The Little Things...

Today was a great day.

A great day that I needed desperately! It wasn't because of anything major but because of a ton of little things that caused me to feel joyful for the first time in a while. It started off by finally getting to go to church at The Heart here in Boone. Last time I had been able to go to that service was back in September. On top of that, today in Boone it was nearly 60, sunny and perfect! Need I remind you that it is still January and since I'm a Minnesota girl, I have NEVER experienced 60 and sunny in January before. That in itself should make anyone really happy. Yet small, but great things kept coming up.

For me, today I found joy in a fountain coke from Jimmy Johns, hearing Miranda Lambert's song The House that Built Me on the radio (and then about ten more times through youtube). I found it in driving with the windows rolled down. And through some much needed vitamin D attained by a great hike up at Beacon Heights.

As well as working on my research project with a great partner - YAY Meg! By driving down some Tennessee back country roads with Rebecca and Grant singing amazing songs from the late 90's while trying to avoid hitting the possums that like to dart out in front of oncoming traffic. Joy was in some Postsecret cards that stuck out to me for one reason or another.

New Secrets Each Sunday at www.postsecret.com

 Conversations with friends and family. Verses that say just the right thing at the right time. Taking a day for myself instead of doing homework. All of these things, small as they may be, are the things that caused me to have a pretty remarkable day! So today, I'm thankful for the little things in life!

Lock Picks and Jimmy Rigs

I believe that the events of tonight are probably going to end up being some of my favorite memories of grad school. The story begins when I decide to move from my usual working place of my RA office to my RD office. I don't ever use this office because I highly dislike the location and the way the office is arranged. But tonight for some unknown reason, I decided to give working from that space a go. Big mistake. I stepped out of my RD office to go grab some information out of a different office, but then realized that I needed my keys to access such information. When I went back to get my keys from my RD office I saw that the door was now closed and, to my dismay, was also locked!! Which wouldn't be a big deal if I had a spare or if the master key that can get into every other room in this 9 story building would work on this door. But no, this door has to be special. LAME! It also wouldn't be much of a dilemma if I wasn't currently the RD on Duty for the West Side of campus and all the keys I need for such a position are safely locked behind aforementioned special door. Double Lame!

One of my staff members trying to console my immediately produced anxiety offers me pizza. (thanks Brian) And then one resident comes down to visit and thus becomes the recipient of my retelling of this tragic tale. I beg, plead even, for her to attempt to pick the lock, which she claims she has done successfully before. While she is shoving and twisting bobby pins into the lock on my door, a group of boys from the 5th floor come down with tools in hand. Realizing that this special door wasn't going to be as easy to access as they hoped, they proceed to thinking of clever and inventive ways to get inside my RD chambers. With the right amount of man power and a little jimmy rigging they were certain they could get through my 2nd story outside window. Hoping to preserve them from any unnecessary injury a fellow RD Shane (MY HERO) recommends calling ASU police to see if they have a key for the door. Swallowing my shame I make the call. Hope has arrived! They say they can get into my door! While waiting for my rescuer, a larger mass of people come down to assess the scene. And then the officer arrives. With a lingering sense of doubt I see him fiddle around with his set of keys, and then........VICTORY!! The door opens! I jump for joy and have to seriously restrain myself from hugging the officer! I run into my office, pull out my massive set of keys, and place them securely around my neck! While glad I now have my keys safely in hand, the 5th floor boys walk away disappointed that they didn't have a chance to execute their master plan. I appreciate the support boys!  Tonight will probably be the last night I use my RD office for the semester. And therein lies the end of my tale. Never a dull moment!

Travel Bug

Travel is as much a passion as ambition or love.

-L.E. Landon

This week my cohort and I had our first meeting for our upcoming trip to the United Kingdom. To say that I was excited about this upcoming adventure would be a major understatement. I'M ECSTATIC!! The last time I was out of the country was back in 2005 and each year I have thought about going back overseas. Now, five and a half years later I am finally heading back to...

Oh hey, Big Ben!

love it!

We leave for our trip to the UK on April 6th...and I will admit that I am doing my best to keep myself from counting down. I have so much work to do before then but I am using the trip as a source of motivation.

For quite some time now, I have always dreamed about living and working over in Europe. I even have a couple schools in mind that I would really like to work at. While sitting in class this week and discussing different cultures through various conversations, I couldn't help but thinking that I was made for a different culture than the one I'm currently in. There is something about European culture that speaks to me. It could be the extensive history, could be the way of life. Who knows what it really is, but something about being across the pond makes me feel "at home". So maybe someday that dream will become a reality.

Until then, I will be perfectly content with this 2 week trip. Don't worry, I plan to keep you all informed about the progress of the trip and the trip itself. Just wanted to get a jump on sharing my excitement!

Deep Thought Tuesday

Today a large portion of my day was spent deep in thought. Most of which Al Smith, a fellow RD, is to thank for. Don't know why it is, but whenever Al and I hang out we always end up in these conversations that cause us to reflect on all sorts of things, whether it's our current state of development, the trials and tribulations experienced throughout one's life, the amount of responsibility we assume within our profession as student affairs professionals, or lessons learned through the outdoors. Whatever the topic, I always walk away with so much more to think about.

Something that stuck out today from our conversation was how we receive mental release. And by that I mean finding an outlet that allows us to free our minds from the burdens we constantly are bombarded with in our day-to-day lives. I feel like for the past few months I have been carrying around mental burdens that are no longer necessary for me to bear. And normally, I would partake in certain activities to help alleviate such burdens but today I finally recognized that those things have been missing in my life. Therefore, the mental burdens are still an ever present thing.

I say it's about time that changed. My goal for this semester is to allow myself the space and time to resume activities that I know help me relax, process and reestablish a healthier mental outlook. Specifically, I am hoping to play some more piano. My supervisor conveniently had a keyboard in her apartment that now resides in my bedroom. Since it has been 8 years since I have read sheet music, Chop Sticks will probably be the extent of my musical ability. But nonetheless, I am playing piano once again. I hope to start running some more as well. The following quote is something I really believe to be true in regards to the benefits of a good workout.

"I said it not long before that work and weakness are comforters. But sweat is the kindest creature of the three - for better than philosophy- as a cure for ill thoughts." C.S. Lewis

Therefore; running is added to the list of things to do this semester. Add in some time to journal and do some extra curricular reading and I think I just may make it out of my first year as a grad student relatively sane. So to Al, thanks again for being a catalyst to a day spent in thought. I look forward to our next reflective conversation!

Anything? Nope, nothing.

It's been a few days since I last blogged. Even longer since I blogged about something of any real importance. It isn't for lack of trying or lack of thought, I just haven't had much to say. I have searched for a muse through music, reading, movies and the like but nothing has really come to mind that is fueling any form of literary passion within me. So I'm just sort of stalling.

(stare blankly at computer screen for 5 minutes)

As I said, stalling. Yet, still hoping that soon enough I will have something of importance to share. Something worth writing, something worth reading.

(more staring at the computer screen)

But for now, I got nothing.

A Little Bit of Poetry

Sometimes I forget how much I love poetry. 

Yet, upon entering my office and seeing the complete works of Shakespeare and feeling like it's Christmas all over again, I remember an unwavering fondness that was established so long ago. I don't often take the time to read poetry, but when I do, it speaks to a deeper part of my soul that usually remains untouched. Recently, I watched one of my favorite movies, "Patch Adams" and heard a poem that has captivated my heart on so many different occasions. Since the inner workings of my mind have revolved around all the many curses and blessings of being in love, here is a little verse for you to enjoy!

I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz 

or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:

I love you as certain dark things are loved,

secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries

hidden within itself the light of those flowers,

and thanks to your love, darkly in my body

lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,

I love you simply, without problems or pride:

I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving

but this, in which there is no I or you

so intimate that your hand upon my chest is your hand

so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close

Pablo Neruda

What I Want...

I want to wish you well.

I want in 10 days, 10 weeks, 10 months or 10 years from now, to hear how you are doing and truly be happy for you. I want you to be with the love of your life. I want your dreams to come true. I want you to get all you ever wanted out of life and more. I want you to find yourself constantly surrounded by people who love you and cherish your friendship. I want you to find joy in each and every day. I want you to experience life to its fullest. I want you to be the best person you can possibly be. I want you to be happy.

I want to wish you well.

And what I really want, is for you to want the same things for me.

New Year...New Bucket List

Happy New Year All! Hope you had a great evening ringing in 2011. Before heading down to Minneapolis to celebrate with some friends from college, I went to a friend's wedding in my home town.

Side note: To all my girlfriends out there that are kind enough to read this silly blog of mine, just a warning, I am going to be a hot mess at your wedding. There is something so special about watching a good friend start a new journey in life with someone who loves them so sincerely and completely. Brings tears to my eyes. Can't wait.

Okay, end of tangent. Back to original purpose of blog.

With the beginning of a new year upon us, I was reminded of a recent conversation I had with my dad while perched on a counter in our kitchen. My dad brought up having a bucket list and all the things he wants to do throughout his lifetime. He spoke about wanting to see Alaska, Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon and some other incredible things. This conversation got me thinking about my bucket list. While spending some time in Africa in college, my teammates and I made our own bucket lists. But of course, that was five years ago and I have totally misplaced my list. Not surprising. Nonetheless, I figured it was about time to revamp said list. So to all three of my readers, my bucket list. Notice: said list is subject to change and these items are listed in no particular order. :)

Bucket List

Become fluent in another language

Live and work in Europe

Learn how to play guitar

Figure out a way to dance with Mark Ballas

Celebrate NYE in NYC

Visit the Holy Land

Drink wine with Jorgen in Italy

Catch a game at Fenway and Yankee Stadium

Read the complete works of Shakespeare

See the Great Wall of China

Go see a Coldplay concert with my dad

Take a helicopter ride around the Hawaiian Islands

Be an incredible wife and mother

Needless to say, some of these items are a little more tangible than others. I mean the chances of me getting to dance with Mark Ballas are slim to none, but a girl can dream right? Hmm...now I just need to figure out which item I am going to check off first!