future

thankful

christmas, christmas music, family, future, gratitude, life, thanksgiving

At this time in years past I've rationed the Christmas music.  It's everywhere at this point.  There is a radio station here that pays the holiday cheer 24-7 starting the day after Halloween.

I used to give in and listen to the jingle belling and the deck the halling on constant repeat until the week before Christmas when, if I heard another version of Rudolf or Mariah tell me what she wants for Christmas one more time, I would have to fight the urge to cut my ears off.

This year I'm having a hard time coming to grips with the fact it's Thanksgiving already, let alone drowning myself in holiday tunes.  This year has passed so incredibly fast.  It's hard to remember what I was even doing this time last year.  Oh wait…

Anyway, today serves as a reminder to me that while things are busy, the futue is exciting, and yes I need more sleep, I really need to take it down a notch. Be present. Enjoy the moment. Appreciate what's happening right now.

So I take the time to remember the things I'm thankful for: 

Today's weather, dry and “warm” at almost 60 degrees.

The opportunity to make good food and share it with good friends.

Christmas music to help me feel the holiday cheer.

My incredibly wonderful family.

The parents I'm lucky to have.

Past experiences that make me who I am.

My employment, apartment, and the things I need.

My urban family = friends who take care of me as if I really belonged to their families.

The people I have met who enrich my life.

The possiblities hidden in the future waiting for me.

Today I turn down the noise and turn up the holiday tunes. Because nothing gets me feeling hoiday cheery more than Bing Crosby, the Nutcracker Ballet, Nat King Cole and Peggy Lee.

Today I take it slow, enjoy the process, and be thankful. Because by the time tomorrow comes, today will have been 3 months ago and I'll want it all back.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. 

the future is full of options

excitement, future, life, options, piglets, planning, school, The U

I've learned this week that if there is something I want, there is usually more than one way to get it. 

For example:

There's an east coast internship I want SO BADLY. I thought for a while that doing the intership was going to be impossible. I learned this week, that it's so possible. And there are options. 

One – There is a national student exchange program that allows me to switch universities for a semester or school year at the cost of in state tuition. Classes taken and GPA earned count toward graduation at The U.

Two – The U offers enough online courses that I can remain a full time student while living and interning 2000 miles away.

And that gets me so excited I can hardly contain it. 

Now that the intership is actually possible, I'm concentrating now on what I need to do before then to make me the best possible choice for the job. You know what that means? I'm creating a road map and planning for things that will happen at least a year from now. And I'm totally in my element.

Other events that I have options for? Where I'm gonna live in January. Where I'm gonna work part time while going to school. If I'm even gonna work while going to school. Selling my car and relying on public transportation. Extracurricular actvities. To roommate or not to roommate? 

There is a lot happening over here and it's exciting. While sometimes I wish I had finished school years ago, like everyone else who graduates high school and consequently finishes college as fast as possible, I have no questions about being better equiped emotionally and mentally to manage this journey at this point in my life. 

And for that I am grateful. Because this experience is gonna be awesome.

In other news, if little piglets didn't grow up to be smelly, dirty, gross, fat pigs, I'd totally want one.

Piglet

Piglet 1

Piglet 2

Piglet 3images via weheartit.com