So, I decided to take a break from all the grad school work that I've done today. And I'm going to write 50 facts about me. Haha. I doubt anyone knows all of these things and I know not a whole lot of people read this anyways, but I just felt like writing without having to think too much. :-) And yeah, I took a bunch of these from old Facebook notes but I'm sure nobody has read them so I don't feel bad for repeating some of them.
1. I love snuggling with stuffed animals and blankets, but I'm not big on snuggling with people. Unless they're little kids. Or if I REALLY like you. :-)
2. I absolutely adore candy canes and hot chocolate but don't really like peppermint hot chocolate.
3. I love scary movies. Not blood and guts movies, but psychological thriller movies that could actually happen like Memento, The Strangers, Identity etc.
4. To me, it isn't Christmas until I watch A Christmas Story and the claymation version of Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer.
5. My favorite holiday is Independence Day.
6. Sometimes I think that I'm just doing things to make other people happy.
7. I have a terribly hard time letting go of the past and people from my past, regardless of whether they're good for me or not.
8. When I'm upset, coloring makes me feel better.
9. I will almost always pick a Disney movie over most others if given the choice.
10. I really don't like peanut butter and chocolate mixed and I don't like white chocolate.
11. I can't handle eating anything spicy, but I don't have a problem making it for people who like it.
12. I LOVE holding hands, more than almost anything, but I won't just hold hands with anyone. If I sincerely care about you a lot, I'll hold your hand. And I'll hold my students' hands and my godkids' because I love them all so freaking much! Haha
13. I'm incredibly stubborn and have a tough time admitting when I'm wrong or when I'm being ridiculous. If I break first or apologize first, I must care about you a whole heck of a lot.
14. I adore driving. I do my best thinking and have made many decision and talked out countless problems and issues in my car, Toby :-)
15. I would love to be bilingual or trilingual, preferably in Spanish, Arabic or ASL.
16. My eyes turn green when I'm mad, upset or have been crying.
17. Grammar is important to me and I notice the differences between your and you're, their and they're.
18. My favorite phrase in the whole world is "yes ma'am".
19. I am an incredibly emotional person and cry easily in movies and while listening to songs.
20. Organizations like the USO, Paralympics, the Wounded Warrior Project and Special Olympics are VERY important to me and I will not tolerate any derogatory treatment or verbage about anyone with any form of disability.
21. I love writing and receiving hand written letters and cards.
22. I love cooking and baking and try to do so as often as possible.
23. Most of my greatest memories come from places I've traveled to or people I've traveled with.
24. I need very little sleep to function, sometimes none at all for a few days. It's pretty disgusting, really.
25. I get really nervous when I have a cold or the flu or any kind of upper respiratory infection because I don't want one of my preexisting issues to flare up again.
26. I can tell you the exact moment I fell in love with the person I'm in love with, but not the day or time.
27. The study of people and the way the brain processes things will never cease to fascinate me.
28. I could watch the Indiana Jones series and the Back to the Future series every day; adventures make my heart happy.
29. I love silver jewelry but I'm kind of picky on the exact kinds that I'll wear.
30. I'm not the best with free time; I'm never quite sure what to do with it and end up doing work when I should be relaxing.
31. I love new friends and old friends ... and I love when new friends become old friends.
32. I firmly believe that only when studying other cultures and religions can you truly understand your inherent and unique individuality. Consequently, I've spent the last several years studying the politics, culture, religion and languages of the Middle East (politics, history, culture, religion, language), Europe (politics), Asia (politics, culture, history) and Africa (history, religion and culture).
33. I used to think that you could be in love with more than one person and that it was ok, as long as you didn't act on it. I don't think I believe that anymore.
34. Being smart and cultured and open to new ideas is, to me, the most attractive thing about a person. I don't care if you drive a nice car, make a lot of money, or have a lot of nice things if you don't have passion, goals, apply yourself, have traveled (or want to travel) and are closed minded.
35. I really really really want a horse. I adore riding and want to do so in an open field or forest and just see where I end up. (I think that's part of why I connected with Yosef so much; he made me take Sariah and just ride for as long as I wanted. I would have loved to. Silly group tours and schedules. ;-) Ohhh Petra.)
36. I used to believe that I was nowhere near as strong as I made myself out to be. Now, I realize that I can handle so much more than I've ever given myself credit for. But that doesn't mean that I don't need encouragement!
37. Snuggling under blankets is sensational, no matter what time of year.
38. I think that knowing what a person's biggest wish/impossible goal is says a lot about them.
39. When I get really super mad, my teeth chatter and my hands shake.
40. Board games are super fun and when I have my own family, I hope to instill a family game night once every 2 weeks or so.
41.I adore learning about the Civil War. One day in high school, my (then) best friend picked me up and drove us to Gettysburg, just for fun, because he knew I had had a rough day. :-) He was so thoughtful.
42. I'm allergic to cortizone and codeine.
43. I never use an umbrella. That being said, I love dancing and kissing in the rain.
44. I'm OCD about certain things ... I always feel the need to drive a certain way to get somewhere, I have to double check the locks on the doors every night, etc.
45. Having to pay for parking is one of my pet peeves; I'll generally park farther away if it's free.
46. I adore hippos and have a mini collection. They're cute.
47. Disney World defines my childhood. I love everything about it.
48. I'm an awful liar. Simply awful.
49. I love beginnings, but I know that endings have to come before beginnings can happen. Some of the most beautiful things in my life have ended ... but endings bring about strength and teach lessons that could never have been learned otherwise. And I can definitely appreciate that.
50. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a purpose ... that it is up to us to discover that purpose ... and that more often than not, we won't understand ... even if we find an answer. Regardless, I believe that everything works out for the best. Always. What's meant to be will always find a way.
If you're reading this, you should try writing 50 things about yourself! I'd love to read it :-)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
5 Years!
February 24, 2006 changed my life. To make a long story short, I had a pretty bad accident that has had lasting effects on my life. For a longer story ... I slipped and fell on ice, breaking my nose and my jaw. I slammed my head onto the pavement and was knocked out for about an hour. My brain crashed into the front of my skull, then to the back, and to the front again before finally settling. Concrete was embedded into one of my teeth next to my 2 front ones, and my two front teeth were knocked out. Well, one was knocked out completely, tooth and nerve, and the other was pushed up, out, and cracked half off, exposing a severed nerve. As a result of the traumatic brain injury (TBI), I developed ADHD, chronic migraines, chronic insomnia, short term memory loss, and my PTSD was intensified. The doctors told me I probably shouldn't have survived.
Starting the next morning, I had migraines EVERY day for 3 1/2 years. They only became less frequent and less intense after a ridiculous number of trips to see a chiropractor. My chiro did an XRay and showed me that when I fell, my neck snapped back and is now curved in an opposite way than the normal growth, which is one contributor to my migraines. Unfortunately, even after 5 years, I don't know my triggers because the migraines occur so frequently and so intensely. I have one currently that I have had since Tuesday. It's not too fun, but fortunately, I have what doctors have told me is a "ridiculously high pain tolerance" and am able to go about my day and still go to work and live my life as "normally" as I can. I've tried a number of different prescription drugs, herbal remedies, avoidance of activities and foods and nothing seems to have an effect.
My short term memory loss has been an issue, even recently, where I'll walk upstairs and forget why, or I'll watch a TV show and not remember what I was watching after the first commercial. It's been frustrating to have to repeatedly ask my friends the same questions over and over because I just can't remember certain things. I've taken time every day to do brain teaser exercises in order to strengthen my short term memory and make sure my brain activity is still as sharp as it can be. That being said ...
I went to see several neurologists and brain specialists after the accident - military hospitals, private hospitals and consults with specialists. After a brain spect at the AMEN clinic, it was revealed that I had scalped the front and back sections of my brain so parts of them were dead. Because of that, I apparently have tapped into other sections of my brain that typically aren't used in order to compensate for the loss. The brain spect (and three 8 hour appointments with a neuropsychologist - UGH) showed that I have trauma induced ADD and Ring of Fire ADHD.
In a SPECT brain scan, PTSD shows up in a “diamond pattern.” The right temporal lobe, for example, involved in reliving and re-enacting past experiences and is one of the points of the “diamond” that lights up on a scan. Reliving past experiences or having flashbacks is one of the symptoms of PTSD. When it is over-active, it tends to be hyper-vigilent which is why people with PTSD, when triggered, feel on the alert or that something or someone is out to harm them. http://70.32.73.82/blog/tag/ptsd/
Frontal lobe damage seems to have an impact on divergent thinking, or flexibility and problem solving ability. One of the most common characteristics of frontal lobe damage is difficulty in interpreting feedback from the environment. Perseverating on a response (Milner, 1964), risk taking, and non-compliance with rules (Miller, 1985), and impaired associated learning (using external cues to help guide behavior) (Drewe, 1975) are a few examples of this type of deficit. http://www.neuroskills.com/brain-injury/frontal-lobes.php
They are characterized by impairments in executive function (planning, set shifting, verbal fluency, abstract reasoning, working memory), spatial cognition (visual spatial organization and memory) and linguistic processing (agrammatism and dysprosodia) when the lesions involve the hemispheric regions of the cerebellar posterior lobes. Further studies of the cerebellar role in cognition and emotion that are carefully designed and performed will have clinical relevance for cerebellar patients with impairments in mental flexibility, multitasking, visual-spatial organization, linguistic processing and mood. http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/129/2/290.full
I had these appointments in August when I went home for the summer but the injury was in February. I had an entire semester of college between those times and I don't like to be unsuccessful so with the encouragement of my family, friends and doctors out there, I worked my tail off and ended up with a 3.7 GPA that semester. I had to reteach myself how to study, how to learn, how to take notes. I don't like to appear weak so I rarely asked for help and was completely independent in the educational aspects.
(Backing up ...) Nate Bond, Lindsay Arcand and Melissa Bennetts will forever be in my heart. The three of them saved my life that weekend and I honestly wouldn't be where I am today without them. I won't go into the details, but I hope they know how grateful I am for everything they did for me, that weekend and beyond. I'm still amazed at the level to which they cared about me, and how they acted without hesitation, for someone they had only known for a few months. Thank you for being so wonderful!
We drove back to De Pere from Rhinelander the following Sunday and I immediately went to see a local dentist, who my parents found online, who came into the office specifically to see me. He was like a big ol'teddy bear and I adored him. My mouth was so swollen that he unfortunately couldn't do anything immediately, but about a week later, he pulled the other front tooth, shaved down the tooth that had the concrete embedded in it and told me to come back in a couple weeks to be fitted for temporary fake teeth. So, 2 weeks later, I went in and he made me some teeth haha. I don't remember the date of my surgery but I *think* it was in April, but my dad flew out to Wisconsin to be there with me for it. We drove to the dentist and they talked for a bit (After exchanging e-mails and after Dr B sent my parents pictures of my mouth. Gross.) and then we walked across the street for my surgery. I had titanium rods screwed into my jawbone. The rods had to be screwed through the gums and into the jawbone and had to fuse to the bone for 6 months before the permanent fake teeth could be put in. I woke up during the surgery and felt everything sooo after a couple more doses of morphine, I was put under again. Not a fun experience :-) But, for my 20th birthday, I received my permanent two front teeth, and as my birthday is 6 days before Halloween, the first thing I bit into in 8 months was a caramel apple from Walmart. It was disgusting, but so worth it.
It's been a tough 5 years, but I'm proud of all that I've accomplished. I graduated from college in 3 1/2 years with a pretty decent GPA. While in college, I maintained my 3 jobs the entire time I was there, despite the accident, though I cut my hours that first semester. I, hopefully, have maintained friendships despite the issues with emotions and temper that the TBI left me with. I'm currently working full time with preschoolers who have Autism and am working on my Masters degree at Marymount for Special Education K-12. I've been able to study in, and travel to, several new countries and have thrived in those new environments. I don't think a lot of people really know the extent of what happened because until today, and to a couple different people, I haven't really talked about it too often. As mentioned earlier, I don't like to appear weak and I definitely don't like using my TBI as an excuse for things. But there are times when I genuinely can't remember things and I hope you'll remember that it's not something that I'm doing on purpose. I've worked so hard to get to where I am today and I definitely wouldn't have been able to have done it without the love and support of my family, friends and doctors.
My Untouchables were SO amazing through this whole process. Countless people bought me pudding, apple sauce, mashed potatoes and soup. So many people offered to let me use their car for doctor's appointments. And just having the love and support of a "family" while my own was so far away is something I'll always remember. I love U all!
I'm going to end this here. There's a ton more to say and I'm sure if I looked at my medical file, I could write down more, but I'm simply too exhausted and have too bad of a migraine to care to write much more than I already have. So this is me. I guess that's it. :-)
Starting the next morning, I had migraines EVERY day for 3 1/2 years. They only became less frequent and less intense after a ridiculous number of trips to see a chiropractor. My chiro did an XRay and showed me that when I fell, my neck snapped back and is now curved in an opposite way than the normal growth, which is one contributor to my migraines. Unfortunately, even after 5 years, I don't know my triggers because the migraines occur so frequently and so intensely. I have one currently that I have had since Tuesday. It's not too fun, but fortunately, I have what doctors have told me is a "ridiculously high pain tolerance" and am able to go about my day and still go to work and live my life as "normally" as I can. I've tried a number of different prescription drugs, herbal remedies, avoidance of activities and foods and nothing seems to have an effect.
My short term memory loss has been an issue, even recently, where I'll walk upstairs and forget why, or I'll watch a TV show and not remember what I was watching after the first commercial. It's been frustrating to have to repeatedly ask my friends the same questions over and over because I just can't remember certain things. I've taken time every day to do brain teaser exercises in order to strengthen my short term memory and make sure my brain activity is still as sharp as it can be. That being said ...
I went to see several neurologists and brain specialists after the accident - military hospitals, private hospitals and consults with specialists. After a brain spect at the AMEN clinic, it was revealed that I had scalped the front and back sections of my brain so parts of them were dead. Because of that, I apparently have tapped into other sections of my brain that typically aren't used in order to compensate for the loss. The brain spect (and three 8 hour appointments with a neuropsychologist - UGH) showed that I have trauma induced ADD and Ring of Fire ADHD.
In a SPECT brain scan, PTSD shows up in a “diamond pattern.” The right temporal lobe, for example, involved in reliving and re-enacting past experiences and is one of the points of the “diamond” that lights up on a scan. Reliving past experiences or having flashbacks is one of the symptoms of PTSD. When it is over-active, it tends to be hyper-vigilent which is why people with PTSD, when triggered, feel on the alert or that something or someone is out to harm them. http://70.32.73.82/blog/tag/ptsd/
Frontal lobe damage seems to have an impact on divergent thinking, or flexibility and problem solving ability. One of the most common characteristics of frontal lobe damage is difficulty in interpreting feedback from the environment. Perseverating on a response (Milner, 1964), risk taking, and non-compliance with rules (Miller, 1985), and impaired associated learning (using external cues to help guide behavior) (Drewe, 1975) are a few examples of this type of deficit. http://www.neuroskills.com/brain-injury/frontal-lobes.php
They are characterized by impairments in executive function (planning, set shifting, verbal fluency, abstract reasoning, working memory), spatial cognition (visual spatial organization and memory) and linguistic processing (agrammatism and dysprosodia) when the lesions involve the hemispheric regions of the cerebellar posterior lobes. Further studies of the cerebellar role in cognition and emotion that are carefully designed and performed will have clinical relevance for cerebellar patients with impairments in mental flexibility, multitasking, visual-spatial organization, linguistic processing and mood. http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/129/2/290.full
I had these appointments in August when I went home for the summer but the injury was in February. I had an entire semester of college between those times and I don't like to be unsuccessful so with the encouragement of my family, friends and doctors out there, I worked my tail off and ended up with a 3.7 GPA that semester. I had to reteach myself how to study, how to learn, how to take notes. I don't like to appear weak so I rarely asked for help and was completely independent in the educational aspects.
(Backing up ...) Nate Bond, Lindsay Arcand and Melissa Bennetts will forever be in my heart. The three of them saved my life that weekend and I honestly wouldn't be where I am today without them. I won't go into the details, but I hope they know how grateful I am for everything they did for me, that weekend and beyond. I'm still amazed at the level to which they cared about me, and how they acted without hesitation, for someone they had only known for a few months. Thank you for being so wonderful!
We drove back to De Pere from Rhinelander the following Sunday and I immediately went to see a local dentist, who my parents found online, who came into the office specifically to see me. He was like a big ol'teddy bear and I adored him. My mouth was so swollen that he unfortunately couldn't do anything immediately, but about a week later, he pulled the other front tooth, shaved down the tooth that had the concrete embedded in it and told me to come back in a couple weeks to be fitted for temporary fake teeth. So, 2 weeks later, I went in and he made me some teeth haha. I don't remember the date of my surgery but I *think* it was in April, but my dad flew out to Wisconsin to be there with me for it. We drove to the dentist and they talked for a bit (After exchanging e-mails and after Dr B sent my parents pictures of my mouth. Gross.) and then we walked across the street for my surgery. I had titanium rods screwed into my jawbone. The rods had to be screwed through the gums and into the jawbone and had to fuse to the bone for 6 months before the permanent fake teeth could be put in. I woke up during the surgery and felt everything sooo after a couple more doses of morphine, I was put under again. Not a fun experience :-) But, for my 20th birthday, I received my permanent two front teeth, and as my birthday is 6 days before Halloween, the first thing I bit into in 8 months was a caramel apple from Walmart. It was disgusting, but so worth it.
It's been a tough 5 years, but I'm proud of all that I've accomplished. I graduated from college in 3 1/2 years with a pretty decent GPA. While in college, I maintained my 3 jobs the entire time I was there, despite the accident, though I cut my hours that first semester. I, hopefully, have maintained friendships despite the issues with emotions and temper that the TBI left me with. I'm currently working full time with preschoolers who have Autism and am working on my Masters degree at Marymount for Special Education K-12. I've been able to study in, and travel to, several new countries and have thrived in those new environments. I don't think a lot of people really know the extent of what happened because until today, and to a couple different people, I haven't really talked about it too often. As mentioned earlier, I don't like to appear weak and I definitely don't like using my TBI as an excuse for things. But there are times when I genuinely can't remember things and I hope you'll remember that it's not something that I'm doing on purpose. I've worked so hard to get to where I am today and I definitely wouldn't have been able to have done it without the love and support of my family, friends and doctors.
My Untouchables were SO amazing through this whole process. Countless people bought me pudding, apple sauce, mashed potatoes and soup. So many people offered to let me use their car for doctor's appointments. And just having the love and support of a "family" while my own was so far away is something I'll always remember. I love U all!
I'm going to end this here. There's a ton more to say and I'm sure if I looked at my medical file, I could write down more, but I'm simply too exhausted and have too bad of a migraine to care to write much more than I already have. So this is me. I guess that's it. :-)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A few rules
I went out into Adams Morgan last night with a good friend from college, Chris. Chris and I have the same philosophy surrounding travel and the meaning of life and the importance of EXPERIENCING things (that's for you, Kris! haha) Sitting in a hookah bar with him and his roommate last night really got me thinking on the inexcusably long Metro ride home. I thought about some recent things that happened to me, I thought about things that happened to me years ago, and I thought about things that I hope to happen to me in the future. I came up with a few "life rules" that I'm going to try my best to embrace. Here are some of them :-)
1.Never stop thinking. This is important. If someone ever says to you ‘You need to stop thinking so much,’ call them ignorant in your head and keep thinking deeper. It is this mentality that breeds stupidity and sheeple. Your mind is the most important tool you have, if you stop using it, it will atrophy. Question everything.
2. Everything is going to be just fine. Stressing about things beyond your control is foolish and unproductive. It will all work out as it should in the end. Note that that doesn't say that it will work out the way you would like for it to, but the way it should. While that might be tough to stomach, it will all be worth it.
3. Don’t be afraid to talk about anything. You shouldn’t be afraid of reality. This goes back to rule number 1; question everything! If you're unsure of something, ask! If you don't know where you stand in someones life, ask! If you are frustrated with something based on lack of information or knowledge, ask! What could it hurt? It's *almost* always better to know for sure and embrace reality than it is to constantly wonder "what if".
4. Everyone is a hypocrite. Sad, but true. I'm a hypocrite, you're a hypocrite. Just don't make it a habit :-)
5. You are all original. Every life experience is case sensitive and unique. Every time you wake up or go to the bathroom or quote someone else, you are becoming more you than anyone has ever been. I'll be honest, I try my best to never say "I understand" to people who tell me things because I don't understand and I never will. Regardless of whether or not I have experienced the exact same situation, I can never understand how that person feels. Because I'm not them! I don't have their background, their friends, their thoughts, their experiences. Likewise, very few things frustrate me more than someone telling me that they understand what I'm going through, or that they understand how I feel about something. Because, unfortunately, they don't. And while I agree that empathy is vitally important to humanity, there's a point where it just isn't really real.
6. Stop rushing. Shut up and embrace the sound of silence.Stop and slow down for a hot second. I'm HORRIBLE at this, which is why I can relate to number 4. I recognize the importance of relaxation, I'm just not very good at it haha.
7. Religion shouldn’t be taught, it should be found. And it should be personal. No one should tell you what to believe except you. There are so many things I wish to say about religion, but I'll save it for a later post :-) And while we're on the subject…
8. Don’t be restrained by one religion. People change every moment of every day. Minds grow and evolve. Religion has no law so feel free to mix and match. Make your own. I don't think feeling this way makes me blasphemous. Religion is based on ideas of man that were written down and practiced all over the world. Again, I'm not going to get too into it ...
9. Talking to yourself is healthy. Is there anyone that you have more in common with? Talking things out can save you from making mistakes or from saying or doing something you might later regret.
10. Ok, here's the hypocritical thing again, don't have any regrets! Do everything you want to do, whenever you want to do it. Don't regret anything. Don't do things that may cause you to have regrets. Own your life, or it will own you.
11. "There is no such thing as time. The sun never sets or rises. Days and years don’t exist. There is only your life. Earlier today you were born and death is predicted later in the evening." I don't remember where I read this, but I think it's a sensational point of view. It reminds me of Arab time. In the Middle East, there are "times" posted for things, but a lot of places run on Arab time which could be anywhere between 15 minutes to 2 hours late. I appreciate life so much more when things are run using Arab time haha because you're just living your life, not thinking about deadlines or having to be somewhere or what needs to happen next. Just live in the moment. That being said ...
12. We will always be in a transitional phase. Look outside and know that everything will be replaced at some point. This existence is temporary.
13. Be happy, but don’t force it. Be honest if you aren't happy, but strive to be. If you have a day where you feel like you aren't happy, be proactive! Do something to put yourself in the position where you can be happy.
14. Ask a child for advice. They may not know much, but they know what is important. Take the time to do things that will bring you back to a child's mindsight. Watch children's movies, color, make chocolate chip cookies, reminisce about your childhood with an old friend. I know that living in the past isn't the best idea, but sometimes, it's healthy to catch a little glimpse.Everything in moderation :-)
15. Words will always be just words. Love is just another four letter word, only the feeling is real. Don't take things too seriously, even this. :-)
So this wasn't my most beautifully written post, nor did it really include anything terribly profound but it was time for another post and I just had some thoughts from last night that I wanted to write down. So, here they are!
1.Never stop thinking. This is important. If someone ever says to you ‘You need to stop thinking so much,’ call them ignorant in your head and keep thinking deeper. It is this mentality that breeds stupidity and sheeple. Your mind is the most important tool you have, if you stop using it, it will atrophy. Question everything.
2. Everything is going to be just fine. Stressing about things beyond your control is foolish and unproductive. It will all work out as it should in the end. Note that that doesn't say that it will work out the way you would like for it to, but the way it should. While that might be tough to stomach, it will all be worth it.
3. Don’t be afraid to talk about anything. You shouldn’t be afraid of reality. This goes back to rule number 1; question everything! If you're unsure of something, ask! If you don't know where you stand in someones life, ask! If you are frustrated with something based on lack of information or knowledge, ask! What could it hurt? It's *almost* always better to know for sure and embrace reality than it is to constantly wonder "what if".
4. Everyone is a hypocrite. Sad, but true. I'm a hypocrite, you're a hypocrite. Just don't make it a habit :-)
5. You are all original. Every life experience is case sensitive and unique. Every time you wake up or go to the bathroom or quote someone else, you are becoming more you than anyone has ever been. I'll be honest, I try my best to never say "I understand" to people who tell me things because I don't understand and I never will. Regardless of whether or not I have experienced the exact same situation, I can never understand how that person feels. Because I'm not them! I don't have their background, their friends, their thoughts, their experiences. Likewise, very few things frustrate me more than someone telling me that they understand what I'm going through, or that they understand how I feel about something. Because, unfortunately, they don't. And while I agree that empathy is vitally important to humanity, there's a point where it just isn't really real.
6. Stop rushing. Shut up and embrace the sound of silence.Stop and slow down for a hot second. I'm HORRIBLE at this, which is why I can relate to number 4. I recognize the importance of relaxation, I'm just not very good at it haha.
7. Religion shouldn’t be taught, it should be found. And it should be personal. No one should tell you what to believe except you. There are so many things I wish to say about religion, but I'll save it for a later post :-) And while we're on the subject…
8. Don’t be restrained by one religion. People change every moment of every day. Minds grow and evolve. Religion has no law so feel free to mix and match. Make your own. I don't think feeling this way makes me blasphemous. Religion is based on ideas of man that were written down and practiced all over the world. Again, I'm not going to get too into it ...
9. Talking to yourself is healthy. Is there anyone that you have more in common with? Talking things out can save you from making mistakes or from saying or doing something you might later regret.
10. Ok, here's the hypocritical thing again, don't have any regrets! Do everything you want to do, whenever you want to do it. Don't regret anything. Don't do things that may cause you to have regrets. Own your life, or it will own you.
11. "There is no such thing as time. The sun never sets or rises. Days and years don’t exist. There is only your life. Earlier today you were born and death is predicted later in the evening." I don't remember where I read this, but I think it's a sensational point of view. It reminds me of Arab time. In the Middle East, there are "times" posted for things, but a lot of places run on Arab time which could be anywhere between 15 minutes to 2 hours late. I appreciate life so much more when things are run using Arab time haha because you're just living your life, not thinking about deadlines or having to be somewhere or what needs to happen next. Just live in the moment. That being said ...
12. We will always be in a transitional phase. Look outside and know that everything will be replaced at some point. This existence is temporary.
13. Be happy, but don’t force it. Be honest if you aren't happy, but strive to be. If you have a day where you feel like you aren't happy, be proactive! Do something to put yourself in the position where you can be happy.
14. Ask a child for advice. They may not know much, but they know what is important. Take the time to do things that will bring you back to a child's mindsight. Watch children's movies, color, make chocolate chip cookies, reminisce about your childhood with an old friend. I know that living in the past isn't the best idea, but sometimes, it's healthy to catch a little glimpse.Everything in moderation :-)
15. Words will always be just words. Love is just another four letter word, only the feeling is real. Don't take things too seriously, even this. :-)
So this wasn't my most beautifully written post, nor did it really include anything terribly profound but it was time for another post and I just had some thoughts from last night that I wanted to write down. So, here they are!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
My outlook on life (age 19!)
I was organizing my room tonight and found all my old journals and diaries and notebooks from class. I flipped through my Italian/Greek Tragedy and Mythology class notebook and found some writing that I had done; felt like I wanted to share it. I wish I had the patience and the time to sit here and type up how incredible of an experience Sicily was, but I don't, so here's just part of how my outlook on life changed after my study abroad experience there!
(Transferring, word for word, what I found in this notebook from January 2006. I'll add paragraphs because it will be easier to read than how I initially wrote it ahha)
"Life. Hmmm. Sometimes you need things to fall apart so you can realize how desperately you need for them to fall together. Sitting in an Italian cafe drinking liters of wine with a close group of friends, watching the most incredibly gorgeous sunset ... watching the sun sink into the clear blue-green Mediterranean Sea ... you really figure out what's important in life, what's important to you; what you want out of life. Happiness is a destination. Life is nothing more than the happiness you get out of it. I've learned to never swear to anything, for events may call me a liar. I'm not scared of what I was scared of before. If something's meant to happen, it'll happen. Good or bad - shit happens when you party naked wearing nothing but cowboy boots!" (Hahahaha Chris Zerega would say this nearly every night ... goodness. I forgot all about that!)
"How many people look at the sunset and can replay the entirety of their life in one night? What scenes will you see flash before you? The good? With everyone you hold dear smiling and genuinely happy? Or the bad? Focusing on you and your own misfortunes ... how terribly selfish. STRIVE for happiness. Have no regrets. Do everything you've ever wanted to do. Never be plagued by 'what if's'. Never go to bed angry. Don't go to bed with questions - find answers when you're awake; dwelling on issues doesn't EVER solve them, it just delays them which is 100% unhealthy.
My life altering experience happened in Sicily on a small island called Ortigia, off a small city named Siracusa. New Years Eve was the first day! Getting to ring in the new year with people who I didn't know was a bit nerve wracking, but after spending 24/7 with them for the past 3 weeks, I don't think I could hand pick a better group of people to have shared that experience with. Drinking til early morning, speaking Italian, terribly and getting hit on by creepos, seeing 3 shooting stars and KNOWING that everything's gonna be ok ... watching the sun rise and set over the most beautiful body of water I've seen, being away from reality, feeling like you're in an alternate reality, stepping into the streets of Oretigia, experiencing the unique culture of Sicilians ... I've longed to discover something as true as this is ... I owe the 'new Amy' solely to the times I had in Sicily, partly to the conversations, events, adventures, jokes, and experiences shared with the best group of 9 people I could have hoped to start a new year with. Thanks go out to April Pigott, Tara Strey, Jenny Brice, Megan McDonald, Amy Porter, Dave Dahlquist, Justin Gassner, Richard Scott and Chris Zerega. All y'all definitely helped me figure out who I am and who I want to be. Being able to start 2006 with people who don't know the old me definitely helped me shape the person I want to become. I am now who I want to be. For the first time in awhile, I can honestly say that I'm truly happy. I am happy about who I am. I am happy about my life - in the direction it's going - about, everything.
I can't even begin to explain everything that I've experienced here and everything I've realized since coming on this trip. Regarding one specific thing, I'm going to leap. I'm reaching for the moon! If I fall, then I fall. It's happened before and it will happen again. But I've now realized that I can deal with it and I will. If things work out, great. If not, oh well. Shit happens when you party naked wearing nothing but cowboy boots! (Geez. Clearly that was a popular phrase! Thanks a lot, Chris haha) I'm gonna go full force and have no regrets. To quote Rent, 'forget regret or life is yours to miss'. I don't want to miss anything. I'm going to do everything that I want to, no hesitations. Seeing how happy these people are has helped me realize how important the simple things in life are. A hug, a letter, a phone call, an email, a good movie, a smile ... things like that are what life is worth living for. That's the good stuff.
I definitely needed a wake-up call. Coming here might have been one of the most positive decisions I've made for myself. I found out who I am. No. I changed who I was into who I wanted to be. And like I said, I've never been happier with myself. I'm happy, I'm in love - I have great friends and even greater memories from one of the most fascinatingly beautiful places I've traveled to. Viva Italia, Siracusa mi amore!
I just can't get over the fact that in 3 days, I just have to up and leave everything behind. It's going to be difficult. Granted, leaving the restaurant will be tough! Luca, Franco, Pepe (ahhh Pepe, my love!!!! Oh man. I still have my hippo!) and the entire staff made it feel like home. Saying goodbye to Hotel Posta ... it's hard to believe we've already been here for 3 weeks! I'm going to miss the Solarium, watching shooting stars while sipping limoncello (SO GROSS!), seeing the sunset from Brunos, watching a rainbow rise out of the Mediterranean and plunge back down into golden clouds, seeing the sun rise over fortified buildings and set from an ancient Greek temple, the courtesy and friendliness of the locals, the FOOD, just everything that made this place feel like home for the past month. Visiting the sites, learning about the history of this place has been unbelievable!
I guess what it all comes down to, in terms of what I've realized, is that everything happens for a reason. Me getting upset over stupid drama half a world away helps me realize how virtually unimportant it is. In the grand scheme of things, it's completely worthless and finding out about yourself is key. If you don't know who YOU are, what hope could you possibly have to even attempt to understand anyone else? I know who I am, I know what I can handle and ultimately, what's important to me. I've learned what's worth fighting for and I've realized what will never be important enough to worry about. I've come to the realization, and this is a huge deal for me, that I shouldn't worry about the things I can't change, the things I have no control over. I've dealt with things here that have shown me the kind of person I am. I want to be strong and independent and I will be. I want to be able to leave 2005 behind and focus on 2006 and I will.
My eyes have been brown this whole trip. :-) (That sounds ridiculous but if you know me well enough, it will make sense!) The more I hang out with everyone, the more upset I get at the thought of us all having to leave this place. Siracusa is magical ... the people, the scenery ... it's enchanting. Driving back from Colette's tonight (we went to a little house in the country where we were taught how to make authentic Sicilian dishes and had an amazing time!)and seeing the stars ... wow! I've never seen the same sky before. I mean, I've looked at it from the Solarium, but in the country, on the farm, you can visualize every single star. You see stars in the sky beside you, not just up there, trillions of miles away. It made me completely appreciate nature in its entirety and helped me appreciate everything all over again. I LOVE ORTIGIA, SIRACUSA, SICILY, ITALY! I most definitely want to come back here; I love it! I've grown to care for these kids so much; we've all gotten close in one aspect or another, we're all connected in some way. It's almost midnight and almost Stomp's birthday so we're heading out to celebrate. Yay for Italia! I'm such a happy girl :-)"
Aw. Good times! If I can give you one word of advice about college ... STUDY ABROAD!!!!! Don't think. Just do. :-) Thanks for the awesome experiences <3
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The TRUE Meaning of Christmas
What is the true meaning of Christmas? Without going into religious implications, I'm just going to focus on the main idea of Christ's ministry - service and love. I gave a talk to my AMAZING Young Women at church on Sunday and challenged them to perform one act of service for someone they didn't know during this break. It's lovely to give service to a friend or a neighbor but it's even more wonderful to give service to someone who can never repay you - to those who need it most. I personally give frequently to various organizations and I just want to testify that it really is a great way to honor the Christmas spirit, not just at Christmastime, but throughout the year. I'm just going to highlight the organizations I've personally made a commitment to donate to once a month or so and hope that it might inspire somebody to give to an organization as well.
This year, my parents asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I have stuff. I don't really need stuff. Nor could I really think of anything that I wanted. Sure there are plenty of things that I WANT. I would love for airline travel to be cheaper, I would love to be fluent in 3 languages, but those are things that I either don't have control of or need to work on personally! So instead, I showed my parents a brochure that had come in the mail; Heifer International. I asked for a goat! So my parents bought a goat in my name for my birthday. Heifer International is an amazing organization dedicated to the betterment of individuals and their communities throughout the world. http://www.heifer.org/
My family has been involved in the military my entire life. We have benefited from the USO and try to be involved in the USO as much as we can be. "The USO mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to uniformed military Personnel." Thousands of people are helped by the USO throughout the world in various ways. There's not much more I can say about it, but check out the website! If anything, sign up for the newsletter (I think there's a link to it from the website) and you'll be sent letters about information on how to send a electronic letter to a soldier thanking him or her for their service. Money is great too, obviously, but morale boosters are just as, if not more, important! uso.org
The Wounded Warrior Project!! There aren't enough good things I can say about this organization. Oh my. The WWP provides support to the injured service members across the country. Oftentimes, soldiers flown in from the battlefields to various hospitals in the US arrive with nothing but their uniform. They are greeted by a volunteer from WWP and given a backpack with WWP clothes and essential toilet articles and some fun things to help pass the time during their hospital stay. The Wounded Warrior Project is not only there to provide support during a soldier's medical care, but allows for opportunities for the soldiers to return to a "normal" lifestyle with a job, if necessary, and an incredible support system across the country. Check 'em out!! woundedwarriorproject.org
I absolutely adore The Special Olympics. There is NOTHING more fulfilling than seeing world class athletes with intellectual disabilities compete and freaking rock at it. Volunteering my time and donating my money to this organization is by far the best money and time I believe I've ever spent. The amount of dedication and strong work ethic in this community is astounding and I am SO looking forward to doing more work with them in the coming years. http://www.specialolympics.org/
See above, but for world class athletes with physical disabilities! http://www.paralympic.org/index.html
So those are just the ones that I associate with on a regular basis; there are millions of other worthy organizations who would be happy for anything you are able to give! ECHO, in the DC area, is always looking for a variety of different things. Homeless shelters and food kitchens will never turn away volunteers, nor will animal shelters (I'm assuming). Google some options and see what you can do to give back! I know there are groups that collect dresses to give to young ladies who can't afford to buy them, but still want to have that magical experience at Homecoming or Prom. You can give items to Salvation Army or Goodwill or find an organization that collects, like Purple Heart or the Children's Center, both of whom my family donates to as well.
Giving service is one way that we can express our gratitude for everything we have. It might seem like a nuisance, but imagine how you would feel if you were in their shoes; most of us will never even begin to understand how difficult some people have it. Do your part! I'm sorry if this sounded like a lecture, but I promised my "girls" at church that I would participate in the challenge I gave them as well - and what better way than to help spread the information to others who might be willing to give back as well! Pay it forward :-)
Regardless, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. For my non-Christian friends out there, I apologize for the repeated use of Christmas, but that's my jam. :-) Enjoy this time with family and friends and enjoy the time you have off from school and work. Celebrate! Be safe <3 <3 <3
This year, my parents asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I have stuff. I don't really need stuff. Nor could I really think of anything that I wanted. Sure there are plenty of things that I WANT. I would love for airline travel to be cheaper, I would love to be fluent in 3 languages, but those are things that I either don't have control of or need to work on personally! So instead, I showed my parents a brochure that had come in the mail; Heifer International. I asked for a goat! So my parents bought a goat in my name for my birthday. Heifer International is an amazing organization dedicated to the betterment of individuals and their communities throughout the world. http://www.heifer.org/
My family has been involved in the military my entire life. We have benefited from the USO and try to be involved in the USO as much as we can be. "The USO mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to uniformed military Personnel." Thousands of people are helped by the USO throughout the world in various ways. There's not much more I can say about it, but check out the website! If anything, sign up for the newsletter (I think there's a link to it from the website) and you'll be sent letters about information on how to send a electronic letter to a soldier thanking him or her for their service. Money is great too, obviously, but morale boosters are just as, if not more, important! uso.org
The Wounded Warrior Project!! There aren't enough good things I can say about this organization. Oh my. The WWP provides support to the injured service members across the country. Oftentimes, soldiers flown in from the battlefields to various hospitals in the US arrive with nothing but their uniform. They are greeted by a volunteer from WWP and given a backpack with WWP clothes and essential toilet articles and some fun things to help pass the time during their hospital stay. The Wounded Warrior Project is not only there to provide support during a soldier's medical care, but allows for opportunities for the soldiers to return to a "normal" lifestyle with a job, if necessary, and an incredible support system across the country. Check 'em out!! woundedwarriorproject.org
I absolutely adore The Special Olympics. There is NOTHING more fulfilling than seeing world class athletes with intellectual disabilities compete and freaking rock at it. Volunteering my time and donating my money to this organization is by far the best money and time I believe I've ever spent. The amount of dedication and strong work ethic in this community is astounding and I am SO looking forward to doing more work with them in the coming years. http://www.specialolympics.org/
See above, but for world class athletes with physical disabilities! http://www.paralympic.org/index.html
So those are just the ones that I associate with on a regular basis; there are millions of other worthy organizations who would be happy for anything you are able to give! ECHO, in the DC area, is always looking for a variety of different things. Homeless shelters and food kitchens will never turn away volunteers, nor will animal shelters (I'm assuming). Google some options and see what you can do to give back! I know there are groups that collect dresses to give to young ladies who can't afford to buy them, but still want to have that magical experience at Homecoming or Prom. You can give items to Salvation Army or Goodwill or find an organization that collects, like Purple Heart or the Children's Center, both of whom my family donates to as well.
Giving service is one way that we can express our gratitude for everything we have. It might seem like a nuisance, but imagine how you would feel if you were in their shoes; most of us will never even begin to understand how difficult some people have it. Do your part! I'm sorry if this sounded like a lecture, but I promised my "girls" at church that I would participate in the challenge I gave them as well - and what better way than to help spread the information to others who might be willing to give back as well! Pay it forward :-)
Regardless, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. For my non-Christian friends out there, I apologize for the repeated use of Christmas, but that's my jam. :-) Enjoy this time with family and friends and enjoy the time you have off from school and work. Celebrate! Be safe <3 <3 <3
Saturday, December 11, 2010
70 Paths to Happiness!
So I borrowed (ok, stole) this idea from a site I "stumbled upon" and I thought I'd give it a shot! I've been kind of down in the dumps lately and I needed to get out! If you've ever read the book The Phantom Tollbooth, I definitely felt like Milo and Tock when they were in the Doldrums! Bad news bears! So I'm going to attempt to break this down into a few different main topics and work from there :-)
I'm a big believer that things don't bring happiness, but experiences and people do. Ultimately, it's ourselves that bring us the ultimate happiness because we have the control, theoretically! That being said ...
TRAVEL
1. TRAVEL! Just go! The very best times of my life have happened when I've traveled.
2. Take a weekend trip. Especially if money is a concern, just get out of the house and go somewhere fun/new/different/boring/relaxing!
3. Visit the ocean. It's really an interesting feeling to realize just how vast it is. And having sand between your toes definitely helps ease your mind :-)
4. Go camping. I've never actually done this, bu I HAVE slept outside in the desert, which I guess is camping as well. (Yay Girl Scouts in Saudi Arabia! haha) There's just something about being so close to nature and relying on your surroundings that is just really calming and surreal.
5. Stargaze. I look at the stars every chance I get. When you go somewhere other than your home, look at the sky! I'm personally a huge fan of stars so this one is easy for me. But I was once taught that there are more stars in the sky than there are grains of sand on the earth. And if you've ever been to a beach, there's a TON of sand! Imagine that multiplied by an innumerable amount. Breathtaking.
6. Do something that takes you completely out of your element every time you travel. In Argentina, I went parapenting - I'm terrified of heights! It was absolutely exhilirating and I wouldn't change the experience for the world! It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
7. Immerse yourself as much as possible with the locals. No excuses. No explanations. Words can't explain how life changing it can be.
WORK
8. Do something that you love! You will perform better if you enjoy your job.
9. Make enough money to fufill your basic needs; don't strive to make too much in order to avoid becoming wrapped up in materialistic ventures. Decide what is necessary and budget your money.
10. Be a self starter. Take initiative - you will be able to feel a sense of control if you're not the one in control and you will do what needs to be done if you're doing it for yourself.
11. Keep things in your workplace that enlighten you. I keep peppermint lotion and some pictures in my "area" at work. Michelle and I also keep a stash of chocolate :-) It's important to have a little something fun at your desk or wherever you work to remind you of why you do what you do.
12. Bake cookies/cake and bring it into work. Michelle and I had a blast doing it and it was very much appreciated. I have a tendency to bring breakfast from Bagel Bakery for Michelle and Sharon. It's just a little thoughtful thing that makes someone else happy.
HEALTH
13. Get enough sleep! I definitely don't do this, but not because I don't want to. Sleeping a NORMAL schedule is vitally important and can have lasting effects if you don't do it. I live for naps, but they're actually not the best idea when using them to supplement the lack of sleep from the night before. Whoops.
14. Take Vitamin C. Vitamins are good from any letter. But I'm a fan of C.
15. LAUGH out loud every day. Laughing releases stress and endorphins and makes us feel happier.
16. Go outside. Fresh air helps raise the levels of serotonin (the stuff that makes you happy!)
17. Work out. Cardio is great.
18. Eat chocolate. It's delicious, aside from its positive effects on your serotonin levels.
19. Meditate. Take some time out and just think about being calm! Definitely one of the hardest things for me; I need to learn how to relax and stop being go go go all the time.
20. Expose yourself to the sun - but not to excess. The sun's rays are proven to brighten your day.
21. Eat more colorful fruits and vegetables. They contain antioxidants which help remove toxins from our bodies that cause stress and aging.
22. 34) Drink hot mint tea. The scent of fresh mint is energizing and the steam will perk you up.
ATTITUDE
23. SMILE! It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown.
24. Make a grateful list. Focus on all the great things in your life to enhance feelings of joy and attract more good things.
25. Break outside your comfort zone. Being comfortable doesn’t make you happy—challenging yourself does.
26. Follow your gut. Most of the time your first instinct is not only correct, but the best choice.
27. Don’t regret your decisions. If it turns out you were wrong, don’t waste time worrying about it, instead make the next best decision and move forward.
28. Accept that you can’t be happy all the time. Focus on being content and the truly happiness will be all that much sweeter.
29. Try to see from others’ perspectives. Much of our unhappiness comes from our frustration with other people not understanding us. Try to imagine how they see the world and the frustration will ease.
30. Let the little things go. There’s no sense in wasting your energy and inhibiting your happiness by worrying about things you can’t change.
31. Make the decision to be happy. Happiness is an attitude, not a physical state.
32. Don’t take things personally. So often, anger and frustration directed at us is a result of someone else’s misplaced stress. Recognize that it’s not necessarily about you and you’ll remain calmer and happier.
33. Savor the small moments. People who take longer to enjoy small moments and then reflect on them later in the day show significant increases in happiness.
34. Avoid comparing yourself to others. It’s damaging to self-esteem—focus on your own achievements.
35. Make meaningful goals. Harvard scientists say humans need a sense of purpose to thrive and that people with dreams and aspirations are happier than those without.
36. Embrace spirituality. Research suggests that people who participate in a religious community or explore alternate sets of beliefs are happier and better adjusted in life.
37. Have a good cry when you need it. Allowing yourself to break down completely is cathartic and you’ll feel better after you let it all out.
38. Learn to forgive yourself. Focusing on your past mistakes serves no purpose besides keeping you from moving on.
39. Maintain perspective. When life starts to feel out of control, remind yourself of the positive things in your life and how lucky you are.
40. Define what happiness means for you. Don’t worry about what other people define as happy, find what makes you happy and go for it.
RELATIONSHIPS
41. Always be true to how you feel. One cannot survive shrouded in false emotions and unwanted destinations. Wants and needs exist for a reason. Hiding from them only prolongs your journey to the happiness that I intend to find. (Borrowed from Eddie!)
42. Stay close to friends and family. Moving far away from networks of support can take a toll on your level of happiness—even if you have moved in order to make more money.
43. Get a dog. The studies showing the positive effects man’s best friend can have on your psyche are numerous: better emotional and physical health and a wagging tail.
44. Give more hugs. Hugging releases the same chemical as massage and is always free!
45. Make time for your friends. Personal connections are so important and making even a little time to be with people who make you smile can keep you happy.
46. Make new friends. Meeting other people is exciting and finding a new person with whom to connect can only enhance your fulfillment.
47. Write thank-you notes. Expressing gratitude makes you and the recipient happy.
48. Call your mom. Or your dad, or your grandma or anyone you haven’t talked to in a while and surprise them with a chat.
49. Get a cat. If you’re not a dog person, cats make wonderful, loving, stress-reducing housemates and bed-warmers.
50. Cuddle up with someone you love. Enjoy time with your kids or your partner for instant happiness.
51. Babysit for a friend. Being around children’s infectious optimism is sure to boost your mood.
52. Hold a baby. They’re cute and cuddly and without a care in the world—you’ll feel instantly uplifted.
ACTIVITIES
53. Color!!! Unless you're like me and COMPLETELY anal about having to use the exact colors for things.
54. Declutter. Throw away things that you haven't used in years and even some things that you have. It clears your mind as well as opens things up for new things/new memories.
55. Donate to those less fortunate than you. It will make you grateful for what you have.
56. Watch a funny movie with friends; it's fun to see which movies are funnier while watching with certain friends.
57. Nap nap nap :-)
58. Walk. Going on a walk can invigorate your mind and your body.
59. Surround yourself with smells that bring about good memories; I burn a couple different candles in my room depending on my mood. I always have Thai Dragonfruit on hand for my "whatever" moods and when I need a little pick me up, I burn peppermint candles. It helps bring you back to places/times when you were happy!
60. Dance. Always. Especially if there's no music.
61. Cook!
62. Dress up for no reason. Putting yourself together is a self esteem boost.
63. Wear perfume or cologne - but don't overdo it!
64. Volunteer your time to worthy organizations.
65. Do one random act of kindness EVERY DAY. Something as simple as holding open a door or letting someone in in traffic can brighten someone's day and can be contagious.
66. Write letters, even to friends down the street. Everyone likes getting mail.
67. Read. Take yourself away from this world, this time, and immerse yourself in something different.
68. Pick one day and turn off (or don't use) any form of electronic communication. No cell phone, no e-mail, no Facebook. I'll definitely be trying this out for a day or two over Winter Break.
69. Sing in the shower. Make sure it sounds absolutely dreadful.
70. Hide money somewhere in your room. Or in clothes for a different season (ex: it's winter; hide a 20 in a pair of shorts). It's exciting to find it later! I have $175 hidden somewhere in my room that I'm going to have to find before we head to Florida haha.
I know there are tons of other ways to be happy, but those are what I thought of (and some are borrowed from other places). I was always told to do one thing each day that makes you happy. So I figured I'd have a list of things to pick from to make it easier on myself. Hope some of these speak to you and make you happy as well. <3
71.
I'm a big believer that things don't bring happiness, but experiences and people do. Ultimately, it's ourselves that bring us the ultimate happiness because we have the control, theoretically! That being said ...
TRAVEL
1. TRAVEL! Just go! The very best times of my life have happened when I've traveled.
2. Take a weekend trip. Especially if money is a concern, just get out of the house and go somewhere fun/new/different/boring/relaxing!
3. Visit the ocean. It's really an interesting feeling to realize just how vast it is. And having sand between your toes definitely helps ease your mind :-)
4. Go camping. I've never actually done this, bu I HAVE slept outside in the desert, which I guess is camping as well. (Yay Girl Scouts in Saudi Arabia! haha) There's just something about being so close to nature and relying on your surroundings that is just really calming and surreal.
5. Stargaze. I look at the stars every chance I get. When you go somewhere other than your home, look at the sky! I'm personally a huge fan of stars so this one is easy for me. But I was once taught that there are more stars in the sky than there are grains of sand on the earth. And if you've ever been to a beach, there's a TON of sand! Imagine that multiplied by an innumerable amount. Breathtaking.
6. Do something that takes you completely out of your element every time you travel. In Argentina, I went parapenting - I'm terrified of heights! It was absolutely exhilirating and I wouldn't change the experience for the world! It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
7. Immerse yourself as much as possible with the locals. No excuses. No explanations. Words can't explain how life changing it can be.
WORK
8. Do something that you love! You will perform better if you enjoy your job.
9. Make enough money to fufill your basic needs; don't strive to make too much in order to avoid becoming wrapped up in materialistic ventures. Decide what is necessary and budget your money.
10. Be a self starter. Take initiative - you will be able to feel a sense of control if you're not the one in control and you will do what needs to be done if you're doing it for yourself.
11. Keep things in your workplace that enlighten you. I keep peppermint lotion and some pictures in my "area" at work. Michelle and I also keep a stash of chocolate :-) It's important to have a little something fun at your desk or wherever you work to remind you of why you do what you do.
12. Bake cookies/cake and bring it into work. Michelle and I had a blast doing it and it was very much appreciated. I have a tendency to bring breakfast from Bagel Bakery for Michelle and Sharon. It's just a little thoughtful thing that makes someone else happy.
HEALTH
13. Get enough sleep! I definitely don't do this, but not because I don't want to. Sleeping a NORMAL schedule is vitally important and can have lasting effects if you don't do it. I live for naps, but they're actually not the best idea when using them to supplement the lack of sleep from the night before. Whoops.
14. Take Vitamin C. Vitamins are good from any letter. But I'm a fan of C.
15. LAUGH out loud every day. Laughing releases stress and endorphins and makes us feel happier.
16. Go outside. Fresh air helps raise the levels of serotonin (the stuff that makes you happy!)
17. Work out. Cardio is great.
18. Eat chocolate. It's delicious, aside from its positive effects on your serotonin levels.
19. Meditate. Take some time out and just think about being calm! Definitely one of the hardest things for me; I need to learn how to relax and stop being go go go all the time.
20. Expose yourself to the sun - but not to excess. The sun's rays are proven to brighten your day.
21. Eat more colorful fruits and vegetables. They contain antioxidants which help remove toxins from our bodies that cause stress and aging.
22. 34) Drink hot mint tea. The scent of fresh mint is energizing and the steam will perk you up.
ATTITUDE
23. SMILE! It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown.
24. Make a grateful list. Focus on all the great things in your life to enhance feelings of joy and attract more good things.
25. Break outside your comfort zone. Being comfortable doesn’t make you happy—challenging yourself does.
26. Follow your gut. Most of the time your first instinct is not only correct, but the best choice.
27. Don’t regret your decisions. If it turns out you were wrong, don’t waste time worrying about it, instead make the next best decision and move forward.
28. Accept that you can’t be happy all the time. Focus on being content and the truly happiness will be all that much sweeter.
29. Try to see from others’ perspectives. Much of our unhappiness comes from our frustration with other people not understanding us. Try to imagine how they see the world and the frustration will ease.
30. Let the little things go. There’s no sense in wasting your energy and inhibiting your happiness by worrying about things you can’t change.
31. Make the decision to be happy. Happiness is an attitude, not a physical state.
32. Don’t take things personally. So often, anger and frustration directed at us is a result of someone else’s misplaced stress. Recognize that it’s not necessarily about you and you’ll remain calmer and happier.
33. Savor the small moments. People who take longer to enjoy small moments and then reflect on them later in the day show significant increases in happiness.
34. Avoid comparing yourself to others. It’s damaging to self-esteem—focus on your own achievements.
35. Make meaningful goals. Harvard scientists say humans need a sense of purpose to thrive and that people with dreams and aspirations are happier than those without.
36. Embrace spirituality. Research suggests that people who participate in a religious community or explore alternate sets of beliefs are happier and better adjusted in life.
37. Have a good cry when you need it. Allowing yourself to break down completely is cathartic and you’ll feel better after you let it all out.
38. Learn to forgive yourself. Focusing on your past mistakes serves no purpose besides keeping you from moving on.
39. Maintain perspective. When life starts to feel out of control, remind yourself of the positive things in your life and how lucky you are.
40. Define what happiness means for you. Don’t worry about what other people define as happy, find what makes you happy and go for it.
RELATIONSHIPS
41. Always be true to how you feel. One cannot survive shrouded in false emotions and unwanted destinations. Wants and needs exist for a reason. Hiding from them only prolongs your journey to the happiness that I intend to find. (Borrowed from Eddie!)
42. Stay close to friends and family. Moving far away from networks of support can take a toll on your level of happiness—even if you have moved in order to make more money.
43. Get a dog. The studies showing the positive effects man’s best friend can have on your psyche are numerous: better emotional and physical health and a wagging tail.
44. Give more hugs. Hugging releases the same chemical as massage and is always free!
45. Make time for your friends. Personal connections are so important and making even a little time to be with people who make you smile can keep you happy.
46. Make new friends. Meeting other people is exciting and finding a new person with whom to connect can only enhance your fulfillment.
47. Write thank-you notes. Expressing gratitude makes you and the recipient happy.
48. Call your mom. Or your dad, or your grandma or anyone you haven’t talked to in a while and surprise them with a chat.
49. Get a cat. If you’re not a dog person, cats make wonderful, loving, stress-reducing housemates and bed-warmers.
50. Cuddle up with someone you love. Enjoy time with your kids or your partner for instant happiness.
51. Babysit for a friend. Being around children’s infectious optimism is sure to boost your mood.
52. Hold a baby. They’re cute and cuddly and without a care in the world—you’ll feel instantly uplifted.
ACTIVITIES
53. Color!!! Unless you're like me and COMPLETELY anal about having to use the exact colors for things.
54. Declutter. Throw away things that you haven't used in years and even some things that you have. It clears your mind as well as opens things up for new things/new memories.
55. Donate to those less fortunate than you. It will make you grateful for what you have.
56. Watch a funny movie with friends; it's fun to see which movies are funnier while watching with certain friends.
57. Nap nap nap :-)
58. Walk. Going on a walk can invigorate your mind and your body.
59. Surround yourself with smells that bring about good memories; I burn a couple different candles in my room depending on my mood. I always have Thai Dragonfruit on hand for my "whatever" moods and when I need a little pick me up, I burn peppermint candles. It helps bring you back to places/times when you were happy!
60. Dance. Always. Especially if there's no music.
61. Cook!
62. Dress up for no reason. Putting yourself together is a self esteem boost.
63. Wear perfume or cologne - but don't overdo it!
64. Volunteer your time to worthy organizations.
65. Do one random act of kindness EVERY DAY. Something as simple as holding open a door or letting someone in in traffic can brighten someone's day and can be contagious.
66. Write letters, even to friends down the street. Everyone likes getting mail.
67. Read. Take yourself away from this world, this time, and immerse yourself in something different.
68. Pick one day and turn off (or don't use) any form of electronic communication. No cell phone, no e-mail, no Facebook. I'll definitely be trying this out for a day or two over Winter Break.
69. Sing in the shower. Make sure it sounds absolutely dreadful.
70. Hide money somewhere in your room. Or in clothes for a different season (ex: it's winter; hide a 20 in a pair of shorts). It's exciting to find it later! I have $175 hidden somewhere in my room that I'm going to have to find before we head to Florida haha.
I know there are tons of other ways to be happy, but those are what I thought of (and some are borrowed from other places). I was always told to do one thing each day that makes you happy. So I figured I'd have a list of things to pick from to make it easier on myself. Hope some of these speak to you and make you happy as well. <3
71.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful. I'm not going to be very detailed in this "episode" for fear of forgetting someone or something, but I will do my best to relay the information that I feel needs to be publicly expressed.
First, and always, I am thankful for my family. My parents, my big brother, my grandparents on both sides, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I am grateful for the memories and experiences we share. My parents are absolutely wonderful people and have done so much for me and for others. I am so proud of my brother - for all he has experienced, for all he has had to put up with - for the incredible person he has become. I am grateful for the love that some members of my extended family show and for their interest in our lives. While I am disappointed at the turn of events that has led to some family drama, but I am grateful for that opportunity to have learned who is truly family by love and willingness and who is family only by blood.
I am grateful for my best friends. The ones who are always there for me, without fail - never expecting anything in return for all the support they have given me over the years. (Ok, I'm breaking my rule and I'm actually going to mention 3 people who have always been there and who have helped me be who I am today). Anthony Joseph Cacciatore - You are absolutely amazing. I have never met someone so selfless and caring as you. Thank you for listening to me cry at 3 in the morning and thank you for letting me talk and for knowing when I need advice and when I need to just talk. You astound me. You have encouraged every pursuit I have made without question and have pushed me to the limit of being the best I can be. Thank you for your random compliments and your reasoning of "I just thought you needed to hear it". We have both changed so much since freshman year at St. Norbert College but I'll never forget some of the memories we share from that year and beyond haha. I am truly grateful for you. Thank you for giving so much of yourself to someone who doesn't deserve it. I love you.
Kristopher Anthony Klein, you are remarkable. I feel so fortunate to know you and to have you as a positive influence in my life. You have this innate gift to touch peoples lives and leave them forever changed. Thank you for never judging me, for hours of heart to hearts in Maine, Argentina and through Skype. For Havana chocolates, $5 text messages, letters that take 3 months to get here (still waiting :-) ), and for being 100% honest with me. Thank you for putting up with my bullshit, but also for letting me know when I'm being ridiculous. Thank you for fighting with me at clubs in Mendoza and proving to me that what you told me is true. I'm grateful that you are my best friend - I'm grateful to have someone who knows me so completely, so fully, and who I know so completely as well. I'm grateful that when you tell me everytings gonna be alright, that somehow, I believe you. Thank you for being so understanding. I'm grateful for the chance to spend more time with you when you come back to the States and I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet your mom. Thank you for being an example to me. I love you.
Eddie James Grace, you are incredible. For 5 1/2 years, we have kept our promise of seeing each other at least twice a year. Together we have explored all over Europe, New York City, Washington DC, New Hampshire, Hawaii and Connecticut. You have dealt with some hardship but you have come through with grace. Your mother would be so proud of the man you have turned into. I'll never forget the first time we met in Elizabethtown, PA or the day our relationship changed at Disneyland Paris. I am grateful for the strong influence you are in my life - for your friendship and your love. For our carefully planned trips and even for the flights I missed because of you :-) I cherish the time we spend together and am so grateful that you are one of my very best friends. The fact that my family asks about you is a huge testament to your character and to the effect you have had on my life. You are one of the most bold people I know; I would never have been able to write a song for someone that has such genuine lyrics where you pour out your heart and accept blame. Thank you for introducing me to your entire family and for sharing such special people like Gram and Aunt Donna with me. I can't wait to see you again; it's your turn :-) I love you.
There is so much more I could say to and about these three young men, but that's all I have patience for right now! And there are so many more people who I could write about, but these three people have never let me down and deserve to stand apart from the rest.
I am grateful to be the godmother of two astoundingly gorgeous children. I could write for hours about everything I love about them, but I won't bore anyone with that. Instead, I'll just say how grateful I am to their mother, Johanna, for the opportunity she has given me in asking me to hold the honor of being their godmother. They lighten up every tough day and I love them more than I can ever hope to express.
I am grateful for the military, especially my friends who serve. Again, I won't name names for fear or forgetting someone. Please understand the profound impact the military has had on my upbringing and I am grateful for their service and sacrifice. I am especially grateful for the members of the military who can't be with their families at this time because of their various deployments around the world. I am grateful that I am able to sleep soundly because I am protected by a force that does not allow fear to penetrate their core. I am thankful for the chance to live in a country where my rights and freedoms are protected by willing men and women who have sacrificed more than some people will ever realize. While I am nervous for my friends who are deploying soon, I am grateful for their excitement and for the fact that they have their family of brothers and sisters in arms who completely support the missions my friends are undertaking, when I can't be there to do so.
I wasn't going to discuss material things that I'm thankful for, but I'll include just one because I'm not sure it DOES fall into that section. I'm thankful for my home. For the people who make up my home, the place where my home is, for the idea that I HAVE a home to return to. I'll talk more about the concept of home in a later entry, but I want to express that I am grateful for it regardless!
I am grateful for my experiences abroad. Growing up in a military family allowed us opportunities to live and travel all over the world. I'm grateful that my father's job had us live in Germany and Saudi Arabia and travel around the world twice. I'm grateful that my parents are intelligent, welcoming, diverse people who ensured that my brother and I were educated about the customs and culture of the countries we visited. I am grateful to have been able to experience a myriad of different cultures, customs, languages and peoples during the years when most kids are figuring out who they are because those experiences helped shape me. I truly believe that it is only when learning about different places, people, customs, languages, foods, etc that we can truly understand our authentic individuality. I'm grateful that I became a citizen of the world but that I still hold an individual identity that I'm not willing to sacrifice for anything. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to study abroad in Sicily, Italy and figure out who I was and what I wanted to be. I am even more grateful to have studied abroad in DC, Jordan and Egypt with some of the absolute greatest people you could ever hope to know. Monique, Rory, Will, Blake, Jen, Steph, Maria, Joe, Sadaf Iben, Jessica and Toni helped provide life changing experiences for me in the Middle East and I would not be who I am without some of the experiences I had overseas.
I am grateful for my beliefs and for the chance to live in a country where I can have and express my beliefs without fear of persecution. While there will always be dissention, I am not afraid to hold religious, political or personal beliefs and share them when I choose to do so because I know that my rights to those beliefs are protected by law. I am grateful to know what I know and to believe and have faith in that which I don't know for sure. I'm grateful for the people who have shown me the path towards figuring out what I believe and I am thankful for those influences in my life.
I am grateful for education. That I am able to hold intelligent conversations and that I can understand when intelligent conversations are being held with me. I am grateful that I was able to attend a wonderful college and learn from a diverse group of professors and a not so diverse group of students. While I experienced a ton of diversity growing up, moving to De Pere Wisconsin was a whole new world for me, coming from high school in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area. But I am grateful for the opportunity to try and understand the world as the Midwest sees it. I understand and accept and love diversity but I have lived it. I am grateful to have been able to try and see how the rest of the US who wasn't raised abroad or in melting pot cities sees the world. I am grateful that I have an inquisitive mind and while my constant need for intellectual stimulation sometimes frustrates me, I am grateful that it is not the opposite. I am grateful that some of my teachers understand that the best education is done outside of the classroom and can not fathom how others are educated by books alone. I am beyond grateful to have been in James Percoco's Applied History class in high school - for the memories and experiences that I shy away from talking about because they are SO special that I feel like nobody but the kids in the class can ever understand. For the bonds I made with people in that class like Justin, Johanna, Ashley, Enzo, Bryan and Leslie. That through our bond, we helped edify each other while working through Leslie's murder at Virginia Tech. I am grateful for the ability to read and ask questions and for the mere ability to attend a school, as there are millions of girls who are not granted that privilege.
I am grateful for adversity - for the challenges that I've faced and for the instances I have had that have helped me be able to appreciate the good in life. Though it changed my life, I am grateful for my accident and for all of the problems I have had as a result of smacking my head. It has certainly not been an easy road, but the days when I have horrible migraines makes me appreciate the days when I don't have migraines. Those times when my short term memory fail helps make the memories I have more meaningful. Killing parts of my brain made me grateful that more important parts of my brain remained intact. Losing my teeth allowed for my implants to be significantly stronger than regular teeth. I know it sounds foolish, but I AM really grateful that I have had various health problems (mainly broken bones and ripped tendons haha) because it has helped me appreciate my health. I am not only grateful for adversity in the health sector, but in all sections of life. I won't go into details because this post is already far too long, but I am grateful for the pitfalls because I can appreciate the mountaintops because of the pitfalls.
To sum it all up, I am grateful. There are far more things that I am grateful for as well, but I just picked the first 10 or so that popped into my mind when writing a quick list and yeah. So that's that! I am thankful for my friends and I love you all! I'm grateful that my Aunt Laura, Uncle Jim, Kevin and Colin are here to spend Thanksgiving with us and I'm excited to spend time with family. :-)
I hope you all have an absolutely lovely Thanksgiving celebration and that you remember that this day is about giving THANKS for all you have and for remembering those who aren't as blessed as you are. Enjoy your holiday! Be safe <3
First, and always, I am thankful for my family. My parents, my big brother, my grandparents on both sides, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I am grateful for the memories and experiences we share. My parents are absolutely wonderful people and have done so much for me and for others. I am so proud of my brother - for all he has experienced, for all he has had to put up with - for the incredible person he has become. I am grateful for the love that some members of my extended family show and for their interest in our lives. While I am disappointed at the turn of events that has led to some family drama, but I am grateful for that opportunity to have learned who is truly family by love and willingness and who is family only by blood.
I am grateful for my best friends. The ones who are always there for me, without fail - never expecting anything in return for all the support they have given me over the years. (Ok, I'm breaking my rule and I'm actually going to mention 3 people who have always been there and who have helped me be who I am today). Anthony Joseph Cacciatore - You are absolutely amazing. I have never met someone so selfless and caring as you. Thank you for listening to me cry at 3 in the morning and thank you for letting me talk and for knowing when I need advice and when I need to just talk. You astound me. You have encouraged every pursuit I have made without question and have pushed me to the limit of being the best I can be. Thank you for your random compliments and your reasoning of "I just thought you needed to hear it". We have both changed so much since freshman year at St. Norbert College but I'll never forget some of the memories we share from that year and beyond haha. I am truly grateful for you. Thank you for giving so much of yourself to someone who doesn't deserve it. I love you.
Kristopher Anthony Klein, you are remarkable. I feel so fortunate to know you and to have you as a positive influence in my life. You have this innate gift to touch peoples lives and leave them forever changed. Thank you for never judging me, for hours of heart to hearts in Maine, Argentina and through Skype. For Havana chocolates, $5 text messages, letters that take 3 months to get here (still waiting :-) ), and for being 100% honest with me. Thank you for putting up with my bullshit, but also for letting me know when I'm being ridiculous. Thank you for fighting with me at clubs in Mendoza and proving to me that what you told me is true. I'm grateful that you are my best friend - I'm grateful to have someone who knows me so completely, so fully, and who I know so completely as well. I'm grateful that when you tell me everytings gonna be alright, that somehow, I believe you. Thank you for being so understanding. I'm grateful for the chance to spend more time with you when you come back to the States and I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet your mom. Thank you for being an example to me. I love you.
Eddie James Grace, you are incredible. For 5 1/2 years, we have kept our promise of seeing each other at least twice a year. Together we have explored all over Europe, New York City, Washington DC, New Hampshire, Hawaii and Connecticut. You have dealt with some hardship but you have come through with grace. Your mother would be so proud of the man you have turned into. I'll never forget the first time we met in Elizabethtown, PA or the day our relationship changed at Disneyland Paris. I am grateful for the strong influence you are in my life - for your friendship and your love. For our carefully planned trips and even for the flights I missed because of you :-) I cherish the time we spend together and am so grateful that you are one of my very best friends. The fact that my family asks about you is a huge testament to your character and to the effect you have had on my life. You are one of the most bold people I know; I would never have been able to write a song for someone that has such genuine lyrics where you pour out your heart and accept blame. Thank you for introducing me to your entire family and for sharing such special people like Gram and Aunt Donna with me. I can't wait to see you again; it's your turn :-) I love you.
There is so much more I could say to and about these three young men, but that's all I have patience for right now! And there are so many more people who I could write about, but these three people have never let me down and deserve to stand apart from the rest.
I am grateful to be the godmother of two astoundingly gorgeous children. I could write for hours about everything I love about them, but I won't bore anyone with that. Instead, I'll just say how grateful I am to their mother, Johanna, for the opportunity she has given me in asking me to hold the honor of being their godmother. They lighten up every tough day and I love them more than I can ever hope to express.
I am grateful for the military, especially my friends who serve. Again, I won't name names for fear or forgetting someone. Please understand the profound impact the military has had on my upbringing and I am grateful for their service and sacrifice. I am especially grateful for the members of the military who can't be with their families at this time because of their various deployments around the world. I am grateful that I am able to sleep soundly because I am protected by a force that does not allow fear to penetrate their core. I am thankful for the chance to live in a country where my rights and freedoms are protected by willing men and women who have sacrificed more than some people will ever realize. While I am nervous for my friends who are deploying soon, I am grateful for their excitement and for the fact that they have their family of brothers and sisters in arms who completely support the missions my friends are undertaking, when I can't be there to do so.
I wasn't going to discuss material things that I'm thankful for, but I'll include just one because I'm not sure it DOES fall into that section. I'm thankful for my home. For the people who make up my home, the place where my home is, for the idea that I HAVE a home to return to. I'll talk more about the concept of home in a later entry, but I want to express that I am grateful for it regardless!
I am grateful for my experiences abroad. Growing up in a military family allowed us opportunities to live and travel all over the world. I'm grateful that my father's job had us live in Germany and Saudi Arabia and travel around the world twice. I'm grateful that my parents are intelligent, welcoming, diverse people who ensured that my brother and I were educated about the customs and culture of the countries we visited. I am grateful to have been able to experience a myriad of different cultures, customs, languages and peoples during the years when most kids are figuring out who they are because those experiences helped shape me. I truly believe that it is only when learning about different places, people, customs, languages, foods, etc that we can truly understand our authentic individuality. I'm grateful that I became a citizen of the world but that I still hold an individual identity that I'm not willing to sacrifice for anything. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to study abroad in Sicily, Italy and figure out who I was and what I wanted to be. I am even more grateful to have studied abroad in DC, Jordan and Egypt with some of the absolute greatest people you could ever hope to know. Monique, Rory, Will, Blake, Jen, Steph, Maria, Joe, Sadaf Iben, Jessica and Toni helped provide life changing experiences for me in the Middle East and I would not be who I am without some of the experiences I had overseas.
I am grateful for my beliefs and for the chance to live in a country where I can have and express my beliefs without fear of persecution. While there will always be dissention, I am not afraid to hold religious, political or personal beliefs and share them when I choose to do so because I know that my rights to those beliefs are protected by law. I am grateful to know what I know and to believe and have faith in that which I don't know for sure. I'm grateful for the people who have shown me the path towards figuring out what I believe and I am thankful for those influences in my life.
I am grateful for education. That I am able to hold intelligent conversations and that I can understand when intelligent conversations are being held with me. I am grateful that I was able to attend a wonderful college and learn from a diverse group of professors and a not so diverse group of students. While I experienced a ton of diversity growing up, moving to De Pere Wisconsin was a whole new world for me, coming from high school in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area. But I am grateful for the opportunity to try and understand the world as the Midwest sees it. I understand and accept and love diversity but I have lived it. I am grateful to have been able to try and see how the rest of the US who wasn't raised abroad or in melting pot cities sees the world. I am grateful that I have an inquisitive mind and while my constant need for intellectual stimulation sometimes frustrates me, I am grateful that it is not the opposite. I am grateful that some of my teachers understand that the best education is done outside of the classroom and can not fathom how others are educated by books alone. I am beyond grateful to have been in James Percoco's Applied History class in high school - for the memories and experiences that I shy away from talking about because they are SO special that I feel like nobody but the kids in the class can ever understand. For the bonds I made with people in that class like Justin, Johanna, Ashley, Enzo, Bryan and Leslie. That through our bond, we helped edify each other while working through Leslie's murder at Virginia Tech. I am grateful for the ability to read and ask questions and for the mere ability to attend a school, as there are millions of girls who are not granted that privilege.
I am grateful for adversity - for the challenges that I've faced and for the instances I have had that have helped me be able to appreciate the good in life. Though it changed my life, I am grateful for my accident and for all of the problems I have had as a result of smacking my head. It has certainly not been an easy road, but the days when I have horrible migraines makes me appreciate the days when I don't have migraines. Those times when my short term memory fail helps make the memories I have more meaningful. Killing parts of my brain made me grateful that more important parts of my brain remained intact. Losing my teeth allowed for my implants to be significantly stronger than regular teeth. I know it sounds foolish, but I AM really grateful that I have had various health problems (mainly broken bones and ripped tendons haha) because it has helped me appreciate my health. I am not only grateful for adversity in the health sector, but in all sections of life. I won't go into details because this post is already far too long, but I am grateful for the pitfalls because I can appreciate the mountaintops because of the pitfalls.
To sum it all up, I am grateful. There are far more things that I am grateful for as well, but I just picked the first 10 or so that popped into my mind when writing a quick list and yeah. So that's that! I am thankful for my friends and I love you all! I'm grateful that my Aunt Laura, Uncle Jim, Kevin and Colin are here to spend Thanksgiving with us and I'm excited to spend time with family. :-)
I hope you all have an absolutely lovely Thanksgiving celebration and that you remember that this day is about giving THANKS for all you have and for remembering those who aren't as blessed as you are. Enjoy your holiday! Be safe <3
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