Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

1. Coffee - yep, a running theme in my weekly thanks.
2. Sunshine - somehow just sitting in it, even if one is studying, just makes things more bearable
3. Date night/days - taking the time to spend time with the hubby.  
4. Supportive friends - who check in on me during crazy thesis time to make sure I haven't disappeared under the enormous pile of books I'm referencing.
5. Last, but in no way least - I'm hugely thankful for NZ immigration.  More specifically for the news that hubby's residency visa is still valid and that we can move back to NZ whenever we are ready.  This is not only awesome for the simple fact that we loved living in NZ and can't wait to go back, but because choosing NZ over Australia means a) I don't have to go through the stress of once again doing visa applications (I've done 3 thus far in my life and they don't get easier over time).  b) A much cheaper process - its $190ish dollars to transfer his visa from an old passport to a new one as opposed to the $2000 it was going to cost to do the Australian visa.  

Musing Monday

Well it is hard for my brain to 'muse' on anything other than school work right now.  I've been thinking a lot about perceptions lately, how we perceive ourselves and whether it is possible to find our true selves.  It seems to me that it is almost impossible to cast off the perceptions of those around us.  That when we try to define ourselves we find ourselves doing so in relation to what we wish to be according to other people.  We see people we revere and we thing 'I want to be more like them' but is that being more yourself or someone else?  We can sit in awe of the radiance that emanates from certain people and think to ourselves that is what I want to be like.  Once again, is that our true selves?  Is that the true them?  Are we perceiving what they want us to perceive hiding the truth from the outside world?  How does one know when someone is being genuine   How does one become a genuine reflection of themselves?  When do we know what is us and what is a image we aspire to?  When does what we aspire to become our true selves?  Can we change who we are?  On what levels?