Catholicism

So, I've been going to these RCIA classes through my church to learn more about my Catholic faith. It turns out, I know most of the stuff already... I'm just not sure if I agree with all of it or not. Or maybe it's just that I'm not understanding it completely.

Of course, it would help if I would actually ask my questions to these RCIA people, but, of course, I am too shy / nerdy / not-good-with-communicating / quiet (remember this post?) to do this.

There's this one leader there... let's call him "Mitch" (because that is his name, and since he is not going to read this blog so he will never know that I am using his real name)... who seems really smart and who I would really like to ask questions to. He has a background of being an atheist and then a Protestant and is now a Catholic. Somehow, I give a little more credit to people who choose the Catholic faith on their own (through independent study and research and the personal experience of grace), instead of being raised in it (like I have) and basically have their it chosen for them.

And it's not that I don't believe in (most of) what the Church has to say... it's just that I believe in EVERYTHING! I believe in Judaism, and Buddhism, and Santa Claus, and miracles, and the Kabbalah, and Deepak Chopra, and science, and birth, and psychics, and Lao Tzu, and ghosts, and Christian Science, and aliens, and chiropractic, and yoga, and even (certain) parts of Mormonism and Scientology.

And it's not that I'm gullible... it's just that I think that each of these things has some Truth to it. Like, I mean, what if all of these Truths are just parts of a greater whole? Or, what if different parts of the different aspects of Truth are different for different people (you know, like, different people, different journeys)? How can people (like me, who is questioning all of this), chose to be a part of just one?

Like, the Catholic Church only seems to recognize people (Saints) and miracles that occur only among Catholic people. But what about all of the other miracles that occur? Why are they any less important?

And if I am to call myself a Catholic, shouldn't I be more all-in with the whole thing? I don't know. And if I am not to be a Catholic, then what am I?

Election Day

I wrote in Ron Paul (which my husband told me was the equivalent to crumpling my ballot into a ball and throwing it out the window) and voted no and no.

Quiet, Quiet

I usually don't talk a lot, partly because I figure I can learn more by listening to what other people have to say since I already know everything I would have to say.

But I have been exploring the idea of talking more, because now I'm starting to think I could actually learn a bit more about myself my doing this. Maybe.

The problem is, I'm not very good at talking.

I tend to internalize experiences, and I tend to like it that way.

Take reading a book, for example. To me, reading a book is a nice little personal experience that I get to share with myself. And I like that.

But, there is this thing that I have decided to become a part of and this thing is called "Book Club". And the main point of Book Club is to discuss a book that we've all read... with each other.

Ah! I know, right? What a crazy thing for me to be a part of.

And I suck at it.

But, in an effort to grow as a human being and to explore the idea of talking more amongst other human beings, I am doing it.

I am not really talking more (because there are a lot of people in Book Club who have already mastered the art of talking and are therefore much better and more proficient at it than I will ever be), but I am there. Trying. Sort of. And that is something.

Not Washing My Hair - Day 16 - IT'S OVER!

Day 16. Just two days ago, I thought this could go on forever. And my hair still feels the same and I actually really like the way it feels, but yesterday, out of nowhere, the roots of my hair started aching a bit. I don't really know how else to describe it. An ache. Emanating from the roots. Especially achy when the hair at the roots is rubbed or moved.

So, this will be my last photo. I'm hopping in the shower immediately after I post this.

(Also, other than tank tops, this is basically the last shirt I own that has yet to be photographed.)

Not Washing My Hair - Day 15

Day 15:

And this is what my girls look like, who haven't washed their hair with shampoo or baking soda in who knows how long: