Defying Gravity

Sometimes in life, we really have to stop and think- wow, what am I doing? Am I where I need to be? Where I should be? And is this who I want to be? After all, we are only given one life, one chance... shouldn't we make the best of it, live it to the absolute fullest and soak up every moment, every breath of fresh air while we have the chance? And before it's just too late? 

Of course, along the way there are bumps in the road, mistakes made, and choices we sometimes wish we hadn't acted on. This is the inevitable truth of living that is sometimes just so hard to grasp. Life is hard, from time to time. If it wasn't, what fun would that be? There would be no challenges, no hurtles to overcome and no satisfaction to feel at the end of a tough day when you just sit back and think...wow, I made it. It would be downright boring. 

There will be hard days and easy days. Sad days and happy days. Funny days and infuriating days. Exciting days and boring days. If every day was the same, life would just be like one grey, monotonous silent film- with no plot, no sound, no laughter, no climax, nothing. Just a blur of pictures flashing past us. Where's the fun in that?

And yet, there are some things in life that we can't change. Like the past. Or a bad grade you just got on your super hard accounting exam. If we could change it, we would obviously go back and change all the bad things that have happened in our lives- but when we finally finished, what kind of people would we be? With no trials or struggles, no challenges to overcome or mountains to climb, we wouldn't be the people we are today. I believe it is true what the say: Mistakes are part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. 

I feel as though sometimes the combination of regret, all the bad choices and mistakes we have made over the years, and gravity threaten to drag us down, until we are feeling quite awful about ourselves. But if that above quotation is true, that mistakes really are precious life lessons, perhaps we can find the strength within ourselves to close our eyes, let go of all that regret, take a giant leap of faith and just...

defy gravity.

somewhere only we know

and if you have a minute, why don't we talk about it somewhere only we know...

Reconnecting with old friends from your past is perhaps one of the most unique experiences we can encounter in our lives. There are memories that only the two of you share that seem millions of years away from where you are today, but when you recall them together it feels as though those times had only happened yesterday. It's amazing how we can recall the details of times past with incredible and startling detail. I love catching up with someone you used to spend so much time with, and realize you can still laugh with them about the "good old days" and appreciate how much the two of you have changed at the same time. It's an interesting type of experience. 

This was a very busy weekend! My weekend started on Thursday evening, with our "Around the World" themed social with PIKE. Needless to say, my sisters and I took the theme to the extreme (obviously)

around the world with Kappa Delta! Can you guess which countries we are from??

my favorite picture of the evening.

Kate Middleton was there! I was SO EXCITED to meet her! :) 

Friday was a hectic day- I helped Christine and Kelly with the marketing for RING PREMIERE (OCT 4TH!! EEK) I helped with the lamination of posters and painted the banners we are going to hang in Squires. The closer we get to Premiere, the more excited I become. I can hardly believe all of our hard work is about to be showcased to our class. I am so honored and overcome with hokie pride I can hardly contain it! 

getting my banner painting on! 

Saturday was GAME DAY! It was the white out game (a little chilly, but still so fun as usual) and we tailgated with a few girls I lived with in PY Freshman year, so that was great to spend time with old fellow RLC Leaders! Here are some of a few good shots from the game:

we love virginia tech!

good friends, good tailgates, good food, the BEST time!

schmollz and i helped michael win the prize as the most programs sales for the day! you're welcome :) 

All in all, time is flying by for me. Sometimes I feel like I blink and a weekend has already ended and I'm staring at studying for three exams I have this week. Oh well. Let the crunch time begin!

Here's a classic little line I just love to start your week out in the right mentality: 

My Role Model

My inspiration for tonight: (and just for life in general)

Live like Kate.

Green Eggs & Ham

"I do not like Green Eggs and Ham, I do not like them Sam I am!" 

One of the greatest lines from my childhood. I remember my mom reading that book to my siblings and I often when we were much younger, it was one of my favorites. So needless to say, I was thrilled when I went into my classroom today and my teacher told me I was doing Dr. Seuss with the kids today. After I would read two books of my choice, and discuss them we would read Green Eggs and Ham and then I would get to help the children make scrambled eggs with a bit of parsley- to make them green! I knew it was going to be an exciting day in Ms. Stone's kindergarten class! 

The two Dr. Seuss books I chose to read to my kindergarteners were "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" First I read "The Grinch", which is another one of my favorite childhood stories (I love the original cartoon movie, classic!) After I finished, I asked the students what did they think was the meaning, or message that Dr. Seuss was trying to send. Leighton, one of my little buddies (although I'm not technically supposed to have favorites, but if I did...he would definitely be one of them) raised his hand and promptly piped up: "That we can have a Merry Christmas, even without all the presents!" 

Something tugged at my heartstrings and for a moment I was at a loss for words. I gulped a little, still wrestling with this sudden upswelling of emotion, and replied that yes, Leighton that was exactly what Dr. Seuss wanted us to know...but I knew why I was suddenly overcome with all that emotion. I knew this was the reason I wanted to be a teacher, to experience moments like this, when my students would speak far beyond their years and grasp a mature and meaningful message like the one I was trying to convey to them. I felt proud inside.

Making scrambled green eggs was so much fun with the kiddies! The kids all got to crack an egg each and were so enthralled with the way they turned from a sunshine yellow liquid to scrambled eggs- just like magic! We added parsley to make them "green" and I dished out the plates to my students and they happily gobbled them up. It was such a good Dr. Seuss Day!

"Say! I like green eggs and ham, I do! I like them, Sam I am!" 

Here's a funny little video version if you want to relive your childhood (I know I loved doing it today with my kindergarteners!)

Happy Thursday, Ya'll! :) 

Choose Your Attitude

This particular post goes out to my inspiration for blogging, smiling, and always trying to uphold a positive outlook on life: Christine Terminello. Running into you today really put a spring in my step and lifted my stressful spirits substantially! 

The title of this post is not only the words of Miss Terminello herself, but they also got me thinking as I trekked along to my 2:30 psychology of learning class. The attitude that you have every day can obviously be influenced by outside events and things that may be out of your control, but ultimately how you react to the things that happen to you is your choice, and nobody else's. You are in control of how you react to the not-so-great or stressful situations that go along with leading a busy life. In short, you have the power to choose your attitude. 

So why do we feel like sometimes our attitudes and our reactions to certain things that happen to us are beyond our control? Are we naturally just passive creatures? I would like to think, no we definitely are not. Part of the challenge of undertaking stressful endeavors is the end result- the satisfaction and pride that can only be felt when you step back and look at what you have accomplished and see the people you have inspired, influenced and helped. And maybe, just maybe, if you choose the right outlook to have and the right attitude, the journey will be that much more enjoyable, no matter how bumpy the ride may get. 

some happy things to make you smile:

we're off to see the wizard...

honk honk!

it really is.

half the fun is discovering what your "bliss" is! #adventurous 

and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Wednesday!

and remember...

Miss Independence

Every now and then, I just need to look at a few pick-me-up sayings and quotes. Here are just a few of my favorites:

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourselves in any direction you choose. You're on your own. You know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go." -Dr. Seuss

"Sometimes, you have to stand alone to prove you can still stand."

"You do not need to be loved, not at the cost of yourself. The single relationship that is truly crucial and central in life is the relationship to the self. Of all the people you will know in a lifetime, you are the only one you will never lose." -Jo Courdert 

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." -Albert Einstein 

"I am somebody. I am me. I like being me. And I don't need anybody to make me somebody." - Louis L'Amore

It's amazing how silly quotes, funny quotes and serious quotes and all types of quotes can lift your spirits, even if it's only slight.

& Thankgoodness for the Disney Pandora Radio Station. xoxo.

Faith is a Bluebird...

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." 

~Nelson Mandela 

Blacksburg, Virginia. This place is my home in so many ways, and every time I go away, I am always happy to see that it has not changed one bit. It's so reassuring to think that some things, well they just never change... No matter how much you do. 

How comforting to see this building standing strong and sturdy, resilient as ever- even when I feel like everything else about my life is changing.

Months have passed since my last post, and I have to say I have missed blogging...but I've just been so busy! What with moving in the Kappa Delta house, getting settled into all my fall semester classes, interviewing for jobs and summer study abroad programs, interning with a kindergarten class, preparing for Recruitment and Ring Premiere in less than a month (!!), there just hasn't been much free time. Life as a Hokie is always this way- there is never a dull moment! However, for all those avid blog readers out there, and Christine Terminello as my inspiration (love the new blog design girlfriend!) I'll try to keep ya'll updated on the goings on of my junior year! 

I have done some true soul searching in the months between leaving Savannah and returning to school. I have had my rough days, my easy days, my almost-ok days and just my normal days. I remind myself every day when I wake up that God has a plan for me- a great one- and I have to put all my faith and trust in Him. 

"I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices"

Psalms 16:8-9 

This past weekend I ran my first ever Recruitment Workshop with my entire sorority- it was extremely nerve wracking! I have always been nervous speaking in front of large crowds, but my teacher-mode came out and although I tried not to treat my sisters like my little elementary students, I made the best of the situation! I'm hoping I'll get better and better and more comfortable with every workshop I have to host. 

Welcome home, Kaydees! 

Living in the Kappa Delta house has been...well, an adventure (to say the least). I'm so happy to always have amazing girls around whenever I need something, the support system is incredible! I feel blessed to have so many great roommates in my life....especially my little peanut roommate Kate Gillies! I just LOVE YOU rooms, thanks for always putting up with my various breakdowns, hysterics and stressful freak outs. You da best I ever had. 

"Sometimes in life there really are bonds that are formed that can't be broken"

It seems amazing to be sitting here in a place I have known all my life, but surrounded by new experiences, opportunities, people and memories. All i can say is I guess it's

The start of something new.

Cheers!

...and i really couldn't be happier.

until next time, remember to be nice to someone. It always makes me feel better, no matter how small the gesture!