beach glass

in my hand I hold a story

washed away by the sands of time

 

a fragment of the past

beaten and forgotten

stripped from depths that never saw the light

 

lost among the wreckage

of a perilous journey for years

it somehow found its way to me

 

but I cannot retell its tale

for its origins are still a mystery

forever lost under the waves

 

through all the uncertainty,

I know that I am holding

a connection to the past

 

a beautiful piece of beach glass

---

I recently took a walk along the shore and recovered a few pieces of beach glass that inspired me to write this. I began to wonder if they are a hundred year old remains from a shipwreck or simply a bottle that fell overboard… They could be anything, and the possibilities seemed endless. I think it is amazing to consider the story behind something so simple, and the history of something in my hand. What are your thoughts on this?

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Summer Playlist: July 2019

Hey, guys! Today, I thought it would be fun to share a few songs that I have been loving so far this month. I know that I posted a 4th of July playlist pretty recently, but I wanted to share some day-to-day tunes as well. Several of you have told me that you really enjoy these types of posts, so I am going to try to release a new playlist every month. Let’s see how long I can keep up with that commitment… I will definitely try my best, but I am making no promises because my life can get pretty chaotic during the year (as many of you already know.) Anyways, I hope that you enjoy listening and discover something new!

• I Would by Coin
• Keep You Close by Frenship
• January by Verzache
• Free & Lonely by X Ambassadors
• Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran (feat. Khalid)
• Careless by Vacation Manor
• Fallin Down by Goo Goo Dolls
• What Is Love by Chase Goehring

Which song is your favorite? What have you been listening to this month? Feel free to drop your own playlist in the comments section. 

elements ii

“there’s a universe

swirling inside you.

 

you have to learn to be

your own earth,

wind, fire

and water.

 

you are a natural

phenomenon-

not a natural disaster.”

~Unknown

*Photo Credits: Richard Jean-Louis

Just Beachy

A blanket of sand covered our toes, and the cool water brushed our skin.

Everything was just beachy.

I used to drive by the beach on my way to school everyday last year, and I would always gaze out at the peaceful solitude. Birds would occasionally fly through the wakening sky, and a light layer of fog would gently settle on the water. The sun would peek through the clouds while boats danced with the waves… I would long for that freedom as I sat in traffic preparing for another lecture-filled day. After months of fantasizing, I finally stepped into the water for the first time this summer, and I was so lucky to have had such great company. I had so much fun; thanks y’all! 

Do you enjoy going to the beach? Anything exciting coming up? What is your favorite thing to do during the summer? Is there something that you often find yourself longing for? 

My Survival Kit

Lately, several people have asked me the same exact question, and I began to realize that this might make a really interesting blog post. People catch a glimpse of my overflowing list of of day-by-day tasks on my weekly planner and look at me wide-eyed…

“How do you do it all?”

My reply is always the same: “I don’t even know.” In reality, however, I guess there really is a method to manage this madness, but it is not easy! I will be completely honest and tell you that there have been many nights that I have gotten under four hours of sleep as deadlines crept up faster than expected, so I don’t want you to get the impression that I have mastered these strategies because that is far from the truth. For the most part, however, I think this survival kit has really been the reason that I have been able to “do it all,” so I thought it might be neat to share with you.

1: Staying Organized:

My agenda/weekly calendar is actually color coded so that I can quickly see the homework load for each class. I also write down the important projects, papers, quizzes, and exams for that week in a black pen and highlight it in bright yellow so that I don’t accidentally miss them or forget to study. My friends think I am a bit crazy, but I actually color code my notes as well by the units or lectures.

2: Managing Time:

I always go to the campus library at least 30 min (sometimes even an hour) before my class begins to get a head start on homework for that day. I use every free moment that I have to get things done, so I frequently work Friday nights or even weekends as well. Time management is extremely important, so use extra time to your advantage!

3: Routine:

I also think following a routine helps me a lot because my body has gotten use to the wake/sleep times. This doesn’t mean that I am never tired, but it just means that I don’t feel like a walking zombie everyday because my body has gotten into a relatively consistent schedule.

4: Support:

Family and friends have significantly influenced me to keep working hard because I know they believe in me. This ultimately helps me believe in myself too, and it really does feel good to have someone there to encourage me through difficult times with a “you can do it!” attitude.

I also wanted to let you all know that I am scheduled to get my braces off on March 15!!!

I hope that you enjoyed this post, and thanks for reading!

How do YOU manage your schedule? Would you like to know my tips for studying late at night without getting tired? What was it like to get your braces off? 

It’s Thanksgiving, 2018!

I just want to take a second to acknowledge all of my dear readers and followers on this blog of mine. I am so thankful for all of your support, and it means so much to know that my words are being read and appreciated by so many people. Hopefully, you are all able to spend this afternoon celebrating with loved ones, filling your stomachs full of turkey and pie, as well as reflecting on all of your wonderful blessings.

For this post, I have decided to share 10 things that I am thankful for in no particular order:

1. The food and clean drinking water on the table
2. My faith
3. Family and friends
4. My heart to love
5. Home
6. Education
7. Freedom
8. My lungs that keep me breathing and alive
9. My car
10. My memory to remember those great moments in time

Feel free to share what you are thankful for in the comments below.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lovely Lakeside

I spent my weekend kayaking on calm waters, swimming on the shoreline, getting lost in good books, & enjoying the lovely lakeside… After such a long and intense week of training, camping was exactly what I needed to refresh my mind & body before another busy week starts. The summer clock is ticking away fast, and I only have a few more weeks before “busy” takes on a whole other meaning.

*I am trying to enjoy it while I can, because it is not going to last much longer! I hope all of my readers are having a great summer! Thanks for reading. 🙂

After 2 Years…

Water balloons began the celebration with a splash as we raced across the yard, drenched in colorful rubber pieces.

A delicious buffet of home cooked food followed this refreshing amusement.

Then, bets were placed as cardboard “soldiers” were sent flying high in the air after being released from a small firework. Wind carried them off as people shouted in hope that their parachute would land nearest to the chalk marked X.

The sky was suddenly glittering with hundreds of patriotic fireworks that exploded in the night. My face lit up. I was so happy to be home.

This was the first 4th of July that I spent with my family in two years, so it was definitely a special treat to be home. The afternoon was absolutely spectacular, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Thank you so much, Mom & Dad! I love you both so much! 🙂

Colorado Heights

Standing on the top of Pikes Peak 14,115 ft in the sky was definitely an experience that I will be sharing for a long time! Unfortunately, my family and I somehow managed to reach the top in the middle of a thunder-snow storm. We decided to stand on that mountain anyway and enjoy the impressive, hazy state of Colorado below. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pinch on my foot! My family thought I was crazy at first, but it all made sense when my hair stood straight up seconds later. Guys, I experienced an electrical discharge in a thundercloud over 14,000 feet in the sky… I know that this sounds unreal, and I know you may be thinking I have lost my mind. Whether you decide to believe me or not, I definitely didn’t want to leave this bizarre lightning encounter out of this post.

In addition, the Royal Gorge was definitely a grand landmark. I can now say that I have walked across the highest suspension bridge in the entire country! The Arkansas River raged below as I peered down down through the small spaces between the wood flooring. My mother suggested that I take a photo from this viewpoint, and I actually really like how it turned out! What do YOU think? Across the horizon, the river sliced a path through the rocks and cut through the landscape, creating a powerful moment in time…

#Colorado Heights

Memorial Day

Never forget all of those brave men & women who died for you and me

Forever honor those brave men & women who gave up everything so this country can be free

Always remember,

and may GOD bless them forever…

________________________________

I am indebted to these heroic people, and I am thinking about them this Memorial Day.