one week...

Today marks one week since the horrific events at the Boston Marathon took place. The days that followed this tragedy have been a bit of a blur, and there are so many questions that remain unanswered. It has been nearly 20 years since the Oklahoma City bombing occurred, and even though I was just a child at the time, I find myself feeling much the same way today: profoundly saddened, a little scared, and overwhelmingly confused. And that very same lump in the back of my throat? It still comes and goes. 

From Columbine to Newtown, there is no appropriate explanation for cowardly acts of violence, terror, and hate. But I have been so deeply disappointed by the reactions of some of my peers (and equally inspired by others.) I understand that we cannot control our circumstances, but I do believe that we are responsible for our reactions in these situations. You cannot control the cards you are dealt, but you can control how you play the hand. Here are two clips from my Twitter feed...

The views expressed by these two individuals couldn't be more opposite. One left me feeling agitated and defeated, while the other lifted me up and encouraged me. Both were viewing the same situation, but in a completely different light. The thing is-- sometimes you have to cast the light in the darkness. We simply cannot afford to wait for someone else to shine it for us. 

I'll spare you my personal diatribe, and challenge you with the simple fact that each and every one of us has a choice to make. When dastardly acts of violence rob innocent lives or when arrogant jerks cut you off in traffic... You are responsible for you. It's a remarkably empowering thought. 

[And, since I can't resist... truthfully, if you are sickened by the country that you are living in, make a change and go somewhere you're proud of. Trust that you will not be missed. Tragedy is no excuse for the bold expression of blatantly anti-American sentiments.]

sitting and staring

Since I started blogging, er, getting paid to blog, I've been spending a lot more time in front of a computer. Sometimes I get so caught up in my work that 6 hours have disappeared before I realize it. Other days, sitting and staring really gets the best of me. I'm no expert, but over the past few months I've come up with a few tactics to beat that stir crazy feeling.


1. Visual Breaks. This one... I'm working on. I try to remind myself to do it, because staring at a computer screen all day can damage your eyes. But sometimes it's hard to break away. There are apps you can download that force you to take a visual break periodically, but let's be real, this girl doesn't like being told what to do. So in the mean time I'm trying to be more mindful of my retinas, I'm wearing my glasses more regularly, and I scheduled a long overdue eye exam. 


2. Stretch. When my back starts cramping up and my butt goes numb, I stand up and stretch for a minute. At home, I can do all sorts of crazy things, like sun salutations and tree pose and the YMCA. When I'm working in the office though, I try to be a little more discreet. I've learned a little something about office life... You can play "Party in the USA" on repeat or you can do intense yoga. Not both. If your taste in music is as questionable as mine, here are 6 Stretches You Can Do At Your Desk by Yoga Journal. 


3. Mental Break. When I catch myself getting distracted or my mind starts wandering off too easily, I walk away from my desk for a minute. I'm not gonna lie, I usually go make a cup of coffee, so I cannot testify if it's the caffeine that aids concentration or if simply putting down the task at hand and coming back to it helps me regain my focus. It's no wonder all of my notebooks have coffee rings on them, as seen above, but I take it as a sign of hard work. 


4. Rewards. Note: I'm 5 years old. This is something I've done since my school days (Finish reading a chapter? Apply one coat of nail polish. Homework and manicure in one, multitasking at its finest.) I break up a long list of arduous tasks with little treats as I accomplish things. Sure, checking something off your to-do list is rewarding. But not quite as rewarding as eating a handful of peanut m&ms. Sometimes you just need a little motivation. (Cue Kelly Rowland) 


So tell me, how do you make it through a long work day?

I'm a Blogger.

Good morning, loves. Well, I've been holding out on you and I guess it's about time I spill... I got a job! Not a career. Not a full-time, big girl, grown-up, wearing-pencil-skirts-to-the-office, 9-5 job, but a job, nonetheless. And it's in my field. Using my degree!  


This month I signed a contract to work as a blogger for a social media firm in Fort Lauderdale. Wait what? Yeah, I'm a blogger. Totally weird, huh? 

[my bio from the company website... Wait what?!]

I started this blog thinking it would improve my communication skills and make me a stronger writer. I hoped it would help cultivate a sense of self-discipline and a self-starter mentality. And it did. And, oddly enough, this little blog has opened doors I never imagined it could.


I didn't ever expect to "pursue a career in blogging," mainly because I felt like it was one of those novel ideas (ha, novel, gotta love a literary pun) that are too far beyond reach. Kind of like an 8 year old boy who wants to be a professional baseball player. Or every girl who saw How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days wants to work for a magazine. But, here I am, 22 years old and I'm going to get paid to do something I've been doing for fun for over 2 years. 

It's a dream. It's hard work. Sometimes it's frustrating, but the payoff is incredible (and I'm not talking money.) I tried to explain it to my mom recently and it's difficult to articulate, but there comes this point when I'm ready to pull my hair out. Things don't sound right, the piece isn't coming together. My eye starts twitching and I think, "I hate blogging, I hate writing, I hate words." And then something just clicks. Sometimes it's the perfect word. Sometimes it's the first sentence. Sometimes it's the realization that I need to scrap the whole thing and start over. Whatever it may be, things just come together all of the sudden. It's an epiphany. It's an adrenaline rush, kind of like falling in love or finding the perfect pair of heels in your size. It's the first bite of a warm cookie. It's the winning basket in overtime and the crowd goes wild. 


I'm a blogger. And I love it. 


It's funny though, and I'll be completely honest, I was not looking for jobs in social media. I was dead set, hell-bent on working in the nonprofit sector. But this opportunity presented itself and, oddly enough, about 25% of my work so far has dealt directly with nonprofits. God's funny like that. 

So, the nitty gritty: I'm still in Coastal Carolina. I'm still working at the restaurant. I work remotely from home or the office. I may relocate to Florida, just like I may end up in Timbuktu. It has been a lesson in juggling, sometimes I get it right and sometimes everything ends up on the floor. But I'm learning to manage. I know I'm doing things a little differently than most "young professionals" my age, and I'm ok with that. If I can give you any advice (if you're the type of person who takes advice from someone who clearly has a lot left to figure out) I'd say don't get locked into a certain idea of what your future should look like. Sometimes life surprises you in ways far more interesting than you could ever dream. Just be open to it. 


Thanks for reading, today & always, and for allowing me to share my craft with you. It truly means the world to me.