Adventures of Andrea

While I was at yoga today, I was having trouble stretching into a certain position, and I thought how everyone around me was probably having no problems getting into position.

While I was thinking about how much I suck at yoga, I realized there are probably a few stretches that I may be better at that than some of the people in the class. It all depends on perspective.

I guess yoga made me reflective, because then I thought about how our society is driven by competition. Who can earn the most money? Who has the fanciest car? Who has the nicest clothes? Who's the most attractive?

We're constantly comparing ourselves to others without realizing our own potential for other things. I may not be the best yogi, but I may be the best at other things.

I'm the best daughter to my mother, I'm the best sibling to my brothers and sister. I'm the best aunt to my nieces and nephew. I'm the best girlfriend to my boyfriend. I'm the best at all those things, simply because of who I am.

I think when we are constantly comparing ourselves to other people, we forget about the details of our own lives, and the specifics, the relationships we have with other people that shape the lives of those around us.

I may not be good at some things, but I know I'm the best at being me.

So the next time you're struggling to do the splits during yoga class, or the next time you're comparing your career to your friends, focus on that the things that make you you. 

Also, even though this sounds like a sappy inspirational speech, I think it's something important we need to remember; and I think it's often forgotten in day-to-day life when we're constantly comparing ourselves to other people.

No one else can do the things I do, make the choices I make; and I think that's pretty special.

I feel like a lot of times on here, I try to be creative and write about different things or topics I care about, but today I'd just like to rant.

A couple of weeks ago, I got the dreaded letter saying that I had to report for jury duty. I actually got called last year, but as I was a student at the time, I didn't have to serve. They called me back a year to the day (the state of Illinois does not kid around), and so off I went to Chicago.

I decided to drive, which was my first mistake, and I'm sure you city kids are shaking your heads at me, but I wasn't sure what time I would be dismissed, and the train times in my little suburb suck. So I sat in Chicago traffic for two and a half hours and jogged into the Daley Center half an hour later.

I tried apologizing to the lady in charge when I got there, but I couldn't even get a word out before she pointed off to the side and handed me a slip of paper with my panel number.

If you haven't ever been called to jury duty, this little slip of paper can make or break your day. As the day passes, they call different panel numbers and those people who have that number line up and scurry out to go to a courtroom.

Spoiler alert: my panel number was not called.

Three panels were called immediately after watching the orientation video, and then for the next seven and a half hours...I sat.

To be honest, I don't really remember much of the day. The heater was running, and it made me feel like I was on an airplane because my ears had popped going up the elevator to my assigned room. It's all a daze.

I definitely did a couple Google searches the night before, looking for how people may have gotten out of jury duty; but I pretty much found that if you call in sick or say you can't make it, you will get called again.

My advice would be to suck it up and "do you civic duty," as I was told repeatedly throughout my day of jury service.

My top 3 favorite moments of jury duty:

• After some of the panels were called, the people in charge opened up the other side of the room for sitting and there were literally hundreds of chairs open, and a man chose to sit right. next. to. me. Ugh. 
• The security guard yelled at me as I was entering the building, because I carried my water through security. I think he felt bad because he then told me, "have a nice day, sweetie..." No. 
• Lastly, as I walked into McDonald's for lunch, I was greeted by two homeless people screaming at each other. They then tried to get everyone in the restaurant to participate in their political debate.

Disclaimer: I am a huge fantasy nerd. It's always the genre of books that I want to recommend (probably comes from growing up on the Harry Potter series).


"A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. "