One of my new favorite things is listening to podcasts while I work out. It's the perfect ratio of distraction to concentration. Enough distraction to keep my mind off the fact that I'm exercising, but it doesn't require enough concentration that I can't do both at the same time.
As part of this endeavor I have discovered Nerdist podcasts. If you're at all interested in the entertainment industry or like basically any famous actor/actress and don't mind an F-bomb here or there, I highly recommend them. They're essentially Chris Hardwick's interviews with super interesting people.
My favorites so far have been Neil Patrick Harris, Tina Fey and Anna Kendrick (not together, though that would probably be awesome).
I adore NPH and Tina Fey, so those were no surprise, but after seeing Pitch Perfect I decided I really like Anna Kendrick and listened to the interview with her.
The result was me wanting to be her best friend.
Anna Kendrick is another person who somehow manages to be only 23 but winning at life. (Others in this category include Jessie J and Emma Stone.)
She was in Twilight I think, but she's not ashamed of it, nor is it really her claim to fame. The more I listened to her, the more I liked her. She has a great head on her shoulders and I think she's a very insightful person.
What I thought was interesting was that she made a couple of points I found to be so true of our social experience as human beings, at least for me. I like that even though she is somewhat in the public eye, these ideas don't change just because you have been thrust into a spotlight.
One of these points started with a story she told about going to the Oscars.
She said it was wildly uncomfortable and she felt terrible the entire time. She's wearing a dress she can't breathe in, she's sweating up a storm, she's anxious about whether or not she'll win, she's around all these celebrities she admires---it's a totally nerve wracking experience and not fun at all.
But everyone is shoving microphones in your face asking the same question: "Isn't this the best night of your life?"
She says, essentially everyone is telling you, this is as good as it gets, so you'd better enjoy it. And she's thinking, really? this is as good as it gets? This sucks! She adds that if she were listening to the podcast I'd be like "F--- you"...but it's true. [She later said that the part that actually is as good as it gets is the acting and filming...even though she says she probably sounds like a jerk saying that, too.]
I so identify with this--the feeling that this particular experience is supposed to be something: your wedding day, your college career, Valentine's Day. And if it's not what you think it's supposed to be, you feel guilty or like you're missing out, rather than just enjoying it for what it is--even if it's not the best day of your life.
I love that she pointed this out. Because it's okay if your experience isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's ok if your Valentine's Day or prom date isn't the most magical night of your life or if your four years of college actually aren't the best of your life. Those are stereotypes.
And you feel bad for thinking, "this sucks," because someone out there doesn't have a Valentine's Day date or get to go to college. But you know what, sometimes things just suck. And that's okay. I mean, you don't have to whine about it to everyone you meet, but it's okay for it not to be what it's supposed to be.
I like that Anna didn't say what she is expected to say--that the Oscars were the best night of her life--even though it may come off as ungrateful or rude.
I don't think it's rude. It's just honesty about the way she felt. I'm not a proponent of honesty for honesty's sake. For example adding detail to a story that, though true, is unnecessary in order to get the point across and simply hurts a person further. But I think in this case, though it may not be P.C., it was totally worth being honest.
I love Chris Hardwick's response to her vocalizing that she felt like a douche saying these things. It was essentially, "But, of course you felt that way, you're a person!"
You're a person. It's okay.
Have you ever had an expereince that wasn't all it was supposed to be?