I did something unforgettable in the spring of 2013. No, I didn't write an earth-shattering exposé about the plight of refugees in the Middle East. I wish that I had done something that was memorable in such a positive way, but this was unforgettable in the worst way.
Remembering My Grandma
Last Sunday I got a call that I never wanted. I was in Indianapolis for a winter retreat with students who volunteer for my office when I received news that I was not expecting. I first got a text telling me that my Grandma was not doing well and then a follow-up call to inform me of how pressing the situation truly was.
Planning for the Future in a Pup Tent
I lay on my sleeping bag feeling content. Sunlight warmed me as it filtered through the thin material of the small tent that I was inside. Within a few moments, I heard my Mom outside the tent. She unzipped the door and made her way inside.
That Time a Permitted Driver and a Pastor Crashed Near a Former Insane Asylum
Visiting family for the holidays in snowy, Western New York recently brought back a memory from quite awhile ago: the time I drove the family car down a thirty-foot incline.
Five Lessons from a Seasoned (Western) New Yorker
If you've been following my 23-goals, you'll know that I agreed to visit my friend Rae in New York City during my week of "yes." We did a ton of incredible activities, so instead of trying to paint the narrative of my visit, I've decided to break my NYC adventure into the lessons that I've learned.
Using Someone’s Love Language to Make Their Day
Sometimes I meticulously plan the execution of my goals, and other times, I happen to complete a goal without even trying to do so. This recently happened when I bought my friend Alexis a bouquet of flowers.
That Time I Worked on a Dairy Farm
Most people who have gotten to know me over the past few years find it impossible to believe that I worked on a farm as a teenager. I don't know if it's because of my love of Starbucks or my penchant for using mildly intellectual words like "penchant," but people rarely accept it when I say that I am well versed in farm culture. Since this will probably continue happening, I figured that the best way to explain this era of my life would be through a blog post.
I’m Thankful For…
As families across America gather around their tables or TVs to commemorate a holiday that is all about giving thanks, I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to list a few things that I am incredibly grateful for:
My Two Weeks Without Media
Like most people my age, I have an unhealthy dependence on all forms of media (Instagram, YouTube, online news sites, etc.). Realizing that this was a problem in my life, I decided to make it a goal that I would abstain from media for two whole weeks. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this challenge, but boy did I quickly learn.
I Said “Yes” for an Entire Week
I have a problem. No, I'm not referring to my obsession with documentaries about the morbidly obese or the happiness that I derive from making muffins late at night (although those may be connected and could undoubtedly use a blog post to dissect). Rather, I am referring to the unbelievably fast way in which I say "no."
