When you wait till the last minute...

I have the worst habit of waiting. If I get an assignment, I most likely won't even look at it until the day before it it is due. I work better under pressure. I always have and always will. I just can't stand it when no one understands this :)

This is not a post about how wonderful I am, I just think that the world needs to know about people like me: Incubators.

My older sister sent my mom an email with a link and the phrase "I'm pretty sure 4 of your 5 kids are incubators". Incubators?! Curious, I opened the link, unknowing what it would share about me (I'll read anything that might explain my personality or habits....anything about youngest children I have probably read time and time again), I opened the link and my eyes were open.

The article discussed the differences between Procrastinators and Incubators. Everyone knows who a procrastinator is, but what is an incubators? There is a checklist to figure out if you are an incubator or not:

Taken from this article: http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/02/16/o.procrastinator.or.incubator/index.html

4 - Perfectly describes me
3 - Describes me somewhat
2 - Does not really describe me
1 - Does not describe me at all

A.___ I always get my work completed on time.
B.___ The quality of my work is superior.
C.___ It takes a looming deadline to motivate me.
D.___ When I finally get to work, I feel highly engaged.
E.___ I surprise myself by moving into action at the last minute.
F.___I do my best work under pressure

If you scored a 20 or higher, you may be an incubator.

Incubators are different from procrastinators in the fact that they purposefully put off work. They watch movies, visit with friends and enjoy the day, knowing that the deadline will kick them into action.

It has taken me quite some time to accept this about myself. I use to scold myself for every late night I pulled  because I used my time in other "activities". I would call my parents crying (I know I'm 21, but sometimes a girl just has to cry) bemoaning the fact that "I always do this to myself....wahhh". Now, it is to the point where they don't listen to me because they know this is how I function. One day when I was in Belgium I had the entire day off. I also had a paper due the next day. When did I start the paper? Ten pm. Why? If I had started it at ten am then it would have taken me all day. However, I started it so late that I could push all my creative/academic juices 100% into a small period of time. That, and a lot of prayer and I have survived every paper. Never underestimate the power of prayer. God cares even about the little things.

The phrase I have begun to (academically) live by is something my twin brother has said to me multiple times. Being my older brother (by a mere nine minutes!), he is always right. I should probably question my siblings more but they're all just so smart....they have to know what they are talking about! Anyway, sorry for the rant, he always says "If you wait to the last minute, it only takes a minute." Genius. Words to live by.

This has been my anthem throughout my academic career. It was no different when I had a research paper due this last Friday. I started researching at 7pm, went to bed at 2:30am, woke up 5:30am, researched till 7am and then had that 8 page research paper done by 11:30am. Arnold Palmer and prayer got me through the paper. I was talking with a friend in class and told her what I had done (chuckling guiltily...I must sound so ridiculous to those who share this life with me). The guy behind me was like "WHAT!?" I quoted Josiah and said "If you wait till the last minute, it only takes a minute." There was a pause as those sitting in the room (the professor had yet arrived) processed what I said. I saw the light turn on in his eyes as he said "That makes so much sense" (cue agreement laughter across the room). I was happy to prove a point and show that not everything I did proved to be a bad idea but as I turned around I had to cringe. I was hoping that people would not start following my way of life. It works but it is stressful and full of sleep-deprivation. It also only works for some people. I thrive under pressure whereas some of my friends freeze. I hope I don't cause a movement of people "only taking a minute" for important assignments. oops.

I posted the article on my facebook page and a lot of people commented on how "this is so me!". We finally have a title. We are real people that usually end up in jobs that demand the ability to work well under pressure and deadlines. We are the people that respond quickly to changes and flourish under stress. Give or take a little. I'm not preaching this way of living, I'm simply explaining my life and how I'll never get the sleep one needs on a daily basis. And I know, I just know that I am not alone in this.

?

If not now, then when?

ruffruffruff ruffruffrufffruff (Means welcome home in dog)

Remember my blog about Khloe when I was in Belgium? This was the welcome I got when I came home after being gone for four months. *true love*

Easter All-Year Long

Sometimes I feel a bit sacrilegious because I don't put much stock into holidays. Christmas? Yes, that is important. Easter? Of course! But I feel that these are events that God wishes us to remember more than once a year. The holidays give us an amazing opportunity to reflect upon everything that has been done for us, but if the holidays are the only times we reflect, then we're missing some of God's blessings in our lives.

We have always celebrated Easter at my house but we were always reminded that we celebrates Christ's life, death and resurrection every Sunday when we partake of Communion. With the cracker we are reminded of the body that was broken for us and with the grape juice we consider the pure blood that did away with all other sacrifices. Every week I am reminded of what God has done for me. Throughout the week I am reminded (though I wish I reminded myself more!) of how God looked down and loved me. He saw me before I was even born, knowing everything that I would do and yet, he still loved me.

This year I thought more about what the disciples were going through. I was eating dinner Saturday night and said "If I was a disciple when Jesus died, this would be the worst night of my life." My dad responded that Friday night, at the crucifixion, would have been the worst night of their lives. Hurt, lost and confused, the disciples left Jesus alone to bear the weight of the world. I try to imagine what they must have gone through and it makes me feel sick. They didn't understand that Jesus was coming back! They were confused as to what kingdom he was bringing to this earth. Wasn't he supposed to be king? And rule over all the world? How could he do that if he was just hung on a cross? To imagine the despair they were feeling, oh. I remember sitting at camp in a class for the high school students. We were reading through the scenes of Jesus' betrayal and trial and though I had heard/read it numerous times since I was born, I felt like I was hearing this part for the first time: "But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly." Luke 22:60-62. Matthew and Mark do not mention Jesus' turning towards Peter. I vividly remember sitting there, hearing that part and chills going through my body (as they are right now). What was the look on His face? The feeling in Peter's heart? I would have wanted to kill myself. To see your best friend's eyes and know that you have betrayed him.

Peter felt what we have all done. What I have done. I betrayed Him. I was that voice in the crowd yelling "Crucify Him!", I was that soldier with the whip, and I put the nail in His hand. Yet, He forgave and loved and saved. When I get to Heaven, I want to feel the holes in His Hands and the piercing in His side, but most importantly I want to look into the eyes that showed love, pain, disappointment, joy, anger and forgiveness while He walked the earth. His beautiful eyes that penetrate the soul and bring Heaven into the hearts of man.

So this last Sunday, this next Sunday and all the ones after that (with the days in between!) I'll remember the worst day in history where everything seemed lost... not knowing that Sunday was coming, bringing about the best thing to happen to man: Jesus' resurrection.