Dream

Sunday nights are for dinner with my mom and dad. Sometimes my grandma joins, usually my brother and sister are off at youth group. Sometimes we watch basketball or the Masters or our dog playing fetch by himself. Whether we gather around the fire on a frigid winter night, or if we're sitting on the back porch on a perfect spring afternoon, Sundays are my time with my mom and dad and it's special. We make jokes about silly things and my parents challenge and encourage me on the serious things. And we almost always eat steak. 

This week, my dad was asking me about my dreams. Personal, professional, everything. Then he said, "Don't waste your youth on safety. Safety is the biggest threat to progress that you will ever face." Thinking about the future can be overwhelming and scary. It's one thing to dream a dream, but to breathe it to life? Risky business.

At the end of the meal, my dad said "Do you know why Walt Disney wanted the castle built first when Disneyland was under construction?" As soon as he said this, I kid you not, "When You Wish Upon A Star" started playing in the background. The Steve Tyrell Pandora station had been playing for the entire evening, but as my dad was telling this very story, the original version of this iconic Disney tune started to play. Maybe I'm making it a bigger deal than it was, but I get goosebumps every time I think about it. It was just one of those magical moments that I don't think I will ever forget. 

So you want to know why Walt did it? He said it was so everyone could see the dream. 

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. 

what's in a name?

Monday, Monday, and my mind is all over the place. Not like "distracted, thinking really deep thoughts" but more like "hamster on speed going HAM on a wheel." I'm really not a fan of that term, but I couldn't resist HAM and hamster. Still friends?


So I've been brainstorming alternate blog titles. Not that I'm actually changing this little b-log's name (I have to pay homage to the only literary term I remember from my middle school years), but if I were going to, this is what I would be considering...


Shambles (I think this one is pretty self explanatory, and the most accurate description of the general disarray that is my life.)
Shamble Rambles
Rambles on Shambles
Shamblin Fool (Ok, I'll stop.)
Shantytown. 
Seriously.
Snack Time? 
Alliteration Station
All I Do is Win Eat.
Sew it Seams (Ok, that's actually the name of an alterations place in town... I just couldn't resist)
Questionable.
Certifiable. 
Legitimately. 
Luh jit uh met ly. 
Seriously?


What do you think? Any suggestions? If you're a blogger, how did you come up with your blog title? I really did learn the term "Soliloquy" in middle school & I've loved it ever since. But I certainly use "Shantytown" significantly more in real life... maybe it's time to mix it up! :)

[And a Goofy Gosling photo to lend some legitimacy to this post. Or to more accurately portray how I'm feeling. ]

bal·ance

When I went to Hawaii in September, I stayed on the Big Island in the small town of Waimea. Upon arrival, I was struck by the perfect balance the place achieved. The dry side of town is rocky and arid, with plentiful sunshine. On the opposite side of town, the wet side, the grass grows tall and the trees are lush and green. It rains almost every day there, and there is certainly no shortage of rainbows. Waimea is tucked in the mountains, but overlooks miles and miles of pristine beach. My days in Hawaii followed this idea of balance, too. Morning runs through the misty town were invariably followed by lazy afternoons soaking up the sun on the beach. We ate dinner at some of Hawaii's finest restaurants, and grabbed breakfast at some of the locals favorite dives. It was perfect. 

a·bun·dance

(noun)

1. A great or plentiful amount
2. Fullness to overflowing 

Synonyms:
plentiful - copious - profuse - ample - affluent - rich

Here's to cuddling up with loved ones, flipping through a multitude of circulars, and watching as the television slowly fades from the parade to football games. 

As I sit back on this day of thankfulness, one word comes to mind above all others: abundance. I am so very fortunate, so richly blessed. And as easy as it is to get wrapped up in the splendor of this fine day- the falling leaves, the delicious foods, the people we are so blessed to spend this time with, let us always remember to give thanks. My heart is so full of gratitude, to the One who provides it all, Jehovah-Jireh. 

mar·vel

mar·vel (verb) 

to become filled with surprise, wonder, or amazed curiosity.

I drive over this bridge nearly every day, but oddly enough, I am always overwhelmed by the breathtaking views. Sometimes, the sun melts into the sunset like a bowl of orange sherbet. Other days, the water sparkles like a treasure chest filled to the brim with sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. And even still, on days when the clouds hang low and you can actually see the humidity in the air, I marvel at the fact that this is where I live. I hope I never lose that- the ability to marvel. When you are intimately aware of your Creator, the creation takes on a whole new wonder. 

won·der (noun) 

the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary

wan·der·lust

wan·der·lust

(noun) \ˈwän-dər-ˌləst\

a strong longing for or impulse toward wandering

Rome, Florence, Capri, Santorini, Venice... just to name a few.

Where do you dream of wandering?

words

tiramisu

epicurean

lovely

golden
decadence

dainty

relentless

timeless

classic

latte

alfresco

adventure
cozy

candlelight

wanderlust

moonstruck

romance

truly

undoubtedly

certainly

sun-kissed

rustic

delicious

delightful

likeness

adore

These are some of my favorite words. I like some of them for what they mean. Others for how they sound. And yet others for how they make me feel. I've always been particularly fond of words though. 

What are some of your favorites? I'd certainly love to know!

[image via Sunday in Bed]