"It is when we choose to be Christ to others, and to see them as He sees them that our perspective begins to change. Christ cares for everyone, and when we focus our lives on Him, we see how much all of God’s creation matters. We love relentlessly when we love Christ completely. But I will say this, one day someone will come into your life and you will know what it means to love without need, because loving the right way does not make us dependent on another; it makes us dependent on Christ together." [T.B. LaBerge]
Showing posts with label reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reflections. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Saturday, December 28, 2013
2013: A year well lived
Hard to believe that 2013 will be referred to as "last year" in just a few short days. This time last year, I sat down to think about what 2013 would be like and what it would bring. I don't make some long list of resolutions but I did sit down and write myself a letter of hopes and desires, things I hoped that maybe it would bring, things I could work on, and people I could look out for. Rereading the letter a year later, some of things happened and turned out well, some things turned out completely not as expected, some didn't happen and some ill be resubmitting on my 2014 letter.
But overall, I can say that 2013 was one eventful year. What did I do? I guess I kinda did a lot...
I started back at Point Loma after re-adjusting back to life in America after Italy. Moved to San Diego officially into my own home sweet home. Went to the presidential inauguration. Saw Beyonce. Interviewed by British news. Celebrated with friends at their graduation. Landed an ideal student dream job (and paid internship). Had my first summer in San Diego. Explored Seattle. Arranged a secret flash dance mob. Watched free fireworks every night of the summer, courtesy of Sea World. Had the time of my life in the Mansour-Young wedding as a bridesmaid. Felt and turned 22. Surprised with the most incredible birthday party. Started my final year of undergraduate education.Went back home to my childhood land of Georgia. Was a bridesmaid in a childhood friend's wedding. Wished upon a star and woke up the next day with and internship offer by a Dining Magazine. Went to the Getty finally. Crossed the Mexico-CA border by food (just to go to dinner for the night). Ate food from about 100+ restaurants. Learned the ins and outs of the San Diego restaurant industry. Saw John Mayer, Train and Phillip Phillips in concert. Fell in love with exercise. Picked apples in Julian, CA. Ate a cronut. Participated in a swap meet scavenger hunt. Went to Mexico for a surprise family vacation. Traveled to Arizona, had a blast exploring Fountain Hills and seeing the world's largest fountain. Represented Dining Out at the San Diego Food and Wine Festival. Cooked my first 20 person dinner. Met Richard Blais and Sharone Hakman.Went to the San Diego Symphony. Best friend/roommate got engaged (so honored to be your bridesmaid!) Survived my 2nd to last finals ever. Raced in the mountains. Hiked in the mountains and celebrated the best Christmas yet with my wonderful family.
But overall, I can say that 2013 was one eventful year. What did I do? I guess I kinda did a lot...
I started back at Point Loma after re-adjusting back to life in America after Italy. Moved to San Diego officially into my own home sweet home. Went to the presidential inauguration. Saw Beyonce. Interviewed by British news. Celebrated with friends at their graduation. Landed an ideal student dream job (and paid internship). Had my first summer in San Diego. Explored Seattle. Arranged a secret flash dance mob. Watched free fireworks every night of the summer, courtesy of Sea World. Had the time of my life in the Mansour-Young wedding as a bridesmaid. Felt and turned 22. Surprised with the most incredible birthday party. Started my final year of undergraduate education.Went back home to my childhood land of Georgia. Was a bridesmaid in a childhood friend's wedding. Wished upon a star and woke up the next day with and internship offer by a Dining Magazine. Went to the Getty finally. Crossed the Mexico-CA border by food (just to go to dinner for the night). Ate food from about 100+ restaurants. Learned the ins and outs of the San Diego restaurant industry. Saw John Mayer, Train and Phillip Phillips in concert. Fell in love with exercise. Picked apples in Julian, CA. Ate a cronut. Participated in a swap meet scavenger hunt. Went to Mexico for a surprise family vacation. Traveled to Arizona, had a blast exploring Fountain Hills and seeing the world's largest fountain. Represented Dining Out at the San Diego Food and Wine Festival. Cooked my first 20 person dinner. Met Richard Blais and Sharone Hakman.Went to the San Diego Symphony. Best friend/roommate got engaged (so honored to be your bridesmaid!) Survived my 2nd to last finals ever. Raced in the mountains. Hiked in the mountains and celebrated the best Christmas yet with my wonderful family.
Friday, August 26, 2011
reflecting on Summer '11
It's hard to believe that summer is just about over. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was packing up my room at Loma, wondering exactly what summer '11 was going to bring. Three months came and went. What started as one of the hardest summers turned into one pretty incredible summer. It wasn't that I really went anywhere, I found what I needed and so much more right at my doorstep.
My summer revolved around home #2 (Nordstrom) and home #3 (Spectrum Athletic Club) but somewhere in between things just clicked. First off I got to work with some pretty amazing girls, some I knew and some I didn't coming back, but I am so happy I got to know these people. They are some pretty special people with the best of advice, knowledge and stories. It was more then work, it was a bond. As a girl, you find it hard to talk to other girls because of a lack of trust, but somehow it almost felt like a little family. It made the "slow" days fly by and if frustrated/confused/contemplative/etc/etc there was always someone willing to listen and willing to understand. Thank you to these very special women who each have an overabundance of potential. (and ps. shout out to spectrum, I logged over 160 hours at the gym this summer, a personal best.)
Little things here and there have added up to some major realizations and life lessons. One of things I really learned is just how honest the quote "its always easier said than done." No matter how much we say we are going to do something, its many times a whole lot harder. Especially the idea that the most important words are the hardest to say. Sometimes these words are needed so much, and they can be right there, on the tip of your tongue and not come out.
I have found connections with people that I never thought I would. New people, old acquaintances, faded friendships came my way and some pretty amazing relationships formed. The hard part of ending summer is the question of where these connections will go. Will they continue or will they fade? Where do we place each other in our lives? Do you ask that? or do you keep living, knowing whats meant to be finds a way? We all have these questions, but seriously, try being a girl, these types of questions are engraved in our minds and there's no way to get around them.
I have learned the importance of letting people in. I am still learning to accept that not everyone will care about you as much as you care about them, but nevertheless to keep caring. I have learned that when I love, I love big and am also learning the flip side. You can love someone to the point where you would do anything for them, but the receiver may not return the favor. Yes, it hurts unbelievably when you care about someone beyond words yet aren't certain the feeling is mutual.
Throughout everything, I cannot help but see the importance of living each day, one day at a time. Yes, the past should ever be forgotten, it breaks you and makes you and matures you and yes the future should be prepared for, but being anxious changes nothing.
I have less then 48 hours before I leave Santa Barbara. I will miss the routine, the places, and most certainly the people. I don't want to let go but have to accept some people will let me go. That is just life, change is inevitable. But one of my closet friends has repeated the same line over and over to me again all summer. Here's his words of wisdom: "No matter what, in the end, things always fall into place." As summer finishes and I transition to a new season, I am so excited and scared at the same time. I cannot wait to meet new people and share new experiences, but I am also scared for those I am leaving behind, but at the end of the day, it is what it is, there's always a reason for why people from your past don't make it into your future. The ones that matter do and the ones that don't... don't make the transition into fall.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to my summer. I love you all and value your wisdoms and words.
My summer revolved around home #2 (Nordstrom) and home #3 (Spectrum Athletic Club) but somewhere in between things just clicked. First off I got to work with some pretty amazing girls, some I knew and some I didn't coming back, but I am so happy I got to know these people. They are some pretty special people with the best of advice, knowledge and stories. It was more then work, it was a bond. As a girl, you find it hard to talk to other girls because of a lack of trust, but somehow it almost felt like a little family. It made the "slow" days fly by and if frustrated/confused/contemplative/etc/etc there was always someone willing to listen and willing to understand. Thank you to these very special women who each have an overabundance of potential. (and ps. shout out to spectrum, I logged over 160 hours at the gym this summer, a personal best.)
Little things here and there have added up to some major realizations and life lessons. One of things I really learned is just how honest the quote "its always easier said than done." No matter how much we say we are going to do something, its many times a whole lot harder. Especially the idea that the most important words are the hardest to say. Sometimes these words are needed so much, and they can be right there, on the tip of your tongue and not come out.
I have found connections with people that I never thought I would. New people, old acquaintances, faded friendships came my way and some pretty amazing relationships formed. The hard part of ending summer is the question of where these connections will go. Will they continue or will they fade? Where do we place each other in our lives? Do you ask that? or do you keep living, knowing whats meant to be finds a way? We all have these questions, but seriously, try being a girl, these types of questions are engraved in our minds and there's no way to get around them.
I have learned the importance of letting people in. I am still learning to accept that not everyone will care about you as much as you care about them, but nevertheless to keep caring. I have learned that when I love, I love big and am also learning the flip side. You can love someone to the point where you would do anything for them, but the receiver may not return the favor. Yes, it hurts unbelievably when you care about someone beyond words yet aren't certain the feeling is mutual.
Throughout everything, I cannot help but see the importance of living each day, one day at a time. Yes, the past should ever be forgotten, it breaks you and makes you and matures you and yes the future should be prepared for, but being anxious changes nothing.
I have less then 48 hours before I leave Santa Barbara. I will miss the routine, the places, and most certainly the people. I don't want to let go but have to accept some people will let me go. That is just life, change is inevitable. But one of my closet friends has repeated the same line over and over to me again all summer. Here's his words of wisdom: "No matter what, in the end, things always fall into place." As summer finishes and I transition to a new season, I am so excited and scared at the same time. I cannot wait to meet new people and share new experiences, but I am also scared for those I am leaving behind, but at the end of the day, it is what it is, there's always a reason for why people from your past don't make it into your future. The ones that matter do and the ones that don't... don't make the transition into fall.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to my summer. I love you all and value your wisdoms and words.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
time flies
I can hardly believe that I am half way done with summer break. I just got home but already the thoughts of returning to San Diego have been crossing my mind on a daily basis. I am working full time so the days have flown by so quickly. In between the realities of work and life, I have had time to clear my head. As much as I love my school and what I am learning, sometimes all the deadlines and homework and exams cloud my mind and I don't really get the ability to think about other things.
I guess one thing that has been on my mind more then ever is that I am a place in my life where I feel like I am being called to let a significant other become part of my life. In a way, it makes me laugh and at the same time scares me. Letting someone in has never been easy for me or for most people to say the least. We have all had our share of heartbreaks and heartaches and sometimes after it all we lose our hope for humanity. The other part of this is that it is kinda out of my hands. I may want it sooner, but it may come later. Whoever said patience is a virtue was definitely right. Waiting is hard, especially when you are tired of waiting or simply do not want to wait but maybe the person who said patience is a virtue, also said that good things come to those who wait :)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The little things
I am currently sitting in the small but cute and cozy Santa Barbara Airport. It is only 5 in the morning but the airport is packed with travelers of all ages. Some seem calm and collected, others stressed and a bit frazzled and frankly most seem half asleep, which I do not blame them. 5 am is such an ungodly time for a flight. As I watch each passenger come and go (in a non stalkerish type of way-I promise!), I cannot help but wonder, where are they going and why are they going there?
Each of us has a unique life story; a collection of experiences special to us. Life takes us in all these twists and turns and the only way is to go with it. There are things we can fight but many things are out of our grasp. Our lives are these never ending journeys complete with happiness and sadness, failure and success, love and heartbreak, sickness and health.
The funny thing is that while I can observe each traveler, I also know that I will most likely never see them again. Even though each person is a stranger to me, I cannot help but wonder if these people will have some impact on my life. But even here I am conflicted, why am I thinking about how they will affect me, I need to be thinking how can I affect them? The most I can do is offer a smile or a "good morning," yet even through these small gestures, I see how people light up.
I do not know these peoples's names, occupations or life stories but I as a sit and ponder, I realize that even the little things can make a difference. Maybe one of these people is upset and is just in need of a smile or acknowledgement, or maybe some of these people are so irritated by the early hour that they just find me a nuisance. I cannot say and I will never know, but I at least I know that I tried. I have challenged myself to give a smile and a good morning to as many strangers as I can.
Here is the question for all y'all today: How can you add a little light and happiness into today? Even the little things can make a world of difference...
AN UPDATE ON MY CHALLENGE:
I think that God definitely has a sense of humor. Just as I had finished the blog post, I went to board my Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. I went to find my seat and as I sat down, the woman in the seat next to me said "oh good, at least i'll be sitting next to someone who smells nice!" For the next 25 minutes, she proceeded to tell me her whole life story. We had a nice conversation and as I proceeded to exit the plane, she wished me the best in my studies at Point Loma and I wished her to have a great few weeks with her sister in Pennsylvania. The more I smiled and said "good morning" the more strangers I made friends with at LAX. It really hit me how a few nice words, or even a gesture as small as a smile could change the attitude of a person. I will probably never see Dawn again, or the other "friends" I made at the airport but at least I know I helped to brighten up someones day.
Each of us has a unique life story; a collection of experiences special to us. Life takes us in all these twists and turns and the only way is to go with it. There are things we can fight but many things are out of our grasp. Our lives are these never ending journeys complete with happiness and sadness, failure and success, love and heartbreak, sickness and health.
The funny thing is that while I can observe each traveler, I also know that I will most likely never see them again. Even though each person is a stranger to me, I cannot help but wonder if these people will have some impact on my life. But even here I am conflicted, why am I thinking about how they will affect me, I need to be thinking how can I affect them? The most I can do is offer a smile or a "good morning," yet even through these small gestures, I see how people light up.
I do not know these peoples's names, occupations or life stories but I as a sit and ponder, I realize that even the little things can make a difference. Maybe one of these people is upset and is just in need of a smile or acknowledgement, or maybe some of these people are so irritated by the early hour that they just find me a nuisance. I cannot say and I will never know, but I at least I know that I tried. I have challenged myself to give a smile and a good morning to as many strangers as I can.
Here is the question for all y'all today: How can you add a little light and happiness into today? Even the little things can make a world of difference...
AN UPDATE ON MY CHALLENGE:
I think that God definitely has a sense of humor. Just as I had finished the blog post, I went to board my Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. I went to find my seat and as I sat down, the woman in the seat next to me said "oh good, at least i'll be sitting next to someone who smells nice!" For the next 25 minutes, she proceeded to tell me her whole life story. We had a nice conversation and as I proceeded to exit the plane, she wished me the best in my studies at Point Loma and I wished her to have a great few weeks with her sister in Pennsylvania. The more I smiled and said "good morning" the more strangers I made friends with at LAX. It really hit me how a few nice words, or even a gesture as small as a smile could change the attitude of a person. I will probably never see Dawn again, or the other "friends" I made at the airport but at least I know I helped to brighten up someones day.
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