Things I'm Going to Miss

As ready as I am to get out of the south and start my life in the city, there are so many things I'm going to miss. Going to basketball games with my girls is one of them. We literally had the highest seats in the house, constantly wiping our bleeding noses and struggling to breathe because of the elevation. But despite the bad seats, nothing could come close to ruining our spirited screams of "GO TO HELL CAROLINA!!!" at the top of our lungs. Even if we were down by 15 points. Actually, sitting that high up made me bask in the moment and realize how much I'm going to miss this...

We're the Red and White from State
And we know we are the best (Hey!)
Hands behind our back
We can take on all the rest
GO TO HELL CAROLINA!
Devils and Deacs stand in line
We're the Red and White from NC State
GO STATE!

Something to be Proud of

Don't you think a compliment goes a long way? I would venture to even say that a compliment from a stranger is especially humbling. Here's the story...I may have already mentioned this, but I'm taking a creative writing course this semester to hone into my creative side. The first week of class I immediately felt like I was in over my head. Reading other student's writing made me self conscious about my own. The first assignment was to write a fictional story (short story or beginning of a fictional novel). I have never written anything remotely close to short story or novel. I've always just stuck to strictly academic writing. So needless to say, I was extremely weary. I kept going back and forth about what I should write about; I wanted to make a good first impression because everyone in the class would be reading and critiquing it. I finally decided to write about a widowed woman, whose husband dies in Iraq, leaving her with 3 children. Wanna know what they thought? Critics say...

"Imagery throughout was epic"
"Great job evoking an emotional response from the reader"
"Very touching"
"Sometimes when people write something so realistic, it comes off as fake or contrived, but this didn't"
"You are very good at making the emotion jump off the page"
"It was like reading a movie"

RAVE REVIEWS!!! Of course, I am by no means ready to be a published author yet. But having the whole class enjoy my work really meant so much to me and boosted my writing confidence to another level. Hopefully this means I'm on the right track to tapping into the creative potential my mind possesses. Score!

An excerpt from my very first piece:

She placed her hand on the flag, her fingertips slowly outlining the blue, star studded triangle. Her body ached for her husband, her soul mate, her fallen soldier. Not just for her sake, but for her kids. She desperately wanted her children to know what a great man their Daddy was, and how much he loved each of them. She thought the pain would lessen as time passed, but she still felt the same strong emotions she did the day the Corps knocked on her door almost a year and a half ago.

Pick Me Ups

You know those days when it seems like Murphy's Law is completely against you? The days when nothing seems to go your way? The days when you just wake up in a funk, don't know why, but still can't shake it? Well, isn't it funny how you can just be having the worst day ever, but it only takes one thing to turn your day around?

Take for instance today. Today has been just one of those days...been down and out all day. As I walked back to my car, finished with class for the day, I thought to myself 'what the hell is wrong?', unable to muster any inkling of a clue that might help answer that question. To make matters worse, once I got to my car I found an unwanted gift Raleigh Transportation decided to leave on my windshield wiper. $30 ticket for parking too close to a driveway. I was convinced some thing/one/force was out to get to me today.

Luckily I got home in one piece, to begin the endless search for a job. Currently unemployed with a stagnant income and ever dwindling savings (both not good prerequisites for moving to NYC), I went through job listing after job listing only to get even more frustrated. I took a quick break and surfed youtube (one of my favorite pastimes, by the way).

It was then when I found the following video that turned my scowling frown upside-down. Take a look:



For me, this is proof that happiness trumps sadness/anger/allthingsnegative. You can be going through a shit storm; when a million and one things don't go your way. But I guarantee it only takes one thing to change it. So if you're having a bad day, find your pick me up for the day!

I tried to figure out what UK ad agency is responsible for that ad with no luck. Nevertheless, thank you for making my day!

Only in New York...

January 10, 2010: count me in!

Create Your Own Destiny

I read the book The Secret last summer, and since I have been obsessed with testing the validity of the law of attraction. For those that have not read it, I highly recommend you do. I constantly find myself deeply thinking about things I want to happen, trying to radiate a high frequency so the energy alters the outcome. Crazy at it may sound, the first time I tried it was while I was watching Olympic gymnastics. My roommate and I were watching a Chinese gymnast on the balance beam. If she did well on her routine, the Chinese were projected to win gold. So, I tested the waters. Thinking "U.S.A. for gold...U.S.A. for gold..." during the talented gymnasts entire routine, near the end she fell. The U.S. won gold. Stunned at the power that myself and others thinking the same thing created, I told my roommate what I thought I had something to do with. She confessed she was thinking the same thing! I was convinced we had done it.

Later, we found out we were watching a rerun. Which worked out to our advantage because we were feeling pretty guilty for "making her fall".

Still, I am a firm believer of the law of attraction and making what you want of your life. Often times I get lost in thoughts of me living the dream. Me accepting a job with an ad agency, living in New York. But I didn't think just my thoughts were enough. I needed more to actually make this theory work. I heard about people creating 'vision boards' that amassed images, words, and art associated with their dream. So, I made one. It is still a work in progress, but I think it is helping already. I hung it on my wall at the foot of my bed. That way, it is the first thing I look at when I wake up, the last thing I see before I close my eyes for bed, and the first and last thing I see when I enter and exit my room.

Since I said I wouldn't hide anything in my blog, I want to share with you my vision board. I know, it looks pitiful right now, but it is a work in progress! I plan on progressively adding to it a whole lot more. Perhaps synonymous to my reality, the vision board shows my journey from dream to reality. I will post pictures periodically so you can see my dream progress. Obviously, I have lots of work to do.

The Little Things in Life

In an effort to save money for the city, my roommate (who is also moving to NYC post grad) and I have drastically limited our spending. The usual leisure's of eating out, going to bars, and going to the movies have taken a huge cut. So instead, she and I stayed home, ate cookies, and played board games.

Who said saving money wasn't fun? :)

Gap in the Dream

Like many young ladies, the popularity of Sex & The City contributed to my profound interest in becoming a New Yorker. For me, it wasn't just about the glitz and glam of their lives--it was more about how each of the four gals were extremely successful in their crafts. Carrie, the witty columnist. Miranda, the cynical lawyer. Samantha, the PR go-getter. Charlotte, passionate & well versed of the arts. Each very different, but all held power that was impenetrable. This kind of success is what I thrive for.

Curled up in my bed, I watched the movie, aching to be a part of what is being a New Yorker. Carrie says at some point [to Miranda and Samantha] "You two could rule the world..." . That's when I got to thinking...how did they get to this point? Four very independent, head strong, and successful New York ladies with no story of their journey to this state. No story of their struggle to make it in the city. No story of how they made it to the top. No story of who they were before New York. How did I never realize this before?

The negation of these facts prompted me to turn the movie off. I was thoroughly upset at first. But then, I no longer cared. Perhaps having this omitted does more good than some would like to think. Those that are independent, head strong, and ambitious will figure it out on their own. I guess that's part of the transformation to New Yorker.

I returned to my bed, and pressed play.