Summer to-dos

So as you're all probably aware I'm a huge fan of Susan over at Transient Travels. 

What? You haven't visited her site before. What the hell are you waiting for? Go now!

Oh, wait. WAIT! How about after you finish reading. Okay? Thanks.

Today's topic of discussion is inspired by her recent post on the things she'd like to accomplish by the end of the summer - which, if you hadn't noticed, is fast approaching.

In the spring I had come up with a few goals for the coming months, a summer bucket list, if you will, and it's about time I see where I've ended up and where I've yet to go. So, shall we?

#1 - Earn my skydiving license by the end of the season. CHECK! 

Two weeks ago I passed my check dive with flying colors and am the proud owner of this number: A-56008. Now, with A license in hand I'm debating on the ability to earn my B license by the end of the season. After all, there's still so much time left to jump.

#2 - See an outdoor concert. CHECK! 

The intent was to go to Blossom, but I never made it there. Though I did make it out to see O.A.R at The Nautica Pavilion a couple months ago. That'll likely be the only one I make it to this year.

(editor's note: for all those who refer to O.A.R as oar - yes, like the paddle - you're wrong. It's an acronym. It stands for Of A Revolution. Now you know.)

#3 - Vacation in LA with the college crew. CHECK! 

Yes, I still owe y'all a post on this. But honestly, I want to include pictures and I didn't take many. Once I get some from my friends I'll do a post. Promise.

#4 - Pack parachutes at my drop zone. FAIL! 

Yes, I learned to pack for my license. Yes, I'm still terrible at it. The intent was to be a packer to pay for jumps, but when I was given the opportunity to work ground crew at demos, take pictures and work manifest instead, well, I chose the latter options.

#5 - Start a professional blog. CHECK! 

Though this wasn't exactly the path I'd imagined. My professional blog is actually for skydiving rather than social media. But to my surprise, SkydiveChick has taken off in just a short time. I was actually recognized at a drop zone (no, not mine, thankyouverymuch) as The Skydive Chick. Crazy!

#6 - Run a 1/2 marathon. HUGE FAIL! 

I never even registered. And I certainly didn't train. In fact, I've pretty much given up my competitive running hobby. Between broken feet and sprained vertebrae over the years, my body has taken enough beatings from this sport. So I've moved on to jumping out of airplanes. What of it?

#7 - Get out of debt. MINOR FAIL. 

With all that I've been spending I really should be in deeper than I am. But really, aside from skydiving and traveling I haven't spent much money. I can't tell you the last time I went to the mall, or bought anything that wasn't related to skydiving for that matter.

#8 - Tone up for my brother's wedding. CHECK! 

The best part is that I haven't even been trying. Believe it or not, I've lost 10 pounds since I stopped working out. And the parachuting has really helped with muscle tone. Yes, it's more than just falling out of an airplane.

#9 - Go to Cedar Point. CHECK!

I in fact did make the yearly trip to Sandusky for a day of thrills. Though by 5:00 in the afternoon we were exhausted, so we called it a day earlier than usual. Still a great time!

So as I look into the late summer and fall, there are still some things I want to accomplish - above and beyond getting my B-license and getting out of debt.

>Be a better vegetarian. I've cheated on this more than I'd like to admit this summer. Each and every time I think a burger is a good idea I end up feeling terrible, too. I'd like these lessons to start sticking.

>Get some tunnel time. Luckily I was recently asked to take a trip to New Hampshire as part of a 4-way for some quality time in the wind tunnel. I'm pumped.

>Get back into yoga. This fell off the map after my cruise in the spring. But yoga is so good for your body and your mind...I need to make it back to Inner Bliss soon.

>Attend two tailgates. Whether or not I actually make it to an MSU football game this year, I definitely want to make it up to a tailgate or two. Last year was filled with tailgating fun. I certainly don't intend on missing out this year.

>Visit the cider mill. It's one of those fall things I look forward to every year. There's nothing like picking out a pumpkin, eating a donut and sipping on some cider to welcome fall with open arms.

(Uncle John's in my hometown)

>Take a trip to Wisconsin. Two of my best friends live there. It's the least I can do by going back again this year.

What do you want to accomplish before the end of the summer?

Cheers!

-A

Thanks, Dad

Given that it's the day after Father's Day, I thought it highly appropriate to give a shout out to my good ole pops.

This weekend was a whirlwind, driving home in torrential rains on Friday, family stuff on Saturday before heading back that night so I could work at the drop zone on Sunday.

So needless to say I feel a little more than guilty for not spending Sunday with my dad.

But after reading this post by rs27 - who writes by far one of the funnies blogs ever, Your Beard is Good - I felt inspired to reflect on all those things my dad has done for me over the years.

After a recent conversion with my big brother, who in his pre-marriage counseling has to fill out a chart, plotting points on a graph of his relationship with his family members over time, I got to thinking about my relationship with my parents over the years. 

Every teenage girl has those turbulent years with her mother, so we'll shy away from that. But don't worry, mom and I get along great now!

But in my 25 years, I can't once think of a time where I could have asked for a better dad.

I was lucky that during my elementary school days my dad worked the night shift. He came to all of my school functions, signed up to chaperon every field trip, and I loved it.

He would pick me up from school and I was always proud to be walking out with my dad while the other kids got on the bus. Sometimes, on nice days, he'd even pick me up on one of our motorcycles - think dirt bike, not Harley.

After school and on weekends we'd be out shooting the basketball or I'd be running errands with him. I loved the time we spent together in the car, just the two of us, talking about who knows what anymore.

The summer before I started high school my dad took over a newspaper delivery route for a family friend. It required middle of the night drop offs - from 1 until 4 a.m. typically - driving around the country back roads. This was a daily adventure that I decided to help him out with.

Some of the best conversations took place in the front seat of his truck that summer. I gained an appreciation for music of his generation and I'd like to think he did for mine as well, maybe. Eh, Dad?

We even became immune to scent of skunk together. Had to be there, I guess.

Needless to say, I was sad when that summer ended. After that, my teenage years set in and boys became a main focus.

But no matter what I was involved in, my dad was there for it. Track meets in the rain. Tennis matches in the heat of the fall. And we can't forget how much time he spent with me on the court every summer. A little tradition that carried through to college - playing a couple sets indoors any chance we got.

Moving away wasn't easy, especially since he's not much of a phone talker, but I cherish the moments I get to spend at home and those days he comes to visit me. Next, I'm working on getting him to jump out of an airplane with me. Baby steps.

Thanks Dad, for always being there.

What are the best memories of your dad?

Cheers!

-A

Feeling inspired

Last night as I sat on my butt watching re-runs of Extreme Home Makeover I couldn't help but think that I'm in desperate need of some inspiration.

Ever since the cruise I've been pretty lazy - in general. Not only is my body out of shape, so is my apartment. Finding time to hit the gym and clean just hasn't been a priority. 

Though in my defense, I haven't wanted to pick up too many new workout routines for fear of immense soreness like last week when I tried my first EA Sports Active workout. It was a lower body workout that, to be honest, I didn't even finish because my quads were killing me. 

And they continued to throughout the week. Thankfully, I did this on Tuesday so I was healed and ready for my skydives by the weekend.

The last thing I need right now is additional muscle soreness getting in the way of solid jumps.

But, after reading about this 30 day EA Sports Active challenge on GeekSugar that a number of bloggers are participating in, I found the inspiration I needed. I'm going to talk about it in public.

Or, in the blogosphere...same thing, right?

Don't worry, not every day, just on occasion so that I can stay accountable. And if you see me slacking, feel free to call me out on it. Hell, you can bring this to Twitter and Facebook too, if you want. "Man up, Mead!" Don't worry, I can take it.

I'm determined to finish this thing.

Of course, since I'm planning a couple jumps tomorrow on a lovely vacation day I've scheduled (!!!!) I won't be starting until this weekend, but you can bet come Monday I'll have plenty of gripes about my soreness.

Anyone interested in joining me? C'mon, you know you are.

Cheers!

-A

p.s., today is my mom's birthday. Happy B-day MOM!!

Bloggie Burnout?

Okay, so on my way in to work this morning I couldn't come up with one damn thing to write about.

Normally, I spend this five minutes - yes, I have a five minute commute, it's okay to hate on me, I would, if I were you - thinking up all the great topics I could blog about, picking the most entertaining and/or what I feel the strongest about that day.

Yeah, now it's making sense right...I only have five minutes to come up with entertaining material, so this is what you get.

Anywho, I got nothin'.

(The sad part is, this is true 100 percent of the time...not just now.)

So I thought to myself, what a great opportunity to discuss this little burnout issue that seems to be going around.

Then of course, I realized that I'm kinda burnt out on this topic.

Okay, so really I'm just jealous that people beat me to it. We've even got bloggers blogging about other bloggers who are blogging about it.

Huh?

Dolce posted a funny blogger boredom list, an RS27 original. Thanks, guys, for helping me keep things at least mildly entertaining around here.

My bitterness, though, is centered around the fact that until today I was feeling pretty good about where this was all going. Topics were flowing in, lurkers were recently revealed, and things were starting to look up.

Then this morning, it all came crashing down into the hot, steaming pile of dragon poo that is my creativity. Yes, dragon poo. What of it?

So now what?

In a recent Tweet chain between Narm, Ben, Maxie, Lauren, myself, and a whole host of other bored 20-somethings, a thought was tossed around that we should start our own group blog of burnouts - or a reality TV show, but my vote is for the former, unless of course I can become a professional reality television blogger.

That has to pay well, right? Hmmm....

Anyone else feeling the pains of blogger burnout? Any cures out there?

This blogger is in desperate need of some inspiration.

Cheers!

-A

p.s. - all bloggers listed above are way more entertaining than me. Highly recommend checking them out if you haven't already.

It's good stuff

So I recently came across this blog - yes, I know, I'm way behind the times, given that it's already well into the 800s at this point - and in thinking about it, it's really a fabulous idea.

And of course, since I'm genuinely unoriginal, I'm going to write a little list of my own. Though since I'm so far behind, there may be repeats for the above list. My bad. I'm just too lazy to make sure there's no overlap.

And no, it won't be 1,000 things long because, let's be honest here, I just don't have the time to capture all that in one post. And I know y'all don't have the time to read that crap.

So, here's my rendition of 1,000 Awesome Things, that I like to call, The Good Stuff.

• Finding a $20 bill in the pocket of last year's winter coat. You haven't worn it in a year, so that money was long gone in your mind. So really, it's like finding $20 bucks on the street and knowing you don't have to find it's rightful owner. Score!
  
• Getting packages at the office. I always ship my online orders to the office, mainly because I'm never at the apartment when the leasing office is open to pick them up. Sometimes I forget that I'm expecting a package, so when it's delivered I get a nice little surprise - from myself - to brighten my day.
• Out-of-the-blue @ replies on Twitter. An unexpected Tweet that links to your profile, or better yet, gives props on a blog post is most satisfying. Gotta love a little ego boost.
• Random compliments. Speaking of ego boosts, isn't it great when you get compliments from strangers? I once had an older gentleman stop me in my building just to tell me that I looked beautiful in my outfit. Beautiful?! Compliments have a way of making the whole day a little brighter.
  
• Waking up and remembering your SO slept over. This is one of my favorite things about midweek sleepovers. You roll over in the middle of the night and see the one person that makes everything better and it puts a smile on your face...even when you know you've gotta get up in two hours and start the day. But at least you get to share a cup of coffee with him on the way out the door!
  
• When drunk texts fail to send. We've all had those nights. Things got a little crazier than expected and you remember thinking about that asshole that dumped you two weeks ago, so you texted him. Looking in your outbox you see that the network was on your side and the text never made it. Whew!
  
• Seeing your reflection and actually looking thinner. You know when you're working out a lot, or eating better and the pounds are dropping but you still don't see a difference? Yeah, that seems to happen a lot. But on the day when you wake up and look in the mirror and you can see that you've made progress - good stuff! Especially when that motivates you to try on your skinny jeans and they FIT! W00T, success!
• Receiving work-day text messages. This is something I'm notorious for. But you can't tell me that it's not nice to come back from a long meeting to find an awaiting text message from a good friend.
  
• Running into an ex who is far worse off than you. Ah, the satisfaction. Maybe he's still living at home, or his girlfriend just dumped him, or he got fat or bald, or he's in debt up to his eyeballs with no job. Whatever the case may be, clearly you are way better off and much happier. Puts a little smile on your face just thinking about it, doesn't it?
• Left over coffee from an office meeting. You know those days when clients or bigwigs visit the office and coffee is ordered by the gallon from Starbucks, there always seems to be some left over for everyone else. Who doesn't love free coffee?
• Milestones. No matter how small, milestones give you a reason to celebrate. Ten days on a diet, alright! Completing your first 5K, way to go! Six months in a solid relationship, awesome! It's the little victories that count.
• Meeting up with old friends and picking up right where you left off. Isn't it great when you finally get back together with the people who used to be your closest friends and it's as if you've never been apart? I love those friendships. It's like you didn't miss a beat.
• When the forecast was wrong and you wake up to the sunshine. Anyone who lives in the North gets what I'm saying here. It was supposed to rain, snow, sleet, fog, whatever, and instead you wake up because the sun is peeking through your vertical blinds just so. The irritation factor quickly disappears as you realize it's beautiful out!
• Learning that it did happen for a reason. Being a believer in the "everything happens for a reason" theory, it's highly rewarding when you get that 'aha' moment and realize that even the things that seemed terrible at the time, happened to make room for something better.
  
• Having something special to look forward to. It's the dead of winter, you're in a rut, but in 25 days you'll be heading out for a tropic vacation, lounging poolside, drink in hand, not a care in the world. Ah, how lovely that will be, right? It's a good motivator to keep moving, and I'm definitely one for countdowns. Lucky for me, I'm a planner, so I've always got something good on the horizon.
  

There you have it. Good stuff, right?

Now you tell me, what's missing from this list? What's happened to you recently that's made you stop and say, damn, that was great!?

Cheers!

-A

Taking it into my own hands

My life that is.

I'm taking the proverbial bull by the horns and riding off into the sunset - and apparently mixing my metaphors.

Anyhow, things have really started to change for me these past few months. In a better way than I could have even imagined.

Honestly, I've gotten pretty lucky given my lackadaisical nature as of late - sitting by, letting my life go where it may. It's not as if there has been a lack of ambition, really, but more so that things have really been looking up on their own, so why mess with a good thing, right?

A don't-fix-it-if-it-ain't-broken situation. And certainly, things are not broken.

Editors note: hear that? The faint knocking sound. Yeah, that's my knuckles tapping my oak desktop. Though I haven't gotten this far because of superstition, I'm still not taking any chances by jinxing this one.

Recently though, I've become inspired to take matters, especially those that are flourishing on their own, into my own hands to improve upon them.

The one thing I'm not doing that I probably should, that all us young professionals should, is creating a plan. I'm talking more than just goals and objectives here, and really mapping out a path leading exactly where I want to go.

The problem...I'm not entirely sure where that is yet. Three years in the marketing industry and I have yet to decide if a) senior management is in my future, 2) I should continue office hopping until I find my niche or d) 5 years and out, baby! Can you say culinary school?

So, while I work on wrapping my brain and my hands around that task, my ambition is taking on a new form. I'm focusing on my personal life. *gasp* I know!

It's been a long time coming, but I'm doing everything in my power to cherish my personal time. In the past few months I've been able to visit with my college friends on numerous occasions and establish what I like to think is a solid relationship with the SO - two things that fell by the wayside in years past.

Between the upcoming Caribbean cruise and a trip to LA with the college crew this summer, I'm hoping these things only get better.

And with Otis coming home in the near future and my brothers upcoming wedding I've got a lot to focus on - and let me just tell you I'm beyond excited.

Who ever said you couldn't have it all is about to be proven wrong!

What are some areas of your life that you've really taken control of?

Cheers!

-A

Brick walls

The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're here to stop the other people.
...
Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something.


Right now I'm in the middle of a rather inspiring book. The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. For those who haven't heard in it's rising popularity, it chronicles the life of a college professor who is asked to speak about his life as if he were dying - as if it was his last lecture.

Reality of the situation, is that it was, as Randy was dying of cancer at the time. How about that for some real-life inspiration?

As any inspirational book will, I found a concept that was instantly applied to my life. And I've gotta say, it's been kicking me in the ass ever since.

In one of his chapters, he discusses the challenges he faced when courting his wife. These challenges were his brick walls - and he worked hard to show those walls who was stronger. And succeeded. Proof is in his marriage and three children.

So I've been reflecting on the brick walls in my life, the challenges I've been working hard to overcome to prove just how much I desire the life I aspire to live.

Impulsiveness - since I've been a working girl, I've been of the mindset that if I want something I purchase it. Be it a trip to visit friends or a new camera lens. Debt has not overcome me yet - and I'm working now to make sure this doesn't happen.

Cynicism - sure, we all get bitchy from time to time, but, I'll admit, I've been known to bond with others over the negative rather than the positive. This is definitely a work in progress.

Impatience - I've said time and time again that I could never be a teacher because of this. But fact is, everyone is a teacher of some form in this life. And patience is one of the most important attributes of a successful teacher, mentor or supervisor.

Distractions - my 'ADD' leads to procrastination, which often leads to less-than-my-best work. As much as I say it, I don't actually work best under the pressure of a deadline, I just enjoy the adrenaline rush.

So tell me dear readers, what are your brick walls?

Cheers!

-A

A little healthy compitition never hurt anyone

Last night after a strenuous workout I decided to attend a relaxation yoga class to end the day right.

Only...it ended up not being so relaxing, after all.

Attendance was minimal, probably because of the weather, and most of the people in class were new to the practice of yoga.

My initial concern was that the instructor would, in turn, make the class easier. But luckily for me she held a normal flow class with modified poses for the newbies.

As soon as I realized this, I proceeded as I normally would and even increased the intensity from time to time.

(Editors note: that's the great thing about yoga, you can make it as intense and challenging as you want it. Not that you care.)

Throughout the class I noticed the woman next to me keeping pace with my motions.

Upon further inspection she was a 50-something, frail looking woman, who had apparently been practicing yoga for longer than I've been alive. And this was something she was dying to prove to me.

To test this theory I went above and beyond in a couple of balance poses - and when she followed my lead and subsequently fell out of these poses I was thoroughly satisfied. Not only was I spot on that she was competing with me, but I totally beat her out in the balance category.

Point Ashley.

Then we moved on to a couple strength moves. I dominated.

The end of class was focused on flexibility. Not my strong suit. But of course I pushed my hamstrings until they were screaming at me - willing them to stretch just an inch farther. You best believe she took notice of this, too, as she proceeded to fold in half on top of herself, and make it look easy.

Flexibility FAIL.

At the point I wanted to lean in and let her know that "hey lady, I'm a runner, my hamstrings just don't do that."

But of course, after savasana [corpse pose = relaxation, for all you non-yogis], I was all zen and stuff and didn't give a crap.

Honestly, I'm thankful for my competitor last night. She helped me push myself in a class that I otherwise may have taken the easy route through.

Cheers to you, lady. Cheers!

-A

I wish(ed) your wish

Last weekend on the trip to Pittsburgh, we stopped by Carnegie Mellon for a quick lunch and a visit to the Natural History Museum.

The SO was looking forward to the dinosaur exhibit - which I admit was pretty cool given that they had two T-rex skeletons - and my attention tended to gravitate toward the geology portion of the exhibit.

Yes, I'm that big of a geek. But give me a break, I didn't take "rocks for jocks" in college; astronomy was my science of choice.

But I digress.

There also was an exhibit called Life on Mars that we didn't explore much due to lack of time - oh, who am I kidding, and lack of interest too...I can only take so much learning in one vacation.

Part of this exhibit was the I Wish Your Wish wall.

The premise of this interactive exhibit is that visitors take a ribbon from the wall with an imprinted wish on it. Some of these wishes are in English, some are not - giving it an international flare.

These are wishes of visitors past. You take one that most applies to your life - or at least that you find meaningful. The SO and I found a blue ribbon wishing that our actions were not controlled by our fears. Deep. He ended up taking this one in the end. The wish I picked out for myself (on green ribbon, naturally) stated, "I wish I knew if it would all be worth it." Brilliant!

As legend has it, you tie the ribbon around your wrist - or any other part of your body, I suppose - and tie it in three knots, making a wish after each knot. Once the ribbon falls off (on it's own) your wishes will come true.

Then, and this is what I find pretty damn cool, you write down a new wish on a piece of paper and slide it in the hole where you took your ribbon from. These wishes are then printed and placed in the empty holes on the wall for others to read and take for themselves.

Here's the wish I put on the wall: "I wish that I could do it all over again."

What would your wish be?

Cheers!

-A

When I grow up

...I want to be a chef.

Okay, so maybe not a chef, but definitely a foodie. Yeah, that's more like it.

Recent experiences with the foodie world have drawn me to this lifestyle. Being in NYC at Chelsea Market - surrounded by some of the best chefs and bakers all day, experiencing the best tasting food, touring the Food Network test kitchens, meeting celebrity chefs - I love everything about it.

Being in Cleveland, I'm always hoping for a chance to rub elbows with Michael Symon during a casual stroll down East 4th or swinging by Lolita in Tremont. One of these days, I will get that chance.

And no, that doesn't make me a stalker, thankyouverymuch. I'm just a paying customer who's in awe. I mean, anyone who has their servers wear Converse All Stars during their shifts has got to be pretty fantastic - and c'mon y'all, he can cook a mean meal.

There's just something about being integrated in the foodie world that's so attractive. The excitement of being in a kitchen watching edible masterpieces take shape, meeting world renowned chefs, learning techniques from the pros, promoting one of the best networks on television - The Food Network for those who didn't catch on - and of course the love and appreciation for food.

I've always wanted to be a pastry chef like Duff.

The problem is, I'm not the most creative girl, nor am I the most kitchen savvy but I can be taught, especially if I can get my hands dirty with the the players at Charm City Cakes or go on the road with Bobby for a throw down or head out with Michael on his next Dinner Impossible challenge. And words cannot begin to describe how much I'd love to be a fly on the wall for Iron Chef America or take part in one of the Food Network Challenges.

Or maybe I should just become a food photographer - that would get a foot in the door, right? Hell, I'd even be a personal assistant if it meant spending time with some of the best chefs in the world. Know of anyone in need? *wink wink*

Anyone else obsessed with The Food Network and life as a foodie? What do you want to be when you grow up?

Cheers!

-A

When I grow up

...I want to be a chef.

Okay, so maybe not a chef, but definitely a foodie. Yeah, that's more like it.

Recent experiences with the foodie world have drawn me to this lifestyle. Being in NYC at Chelsea Market - surrounded by some of the best chefs and bakers all day, experiencing the best tasting food, touring the Food Network test kitchens, meeting celebrity chefs - I love everything about it.

Being in Cleveland, I'm always hoping for a chance to rub elbows with Michael Symon during a casual stroll down East 4th or swinging by Lolita in Tremont. One of these days, I will get that chance.

And no, that doesn't make me a stalker, thankyouverymuch. I'm just a paying customer who's in awe. I mean, anyone who has their servers wear Converse All Stars during their shifts has got to be pretty fantastic - and c'mon y'all, he can cook a mean meal.

There's just something about being integrated in the foodie world that's so attractive. The excitement of being in a kitchen watching edible masterpieces take shape, meeting world renowned chefs, learning techniques from the pros, promoting one of the best networks on television - The Food Network for those who didn't catch on - and of course the love and appreciation for food.

I've always wanted to be a pastry chef like Duff.

The problem is, I'm not the most creative girl, nor am I the most kitchen savvy but I can be taught, especially if I can get my hands dirty with the the players at Charm City Cakes or go on the road with Bobby for a throw down or head out with Michael on his next Dinner Impossible challenge. And words cannot begin to describe how much I'd love to be a fly on the wall for Iron Chef America or take part in one of the Food Network Challenges.

Or maybe I should just become a food photographer - that would get a foot in the door, right? Hell, I'd even be a personal assistant if it meant spending time with some of the best chefs in the world. Know of anyone in need? *wink wink*

Anyone else obsessed with The Food Network and life as a foodie? What do you want to be when you grow up?

Cheers!

-A

Mindless struggles

Don't let the title fool you, it's not as if I'm in a completely mindless state - rather, I'm thinking entirely too much causing my ability to concentrate on unrelated topics to evaporate.

So, today you'll be pointed in the direction of some of the greatest posts of the recent past.

These will give you an idea of where my brain seems to have disappeared to, as well.

I love holding hands - cheesy, maybe. But there's just something about it.

Each day is one step closer to me being a proud puppy owner - a mini dachshund to be exact.

Is there a way to prevent stage 4 from setting in?

What women really want - fascinating. Count me in agreement with the Original List.

Thanks goes out to Mel, Ben, and 27 Dresses for supplying me with content for another cop out post.

Until I'm back on solid ground...

Cheers!

-A

I love... a good story

It has come to my attention recently that I am a bad story teller.

I think this comes as no surprise to some of you. If you've ever found any of my written thoughts to be scattered, just wait until you talk to me in person!

(Though I'm not nearly as awful as this man when it comes to stories...thankfully!)

Most stories start with me getting the listener all worked up, "you're never going to beelieeve what happened to me last night!"

Followed by a part of the story, then me realizing that I missed an important detail," wait, but before that, this happened, and then we went to meet up with Steve."

Oh and of course when I realize you have no idea who Steve is, I have to give you the back story of our friendship - if you're even still listening at this point. By the time I've finished explaining all the mundane details, the story really isn't all that great (which it probably wasn't to begin with), and I walk away perplexed, "well I sure that it was funny."

But that's not even the point of this post.

See, tangent, before the story even started - and you're probably so tired already you don't even want to read on. It's okay, I understand.

What I'm really here to write about are my loves - those things in my life as it stands right now that I cherish. As a people, we don't take enough time out of our day to appreciate all the wonderful things happening in our lives, and all the people we are blessed to share it with. Thanks to Jenn for her Addicted to Love post that inspired my positive outlook today. So without further sappiness, here's a quick snapshot at the current loves of my life:

Crisp fall morning runs, changing leaves, reunions with college friends, laughing, weekends with the family, thrill seeking, feather pillows, nightly walks to the park, pumpkin flavored everything, blogger friends, sushi, Miller Lite and cornhole, clean sheets, photography outings, meeting people everywhere, fall colors at dusk, green tea with blueberry, impromptu brainstorms with coworkers, reading in the evening, planning my week on Friday, Home Improvement reruns, honesty, organization, thinking about the holidays, libraries, Michigan State's campus.

It's very autumn-esque.

So tell me dear readers, what is it that you love?

Cheers!

-A

Inspirational encounters

Throughout my career in public relations I have had the opportunity to meet a number of people with a wide range of personalities and traits. The past year spent in healthcare PR has been a learning experience, but this weekend proved just how rewarding my job really is.

At a recent function in Philadelphia, I was blessed to be surrounded with some of the most inspirational people I have ever met. These people are living with a disease that most would consider to be a death sentence upon diagnosis (in fact, until I knew more about the disease and its treatments, I thought exactly that).

Expecting to greet 10 patients who are disabled and/or wheelchair bound, I was pleasantly surprised. Each person had his own story about diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Of the people I met, you would not know that even one of them was sick - some of which have had the disease since the early 1980s (before I was even born, folks).

The three-day event was wonderful. We mingled, we learned, and in the end, we became friends. I am fortunate to have met such an inspirational group of people. The community they share is highly connected and they continue to inspire and learn from one another. If only general society could take a lesson or two from this community...

Cheers!

-A

Friend in Iraq

Like many 20-somethings in this country, I have a friend in Iraq. He's a Navy man, serving his country in the desert until December (I know, on a ship would make more sense to me, too). He also is an amazing friend and is showing me what it means to be a great friend. Let me explain.

In the relatively short time that he has been overseas, between 12+ hour days, eating, working out and sleeping (which pretty much would consume my life, I must say), he's managed to send dozens of pictures online, draft and send e-mails, write notes on Facebook, and pick up the phone a handful of times late at night just to say hi - and he called me on my birthday in the middle of a sandstorm (okay, so I made that last part up, but it sounds good). Sandstorm or not, that's one hell of a friend. Makes me look pretty bad in comparison.

So when another friend of mine touched base last week to say he was deploying with the Air Force (yes, he will be flying a jet) at the beginning of July and would love to have me come visit before he goes, I jumped at the opportunity. The story comes full circle now when I tell you that I'll be visiting my dear friend in San Francisco in two weeks. So there you have it, my summer vacation destination. Though I still have a place in my heart for Denver, I'll be sure to make the trip next year.

So to all those in Iraq, and the best of the best who make it a priority to keep in touch.

Cheers!

-A

24 of the past 24

After much deliberation over this post, I've concluded that it is nearly impossible to narrow down all the encounters from the past 24 years to the top 24, let alone rank them in order of importance. So, I've come up with the list below, a quick snapshot of those encounters that have had a lasting impact. I'm all about life lessons, and many of the souls below have taught me some of the greatest life lessons just by being themselves. Here's what I've learned:

* Captain Nicole Malachowski - dedication and determination can make all your dreams come true
* Dr. Hoestetler - trust your gut and always question what doesn't seem right
* Kaleb - love of the game
* Matt - being a geek is more than okay, it's pretty damn cool
* April - not everyone is going to like you, and sometimes that's for the best
* Chris - running is all about heart
* Shannon P. - go against the grain
* Joe F. - it's better to take a risk and fail, then to never know the possibilities
* Anna - the importance of true friendship and keeping it alive
* Captain Mike - it's important to surround yourself with others who understand your passions
* CT - be someone's advocate
* TK - be someone's friend from afar
* Ryan D. - things don't always work out as expected, and that's okay
* Adam - one amazing friend is all you need
* Glenn - stay true to yourself, life's more fun that way
* Joe - be fearless, push the limits
* Jeff - respect yourself (and others) enough to do what's right
* Zack - the grass isn't always greener
*Annice - true spirit is rooted deep within
* Justin - don't give up. ever.
* Geoff - being great goes beyond what you produce
* Lauren - a little guidance goes a long way
* Robert - it's the team of people you work with that makes every day worth while
* Nate - true friendships last a lifetime

I hope everyone can say they've met so many people that have changed their lives for the better, that they too cannot begin to narrow down the 24 most important. To all those above, and all those I may have missed...

Cheers!

-A

Spring cleaning uncovers wisdom

In my recent spring cleaning efforts, I’ve started down a path toward simplification. This has become quite the task, between cleaning out my dresser drawers to sifting through the proverbial mental closet, I have come across a number of memories and tidbits of information – some that I’m content on forgetting, others that are salient enough to document in writing.

Along the path to becoming a professional who can stand on her own two feet in this whirlwind society, I acquired some words of wisdom from colleagues and mentors that have not only provided guidance, but provided opportunities that propelled me down a path toward success. (Note: this is a credit to my teachers, colleagues, mentors, and supervisors of past and present, rather than a pat on the back for myself. As always, this has nothing to do with me.)

In keeping true to my listing promise, below are the 5 best pieces of advice I have received in my short time on this Earth (more to come at the next mental clean-up):

1. You don’t get what you don’t ask for. Provided back in my college days. We’re all a little too afraid to hear the word no.

2. Take out all the adverbs. Stated by a project manager about a pitch letter during my early career; and he was very right. That advice has helped me gain a head for editing – just ask our interns.

“The road to hell is paved with adverbs”
-Stephen King

3. Write a budget and stick to it. We do it for our clients – allocate time and resources based on budget – so why don’t we do it for ourselves? My neighbor provided me this oh-so-juicy piece of advice that has proven true. By telling your money where to go each month, you actually give yourself a raise.

4. Network. We hear it all the time, and like the V8 commercials where the guy gets bonked on the head because he “could have had a V8,” *BONK* to you if you aren’t out there meeting new people every day. Hello, that is the premise of this blog!

5. Read everything you can get your hands on. Welcome to the information age. Want to know something – read about it. Want to break into a new line of work – learn about it. Then go out and experience it for yourself.

Cheers!

-A

A man: influential, impassioned, inspiring

This is not a man who has come into my life recently, rather, it’s one that is going to be removed shortly. Though he has only been a part of my life for less than a year, he has become not only a mentor but an inspiration as well. He has led an extraordinary life, and though I only fit onto one portion of one chapter of his life, I like to think I had an impact on him as well. But this isn’t about me is it? Of course not…

This is a person I met shortly before my most recent move back to the Midwest. At the very first encounter, I knew he was someone I would come to admire. He has a great passion for life – not just his personal life, but his professional life as well. And one of the greatest lessons he taught me is the importance of combining the two – of being passionate about the work that you are doing each and every day. Sure, it’s easy to say, especially when you are starting your career it can be difficult to find a good balance while still proving your worth to a company. Regardless, this is an extremely important goal for which to aspire. In order to be successful, don’t you have to truly enjoy the work you are doing, to have such passion for your work that “you feel most alive when doing it.” Other words of wisdom he shared with me today regarding passion for your profession are so simple, yet so hard to come by: “Everyone here has something special that can’t be taught. When you walk in the door you either have it or you don’t.” Passion and desire in your career is what makes you marketable, and those are the people that come with that little something extra that makes them the best, the experts, in their field.

Take, for example, the Spartans. Let’s go way back ancient Greece, where Sparta ruled not just because of it’s king, but because of the army behind him. These men were proud. Being a Spartan was more than a duty, it was a profession, and a way of life. The passion that each of these men brought with them to each battle proves that accomplishment comes to those with the most fire in their soul, and believe in not only themselves, but those with whom they work the closest. Victory after victory, these men grew to trust in one another and learned how to work efficiently and effectively together to accomplish the ultimate goal – to wipe out the opposing army.

Granted, this isn’t quite what most of us professionals are out to accomplish today; more like beat out the competition in a new business pitch – but you get the analogy. Everyone should have this sort of passion for their work. And for those who don’t, find a way to fit it in; transform the daily grind into your profession. So the next time you suit up and head into the office, realize that you too have that something special in you that gets you up in the morning and makes each day better than the last.

Spartans, what is your profession?

Inspiration on an Elevator

Considering it’s currently too cold to reveal any skin to the outside world, I’ve decided to go back in time to discuss an encounter with a man who’s words continue to have great impact on my life to this very day, rather than venture out to actually meet anyone new (not that anyone is crazy enough to be out there anyhow).

Shortly after I began my first “big girl job” I was riding in the elevator transporting a mountain of magazines from which I would soon conduct a stimulating round of research*. Along for the ride was a Fed Ex delivery man, who’s destination was also the 34th floor. In this particular building, our elevators had a tendency to stop frequently at floors where no passengers were actually present (I’ll spare you the reasoning behind this ridiculous phenomenon and proceed). After about the fourth stop, I grumbled under the weight of the periodicals balanced on my arms, when the Fed Ex man interjected with a few simple words of wisdom.
*Please take note of sarcastic tone – it will likely show up in subsequent posts. Learn to love it.

“Either enjoy it, or lose your mind.”

After pondering his statement briefly, I replied, “You’re right,” as if he didn’t already know the accuracy of this notion. As it turns out, many people in this society do think before they speak…who knew? These insightful words inhabited my mind for the remainder of the day, making life in cubicle-land, as I like to refer to it, a much more enjoyable place.

I’ve come to not only be enlightened by this very brief encounter, but to adopt the words of the Fed Ex man as an inspirational quote. This is the kind of stuff you read on the back of Starbucks cups; yeah, it’s that deep. It’s a quote that applies to every aspect of life, and on more than one occasion, I myself have lost my mind due to overwhelming boredom or frustration from a discouraging situation. (Yes, even since this advice was spoon-fed to me from someone much wiser).

Upon reflection, I can vividly remember this man. Early 40s, clean cut, perfectly straight bright white teeth, about 5’9” ½ (okay, so I really have no idea, but I bet I’m close). Enthusiasm radiated from his soul. I’ve never seen a delivery man who was so pleased to be doing his job. Then it hit me! That’s where people like me go very wrong.

* * *

People like me being young professionals, fresh out of college with our diplomas hanging on our office wall – check – and thinking that we are God’s gift because we made it though four years of college, making us instantly wise. It’s been said that those of us in this generation believe we deserve everything, that we don’t need to “pay our dues,” because we are better and smarter than the generations that came before us. Truth. And this is just the type of thinking that leads us astray. Besides, who really wants to befriend someone who carries an air of “I’m better than you,” with them. But I digress.

* * *

We tend to see a Fed Ex man, or anyone in the service industry for that matter, and assume they are uneducated and can’t get a better job. Or, if the serviceman looks young enough, we assume this is his side job to assist with room and board while he works to get that oh-so prestigious bachelor’s degree so he can start his real career. Okay, y’all, time to remove head from sphincter and use that educated brain of yours to give our fellow man some credit. By the looks of this man, he was more than happy to be delivering packages to the offices in our building; and rightly so. Think about it. He comes to these offices everyday, is recognized by the office managers immediately, and often called my name, “Hey, Chuck, how are you today?” He has the opportunity to interact with a variety of people day in an day out, constantly meeting new and interesting people. And if he encounters someone who’s not so nice, he does his thing and leaves them behind. Who wouldn’t be happy with that job? Sure, it’s not always glamorous, but look around fellow young professionals. How’s that cube treating you? Or maybe you are lucky enough to have an office, but how often do you see daylight? How many people do you interact with on a daily basis? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

So maybe, the Fed Ex man has got the right idea. Sure, his bachelor’s in finance provided him a decent paying job, but he just wasn’t satisfied being a deskie for 12 hours a day. And he loved the challenge of presenting his thesis on the newest techniques in aerospace engineering before receiving his master’s degree, but he just couldn’t handle the isolation. In the end, Fed Ex man figured it out, and long the way, he learned to enjoy what life has to offer.

“Either enjoy it, or lose your mind.”