LIKES

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I have been sick all week. I finally got some great antibiotics that are my favorite color so I’m anticipating these magic pills will make me better.

I’ve had a lot of time to think this week as I was laying around feeling sorry for myself and clutching my throat. A lot of time to think about what is important to me. What I like. What my hobbies are. What my interests are.

At first my response was to think, “I’m not really passionate about anything.”

Wah wah waaaah.

Right. We all know that once I decided not to be an actor, I threw myself into an existential crisis. Over it.

The point is that I like a lot of things. And I’m here to tell you that liking things is AOK. Liking things is good. Trying new things is good. I don’t have to be an expert at everything I do. (Says the recovering perfectionist.) Sometimes I can just like things.

Further, I have made a brilliant discovery: I am not my job.

What? You already knew this? Well, really! You shouldn’t be so selfish by hogging all that good news for yourself. Please share next time.

Back to my discovery. I am finally realizing that a job is something that should engage me, challenge me, and feed me (by earning cash dollars). I should not hate it. That would be terrible. But I don’t have to be obsessed with my job either. It’s ok to like it.

I said it.

And I meant it.

This summer, because you know I love making goals, I’m going to try to focus on things that I like. And just let myself like them. Shouldn’t be too hard right?

I like all these things:

• Baking
• Painting my nails
• Trying new hair styles
• Riding my bike
• Being outside
• Going to the pool
• Reading new books
• Spending time with friends
• Blogging
• Taking thousands of pictures
• Seeing my family
• Being active (running, tennis lessons, yoga, reading on the elliptical – yes I realize one of these things is not like the others)
• Outside happy hours
• Going to the movies
• Going to Nats games
• Lazing around on the couch
• Testing new recipes
• Traveling on short road trips
• Exploring my own city
• Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
• Movies in the park
• Barbecues

Looks like I’m going to be busy.  :)

CONSISTENCY

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I've been thinking a lot lately about how I want to be better about my health and exercising. It probably doesn't help that I'm sick right now - my cold isn't helping me feel my best.

As my loyal readers (read: friends and family) know, I am a very goal oriented person. I respond well to structure. I make rules for myself and I follow them. Mostly. There was that one time in the grocery store...

The thing is, I am realizing that perhaps the key to feeling good and feeling healthy is not making strict rules for myself. Instead, I am starting to realize that it's about consistency.

I had planned to start running in the mornings before work today. I was going to make myself run for a month straight. I like running once I get into it and a short jog always gets me excited in the morning. Well, at least once I get out of bed.

But this morning, my carefully laid plans weren't happening. I feel terrible and it's raining. No thanks run.

So instead of giving up and saying, "To hell with today! I'll do whatever I want and start being healthy tomorrow," I'm going to say "This isn't right for me today. That is ok. Today I will rest because that is the healthiest thing to do and tomorrow I will see how I feel."

Consistent thinking. Consistent goal of being mindful and healthy.

It's not going to be easy for me, but if my body's telling me anything, it's "slow down and be gentle."

So that's what I'm going to do.

BE GRATEFUL: SLEEP

Happy Monday, I hope you enjoyed a day of rest yesterday and thought about something for which you are grateful.

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Yeah. I'm a day late. But that's because I'm not feeling well. Again! Stupid cold... isn't one per season enough?

Last night I slept for 9 hours. Tonight I will likely be sleeping for 11+.

And I'm very grateful.

Take care of your body when it yells at you. And sleep.

For what are you grateful today?

MOMENTS OF... LAKE GEORGE

There are times in life you remember how lucky you are. For me, last weekend was full of those little moments. 

I spent last weekend at Lake George with three of my best girlfriends from college. We all met within the first few days of school as we all lived in the same dorm. 

We've been through a lot since then, great vacations, rough breakups, hilarious stories, and moves from city to city, but our friendship always remains in tact. 

Lucky. Yep, I'd say that's an understatement. :)

HAHAHA I'll end with this last one... has anyone ever played Subtle Ugly in photos? DO IT. So fun. :)

BABY EVAN

There is something about babies that is restorative. I just love seeing little people come into the world.

It's even better when that little person is a little version of one of your favorite people in the world.

My cousin Rachel is the older sister I never had. She and I have different versions of the same brain and I am so grateful to have her in my life as a friend and confidant.

A few weeks ago, Josh, Kevin, Kathy and I met her brand new baby boy, Evan.

 

 

 

My heart melts.

CONGRATS Rachel and Steve!!! He is perfect. :)



Also check out Griffey's glamour shot that I took! :)

BE GRATEFUL: VACATION

Happy Sunday! Enjoy a day of rest and think of something for which you are grateful.

I was lucky enough to have a weekend away with three of my girlfriends from college this weekend. I just returned home and am so grateful for the chance to escape, recharge, and catch-up with some of the people who know me best in this world.

Lake George was gorgeous and just what I needed. Pictures to come!

For what are you grateful today?

THE FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE

I will never forget moving into my dorm room at Northwestern University. My Dad, Patti, and Jules drove my stuff across the country, got me settled, and when they left, I remember thinking, "Ok this is my home now."

I was really excited for a new adventure and a new chapter of my life to begin.

I met my roommate Andrea, a random assignment, who seemed just as bubbly and excited to be there as I was. It was such a crazy feeling to think that I barely knew her but we would be living together. In the TINIEST room of all time. We instantly started talking and I knew we'd be just fine.

NU has what's called "New Student Week" for the week before classes start. All of us Freshman were herded to different orientation meetings and events and mixers. I knew no one. I kept seeing the same faces at my theatre class introductions. One event we had to line up in birthday order in one of our rehearsal rooms while the department director, Rives Collins played the guitar. It was so odd.

My October birthday landed me next to Marco, born in November. He had on a leather jacket and he looked kinda mean. But he cracked a joke and laughed awkwardly and I knew he was a softy on the inside.

Between events at lunch one day, I was walking in the hall toward the food (or something like that) and I saw this beautiful blonde girl I recognized from my dorm. She had a bow tied in her hair and I had some kind of skirt on. The convo went like this...

In the hall, awkwardly...

Me: I like your bow.

Lindsay: I like your skirt.

Simultaneously: Wanna sit together at lunch?

A friendship was born.


Neither of us remembers who spoke first or who actually asked to sit where, but we both knew we wanted to be friends!

One of our first nights there (maybe night two) Jones (our dorm) had a big bonfire with s'mores. It was hilarious. At that bonfire I met a rather loud fellow who was from the DC-area. I had no idea Eric and I would become so close. He also introduced me to his roommate Reggie who instantly made me laugh with his crazy antics.

I also met Deanna who then came back to my dorm room after the bon fire and helped Andrea and I make our beds. I vividly remember talking to her about Arkansas where she was from and thinking how cool it was to meet someone who had a totally different background than me.

These six people were my first friends in college and extremely important people in my life today. They always will be.

This weekend I'm at Lake George with the girls. I expect to make many more memories this weekend. Don't worry, I brought my camera!

#blogeverydayinmay