There's something I need to remind myself of.
Just do it.
Take a chance and just do it. I have constantly lived my life on the cautious side, I have let fears control me. I am sometimes too careful, worried that I will hurt someone else or myself. That needs to stop. I need to take a look at my doubts, worries, fears, and just do it, beat them. I realize I have posted things like this before, I know I've gotten little spurts of energy and then once again let my fears control me. And that may be a battle I fight for the rest of my years, going back and forth in a wrestling match between courage and fear. But it's time to pick up that attitude again. Maybe the trick is to not try so hard, and act on it- put my words into action.
I'm not just referring to procrastination here kids. yeah, we should all put our ipods away and actually work on that project or turn off the tv and read a book. What I mean is reaching for your goals, and making a realistic action plan to cross them off your list. Want to run a 5k? Train. Sign up. Run the 5k. Don't spend weeks thinking about it- just do it. Want to tell someone how much they mean to you? For God's sakes, tell them. Don't be afraid. Just do it.
I know sometimes this "just do it" philosophy fails- because we put too much pressure on ourselves and end up burning out and giving up. That's why you have to be realistic. It's okay to sometimes "just be" just be present, just be quiet, just be listening. The key is to find a healthy balance.
Here's a song that sums up this blog post pretty well. Enjoy, and get out there and just do it.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Imagine
How many times a day do you say the word imagine? Am I in the minority if I say it A LOT? "Can you imagine?" Is one of my favorite phrases. Maybe I'm a dreamer. Scratch that- I know I'm a dreamer. My mind is full of dreams for myself, others, wonders, hopes. People often tag the word imagine with kids (or a Beatles song). It's true, kids have a vivid imagination. They can play make believe for hours and pretend to be astronauts or superhero's without taking time to plan or give it much thought- they just do it. But guess what? So do adults. We just don't always realize it.
Our imagination can take us a long way. So often during the day my little mind is working, full of bright ideas and dreams. But how often do I actually pursue them, push them, keep going? Not often enough. I brush them aside, keep working and living my life.
I learned a few years ago how faith filled our imaginations can be. I was having a conversation with one of my favorite nunlettes, Sr. Rochelle. I told her that often times, I suddenly had a new idea or thought, but I was never sure if it was God or just by imagination. I will never forget Rochelle's response "Did God not create your imagination?".
Her answer stuck with me, and I continue to remind myself of that- that sometimes those little thoughts that come out of nowhere are God speaking. That those crazy little ideas actually have some truth in them, and all it takes is for us to listen, and then act.
I have a little example of this- maybe not the best example, but one that came first to my mind.
A few years ago I was applying for a job at my high school. Now, if you know me at all, you know how much I loved my high school. It was my "Dream job". I had been wanting that position to open up, so as soon as it did I sent in my resume and cover letter. I got called pretty quickly for an interview and I was ecstatic. But something in my mind kept saying "this isn't right". I thought it was self negativity, so I just ignored it, went on my interview. I got a second interview. I, again, had those thoughts about the job not being right for me. But I prayed and prayed that I would get it anyways- I needed a job, and I thought I wanted that one. As you all know, I didn't get that job. The initial shock and heartbreak was a tough loss, but just days afterwards it fully hit me- that job WASN'T right for me, and that closed door led me to where I am now. And God knew all along, that wasn't where I belonged.
Do you see how imagination and faith are parallel? So for my fellow dreamers out there, act on your dreams. Listen to your ideas and imaginations. Trust your instincts. Imagine.
I wrote up a little poem of all the things that I think would make this world a better place.
When I imagine a perfect world
I imagine a place with no hate
No violence
Imagine we only spoke kindly
To one another and of ourselves
Imagine worries don't exist
Imagine endless amounts of
energy, compassion, love
Imagine seeing God
in everyone we meet
What I wouldn't give
To live in this world
That I imagine
Monday, April 9, 2012
Important people A-H
I have some major catching up to do in the A-z Challlenge In fact, I have yet to even settle on a "theme" or even if I am going to follow a theme. So, I am taking a very easy way out to make up for A-H, and tomorrow I'll start for real with I.
I couldn't decide how to group A-I together. I talk about different things on this blog- recaps of weekends, family, friends, life lesssons, my journey, music, tv shows, books, writing. I don't typically stick to just one topic. But a very common theme in my life/my blog? People. I love connecting to other people. Finding out their stories. Learning from one another. So, I went ahead and chose one person to talk about from letters A-H. I am going to try to pick people who I normally don't speak about in this blog.
Alethea- You've probably heard me talk about my best friends Alex and Alicia. Someone I don't talk about as much is Alethea. Alethea and I worked together at a nonprofit for a few months and she was my saving grace. She was the only one who could make me laugh, she understood my frustrations and pushed me to pursue my dreams. She taught me how to cook, how to talk to teenagers, and most importantly how to fend for myself. She's one of my favorite people I've ever come in contact with. I still text her every once in a while, just to say hi. Whether she knows it or not, she is a huge part of my life.
Britt- Britt is one of my "Idol friends". She is very strong in her faith and has helped to keep me grounded. She's a great source for inspiration.
Christine- My best friend since the age of 5, Christine has been there for me through it all. And now we work together. We know every little thing about each other and she is usually the first person I go to for advice, whether it be work related, relationship related or family related. She'll always be my very dear friend.
Desi- Desi is another "Idol Friend". We kind of have a lot in common. And by kind of I mean we are the same person. We've had very similiar life experiences. We like the same music, make the same jokes. Sometimes we tweet things that are very similiar at the same time. She reminds me I'm not alone in this world.
Elizabeth- Yet another "Idol Friend". Sweet Elizabeth is just that- sweet. She always knows what to say to make someone laugh or cheer them up, and is one of the most encouraging people I have ever known. She puts her entire heart and soul into her relationships with others and I am lucky to call her a friend.
Fr. Michael- I know I have talked about him before but Fr Mike is, what our waitress at Los Ranchos would have said, the bombage. Talk about connecting with people, that man is an expert at it- especially the youth in our church, who so very much need a role model like him.
Gem- Did you know Gem is the only friend I have whose name starts with G? And that's not even her real name. Well, now you know. Anyways, Gem is pretty much awesome. She's older than me, but that doesn't matter, because we have this general understanding of one another. She makes me laugh super hard, she is comforting and compassionate and I am very grateful for all she has done for me.
Holly- Holly's a little burst of sunshine and energy. Girl has been in my prayers for months now as she deals with that heart of hers and goes through different procedures to get it back to where it needs to be. She's a fighter and I so admire her strength!
So there you go, a little insight into important people in my life, whether they know it or not.
What do you think friends, how should I continue the a-z challenge? Pick a theme? Or just pick a word/topic for that day and reflect on it?
I couldn't decide how to group A-I together. I talk about different things on this blog- recaps of weekends, family, friends, life lesssons, my journey, music, tv shows, books, writing. I don't typically stick to just one topic. But a very common theme in my life/my blog? People. I love connecting to other people. Finding out their stories. Learning from one another. So, I went ahead and chose one person to talk about from letters A-H. I am going to try to pick people who I normally don't speak about in this blog.
Alethea- You've probably heard me talk about my best friends Alex and Alicia. Someone I don't talk about as much is Alethea. Alethea and I worked together at a nonprofit for a few months and she was my saving grace. She was the only one who could make me laugh, she understood my frustrations and pushed me to pursue my dreams. She taught me how to cook, how to talk to teenagers, and most importantly how to fend for myself. She's one of my favorite people I've ever come in contact with. I still text her every once in a while, just to say hi. Whether she knows it or not, she is a huge part of my life.
Britt- Britt is one of my "Idol friends". She is very strong in her faith and has helped to keep me grounded. She's a great source for inspiration.
Christine- My best friend since the age of 5, Christine has been there for me through it all. And now we work together. We know every little thing about each other and she is usually the first person I go to for advice, whether it be work related, relationship related or family related. She'll always be my very dear friend.
Desi- Desi is another "Idol Friend". We kind of have a lot in common. And by kind of I mean we are the same person. We've had very similiar life experiences. We like the same music, make the same jokes. Sometimes we tweet things that are very similiar at the same time. She reminds me I'm not alone in this world.
Elizabeth- Yet another "Idol Friend". Sweet Elizabeth is just that- sweet. She always knows what to say to make someone laugh or cheer them up, and is one of the most encouraging people I have ever known. She puts her entire heart and soul into her relationships with others and I am lucky to call her a friend.
Fr. Michael- I know I have talked about him before but Fr Mike is, what our waitress at Los Ranchos would have said, the bombage. Talk about connecting with people, that man is an expert at it- especially the youth in our church, who so very much need a role model like him.
Gem- Did you know Gem is the only friend I have whose name starts with G? And that's not even her real name. Well, now you know. Anyways, Gem is pretty much awesome. She's older than me, but that doesn't matter, because we have this general understanding of one another. She makes me laugh super hard, she is comforting and compassionate and I am very grateful for all she has done for me.
Holly- Holly's a little burst of sunshine and energy. Girl has been in my prayers for months now as she deals with that heart of hers and goes through different procedures to get it back to where it needs to be. She's a fighter and I so admire her strength!
So there you go, a little insight into important people in my life, whether they know it or not.
What do you think friends, how should I continue the a-z challenge? Pick a theme? Or just pick a word/topic for that day and reflect on it?
Sunday, April 8, 2012
ft walton 2012
What happens when you go to your childhood vacation spot for a week with your family?
I'll tell you what- fun. A whole lot of fun. My parents did a darn good job of raising us. I know few families who are able to spend 15 hours in the car together and spend a week in the same condo- but we did, and we had a blast every step of the way.
The Drive: Sure, it's about 14/15 hours. But it's a fun trek. Mo Dave and I had a good time. We talked, we sang, we joked, we slept, we ate. We stayed in a gross hotel on the way down to Florida that turned into one of the biggest jokes of the trip. Best car memory? A sign for Buttermilk Pk (Buttermilk Pike). Dave's response? Buttermilk Pancake!
The Beach: The beach at Fort Walton is gorgeous. The sand is white, the ocean a beautiful, perfect blue green combination. Waves crashing in, little kids running up and down the beach building sandcastles and screaming as the water hits their toes. I'm not a big fan of laying on the beach- I always feel gross afterwards- but to just spend some time down there is worth it. I did go in the ocean a few times, but had to stop when I started getting itchy red bumps on my body. Raise your hand if you're allergic to salt water. ::raises hand:: Best beach memory from this trip? Running around the sand dunes with Sara, acting like we were in the Hunger Games.
The Pool: I'm a much bigger fan of the pool. I know people say "you can go to the pool anywhere". But can you, really? I mean yeah, I can go to a pool in Michigan in the summer, but only on weekends, and who wants to do that? It's too crowded. And does Michigan have palm trees? No. The pool in Florida is the best. That's where I spent most of my outdoor time. My best pool memory from this trip was my sister running down the pool steps to save a toddler from drowning. His parents weren't watching him and he wasn't wearing floaties. He took a fall down the pool steps and couldn't get himself up. Mo jumped in and saved him. Go, Mo!
The Food: It wouldn't be a trip to Florida without some amazing seafood. I had raw oysters, shrimp, amberjack, mahi mahi, and crab cakes. Plus an the best omelet I've ever had at an old family favorite restaurant (Joe and Eddies) and two great meals in with everyone. And some enchilada's from a shady Mexican restaurant. I already miss the fresh seafood. Back to salmon, I suppose.
Various Activities: Goofy golf, shopping, games in the room, movies. Besides hanging on the beach/at the pool, we had fun elsewhere. Goofy Golf was a blast and a 1/2. No, it's not your normal "putt putt" and yes it is 100X better than the Pirate golfing in Traverse City. It's old school, dumpy, but so fun. And out of 6 of us, I got third place. Booyah. Sara and I went shopping one day when it was rainy, and we had so much fun. The outlet mall was packed with people, we made our way through the crowds, managed to have quite a few laughs and find some sweet deals. In our condo we had Sorry, Connect 4, and Disney Princess Uno. We played them all. With glee. Sara, JP and I saw Hunger Games Friday night. Sara read the books last year and had not seen the movie yet. I was anxious for her thoughts. Her response "I'm going to write a letter to every single person in the cast telling them thank you for making all my dreams come true." I guess she liked it.
The "activity" that stands out the most? Bingo. It was rainy, and Dave was itching for something to do. So Dave, Mo, and myself went to a Bingo hall called Bingo Castle. Now, if you've never been to a real Bingo hall, it's time you do. It was SO. FUN. Mostly because the three of us had no idea what we were doing (Bingo is not as simple as it was in elementary school, kids) and the locals were laughing at us. The best part was when we were playing a cover all game, so all the numbers on our board had to be called to win. Well Dave was just focused on the Bingo aspect of it, and when he got a straight line, he YELLED "BINGO!" and waved his hands in the air. The lady calling the numbers almost fell out of her chair- and then she came over to us and helped us. It was hilarious, and that is a new tradition for rainy days in Ft. Walton- Bingo Castle.
But you know, more than any of that, it was just a wonderful week of spending time with my family (minus my parents, who were not with us, but we talked to them 2-3 x a day, filling them in on our trip). I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. I am so glad that I have siblings I can spend time with, share things with. I'm glad we have never had a fight that caused a wall between us. I've seen that happen to so many families. Not us. We are strong, and we stand together. On a beach. In Florida.
Personally, this week was just what the dr ordered. I needed to get away. I barely thought about work, only on the day of our big meeting. I didn't worry about who was covering me. I just let it go. That's what I needed.
It's back to reality. I had 113 emails on my personal email account (only about 50 were real) and 188 work emails. Tomorrow is going to be a long day trying to get things back in order. But at least I'm tan. #bazinga
Goodnight kids. And to those coming here from the a-z challenge, tomorrow I'm going to cop out and make a post a-g. Then I'll get started for real.
<3
I'll tell you what- fun. A whole lot of fun. My parents did a darn good job of raising us. I know few families who are able to spend 15 hours in the car together and spend a week in the same condo- but we did, and we had a blast every step of the way.
The Drive: Sure, it's about 14/15 hours. But it's a fun trek. Mo Dave and I had a good time. We talked, we sang, we joked, we slept, we ate. We stayed in a gross hotel on the way down to Florida that turned into one of the biggest jokes of the trip. Best car memory? A sign for Buttermilk Pk (Buttermilk Pike). Dave's response? Buttermilk Pancake!
The Beach: The beach at Fort Walton is gorgeous. The sand is white, the ocean a beautiful, perfect blue green combination. Waves crashing in, little kids running up and down the beach building sandcastles and screaming as the water hits their toes. I'm not a big fan of laying on the beach- I always feel gross afterwards- but to just spend some time down there is worth it. I did go in the ocean a few times, but had to stop when I started getting itchy red bumps on my body. Raise your hand if you're allergic to salt water. ::raises hand:: Best beach memory from this trip? Running around the sand dunes with Sara, acting like we were in the Hunger Games.
The Pool: I'm a much bigger fan of the pool. I know people say "you can go to the pool anywhere". But can you, really? I mean yeah, I can go to a pool in Michigan in the summer, but only on weekends, and who wants to do that? It's too crowded. And does Michigan have palm trees? No. The pool in Florida is the best. That's where I spent most of my outdoor time. My best pool memory from this trip was my sister running down the pool steps to save a toddler from drowning. His parents weren't watching him and he wasn't wearing floaties. He took a fall down the pool steps and couldn't get himself up. Mo jumped in and saved him. Go, Mo!
The Food: It wouldn't be a trip to Florida without some amazing seafood. I had raw oysters, shrimp, amberjack, mahi mahi, and crab cakes. Plus an the best omelet I've ever had at an old family favorite restaurant (Joe and Eddies) and two great meals in with everyone. And some enchilada's from a shady Mexican restaurant. I already miss the fresh seafood. Back to salmon, I suppose.
Various Activities: Goofy golf, shopping, games in the room, movies. Besides hanging on the beach/at the pool, we had fun elsewhere. Goofy Golf was a blast and a 1/2. No, it's not your normal "putt putt" and yes it is 100X better than the Pirate golfing in Traverse City. It's old school, dumpy, but so fun. And out of 6 of us, I got third place. Booyah. Sara and I went shopping one day when it was rainy, and we had so much fun. The outlet mall was packed with people, we made our way through the crowds, managed to have quite a few laughs and find some sweet deals. In our condo we had Sorry, Connect 4, and Disney Princess Uno. We played them all. With glee. Sara, JP and I saw Hunger Games Friday night. Sara read the books last year and had not seen the movie yet. I was anxious for her thoughts. Her response "I'm going to write a letter to every single person in the cast telling them thank you for making all my dreams come true." I guess she liked it.
The "activity" that stands out the most? Bingo. It was rainy, and Dave was itching for something to do. So Dave, Mo, and myself went to a Bingo hall called Bingo Castle. Now, if you've never been to a real Bingo hall, it's time you do. It was SO. FUN. Mostly because the three of us had no idea what we were doing (Bingo is not as simple as it was in elementary school, kids) and the locals were laughing at us. The best part was when we were playing a cover all game, so all the numbers on our board had to be called to win. Well Dave was just focused on the Bingo aspect of it, and when he got a straight line, he YELLED "BINGO!" and waved his hands in the air. The lady calling the numbers almost fell out of her chair- and then she came over to us and helped us. It was hilarious, and that is a new tradition for rainy days in Ft. Walton- Bingo Castle.
But you know, more than any of that, it was just a wonderful week of spending time with my family (minus my parents, who were not with us, but we talked to them 2-3 x a day, filling them in on our trip). I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. I am so glad that I have siblings I can spend time with, share things with. I'm glad we have never had a fight that caused a wall between us. I've seen that happen to so many families. Not us. We are strong, and we stand together. On a beach. In Florida.
Personally, this week was just what the dr ordered. I needed to get away. I barely thought about work, only on the day of our big meeting. I didn't worry about who was covering me. I just let it go. That's what I needed.
It's back to reality. I had 113 emails on my personal email account (only about 50 were real) and 188 work emails. Tomorrow is going to be a long day trying to get things back in order. But at least I'm tan. #bazinga
Goodnight kids. And to those coming here from the a-z challenge, tomorrow I'm going to cop out and make a post a-g. Then I'll get started for real.
<3
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