quote wall for my LIFE!!

Yesterday everyone kept saying funny things, and I couldn't help missing the quote walls I have had with some of my roommates over the years. The thing is that now I wouldn't know where to put it since it features most of the people I know and love. :) So I am putting it on this blog, since I don't use it for much else. Expect updates.

"If this thing falls off the vacuum again, I am going to swear!!" - Mom. (The thing did fall off again, about eight times, and she kicked it across the room).

"Why are you laughing?" -Me
"I'm not laughing, I'm hyperventilating." -Scott (Studying for molecular biology)

OK, and now that I have finally sat down to do this, I can't remember anymore! So I guess I will have to add to it as I remember them.

So, it's been a while.

I haven't felt the desire to bare my soul to the universe for almost 2 months. I don't really have anything to bare right now, either, except that I'm alone in my apartment, cozy in a grey sweatshirt, listening to cozy indie music and procrastinating my genetics homework.

So the summer was an interesting one. I learned a lot, most especially how to turn down the worrying in my mind. (I know it's sad, because I still worry a lot. But I've really improved drastically). Now I am trying to keep the worrying down while having about 10,000 more things that I have to do. Classes are pretty intense this semester, and half the time I feel like I am the intellectual inferior of everyone there. I am taking an O Chem lab, Genetics, Anatomy, a CS Lewis class, a couple of dance classes, and a religion class. In Anatomy I feel like everyone has the procedure down to a T and I am flailing around trying to stuff all these terms into my little brain. But I keep getting better every week, so hopefully by the end of this semester I will have it figured out enough to earn an A. Dance is also kind of intimidating. I had my first test today, the Chacha. The moves are pretty tough, and it is all I can do just to finish them. When I got my comment sheet all the feedback was negative... but it was still very constructive, so hopefully I can learn from this test and do better in the class from now on. I feel pretty overwhelmed with school but I am trying to remember that first of all, grades are not everything. I can get into pharmacy school somewhere, even if it isn't my first choice. And anyway, life doesn't mean much if there isn't some joy thrown in there.

And along that vein... despite the stress (it's really only been hovering around me the last three days or so) I have definitely been able to find a lot more joy this semester. I think it comes from trusting in the Lord and also just allowing myself to have more fun. I am meeting amazing people and doing things that I used to think I was just too busy for, like intramurals. (My kickball team won in an AWESOME game on Wednesday night! I am so excited about it I keep telling everyone what happened). I am not spending every weeknight in the library, and even when I do have to study til midnight I do it among friends. Which is a much better idea because then sometimes I get a back rub into the bargain.

All in all... life is not perfect. There are many things that I'm not sure how I will handle at this point. But in life you can always find something to complain about, and you can always find something to smile about. You just have to choose. I think I'll choose smiling. :)

more natural highs

Maybe this blog will just be an ode to natural highs... anyway I was talking to Caitlin and we have some more.

*Running through the sprinklers
*When you have lots and lots of marshmallows in your Lucky Charms.
*Discovering a good conversationalist
*Kamila Shamsie's language construction
*Staying up until three in the morning with good friends
*Doing something awesome for the first time! (Yesterday: first baseball game, first drive-in movie)
*Chacha (The dance, not the cell phone service)
*Loving life

Le fin. Pour maintenant.

natural highs

My friend Caitlin and I have lately been classifying things as "natural highs." You know, those small and simple things that just make life beautiful. We've been talking about making a list for a little while, and I thought I would just make a list of my own personal natural highs. :)

*swinging
*looking at the stars
*when the sky is completely blue with no clouds
*wearing Rock and Republic Jeans :)
*mochi
*the smell of lilacs
*Indian food
*reading a line in a book where the words are just beautiful and flow like poetry
*certain jazz chords... mmmmm
*anticipation
*sinking into your pillow after being exhausted
*getting a text message
*being told you're beautiful
*Marshmallow Mateys + whipped cream = bliss
*love
*friends
*being invited somewhere
*eye contact
*hitting a clean F chord on the guitar
*cooking something delicious
*doing things for other people, even when you are busy
*looking at the screen at the testing center and seeing "good job" next to your score
*being on time
*a really good chick flick. :)
*waking up and realizing you have a few hours left to sleep
*eating chocolate
*dancing

I could probably go on forever, but I have to get ready. Just writing this list was a natural high, haha.

good quote

Someone had this on their facebook, and as I am trying to develop the character trait of charity I liked it a lot. :)

You can't give joy to someone else, but you can find it by trying.

Can I just say...

It's been an amazing day. :-D

good perspective.

I am reading this for my Humanities 202 class and I thought it offered a good way to maintain an eternal perspective.

All nature is but art, unknown to thee;
All chance, direction, which thou canst not see;
All discord, harmony not understood;
All partial evil, universal good:
And, spite of pride in erring reason’s spite,
One truth is clear, whatever is, is right.

This is from the Essay on Man by Alexander Pope. I think it is just a good reminder that no matter what is happening in life, and no matter how wrong it feels at the time, everything is working for a greater purpose.