Character Building 101

So one of the hardest things about still living at home -- actually, the only thing now that I think about it -- is the fact that a lot of the times the most insignificant and minute decisions become this BIG THING.

Example 1: Out of curiosity, mum calls me up from work and asks what I'm going to have for lunch today. I tell her I'll probably make myself a salad but there aren't any tomatoes in the fridge. I had been thinking if I still wanted to have a salad by lunch time I'd probably just drive down to the store by our place and get one. Cue (what felt like) a ten minute discussion on --> maybe she could get dad to stop by the store on his way from here/there/etc; she could call him and see what he thinks; could I have a salad without tomatoes in it; what other alternatives are there besides tomatoes; did I have any other errands to run while I was out and about anyways; maybe I could eat something else today and she could pick up some tomatoes on the way home from work... and so it goes.

[Note: in the end, I didn't even end up having a salad cos I couldn't be bothered to toss one together. LoL]

Example 2: I've been considering whether or not to change my cellphone provider from Telecom to Vodafone, mainly because I DESPISE texting with a vengeance and my subsequent right thenar muscle hypertrophy (i.e. abnormally bulky muscle below my right thumb). And the only good thing about Telecom is $10 texting, so I've almost decided to get on a Vodafone plan. Cue (what was LITERALLY) like an hour long discussion about said topic, beginning with me explaining to my parents how cellphone providers work, the difference between Telecom and Vodafone, what a plan on Vodafone would mean, how much it'd cost, different features, should Kirsty get on Vodafone too?, do we have to buy new phones?, what would we do with our old phones?, should dad get on Vodafone too?, does he really need to?, having said that do I really need to?, should I wait till next year?... and so it goes.

I love living at home; I don't regret it for a minute. First year I would have died if I had to live in a hall and do Health Sciences with what was at best passive-aggressive competition, at worst, frank blatant competition; second and third year, living at home and simultaneously working part-time meant I saved up enough money to go to Argentina and the UK respectively (worth it!); and now, being in clinicals and not having to worry about rent, flatmates, living in a freezing house, etc, and getting another student loan for living costs , etc is such a relief! But every once in a while, I really do want to pull my hair out. And now with Kirsty gone, I am very aware that all my parents' attention will be focused soley on me... I'm going to think of the next two years as Character Building. I've never been a very patient person, but I am determined to use this situation to change me for the better. LoL. At least that's what I'm gonna have to keep telling myself.