Striving For Greatness...

Hello World. I have no great inspirational thoughts or deep seeded angst to express, I just felt like writing. It is a curious thing sending out various groupings of words and sentences into the vast unknown hoping that someone out there is reading my entertaining blog. It'd be nice if what I wrote meant something to another person, but the fact that I'm expressing it is enough to satisfy. I guess I just enjoy putting pen to paper (or in this case fingers to keypad).

Often after reading an excellent novel or a quote so eloquently stated, I wish that I had that natural prowess and was so adept that I could carelessly toss out a statement and everyone around would be in awe. To be an Edgar Allan Poe, Fyodor Dostoevsky or Shakespeare would be phenomenal. Alas, it is just I, Laura, the novice striving to put her mark on the world in some way. Perhaps if I could sing beautifully I would inspire thousands with mere verses. Or if I had raw talent in any sport, I could encourage athletes all over. Basically, I am trying to find a means of putting my average talents and common qualities to use in a meaningful way.

I want to make a difference. I want to improve the lives of those around me and leave this world better than I found it. It's cliche, but it is my heart. Sometimes I feel so small and insignificant in this grand place. How can I make any lasting impression or change? I still don't know yet. I am searching different passions to find the right fit for my characteristics. I have at least narrowed down the field a little.

I wish to work in a non-profit organization or an organization that focuses on children, music or athletics. I am quite fond of each of those categories and would be beyond content to partake in a career devoted to any of them. Currently I am awaiting news from Teach For America to see if my application qualifies me for the phone interview stage. I would most like to teach younger children. I love how innocent and capable kids are at that early age. The world is still so full of mystery and little discoveries are much more exciting. I would love to be part of that wonder.

Thinking of how to impact the world in a large way also lends my thoughts toward small difference makers and how they are just as important. I think of my parents and how they have challenged and encouraged me from birth to present. Without them I would be a lesser individual. I think of bad days and how one smile or kind comment turned the entire day around and changed my mood instantly. That is something I, we, could all do on a regular basis. If I was just a little bit kinder, a little slower to anger, a little more hesitant to judge, a little quicker to lend a hand or a little bit more encouraging, I could impact people in a prominent way without the glory. We rarely remember the small souls that intersect our lives and change it for the better. But that doesn't make their presence valueless. It is the best way to make your mark on the world, anonymously.

All that jibber jabber to simply say I want to value the way I affect others more than I value my own praise. I think often of the character Melanie Hamilton Wilkes from Gone With the Wind. She was the kindest person in the film and loving toward everyone regardless of how they treated her. She didn't always receive acclamation for her good deeds, but she was always happy and she changed those around her for the better by simply believing in the good in them. She made a lasting impact because she helped change people in her life and with their renewed spirits they changed others. She started the ripple of good. Much like the movie Pay It Forward, where the main character dies, but his kindness lives on in hearts of those he touched. He too saw the good in each person he met. "There is good in everyone," is what my Nana always used to say and I agree. I am going to strive to find the good in others and treat all as if they were a cherished friend or family member.

"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!" -Anne Frank

Just Be

One day as I was roaming the various bookstores of Murfreesboro, I came across a very intriguing book, This Book Will Change Your Life. Written by Benrik (combination of the "mentors" of the book, Ben and Henrik) and seemingly silly, I chose to take a chance on this bargain priced book and see if it would uphold its promise to change my life. I decided to wait until my 25th birthday to begin my adventure with the book. Partly because it would be easier to keep up and mostly because I would be starting a new chapter in my life of post-graduate adulthood.

This book drew me towards it because of the complacency and mundanity I had begun to experience in my daily routine. I eat, I sleep, I work at Plato's and occasionally I throw in a hang out with friends, a visit to family or another random act. I began to feel as if I wasn't living at my fullest capacity and I was becoming too zombie-like for my taste. I decided to use this book as a jumping off point of shaking things up a bit.

I am genuinely happy with all circumstances of my life and I am very blessed to be where I am at today, but I don't want to just live a nice quiet life. I want to go on an adventure. I like my current job, but it is by no means a permanent choice. I yearn for a vocation that allows me to help others in a meaningful way and causes me to feel excited and passionate about my profession. I want to want to go to work.

I also like Tennessee a lot and it will always be my home, but I need a change of scenery. I want to live in a big city, see the country, see the world and experience different cultures.

I plan to take my ordinary circumstances and make them extraordinary by living life to the fullest. I firmly believe that all my dreams stated above are highly probable, but I need to take initiative and step out of my complacency. This book is the tool to help me do just that.

I have only done 4 of the 365 daily tasks so far and they have been silly, challenging and inspiring. I can only anxiously await the remaining days arrival and the adventures they bring. One day asked me to throw something away that I liked. That was really hard to do and I stood back and really saw how many things I hang onto that are superficial and serve absolutely no purpose. I own a superfluous amount of clothing, shoes, entertainment, etc. The task really made me aware of how materialistic I am.

Today's task had me color in a map of countries I have visited, will visit this year, wish to visit and wish to never set foot in. It was humbling to see how many countries were colored in yellow (representing want to visit) in comparison to the 3 colored green (representing visited). I always say I want to travel the world, but I also always say I will when I have money, when I have time or when I am older. Why not now? I decided to live more spontaneously and if a trip arises to take it and never look back. Although it wasn't out of the country, I traveled to D.C. this fall on a whim. Jon Stuart and Stephen Colbert were holding a rally and I decided to use every last penny in my bank account and go on an adventure. It was beyond worth it and one of the best trips I have ever taken.

I hope this book does change my life and I can look back on my 26th birthday and laugh at the crazy things I did and saw. I'm not going to post for every day (that would be too crazy) but I am going to write about the interesting, hilarious or just plain weird tasks required from this book. I hope it is entertaining and maybe, just maybe, it will change your life as well.

In closing, my motto for this year is to be daring, to be spontaneous and to just be.

'Tis The Season...

Donning my new TOMS, I sauntered out my front door into the crisp cool air that smelled of snow to come and made my nose tingle just slightly. I love the first few days of winter when I can still feel my fingers and toes and a warm scarf is the perfect accessory to keep one toasty. Coffee and hot chocolate are stars during this time of year, and while I don't drink either, I greatly appreciate the atmosphere that surrounds them both. Winter makes me want to snuggle up by the fire (well other people's fires due to the lack of a fireplace at my house) and stay up late having good conversation. Movies and books are always a classic and valid choice when staying warm and listening to the wind whistle.

Appreciation for all things increases with the decrease in temperature. I think it has to do with the fact that you are stuck inside and have to sit still, which causes you to think and once you're thinking, it's only moments before you realize how great life is and how blessed and fortunate we all are! If you are reading this it means you have a computer or at least access to one. As we sit cozily on our couches reading blogs and stalking friends on Facebook, there are thousand of unfortunate people spending their holidays in the bitter cold. There are many levels of need during the giving season. I challenge you to validate the name of this supposedly generous season and donate time or resources to those less fortunate than yourself.

I am a firm believer in non-profit organizations and have listed several organizations that I personally donate to and support.

TOMS Shoes was started when founder Blake Mycoskie discovered a need during a mission trip in 2006 in Argentina. He researched and found that many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. This opens them up for risk of injury, infection and disease. Lack of shoes also prevents children from attending schools which often require shoes as part of their dress codes. Blake created the concept of "One for One" which simply means for every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS Shoes will donate one pair to a child in need. This is the perfect compromise, you can give your loved one a tangible gift while also donating a functional present to a deserving child.

Mocha Club is focused on providing the donors with a hands-on experience in the club's five main focus areas: Clean Water, Education, Child Mothers + Women At Risk, Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children and HIV/AIDS + Healthcare. The name comes from the concept of giving up 2 mochas a month ($7) and instead donating that money to this worthy cause. It is more interactive because you are able to have a team and make a difference with your collective efforts. Then each month they send blogs updates and videos so you can witness your money at work. One of their mottos is, "Africans developing Africa." All of their work done is through indigenous leaders.

Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) is another organization I support. They are devoted to providing medical aid to those most in need and play the role of advocate for countries in crises that have been neglected. "The vast majority of MSF's aid workers are from the communities where the crises are occurring, with ten percent of teams made up of international staff..." is a quote from their website that summarizes their cause. This organization selects trained medical professionals to assist in giving over 60 countries first-rate medical care during times of violence, epidemics, or catastrophes. I really believe in this cause because they provide quality medical care and a voice to those struggling.

Operation Christmas Child is a branch of Samaritan's Purse and is probably my favorite charitable donation for the holidays. It is very simple. You pick what age child you want to donate to and then you fill a shoe box with fun toys and gifts that they will enjoy. You make as many or as few shoe boxes as you like and when you are finished there are drop off locations throughout the country. I like this one the most because I have made a shoe box every year with my family since I was 5 or 6 years old. It also allows you to donate on a more personal level. Their mission is: To demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world."

I'm not asking you to forgo all Christmas presents, but can you not spare just one? Find a family member or friend and instead of trading gifts, each of you donate to a charity in the other's name. Albert Pine puts it beautifully, "What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." I'll leave you with another quote by Mother Teresa, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."