KK

I am very appreciative of the life I have around me and unfortunately may or may not always acknowledge those people/things that make me very appreciative. So I would like to take this chance to give thanks and recognition to the people/things that have lead up to the life I live today.

I may not always be happy, but I’m working on it to leading a pleasurable, memorable life.

I would like to start off by thanking my boyfriend and his family. The home that I grew up in is not near the area I live and work in now, but my boyfriend and the hospitality of his family have made it feel like a home away from home. I believe this is the first year that I have explicitly called this area I live/work in now a “Home”. I was looking through a couple of my older picture posts and realized I may not thank my boyfriend enough for all that he does. Within at least the past year I have seen him really try to make me happy when I am downright grumpy or stressed. He puts in the effort to make me feel comfortable whether it is doing something I like or finding one of my favorite foods. Recently he even decided that we needed to clean my room, so I can have a comfortable, usable space! Sometimes I worry whether he worries too much about my well-being and doesn’t save time for himself. 

I would like to thank my parents. Over the past several years that I have been away from home, I’ve learned how much effort it is to well... be an adult. Then I realize how much it must’ve taken my parents to make sure a roof was over our head and we have food to eat. I would also like to thank them for being there, even when I don’t need it. Lol. I am very appreciative of the way that they raised me--somewhat strict, but not helicopter parents, and allowed me to learn and grow, also to respect others. 

The world we live in now is not exactly the world I like to live in. Where people point fingers and like to put blame on people other than themselves, where people get so offended and even the smallest of things. Where people disrespect others and their points of view. (end rant & continuing on with my appreciative post)

I would like to thank my manager. As tough and straightforward as she may be, I have learned a lot since I joined her team. I have learned to not take things personally and take it as a lesson. I have learned how to present things to senior managers and Executives. I have also learned that you can work hard, and play hard. When people ask me “What’s it like working for [manager’s name]?” My response has been, “I’ve learned a lot in my position.”

I would like to thank my friends both near and far. My friends have given me different perspectives of anything and everything. Sometimes we may agree on things and sometimes they help me see things through different eyes. Those are the times where they help me get a better understanding of how someone else sees something or a situation. 

Thankful for Paprika the Corgi and some of the other dogs that my boyfriend’s dad temporarily fosters or dogsits. She is a silly little floof, and a little bit like me. Short, pretty hungry at times, likes to play, also likes to chillax and sleep, and also pretty stubborn--I know that is one of my faults. Anyway, I am thankful for these dogs because I find joy in being around them and helping to take care of them. I see the values of having a dog (as well as the stinkier, dirtier pitfalls) and hope to own one someday.

Thankful for the things I find comfort in. This may sound a little odd and might sound a little childish, but when your mind fills with a lot of worries, or there are things/situations that stress you out, sometimes you just need a meaningful stuffed animal to snuggle, a good book to read, your go-to movie, some good comfort food whether it is pho, ramen, or Thai noodles, a tasty cup of coffee, a catch-up chat with a friend or writing/typing. Every once in a while I forget what writing things makes me feel. I was reminded of it when my boyfriend semi-recently asked me if I have posted anything on Tumblr recently, as when we first started dating I was pretty active with my posts and every once in a while he would take a glance at it for whatever reasons he has.

I am also thankful for the people that provide services to others. Whether it is a Disney cast member, a retail clerk, someone in cleaning services, Medical staff. In some posts or sometimes I see it first-hand that some take these people for granted. I am/was one of those people that would go shopping after Thanksgiving dinner, but would always remind myself that these people may not have been given the chance to eat with their family like I did. There were times that I would go to a Disney park on a holiday, and be thankful and appreciative to the cast members that are working to make Disney guests happy and memorable. When I was at the airport recently there was a cleaning lady in charge of keeping the bathroom clean that was telling the ladies not to step in the area and that she would tell them when it was ok to use the area. I heard some ladies snicker and think that the lady was rather rude. In my head I tried to understand the situation differently. I observed that the cleaning lady was picking up several little pieces of toilet paper that was all over the floor, and upset that someone would leave the floor such a mess. I give the cleaning lady props for doing all she could to keep that bathroom pretty spotless and being attentive to pick up all those tiny pieces of toilet paper on the floor! She kept that airport bathroom cleaner than some of these Starbucks bathrooms or other restaurant bathrooms! This kind of goes back to what I said earlier about disrespecting others and others’ points of view. Upon leaving the bathroom I felt a little sorry for the cleaning lady that she was seen as someone that was mean and rude, when really all she was really trying to do was her job and protect the safety of others when the floor was wet.

I am thankful for several other people and things, but I feel that if I go on it will sound un-genuine and cheesy. So I end my post here. Thank you to those that actually end up reading this post.

I’ve learned over the past couple of months to take some of these reports of sexual allegations with a grain of salt. This came to mind when I heard of John Lasseter’s leave of absence, and him saying that wasn’t his intentions.

The topic of whether some feel uncomfortable when certain actions are made is a pretty sticky subject and really, one hard to resolve.

I do not stand on the side of the accused or of those reporting it and here’s some of my thoughts.

It all comes down as Lasseter said it--INTENT.

How is someone who reaches in to give a hug know that the person is uncomfortable at that moment if the person doesn’t say anything? Why is it that some people keep on going when told to STOP? What is each persons intent when interacting with others?

My question is how many of these allegations are real? Could it be that the one that made the actions is truly a horrible person and has their own agenda? Could it be that some of these that are reporting misconduct are dishonest people and just looking to blame someone else for their troubles?

I know it can go both ways. I know of people that have been a victim and were unfortunately traumatized. I also have a gut feeling that some people are just looking for ways to get money.

I was once dry-humped while half asleep, but wasn’t going to look for vengeance. I just decided not to talk to that guy anymore or have any further interactions. I wasn’t going to ruin someone else’s life for an action that barely ruined mine.

These days I feel that there’s a lot of uncomfortable-ness and many can get so easily offended. I know that there are going to be some out there that will be offended at this post, even though it speaks of both sides.

I was brought up to see/understand different perspectives. Understanding the “Why’s” I am not going to lump ALL these allegations into one side or another, it is a very case-by-case thing. Am I being understood?

When I had a conversation with someone today about Lasseter’s leave of absence they mentioned that part of the problem is that people are ignorant to overstepping boundaries. I have been a part of several Diversity and Inclusion/culture discussions at work, and I feel that this ties into this “ignorant to overstepping others’ boundaries.” It is very hard to change a “culture” and unfortunately there isn’t a singular way to solve it. Awareness of it may help, and I respect that Lasseter is taking some time for himself to become more aware of his actions.

What do my actions mean to others? How is it interpreted/how can it be interpreted? What about the things I say--can something that I say be interpreted the wrong way?