Blog Everyday in May - Day 31

Today's topic: A vivid memory

For some reason, my entire year of grad school is one extremely vivid memory. The rest of my college years all run together, but grad school feels like it was yesterday.

I remember every night out, every day of class, every hour wasting away in the library studying for the CPA exam.

I remember sledding down the dike by the lake in a kayak and breaking into Death Valley (Clemson's football stadium) on the night it snowed.

I remember 11 of us enjoying our last spring break ever at my parent's beach house in Litchfield.

I remember the crazy, fun summer. Hours spent in the library, and then hours spent relaxing at the lake and by the pool (even if it did mean taking my CPA flashcards with me).

And I remember it all being worth every. single. second.

Blog Everyday in May - Day 30

Today's topic: React to this term: Letting Go

This topic makes me laugh.

I am the queen of not letting go.

I'd like to think I learned a few things after taking 2 years to get over the boy I dated before Ryan. But I'm not sure that's the case.

All I know is that time heals all.

If only you could just fast forward sometimes.

Blog Everyday in May - Day 29

Today's topic: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories.

Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars


Incredibly beautiful song by one of my favorite duets.

Windows are Rolled Down by Amos Lee


Reminds me of summer. And grad school.

Free Fallin' by John Mayer

 
I could listen to this song all day long.

Footsteps by Nelo

 
Thanks to Jordan and Bobby for introducing me to this band.

Right Above It by Lil Wayne

 
I can't tell if I should be embarrassed that this is the most played song on my iPod. Again, it reminds me of grad school. I had some of the greatest memories from that year.

Blog Everyday in May - Day 28

Today's topic: Only pictures.

Italy.

London

Brussels

Paris

I want to go back to Europe.

Blog Everyday in May - Day 27

Today's topic: Write a letter to your readers.

Well this seems awfully silly to do, considering I have about 25 followers and the only people I know of who religiously read my blog are my mom and sister. But I'll play along anyway.

Dear Readers,

Thanks for listening to me ramble. I started this blog for me, to keep a journal of my travels and life in the "real world". I love being able to look back in time and remember the good and not so good things. Thanks for coming back to get a little glimpse of my everyday life.

And to my blog friends who I've had to pleasure of chatting with outside of just posting comments, Jess, Anna, Amy, and Melissa Jo, y'all are awesome and I love getting to talk to you on a daily/weekly/monthly basis! So glad I've met y'all through blogland!

Blog Everyday in May - Day 26

Today's topic is relatively simple: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss.

I read a lot of articles on Thought Catalog. Sometimes they're funny and make me laugh, and others are serious and make me think.

I can't find the original article because it was a few weeks back, but I liked the article enough to write down a quote out of it and save it on my phone.

"So, instead of worrying about The One, forget about that and be The One You Would Want To Be With. Go running every night, smile at every person you meet, pick up that James Joyce novel you've been putting off, start writing again, join a support group to work out your issues, go back to get another degree, help old ladies accross the street, take Tai Chi to learn to let go, get involved at the local community center and/or take a cooking class. Push yourself to get out and be better; you can't control who you meet, but you can control who you are when you meet them. You probably won't find perfect. However you might find the thing you didn't know you were looking for all along."

I waited as long as possible to write about this on my blog, but this is a journal of sorts for me so it didn't feel right to not mention it at all.

A little less than a month ago, Ryan broke up with me. After a year and a half, he walked into my apartment and blindsided me with the fact that he wasn't happy. Apparently, busy season was not fun for him either and I wasn't fun to be around anymore.

While I don't entirely believe that things are over forever (he wants space and time, I want to work on managing my work-stress a little better), I know I need to change some things.

And man, I loved this quote from this article. It's so true.

I love my job. I really do. But sometimes I have to remind myself why. When I'm working 12 hours a day for 4 months straight, it's kind of hard to remember why I'm a CPA and why I decided to do this voluntarily.

It's all about attitude. I can't expect Ryan to be sunshiney and positive when I come home from work grumpy and cranky and snapping at him about every little thing.

This has been quite the wake up call. But like all things in life, they happen for a reason.

And on a lighter note, as I'm coming up on my 25th birthday, this article made me smile.

Blog Every Day in May - Day 25

I was so looking forward to this challenge when Jenni first announced it back in April. But sometimes life happens and I couldn't dedicate time to my blog every day this month. But because I'm finally catching my breath at work and in life, I thought it would be fun to participate for the last week of the challenge, so I've scheduled posts ahead of time while I'm frolicking through Lake Tahoe/San Francisco/Napa!

Today's topic is: something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad).

I had to think about this one for a while. And not because I'm at a loss for memorable things people have said to me.

I have extremely wonderful parents who tell me they're proud of me often. I have amazing bosses who are never at a loss with words of encouragement and praise.

I'm very very lucky.

But one thing I'll never forget is when someone told me I care too much. And not in a good way. Yes my friends and family are important to me and I do my best to care for those I love. Maybe a little too much.

In college, I worried about everything. More specifically, everyone. When we were all out drinking, being college kids, I worried about how everyone was going to get safely home. I had to be everyone's "mom." I had a friend tell me that it was okay to let other people (my friends) make mistakes, and learn for themselves. For some reason, this was extremely hard for me to do. But once I took the weight of worrying for everyone else off my shoulders, I felt relieved.

And one good thing: recently, when Ryan and I were riding in the car somewhere, I was singing along to the radio. He looked over at me and said, "You have a really pretty voice." And for some reason, that little compliment made me smile for the rest of the day. My parents are very musical. My mom and dad sing in the choir at the church I grew up in. But I never really thought I had a nice voice.

Sometimes it's the little things that can brighten your day!