taking flight

August, where have you gone!?

I have officially been sucked into the lifestyle of The Plains, but I couldn't be happier! August has rushed by me and we are about to enter September going full speed ahead. Whoever dubbed Sophomore year as the slump year, was highly mistaken though. I am high on energy from everything going on in my life right now. Between school, sorority, family, and just being an Auburnite, there's no way I can even manage to come close to a slump, so give me the mountain tops because that's where I'm headed!

With only a few weeks of Sophomore year under my belt, I feel complete bliss and an amazing wave of positivity for the future. Maybe it's cliche for me to say this, but I can feel it in me that this year will be everything I've ever hoped for and more. So many opportunities have knocked at my door, and I have gladly accepted them. Being in college is a time to explore every orface of possibility, so I willingly accept this challenge to do so. Benjamin Franklin once said, "The greatest question in life is what good will I do with it," so here I go, spreading my wings and taking flight, beginning my journey of figuring it all out!

we all want to be living proof, too.

Sometimes I like to take a few hours out of my day to simply think. Lay paralyzed, listening to music of some sort and just allow my mind to have a little recess. Today as I laid on my bed, listening to the invigorating voices of Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk's "Paperweight," I began to reflect on the idea of soulmates. It's so cliche, yet very original.

When I was little, I could have sworn on Santa's life that every person had a soulmate, but now I just believe it because it just feels right to believe it. The idea that every person has someone that completes them- now that's beauty in its purest form. Some may disagree with me, but why not believe in something so profound? I have an aunt and uncle who are soulmates; they're living proof that they exist. I also know other couples who are living proof that even if they do exist, most will never exist together. It happens all the time: too early, too late, and sometimes and most frequently, never at all.

But then again, maybe soulmates also come in different forms. They come in lovers, best friends, sisters, brothers, colleagues. A wise Aristotle once said,"Friendship is one soul dwelling in two bodies," and I think he was correct. The one person that completely understands you for you. The one person that does something a little extra for your life. I believe, that, within itself is enough to convince anyone.

A few weeks ago, the news showcased a couple that had been married for several years, not knowing each other prior to meeting in their early, adult years. One day the man came across a photo that was taken of him at a theme park when he was about 5 years old. In the background, walking with her mother, he noticed a familiar face. That familiar face was now his wife. Never had they imagined that earlier in their lives, they had crossed paths. It's funny to think that walking down the street, you pass thousands of strangers, but you could be passing your soulmate, your potential spouse. Fate works in interesting ways: the story of the photograph proves it, as well as gives us romantics hope that one day we can be a living proof, too.

evolved

The seasons change.
The days change.
The nights change.
People also change.

Normally I'm an advocate of change, for it signifies new beginnings and growth in one's life, but sometimes change is one's worst enemy. Today I had lunch with my two best friends: note the "best" part. It was like any other typical day, but as we all three sat around the table, struggling for conversation, we were each at a loss of words, at a loss of interest, seeming as though we had a loss of friendship. After being apart for a year, significant change had occurred in each of us, forcing the unthinkable question of whether or not change had made such an impact that we no longer were compatible. How could one year change us so much that we no longer could muster up interesting conversation over something as measly as a lunch time sandwich? For 4 years we have had numerous ones: conversations and lunches, but today we were strangers... just three, insignificant people eating together.

Maybe my mind overanalyzed what had happened, but my gut tells me I didn't. As I drove back to work, I couldn't help but allow tears to stain my cheeks. And what's more is that I didn't freely choose change, this time.

Thanks, Lady G.

I never thought I would say this, but Lady GaGa has inspired me. Don't get me wrong, she has incredible talent that no doubt captivates millions, but I feel as though Lady GaGa and I are on different ends of the spectrum, so to speak. However, today as I clicked my way through one of my many daily Facebook breaks, I ran across this quote from her:

“Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.”

I would just like to say that I love this quote. Seriously, dive a little under the surface and you can see what beauty there is in it. When I read this, I immediately thought of how people are constantly telling me to find something passionate to do with my life, and I thank God that he has blessed me with that insight already. I don't feel that GaGa is trying to say that if you want to accomplish your dreams, you aren't allowed to fall in love and be happy, but I think she used that extreme to make a point: at the end of the day, your passions will never give up on you, or abandon you; they will stick with you when everything else fails. Of course I want to have a great love story and marry the man of my dreams- you know, all that cliche stuff that Disney filled our heads with, but I'm also extremely career driven, which some would think conflicts with Disney's happy ever after. The key is learning to balance the two, so that when you wake up in the morning, not only do you have someone who loves you, but a career in which you love when the afternoon presents itself.

Just recently I purchased a wooden block for my apartment that was inscribed: "Obey thy heart," quoted from the beloved Emerson. This, I feel, encompasses every word Gaga said in her quote. These days settling is a common trend that so many people frequently bandwagon, and it's honestly sad. No matter what you venture into in life, you should always remember to follow your heart, for it is pure and truthful and will never set you astray, nor disappointed.

living in the summer warmth

I feel like I haven't blogged in so long, that I forget how to even begin an entry. However, I guess there's no real format, so I can begin anyway I want.

It is so true that as you get older, the time flys by so much faster then when you were younger. I've already been out of school for about three weeks now, when it feels like just yesterday I was finishing up with final exams. The past few weeks have been entirely too enjoyable, catching up on sleep and doing whatever I please. I kind of forgot what it felt like to be able to do whatever you wanted, without anything to worry about. I guess you could say I'm a big advocate of the easy life.

However, the easy life is only restricted to the weekends now for me, because as of the beginning of last week, I am a full-time, working woman! Yay, for money and waking up earlier than the roosters. Well, I don't actually have to get up at the crack of dawn, but it sure does feel like that. I'm not complaining though, because I absolutely love working- being part of the real world will be fun for the summer :)

Other than working and the occasional hanging out with a few friends, life right now has been slow and relaxing. The only problem is that I have had writer's block a lot recently. I haven't had anything to write about, nor even the desire to do so. This makes me sad, but I guess even the greats needed a little time away. It's funny though how things work, because although I haven't been able to write, I've had time to catch up on some lovely reading that I've been wanting to do for the past six months, but failed to ever accomplish. I guess when life doesn't hand you one thing, it gives you something else to captivate your attention.

Well, I guess that's about it for now. I feel like a different person writing this, because I usually go into an entry with a philosophical thinking behind whatever I'm going to write. Hopefully soon I'll get back into the swing of things, and if not, I'll just accept change and go with it.

change is for the bravehearted

The long, new days have turned into the familiar, and finally there has been closure as summer has rapidly approached. It feels so good to know that I have added so many exciting marks to my life thus far, but it's also sad to know that yet again, another chapter has closed. This past year has been full of adventure and excitement. I feel that each day that I have been given has transformed into the woman I am now. Even with just one year under my belt, I feel stronger, brighter, happier, wittier, and even more blessed for the life I have been given to live. So thank you, freshman year, for the lessons that you've taught me, the friends you've given me, and the opportunity to check a couple more things off of my bucket list.

So summer, I give you the challenge to make something that may seem excruciating, or even boring at times, into something worthwhile and miraculous. I feel that I should probably embrace all of my not so free time, and make it into something that in twenty years I'll look back and smile upon. I've always felt that I've wasted away my summers sleeping in until late afternoon, worrying about being tan, when instead I could be doing something actually rewarding with my time. The years go by quickly, as I most recently saw this freshman year, and I don't want anything that has the possibility of being good, slip away from me.

So, here's to the best summer ever and I'm only three days in. I have no idea what lies ahead for me, but I do know that as long as I have the wonderful people in my life that I do, the next couple of months will be nothing less than amazing. I feel that summers are for change and being re-born, so to speak. Everyone can use a little change in their life; it makes us continuously evolve into even more interesting people than we already are. It allows us to re-evaluate who we are and move forward. Change, I believe, is for the bravehearted. It takes real courage to embrace it; acknowledge it, and even more to accept it. Therefore, I believe that summer and change, are synonymous. They are both an opportunity to expand your horizons, live a little on the edge, and further yourself in all areas of life. Anything is possible in these warm days that capture so many of our hearts and embed themselves in our memories forever.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I AM SO READY!