Never thought I'd live to see the day
when everybody's words got in the way.

- Neon Trees, Everybody Talks

-+-

"Christa, you're very complicated. You're physically complicated, mentally complicated, and socially complicated."
-- "Ah!  Those are the components of the biopsychosocial model!  I am so ready for this Psych midterm."
"See?  Complicated."

-+-

I laid my belongings out on the table, carefully and meticulously.

It was uncharacteristic of me.  I am accustomed to the great art of "Throw my stuff everywhere without a single damn for the world."

But I had decided that morning that today ought to be different.  Today should have the lingering taste of change and growth scattered everywhere, like glossy pebbles on a weathered beach.  Even if that little change and that little growth is to culminate in the simple form of not throwing my napkins all across the table.

It was a short-lived affair, and since then, I'm admittedly back to the good graces of "Where the hell did I put my keys?" but nonetheless, it was a great prologue to where I am now.

I am lounging in my desk chair, with my feet stretched out on my study area, but most importantly --

I am chill as hell.

I have The xx playing on my iTunes, and I have powerpoints upon powerpoints open to study for another midterm coming up tomorrow.

I had actually been extremely concerned with my academics since the semester started.  Since my amazing summer came to a close, I found it impossible to concentrate on my studies.  Instead, everyday was just a blur of labwork and attending class, but nothing more than that.  I spent weeks behind on my readings and on my material, all because I suddenly lost the capacity to maintain enough focus to study.

Ironically enough, it was the stress implosion that fixed me.  The moment stress overtook me in a game-changing bout of organ mishaps, I was able to maintain focus on studying again.

Essentially, the reason is this: "I was worried about focusing when my body was on the verge of collapsing into itself?  Srsly?  I have way bigger fish to fry than this."

Since then, everything's been heading straight out of the park!

As far as my health goes, things have been going swell!  My doctor actually prescribed relaxation therapy for my stress, so since then I've taken a meditation class, and started meditating a few times a week.  It's actually been wicked effective!

I'm still off spicy foods for another few weeks, but the craziest part is that tomorrow will be Two Weeks Without Coffee.  My god.  I've transitioned into a compromise between my constant sleepiness and my anti-coffee craziness by drinking iced tea, so now I'm Iced Tea Girl rather than Iced Americano Girl at the school café.

Well, the night is getting long and I must study in the morning!

Until next time, then.

toodles!