Love Yourself October

I have a friend, a rather brilliant friend, who came up with a great idea. This idea is “Love Yourself October.”

Now, you may wonder what this is all about. Well, think about it. There are so many out  there with low self-esteems, who think little of themselves, and this is what this project entails.

Once a day for the whole month of October (aka 31 days) you write, draw, etc. in a journal one thing you like about yourself. Yes, that is something different EACH day of the month. These things don’t have to be big, they don’t have to be physical, they just have to be something you like about yourself.

Maybe you have a good singing voice, maybe you like your smile, maybe you like your optimism, maybe you love your cooking ability. Whatever it may be, find some way of showing that in journal form. The purpose of this is for you to create a journal of things you like about yourself so for those days you are feeling down you can look back at it and read everything you love about being YOU!

You can create this is any way. I have gotten into guerilla art a lot over the past couple years so I feel that mine will be random but awesome at the same time. I shall try to post some of my journal on here as the month wears on.

I invite you to join me and join the revolution. For each one of us has MANY things about ourselves that are wonderful…it’s just finding these things that is the journey.

10 Years Seems Like A Long Time

10 years seems like a long time, it really does. But in truth, 10 years goes by faster than you can even imagine.


Today, we all know, is the 10th anniversary of when a group of terrorists thought that it was okay to hit some of the most important buildings in our country and kill thousands of people.


It was not okay.


In the past 10 years, we have been fighting against those terrorists that were associated with those who did the horrible deed.


But see, the thing is, I was 10 years old when the attacks happened. I didn't know what was going on. I was 10, I had never heard of the word terrorist. I couldn't even fathom the thought of thousands of people  dying in that sort of fashion.


But I do remember crying when I saw it on TV that afternoon when I got home. I remember knowing this was a huge thing because it was broadcasting on every television station. I also knew it was huge because my mother was home when I got home.


At that time, she never came home early.


10 years seems like a long time. But yet, it feels as if all this happened yesterday. A lot can change in 10 years. I finished elementary, middle and high school and I'm almost done with college. 


But I will always remember the actions of such a small few that changed my life forever. I know our nation will never forget.


Ten years ago we lost mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles and cousins. Ten years ago we lost heroes. Ten years ago we lost thousands of family members from around the world.


WE WILL NEVER FORGET!


I feel it best to share these lyrics today
:

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?

[Chorus:]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?

[Repeat Chorus 2x]
And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day? 

I'm Back on the Blogosphere

So, it's been...what? 6 months since I last posted something on here. And what a set of 6 months it has been. So I will be writing one of those long ass posts where I tell you what has happened in my life.



The end of February brought my spring break. I drove half way across the state to spend a few days with my cousin Molly. And I got my first tattoo!

It says, "Only when you are no longer afraid, do you begin to live!"

Then as April 1st dawned, I drove almost across the OTHER half of the state to spend some time with my best friend Katrina! We went and saw Lady Gaga when she came to Grand Rapids. It was literally one of the best concerts I've ever been to!

Katrina and I at Gaga!

The next day, Katrina and I drove over the last part of the state to see our friend Hoffa in Muskegon. While there, we walked through knee deep snow to go to the beach. It was beautiful!

In April, I became a certified Medical First Responder. I can save your life legitly no matter what kind of situation you end up getting yourself into! I also finished out the semester. I dropped Cognitive and ended up 4.0ing all my other classes. First 4.0 semester EVER in college for me!

In May, I worked a lot at camp. I was working a lot of group events. I also moved out of my apartment and into Katrina's house. I got to spend a lot of time with friends and get some well needed sleep as well. 

This is me after a long day at camp. It was cold and rainy....and I wasn't a fan.

In June, Katrina's youngest sister graduated from high school then summer camp began at The Fowler Center with all new staff. I met some rather awesome people.

Colleenie gradmatated!

July came long and tiring. I was at camp the whole time basically but even with the long hours, the hot weather, the sickness and injuries, I had a lot of fun this month. On the 16th, me and about 17 other people went to see Harry Potter in IMAX. It was amazing and an experience I will NEVER forget. I cried like a baby and my childhood ended. I also had some excursions to the lake and to Frankenmuth with some of my fellow counselors from TFC. I'm sure I will write a post soon with more details about my summer...SO MANY memories!

One of the campers and I with some bubble shenangians!

Frankenmuth mirror maze!

Guida and I on 4th of July at camp.

Another camper and I at Barn and Garden, the program area I ran this summer.

Trina and Dave, crazy shenanigans at Tim Hortons (that got us kicked out!)

August came more heat and exhaustion. The camp wasn't what I wanted it to be so at the end of the first week of August, I quit. It was a hard decision on my part because I basically LOVED  camp like everything, it just wasn't my thing anymore. I was one of 5 people that quit that week. One of the other quitters paid me to drive her home, so I was OFF to Chicago for a couple nights where I met her Mexican family, had some amazing food and spent a day hopping on and off the bus/train around the city. I was awesome. After that I was off to spend some time with a couple of the other quitters from camp, Dave and Helen. I helped them fix up their new apartment. 

One of my French books for this semester!

Moving in...why do I have so many books!

Molly and I went on a "Le Epic Day of Shopping" Labor Day. It was awesome. We stopped at Steak and Shake for Lunch...let's just say the shakes are amazing.

CHICAGO at night...from the Hancock Building!

Chrissy and I at The Bean!! So freaking awesome!

Me on Navy Pier. Chrissy and I stopped at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville while there for a margarita and burger!

And I got a NEW job literally just after quitting the old one. I'm actually at it right now. I work at the front desk of the building that I live in, which is AWESOME. It's easy, fun and well, secure. I will have a job here for the school year which makes me feel so much better about quitting camp! At the end of August, I moved BACK into my apartment, except on a different floor, and started school this week. I have some awesome classes, getting to know more people, catching up with old friends and life is awesome.