Can you take off the mask?

I'm using this blog as a way to say what I need to say without physically saying it. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the best person when confronting issues face to face. In fact, I'm not even great at sharing my thoughts face to face. These days things are resolved Facebook to Facebook...

As if hiding behind a mask, we use technology these days to say things that could be awkward to say in person. How many people do you pass on the street who are willing to share with you what they had for breakfast? Hopefully very few. However people feel comfortable sharing information like that behind social networking sites. What comes at a price is when people share things that are too personal. 

Confronting a person can lead to an awkward situation. Now that people hide behind the mask of technology, they would rather share conflicts publicly rather than between person to person. How does this make it better? Sure, you may be able to communicate that issue with that person and not have an awkward moment face to face but everyone else in the Internet world has access to the problem now too! This world has enough problems in it without more drama being added in.

It becomes like an addiction. How easy is it to delete a Facebook account? The more you get involved in the mask, the harder it is to take that mask off. It becomes your life and before you know it, you are constantly involved in it. All your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers are there. Everyone seems to be in the same place, as if it was right where you left them. 

It gives a false sense of popularity. When you have access to everyone at once, you feel connected and wanted even though a lot of the people who are there you may not have had actual contact with since high school. What makes this more important than reality? People share things on social media networks that they wouldn't normally share so you start to feel even more connected.

I'll be the first to admit I hide behind a mask often. This post is me hiding behind a mask. That is today's society. There are things you talk about and things not to talk about, things that are too uncomfortable to talk about but are easier when made public because you get support from people you haven't spoken to or seen in the last five years. 

Eventually, my mask will come off. This blog is my comfort zone in the meantime but eventually I will be better handling situations without having a phone or a computer to hide behind. 

Something fresh for dinner

People who know me know that I don't cook, except that I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. Tonight I decided to step out of my frying a sandwich comfort zone! 

What did I end up making? 

Starting from the inspiration, last weekend I had a friend over who I met in New Zealand and visited in Portugal, Maria. In both locations I was wowed by her sense of creativity in the kitchen. She was able to dig up anything from the refrigerator and make it delicious! She taught me two things I will always remember in the kitchen from now on: experimentation and confidence are important. Some things may not work but you shouldn't give up trying to find the ways that do work. She showed me to make a sauce just with tomatoes and cucumbers in pasta. She added pears which ended up being a sweet but delightful addition to the mix. We all have to start somewhere so I tried to recreate this dish. 

Even though I didn't have pears to add this time, it was still equally delicious! I found that making my own dinner completely from scratch, I feel more satisfied with my meal. My appetite wasn't very big after standing over the stove going through the motions of cooking. I feel healthier by having fresh ingredients. And finally, I feel very accomplished by having created something delicious as a result. I can't wait to go to the store next to try my own creation!

Beginning the Journey

Greetings All!

Welcome to the blog of my mind!  I will be using this space as my way of getting out the most inner workings of my mind.  It will be my therapeutic to express myself and my thoughts fully.  To be clear, this blog isn't for you, or any of the readers it may attract.  This is for me. 

Speaking of me, I'm Caitlin.  I went to school for graphic design and have obtained my Bachelor's of Science.  Since then, I enjoy freelance graphic design and photography.  For my day job, I work at a local staffing agency. I love to travel which was my inspiration for my very first blog:  Northern Kiwi Travels to New Zealand.  I have been to Paris, London, Rome, Portugal, Sweden, Australia, and studied for a semester in Auckland, New Zealand.  Whenever my travels come to an end, I always come home to the familiar face of my loyal cat, Buster.  My boyfriend, Andrew and I have recently moved from Vermont to Maine and have acquired another little kitten whom we have named Myles (or one of his many nicknames: Mules).  I know I have a tendency to come off as a crazy cat lady, and I can accept that.

I have found that every moment I've lived, every experience I have been through, and every heartbreak I have endured have lead me to become who I am today.  Every experience, both good and bad, are equally important to a person's development and even deciding which way to walk down the street affects the outcome of the rest of that person's life. That is why we are here... just to live it.  But we will get into more of that later on.  As of now, thank you for joining my thoughts. Please sit back, and enjoy the ride!