Something to talk about ...

Definitely something to ponder, question, discuss, and form an opinion about. Enjoy! 

Brand New Start...

In 12 days I will be beginning my new chapter I am constantly thinking about. So naturally, I have started looking at organizing, personal development, and DIY websites to start my brain in the right direction for this new adventure. 


I know how the living away from your comfort zone feels like but it's not just moving in with roommates anymore and continuing the same lifestyle ... this is a complete lifestyle change that I am LOOKING forward too. 


I found some neat tips called 7 ways to stay grounded, ENJOY! : 

How do I get back to my center? How do I ground myself? Staying grounded requires daily attention and effort. Here are some of the ways you can stay grounded:

1. Make your bed every day. Creating order and peacefulness in the bedroom settles the energies in that space and those good energies affect the rest of the house and you.
2. Clean up your kitchen every day. Having a clean and orderly kitchen calms the part of the house most associated with nurturance and comfort, also calming you.
3. Have morning and evening routines that are made up of activities of self-care, like bathing, exercising, tending to pets, straightening up. Tending yourself is a powerful way to ground and center yourself.
4. Sort your mail daily to make yourself aware of tasks that need to be done and bills that need to be paid. Knowing your reality is more calming than the anxiety produced by not knowing.
5. Keep paper in no more than two main locations, for example, the kitchen and the home office. Avoid allowing paper to spread throughout the house. When it spreads, its negative energy pollutes whatever area it is in. Paper is usually associated with some kind of task that needs to be done, like deciding whether you need the paper or not, or deciding where the paper should go next. When you see it all over the place it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the message it is sending, “You need to do something!” When you are feeling overwhelmed your are not centered.
6. Maintain order by putting things away all the time. Avoid the temptation to just drop things. It takes much more energy to pick them up than it does to drop them. When items are just dropped they have a negative, chaotic energy that is anything but grounding. And, dropped things attract more dropped things!
7. Do at least one 5 minute cleanup per day. Either start or end your day with a quick cleanup. Put things away, move things to the part of the house where they belong, straighten your papers, throw out trash. Take that time to restore order to your space. One of the first things I do when I’m thrown off center by some bad news or a difficult situation is to establish order in my home. Some would call my behavior compulsive. I call it grounding!

a little motivation could help?

The past couple of days have been distracting. I feel like I have wanted to accomplish a lot but I get sidetracked easily and have yet to follow through. At my job, summer camp counselor, I have lost my spark. I used to be so excited for new games, all of my kids, all the trips, and now I am BURNT out. I get annoyed easily, tired faster, and my patience is starting to grow thin! 


I am moving back to Tally in less than 3 weeks and I haven't even thought about packing, getting prepared for my new apartment, or even writing down what I need to accomplish before then. 


I bought Eat, Pray, Love on Saturday! Have not started it yet, ugh. 


I have been eating healthy ALL summer until last week where I lost my momentum. 


I think I just need a quiet 2 hr time at starbucks or something. Time to unwind, make a to-do list, and read without the constant talking of either my campers or my family. 


I thriveeee off alone time and it's much needed. I need some motivation and I think that motivation will be sparked by some alone time. 


God Bless. 

Fake or Real?

Whether or not The Hills was scripted or an actual reality show it still had a very important message. The whole purpose of the series finale is to show that all the cast members are moving on, building a new life for themselves, taking a risk, and beginning a new chapter on their life journey. This message is exactly what I came home for the summer for. 


I could have stayed in Tallahassee but I needed time to clear my head, understand and absorb the past 4 years of undergrad, and really grab ahold of what is in store for me. 


The Hills Finale was bittersweet. I have tried keeping up with the show over the year and the ending to any show is always a bit depressing. 


But on a different note, today was my 22nd birthday and today marks "goodbye with the old and in with the new" It is truly time to start this new chapter. Tomorrow is my brand new day. I am not waiting to make a phony new year's resolution.... this is it. Wish me luck. 

Things you wish you would have known

• Most of it doesn’t matter. So much of what I got excited about, anxious about, or wasted my time and energy on, turned out not to matter. There are only a few things that truly count for a happy life. I wish I had known to concentrate on those and ignore the rest.
• The greatest source of misery and hatred in this world is clinging to past hurts. Look at all the terrorists and militant groups that hark back to some event long gone, or base their justification for killing on claims of some supposed historical right to a bit of land, or redress for a wrong done hundreds of years ago.
• Waiting to do something until you can be sure of doing it exactly right means waiting for ever. One of the greatest advantages anyone can have is the willingness to make a fool of themselves publicly and often. There’s no better way to learn and develop. Heck, it’s fun too.
• Following the latest fashion, in work or in life, is spiritual and intellectual suicide. You can be a cheap imitation of the ideal of the moment; or you can be a unique individual. The choice is yours. Religion isn’t the opiate of the masses, fashion is.
• If people complain that you’re too fond of going your own way and aren’t fitting in, you must be on the right track. Who wants to live life as a herd animal? The guys in power don’t want you to fit in for your own sake; they want you to stop causing them problems and follow their orders. You can’t have the freedom to be yourself and meekly fit in at the same time.
• If you make your work your life, you’re making your life into hard work. Like most people, I confused myself by looking at people like artists and musicians whose life’s “work” fills their time. That isn’t work. It’s who they are. Unless you have some overwhelming passion that also happens to allow you to earn a living doing it, always remember that work should be a means to an end: living an enjoyable life. Spend as little time on the means as possible consistent with achieving the end. Only idiots live to work.
• The quickest and simplest way to wreck any relationship is to listen to gossip. The worst way to spend your time is spreading more. People who spread gossip are the plague-carriers of our day. Cockroaches are clean, kindly creatures in comparison.
• Trying to please other people is largely a futile activity. Everyone will be mad at you sometime. Most of the people you deal with will dislike, disparage, belittle, or ignore what you say or do most of the time. Besides, you can never really know what others do want, so a good deal of whatever you do in that regard will go to waste. Be comforted. Those who love you will probably love you regardless, and they are the ones whose opinions are worth caring about. The rest aren’t worth five minutes of thought between them.
• Every winner is destined to be a loser in due course. It’s great to be up on the winner’s podium. Just don’t imagine you can stay there for ever. Worst of all is being determined to do so, by any means available.
• You can rarely, if ever, please, placate, change, or mollify an asshole. The best thing you can do is stay away from every one you encounter. Being an asshole is a contagious disease. The more time you spend around one, the more likely you are to catch it and become one too.
• Everything takes twice as long as you plan for and produces results about half as good as you hoped. There’s no reason to be downhearted about this. Just allow for it and move on.
• People are oddly consistent. Liars usually tell lies. Cheaters cheat whenever it suits them. A person who confides in you has usually confided in several others first—but not got the response they wanted. A loyal friend will stay loyal under enormous amounts of thoughtless abuse.
• However hard you try, you can’t avoid being yourself. Who else could you be? You can act and pretend, but the person acting and pretending is still you. And if you won’t accept yourself—and do the best you can with what you have—who then has any obligation to accept you?
• When it comes to blatant lies, there are none more egregious than budget figures. Time spent agonizing over them is time wasted. Even if (miracle of miracles!) yours are honest and accurate, no one else will have been so foolish.
• The loudest noise in the world is the sound of people whining. Don’t add to it.

Ignorant or naive?

A couple of years ago, if you had asked me any question relating to the environment I would have no opinion, no knowledge, and i would probably say I didn't care. My main focus was being in undergrad at the largest party school in Florida and making as many friends as I could. But now, as time has gone by, I have learned to appreciate the world so much and I thrive to grasp as much knowledge as I can about EVERYTHING going on in the world. 


Well, the reason I am explaining this is because I went on one of my favoriteee websites, blisstree.com, and saw a post about Ted Danson talking about the ocean in a series called the Ecoist on Sundance. Well I was like, "Ahh I need to watch all of this", but the series was in 2007 where I had no care in the world about what was going on. So naturally, I went and searched hulu and found small excerpts of celebrities explaining how important being green is and the importance of our world. I started watching all of them and getting completely enthralled about everything and figuring out how I personally can reduce my own carbon footprint more than I attempt to now. 


So below are going to be 2 links.... 
1) The hulu link of all the little excerpts so you can be inspired as well: http://www.hulu.com/ecoists
2) In light of the gulf spill, www.protectourgulf.com, is a website selling "Livestrong" type bracelets that go to the relief fund. I bought the black one yesterday and I am so excited to receive it in the mail. 


So, if you're not an avid worldly person ... start! Little by little you'll become so knowledgeable and cultured, and that's a blessing for sure. Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN is where I started... try it out :) 


Enjoy! 

Something I found that I LOVE

Found on Glich's Life... Read throughly and take it all in! 

Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’

Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

Dream more while you are awake.

Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

Try to make at least three people smile each day.

Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

Smile and laugh more. It will keep the nagative blues away.

Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.Next 20 after the jump.

You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

Forgive everyone for everything.

What other people think of you is none of your business.

Remember God heals everything.

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

The best is yet to come.

No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Do the right thing!

Call your family often.

Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____.

Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.

Read more: http://www.glennong.com/2009/04/40-tips-for-better-life.html#ixzz0tJbN6bMq

Walk the Talk

So the days are getting closer to when the new chapter of my life finally enfolds, being an Intramural Sports GA. The best thing is I have so many ideas and plans that I hope they can be executed throughout my 2 year stay. 


I feel the main thing that I need to focus on is getting everyone motivated for the upcoming year. As a previous supervisor I feel I have a decent idea on what works and what doesn't work... what is taken as a joke and what needs to change. The hardest thing though is motivating people to come to work and treat it seriously. I feel like the only way to do this is to start at the heart. 


I am a stumbling maniac so I found this motivating video. Hopefully it motivates you as much I hope it motivates others. 


Walk the Talk | Walk The Talk Movie

One More Month!

In one month I will be moving back to Tallahassee! The best part is my OWN apartment :) My mom and I have been looking on the web and in stores for decorative accessories to brighten up my apartment. Bit by bit we are buying stuff so I am always excited. My whole apartment is going to be a black, red, and white theme. Anddddd my apartment is beyond beautiful! 


It's so nice to finally think that I will be living by myself. No roommates, no arguments, no sharing of anything, my own open space to do whatever I please and whenever I feel like doing it. My apartment is not too close to campus either so it should be quiet, quaint, and homey enough. It's on a hill and surrounded by so many trees... it's going to be a beautiful fall and winter. 


I am super excited about having my own desk too. Even though I have to share the office with Cam and an office staff member it will still be awesome. All of my hard work, dedication, and passion has finally paid off and i'm ready to start this new adventure. 


But for now, time for bed because the little kiddies are my main priority now until August 6th and tomorrow is Ice Skating ... which means bumps, bruises, and tears. Oh joy! 


God Bless. 

Slow Food Movement

So if you didn't know I am a very conscious eater. I know A TON of where food comes from, what is the best to eat, and why you should consume certain foods and not others. My main issue is time. When I was in Tallahassee, I had a difficult time juggling all of my activities, work, and school with getting the proper nutrition and exercise in. It completely put a damper on my energy, my physical appearance, and my happiness for that matter. I ended up substituting all of the food I despise because it was more convienent for my schedule. 


Well being home has allowed me to get back into the groove of eating that I love, healthy. I eat healthy, organic, and low calorie foods that increase my health, energy, and make me who I am. Food is such an important component in everyone's life; for me it is essential to a happy one. My one downfall back home is the exercising portion. I am not a member of a gym down here nor do I even have time to have a healthy regiment since everything I would do would be outside and there is not a night that goes by that is doesn't downpour in South Florida. 


So I cannot wait to get back to Tallahassee, start a regular schedule of cardio and strength training, and eat the way I LOVE to eat: organic and locally. 


I have attached a link called the Slow Food Movement which encourages people to be aware of what they are buying and eating as well as encourage people to take the time to cook and eat with your family. Eating with the family builds strong bonds, ties, and BONES! 


Enjoy and God Bless! 


Slow Food Movement Video :)

It's hard to stand on shifting sand

I went on a downloading spree a couple of months ago, just downloading anything that seemed like it could be a good song. The only problem I constantly have with these downloading spree's is that I forget what I downloaded and then cannot go back and remember each and every song that I should newly memorize. Well one of the songs I downloaded slipped through the cracks and landed on my shuffle on my ipod driving from Tallahassee for the summer and I couldn't help but feel completely moved by the lyrics. The amazing song is called, "In Better Hands" by Natalie Grant. The lyrics are overly captivating and hits home for me. 


One of the verses sings,
"It's hard to stand
On shifting sand
It's hard to shine
In the shadows of the night
You can't be free
If you don't reach for help
And you can't love
If you don't love yourself
But there is hope when my faith runs out...
Cuz I'm in better hands now"

Before this summer started I was going through a definite phase of figuring out who I was all over again. I was for sure figured out, but different events, circumstances, and reasons led me to question myself all over again. In Pastor Bell's sermon this past Sunday he explained how even though you are alive in Christ you can still be wearing your grave clothes, meaning "your past problems, addictions, and insecurities", and no matter how hard you try and rip the clothes off you still go back and put them back on at some point. I did that, for sure. 

I thought I could do everything on my own, be my own superwoman, and just figure out my life without any help or assistance. I quickly became completely overwhelmed, frustrated, and I fell hard into reality. This summer, though, allowed me to grab support from my family, especially my mom, and figure out how to get back on track. I reestablished my love for Christ and realized he is my rock, my redeemer, my whole life. I   found that hidden soul and ripped the grave clothes off for good, burned them, and now they are just ashes of a path that helped me become who I am right now, and who I will continue to be. 

I leave for my completely new life in 5 weeks to a place, Tallahassee, where I have resided for 4 lovely years where I laughed, yelled, cried, and rejoiced. It's now time to start a new chapter, graduate school and the young professional world, and I am so ready to take on any obstacles. I have God by my side, my family, my friends, and the deep deep trust that everything is going to turn out as God had always intended it to be. 

This is my new blog. My newwww blog of my redeemed life that was resurrected by the healing hand of God. Enjoy.