little snippets

Scrolling through my drafts folder and remembering how much I used to rely on this blog for a creative and emotional outlet. It's been a while since I've posted regularly, but it's interesting to read the thoughts of a 22-23-24-year old me.

Here's a little peek:

April 2013:

"More often than not, I spread my passion over many different things. I really like a lot of things and truly love few. But every so often, I am all in. When it really counts, I put all my eggs in one basket...I am a take me now, never give me back and let's make this work forever kind of girl."

May 2012:
"I want Sinatra in the kitchen
Baskets of leafy greens on the counter
A basil plant in the window"

January 2012:
"Ryan Innes' voice is incredible. He's like this big, unassuming teddy bear who knocks every girl's socks off when he opens his mouth and starts to sing."

November 2011:
"All she wanted to do was lean over and whisper all the things she couldn't say while he was awake."

October 2011:
"On days like these, at some point, it's absolutely necessary to disregard all responsibility, heat a pot of tomato soup and curl up with a good book or a black and white movie."


And to the Laura of October 2011, I hear ya. Amen, sister.

Book Report: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I read this book a couple of years ago, reread it recently, and enjoyed it as much as the first time. Gretchen Rubin is very relatable and her whole project is inspiring. One of my favorite parts of the book is when she writes her own "Commandments" and "Secrets of Adulthood."

A couple of hers that have stuck with me:

• Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good
• You can choose what you do; you can't choose what you like to do

And I wrote a few of my own:

• It's more important to be kind than to be funny (you almost always regret the cheap laugh)
• Bring snacks & always have gum
• You get your best work done before 1pm
• If you need to get something done, turn off gchat and turn on something with a beat
• Most of the time, you're doing alright
• Be at least 15 minutes early to any interview/important meeting
• A night in at home can totally count as "plans" if it needs to
• Just say hello
• Breathe 

My favorite quote from this reading was this: "Enthusiasm is a form of social courage."

YES. It takes courage to be excited about something, without reservation or worry of appearing uncool. But the world is better, and I know I'm happier, when I'm enthusiastic about life.

P.S. I emailed Gretchen Rubin about one of her blog posts a few weeks ago and she sent me a very sweet reply last week. Classy lady.

P.P.S. Unrelated, but is anyone else watching The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt? I know it's got some PG-13 humor, but I can't.stop.watching.

Salt of the Earth

(via)

"In the future, if you were to be one of the Time 100: Most Influential People in the World, what would you be known for?"

Someone posed this question to me the other day. After thinking about it for a minute, I muttered off something about writing the next Great American Novel. Maybe I'd be the Harper Lee of the Millennial generation, I thought.

But the thing is, I probably won't make it on that list. And I'm okay with that.

Over the past few years, I have realized more and more that my life doesn't have to be magazine-cover worthy in order to be worth living. That's not to say I don't hope to influence many people for good, or leave the world a better place because I lived in it. But if I am just one of the hundreds of millions of good, influential people who never make front page headlines, I don't think I will be disappointed with my life.

In December, I saw a local production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Since I first read it, it has been one of my favorite stories. I love how the narrator introduces us to each character as he or she is going about their daily seemingly insignificant business.

I don't really think it's insignificant, though. I think the foundation of life is made up of those daily tasks. There is bread to be made and babies to be fed and math lessons to be taught and vegetables to be grown.

I am enamored with small American towns and I'm drawn to stories like Our Town and To Kill a Mockingbird* and places like Grover's Corners and Maycomb because I think that's where we see humanity at its purest. I admire the people on Time's list and their accomplishments deserve recognition and praise, but I don't relate to them in the same way I relate to the salt-of-the-Earth kind of humans I grew up with or who I read about in books.

But who knows, maybe I really will write the next Great American Novel. Or maybe, try to live it.


*I could write a whole blog post just about my love for To Kill a Mockingbird. Oh wait, I already did.

Update on the 25 before 25

Since I turned 26 last October, maybe it's time to prove I actually checked off some of the below.

25 before I turn 25:

1. Spend some time in foreign country (El Salvador, more about that here if you're interested)
2. Learn to cook (Check)
3. Learn how to use graphic design programs (ehhh...not so much)
4. Read 25 new books (Check, proof here)
5. Let myself fall in love (Hmm...that's still up for debate, but I have learned an awful lot about love)
6. Go to New York City (Check)
7. Define my political opinions a little more; be more knowledgeable (Definitely)
8. Record a CD with Brittany in a recording studio (A dream that has yet to be fulfilled)
9. Learn to play guitar (Nah)
10. Write an up-tempo song (Check, Songwriting 101)
11. Learn to not be afraid of driving (Fears conquered. And also avoided since I live in New York)
12. Use my writing skills for good (Check)
13. Kiss someone at midnight on New Year's Eve (Not yet)
14. Donate something (time/money) each year to worthy causes (excluding tithing/fast offerings) (Check)
15. Become fluent in Spanish (We'll say...conversant)
16. Create something I am really proud of: a song, a painting, a dance, an idea, a wedding dress (A portfolio and a life in New York)
17. Learn to like vegetables (Shocking to some, but yes)
18. Start a collection of records (Keeping my CDs around for when they become the new retro trend)
19. Take a cross-country road trip (Still waiting for this opportunity!)
20. Go to a really good concert or two (Yes and yes and yes)
21. Get paid to use my talents (no matter how little) (Big girl job in NYC)
22. Spend some time with my family in the Deep South (2013 Charleston trip with L & K)
23. Share my talents. For once, really show off (Yup)
24. Take full advantage of the dance opportunities available to me (Ballroom days at BYU...)
25. Read each of these at least once, all the way through (Carrying this over to 30 before 30)

Hello

Since I moved to New York and started my first "big girl" job, I sort of lost interest in this blog and became distracted with other things. I spend the majority of my work day staring at a computer screen, so the idea of coming home and opening my laptop hasn't been so appealing.

But I miss having an outlet to write creatively. To use symbolism, to get romantic, to ramble on and on and on a little bit.

So, I'm back. And hello again to those of you who might still be reading.

Stay tuned.