and campus life on some level, so the only solution is to start signing up for events, classes, and other ways to get myself involved in things other than my social circle.

• Open Classroom: Northeastern offers the community the chance to audit a class on urban policy and issues taught by Prof. Bluestone. Once you're registered, you can sit in on any of the classes from 9/10-12/10. A group of us are signing up (let me know if you do too!), and while I may not buy all the books recommended on the official syllabus, I'm strangely hungry for poli-sci nerd knowledge and a classroom setting.
• Fashion Week Boston: on the opposite side of the spectrum, I want to take advantage of some of the free events offered during Boston's own Fashion Week, with some events taking place over the course of a month. It's no NYC or Milan, but I'll take a little runway and cocktail action any time, any place. I've RSVP'd to a few already, and open to other suggestions
• Groupon: Danielle and I bought coupons for a month of kayaking at Boston's Community Boating, to get fresh air and a kickass view of the Zakim at sunset, but Groupon has plenty of other discounted options for getting out and about or just relaxing--check it out!
• BCAE: I'm investigating classes at the Boston Center for Adult Education--hoping for a drawing or wheelthrowing class, but like I said--I miss classes and learning something new will keep me from feeling static.
• As more and more people enter the race for Sen. Kennedy's vacated seat, I'd love to get involved in a campaign, but biding my time a little to see who else jumps on board before picking one to volunteer for--anyone have insight or reasons to go for one over another?

Always room for more things--suggestions, resources, and ideas welcome for ways to get over the campus portion of my life but kickstart involvement on a whole new playing field!