Monday, March 22, 2010

Impulse.

I'm impulsive.
Utterly and ridiculously impulsive.
I never know what I'm going to do each day. Because I don't decide until I actually get to that point.
I'm not one to make plans. I'm just one to do things.
I never plan on a certain mood.
Because, let's be honest. When are my moods ever consistent?
Oh, right. They aren't.

I guess my point is that no one, not even I, knows what I'm about to do.
Sometimes I just do it.

Example A:
The other day, I went to Wendy's to have dinner with some friends. We'd been having a long rehearsal and were given an hour for dinner before we needed to be back. So we pulled in to the parking lot, and we all trailed out of my van. Everyone walked in, and two boys who walked in just before me thought they would be hilarious in holding the door closed so I couldn't get in, seeing as I was the last in line to go inside. Well, they were merciless. And weren't letting me in. So I simply walked away. I intended to go to the door on the opposite side of the building when something caught my eye: 4 girls playing jump rope at the opposite end of the parking lot. And I figured (impulse of the moment) it would be a lovely opportunity to make new friends. So I approached them and asked if I could jump with them. They seemed confused, but confirmed my request. We exchanged names, theirs being Sarah, Haley, Rachel and Destiny. They then explained that they were all home-schooled, and all of the ages 12 and 13. I told them I was nearly 17, and they were even more shocked that I wanted to play jump rope with them; giving each other the eyes that say "did you hear the same thing I did? This clearly calls for further discussion when she goes away..." But I didn't care. I spent twenty minutes with my new friends and had the time of my life.

Example B:
My parents suggested I run for Student Body Officer. I had a lot of thoughts against the idea, but figured that I'd do it if I was supposed to do it. So I put it off. I went to the meeting, but never really got around to filling out the applications, which were due today. Last night, I got on to the computer and checked my grades (which are the best they've ever been, if you wanted to know). I was on the school website about to do so when I saw a tab leading to the Student Body Officer applications. So I pulled it up and read through it. And then (impulse of the moment) I clicked print. Filled it out. And turned it in. Which took me all night, but my body handles lack-of-sleep rather well. So now I'm running for Student Body Officer. (...vote for Mallory...?)

Example C:
We had a lovely student teacher in my Modern World History class. The best thing about her was that she gave plenty of extra credit--I ended the term with a 103%... Anyway, on her almost-last-day of teaching, she was trying to kill time. She had clearly underprepared the lesson for that day. She had once said something about being a singer, and I begged for her to sing. Simply just to kill time. So she did (lovely voice she had) and we all applauded. She then asked for others who would like to sing for five points of extra credit. A few of my friends told her that I sing and she told me to get up. She asked me to sing in the sort of tone that meant "I'd love it if you did, but I'm not going to force you, even though you forced me. And I don't really expect you to be as good as me. But I'm never going to admit that out loud."
So (impulse of the moment) I stood up and gave her my own rendition of Amazing Grace. And she gave me extra credit. And I didn't do my best. And I wasn't as good as her. But I didn't really care.

Example D:
I'm not the largest lover of Valentine's Day. In fact, I see it as just another day. Because I never have anything special planned. It's just a day. This year, on February 13th, I was about to go to bed. Then something hit me: People like Valentines. You don't need to be "in love" to make it an enjoyable day. So (impulse of the moment) I crawled out of my bed and went to the basement where my mom's scrap-booking room is. I then hand made 15 valentines for some of my dearest friends. And stayed up all night to do so. I wrote personal messages in each one. And didn't regret the loss of sleep at all.


In essence, live by impulse. I know I do. And boy, does it make my life interesting.

Take every opportunity you have to make a new friend.
Take every opportunity you have to be a part of something new.
Take every opportunity you have to show people what you're best at.
Take every opportunity you have to make someones day.


Take every opportunity.
You are given opportunities so that you will take them.
So get off your butt and do just that.

Grasp that world that is dangling in front of you.

Be brave. Just do it. Honestly.
If I've learned one thing from my voice teacher, Tracy Warby, it is to just try.
"What's the worst that's going to happen?" She says. "You'll suck and I'll laugh at you. And you'll get over it."
...She has a point.
If you're afraid to follow through with an impulse, ask yourself, "What's the worst that's going to happen?"

Be impulsive.

My life motto?
"Maybe the brave don't live forever... But the cautious don't live at all."

I love being impulsive. Other than it defining me, it also inspires me.

I wouldn't know most of the people I hold dear now if it weren't for me being impulsive.

So follow the impulse.
You don't get impulses for nothing, you know.






By: Mallory

1 comment:

  1. Love your motto :)

    I'm somewhere in between; I go on a lot of my random impulses, but I do like to have some plans...

    ReplyDelete

you look really good today!