all our mistakes are merely grist for the mill

“I hate cynicism; it’s my least favorite quality, and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien.

Conan’s farewell speech on the Tonight Show was very heartfelt and very classy. He finished it with the above statement. He addressed it to his audience, but he especially directed it toward the younger viewers. It really does hit close to home.

A lot of my friends and peers are cynical, and it is very disappointing to be around that constantly. It is especially hard as a recent college graduate and new to the job market. Of course being a part of the “Me Generation” does not help. We were all raised to believe that we are the best, we deserve the best, and we do not settle unless it is the best. Being turned down by one job after another is a difficult beating to get, but something my peers may not learn is that they are doing the same thing over and over again, rather than learning from what they did wrong the first time.

They don’t pay attention to the little details, and they never think it is their fault…because it just isn’t, right?

A lot of my peers are very pessimistic…they say it’s being “realistic.” Is it? When you set yourself up for disappointment, you’ll get just that. When you apply for a new position, go into an interview or whatever it may be with the thought in your mind that you will not get it, then why bother? Your attitude going into the task is going to be negative, and you probably won’t get it. Somehow this makes you “right,” because you knew you weren’t going to get it, and you didn’t. How does that help?

Like Conan said, you have to work hard, be kind. Be kind to yourself and believe in yourself. If something doesn’t go your way, take that as a learning experience. Learning doesn’t end after you graduate from college; it is neverending.

it’s all part of a grander plan that is coming true

2009: One helluva year. It went by quickly, but it seemed like a lot happened. I’ve grown up, acquired a job, and learned to let go.

I graduated from Valdosta State a year ago, and the first six months at home were quite frantic. Everyday was spent searching and applying for jobs while working as a public relations freelancer for a small business consulting firm. The job was not exactly ideal, but it kept me busy for the most part. I spent my afternoons at the gym and more time looking for jobs. I had a few interviews, and with the job market the way it was, things didn’t seem like they would ever go my way.

My freelance position ended at the end of May, and I was convinced that I would spend the summer relaxing and attending Braves games. I was wrong; I received a job offer phone call the second week of June, and I knew it was the perfect position. I’m now a Web author in the office of public affairs at Georgia Gwinnett College.

I consider myself very fortunate considering the fact that most of my classmates that I graduated with are either not working in the PR field or are back in school. I’m doing something that is related to my major as well as my interests, and I love it!

2009 has also been beneficial for me. I’ve lost about 35-40 pounds (it fluctuates), and I feel a lot healthier than I did a year ago. I go to spin class three to four times a week, and it is incredible. I never thought I could ever do it, and it’s still a class many people fear. I love it. I love Life Time Fitness!

Something that still is tough on me everyday is learning to let go. There are people in my  life that I always wonder about, but I’m slowly learning to let them go. They’re toxic in my life, and I have better people in my life to love and adore…People that actually care all of the time.

2010…20-10? 0-10? 10? So strange. I’m excited about the opportunities that are still to come in 2010. I’m going to continue to work out, eat better and get healthier. My goal is another 30 pounds, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but if I surpass it, then great. I’m going to get better about letting go of negativity; I’m too optimistic to let things get in my way. I hope to increase my job duties at work and prove to everyone that I am capable of many things.

I hope you all have had a fantastic 2009, and I hope 2010 treats you even better. Happy new year!

don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feelin’

It seems so silly to be attached to something that is so materialistic. Yesterday, my parents traded in our 1994 “dusty rose” Lexus ES300 — aka the “purple Lexus.” It’s great because this is the first time my dad has bought a new car for himself in a 20+ years. He deserves a great car. I’m just heartbroken that the Lexus is no longer in our possession. I was probably six-years-old when we first bought it. It made many trips with my parents, my brothers and myself from Coral Springs, Fla. to Orlando and the other way around. When I turned 16-years-old, it became my car. My very first car.

I drove it everywhere my junior and senior years of high school. Listening to “Don’t Stop Believin’” on repeat with my windows and sunroof open. It came with me to college, and it was so reliable. The nights of fitting seven or more people in it..probably not the safest thing, but it worked. It was THE purple Lexus, after all. I only had it for a semester in college, but it sure does carry a lot of memories from that first semester.

So, 16 years later, it’s gone. My Valdosta State University license plate is still on the front of it. Remnants from a Milton High School parking pass can still be found. Breaking the news to my friends about the end of an era was just as tough. I got many sad replies, but all because we can still hear ourselves singing (terribly, I might add) “Don’t Stop Believin’” at the top of our lungs. It’s going to take a bit of adjusting when my dad comes home and I don’t hear squeeky brakes. I’m going to miss seing the purple Lexus in the driveway.

Here’s to you, purple Lexus. Thank you for always being reliable, but most importantly…thank you for the memories. I hope your next owner will create his/her own memories.

the most wasted of all days is one without laughter – e.e. cummings

I’m pretty sure that if we could give office superlatives, I would be the “office clown,” because of my goofy dorkiness. I find humor in any situation, and I just think that life is too short to be serious. Don’t get me wrong, I know when it’s time to get to work and get things accomplished; I just think that if you can take a few moments out of your day to laugh, share a joke, or smile, your day will be a lot better.

I don’t goof off to be the center of attention. Truthfully, I hate being the center of attention. I act the way I do and I believe so strongly in optimism because maybe (and hopefully) I’m helping to make someone’s day a lot better. I think a day goes by quicker and becomes less stressful if you can take a minute to laugh. Why not?

Anyway, sorry to my dedicated readers (ha ha) for not updating in a little over a month. I’ve been slacking! I still adore my job, what I’m doing, who I work with, and my life in general. Nothing is certain, but everything right now seems to be perfect. Perfect to me, at least.

I owe all of the happiness to the people in my life. I’ve just come to realize that as you grow up, there are people in your life that guide you to a certain place, but it is up to you to let them go once you get there. There are just people who are meant to only be in a portion of your life, and there are others who will be by your side for the rest of your life. Be thankful for those in your life: past, present and future. Those who have helped you get to where you are today, those who are helping you survive everyday and to those to come. Learn to let go of unnecessary junk.

…and always remember to take a moment out of your day to laugh!

nightswimming deserves a quiet night

After the 4th of July celebrations Saturday, I drove home from Kelly’s and took a different route to avoid the traffic. Naturally, I got stuck in traffic with all of the other folks avoiding the traffic, so much for that. I drove past my old high school and was stopped at a red light. I looked around, and the streetlights and the Corner Deli brought back so many memories from high school — long walks back to my parking spot, celebration/disappointment walks back after football games, shooting stupid videos for class, getting kicked out of Coach’s class and heading to the Corner Deli, getting drenched in the rain, hearing the marching band on Friday mornings, etc.

Fast forward four years, and here I am. A lot more mature, a lot more knowledgeable. I attended a PRSA|GA luncheon today with my friend, Kay. I’ve attended luncheons before with my friends in Jacksonville with the NFPRSA group, but this time I attended as a “professional.” It was awesome to be able to explain what I do and why GGC is a great place to work. It was an even better feeling when people recognized the name from the news, the Web, etc. I also got to give a few pointers for social media techniques, and that was amazing.

I just love where my life is going. I’m glad I can go back and remember good things about my past, all of which have made me a more determined person today. I’m learning a lot in my new position, and I hope that I am doing an okay job. I’m working on a few pages for the Web site, so keep checking back to GGC’s Web site for updated info! And follow us on Twitter: @georgiagwinnett, and fan us on Facebook!

Shout outs: Ms. Kay Hearn & my friends in Jacksonville with North Florida PRSA!

she believed she could, so she did.

I’m still adjusting to this “grown up” world. I wake up at 5:30 in the morning, hit the gym with the other early risers, get ready for work, hit up starbucks (sometimes), then head to work. I work at GGC during the day, and on some days, I head to the Loft for the closing shift. I just like to stay busy, and I think after six months of not doing much, people fail to realize that I can be a contributing member to society. I sleep better at night, and I just feel a lot better about myself.

I always knew that I was growing up, but it suddenly hit me last weekend. I was at my friend’s house after our friends got married. I was thinking about how things change so quickly. We have friends that are getting married, buying houses, and thinking about having children. Then I found myself thinking about buying a house; how I can get approved for a loan, build credit, etc. Who am I?

Anyway, work has been great. I haven’t done as much since they’re still getting my paperwork processed, but I love the people that I work with. Everyone in the Office of Public Affairs is different, but everyone works great together. I think it’s a great opportunity, and I’m doing what I love to do. Hopefully I’ll prove to everyone that I was the one they meant to hire!

By the way, I finally bought “Always Looking Up” by Michael J. Fox. Such an awesome book so far! I love optimism and optimists!

Mommy, wow! I’m a big kid now!

Well, I’ve got good news! Six months after I graduated college (almost exactly) I received good news from Georgia Gwinnett College, a place where I had interviewed more than four weeks ago. They offered me a position, and I gladly accepted. My first day is Wednesday, June 24. My position is called “web author,” and in the position, I will create and edit content that goes onto the school’s Web site. I’m really excited, because this is a great position for me. Also, there is a lot of room to grow within the public affairs office. I’ll have a pretty laid back schedule, I think, but you better believe I will be busting my butt to prove that they chose the right person.

I also have a part-time position at Ann Taylor Loft, one of my favorite clothing stores EVER. They’re also very accepting of my new schedule, and I will still be able to work there and get the benefits of working there…40 percent discounts!

I’ve also lost 30 pounds since January! Not exactly my goal, but it’s encouraging because I am getting there. I go to Life Time Fitness, and there is a location about five miles away from GGC, so it all works out. Thank you, God, for letting my life come together, finally. I just needed to learn patience, optimism, and humility. I am not the best at what I do, and I can’t expect people to make my life easy. I have to overcome the obstacles and remain positive and stay patient, because things will work out in the end.

I’ll be back in a few days to let you know how the “grown up” world is treating me.

so hard to stay, too hard to leave it

How do you know that it is time to just let go? I guess deep down in your heart you know, but just how do you do it? I think the biggest problem for me is the fact that everything that I have in my possession, whether it be material or in my memory, is something that has made me who I am today, even if it was a bad memory.

I think that’s why I have such a hard time letting go. My room is full of random “junk,” but everything reminds me of something. I have photos from middle school decorating my wall. I have an old pair of jeans that I used to love that I think I might wear again someday. I have a snowman lightbulb that my friend gave me as a gift my junior year of high school. I have a book of nursery rhymes that I used to read, which I have absolutely no use for now. I have a lego collection that I asked back from my little cousins because it reminded me so much of my childhood when my brother and me would play for hours.

See? It’s a serious problem. It’s not just items like that, but I guess there are people in my life that I just need to let go. I just have to come to the realization that certain people come in your life for a reason, but they can leave just as quickly as they entered. He was my best friend at one point, but in a sense, it was almost a comfort title. Were we really best friends? Or was it just convenient? I’m doing pretty dang good, if you ask me, without much effort on his part to be in my life. So why do I think about it so much? Probably because in the same sense as my “junk,” I’m afraid that if I throw things away, those good memories will forever be gone.

So maybe I need to figure out how to be less of a pack rat and get my life going in a positive direction. I need to make room for newer, better memories! I think I owe that to my mind and especially to my heart.

the glass is half full

A few years ago, I was brainstorming ideas for a persuasive speech. I could have done the typical – gun control, abortion, global warming, etc. I wanted something that I could truly defend. I did a little research and decided to persuade my audience to be more optimistic. It’s better for your health, will allow you to do better in school, and it makes you a better you. As an optimist, you do realize that there are terrible things about there, but you choose to think that there will be positive outcomes from the negative. It’s different than being ignorant, because you would ignore the negatives altogether.

My mom watches Joel Osteen every Sunday morning. I’m not really sure why she does, or why I decide to watch it with her. This past Sunday’s sermon was interesting – it was titled “Be Glad Continually.” He quotes 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Be happy in your faith, glad-hearted, continually and always.” It’s so simple – even during a severe rainstorm, the sun is hiding behind it shining so brightly just waiting to come out.

If you’re not willing to wait for it and accept that the hardships come with the positives, then you’ll never see the sunshine. He says, “When you lose your joy, you lose your strength.” Problems are inevitable in your life, so why dread them when they occur?

In my speech, one of my main points is when you begin thinking negatively, it takes time away from making the most of an awful situation. If you go to a test and you’re nervous and you tell yourself it’s going to be terrible, you don’t have the time to focus on the test. When you tell yourself that it’s going to be okay, then it will be just that. It’s cliché, and I know that, but the glass is half full.

Anyway, the point of this is that I’m starting to get stressed about this job situation. I’m not really happy with how these past four and a half months have gone, but I’m still optimistic. I know that there’s an opportunity hiding behind the storm clouds; I just need to take this time to really think through what I want to do – not just jump into the first thing that offers me a job. I’m still smiling, and I’m arranging my mind in the right direction. Let’s be hopeful for good things to come.

the boys are back in town

I can’t explain how excited I am that baseball season has officially kicked off. I always feel this way at the beginning of the season, then halfway through it, I can feel my heart shattered into a million pieces, and I wonder why I am so crazy over baseball. I’m not sure if it’s the weather, the fun days at the ballpark, or the sport altogether. I just love it. I become superstitious, and a sunflower seed addiction surfaces. I stayed glued to the television if I cannot physically be at the ballpark. If I’m not near a TV, I’ll turn on Gameday on mlb.com. It’s seriously a problem.

My team of choice, if you haven’t noticed, is the Atlanta Braves. I grew up watching the Florida Marlins, and they still have a large part of my heart. But since we moved to Atlanta almost 12 years ago, I guess I’ve grown to love the Braves. Okay, maybe I am a little obsessed, but we’ll keep that between you and me. It has gotten so bad that Sarah (my friend and Plans & Campaigns partner) chose the Atlanta Braves as our client and their All-You-Can-Eat Seats for our product. We spent the entire semester researching the product and devleping a campaign to increase awareness and sales for the product.

Last night was the season opener and the Phillies home opener. The Braves were the visiting team, and I was pumped. Brian McCann hit the first homer of the season, then Jeff Francoeur, then our new centerfielder, Jordan Schafer. It was a great sight to see that the off season really helped the Braves. I know, it was only the first game of the season, but it gives a fan a lot of hope. The 20 pounds B-Mac lost in the offseason, the new stance Frenchy took, and the new players Frank Wren decided to sign. Thank you, Frank Wren, for at least making one good decision in your career for the Braves: signing Derek Lowe. Eight scoreless innings for Lowe…amazing.

I must admit, I held my breath the entire time Mike Gonzalez was pitching. I love watching Gonzo pitch, but boy does he make me nervous. He did get the job done, and the Braves are now 1-0. I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so excited. They still have some communication problems (Kelly Johnson/Casey Kotchman and Kelly Johnson/Jeff Francoeur), but hopefully they’ll get all of that together.

Home opener is this Friday versus the Washington Nationals. I’m not sure why, but there is something about the Nationals that I absolutely loathe. Maybe the fact that the Braves were the only team in the NL East that couldn’t beat the Nationals, but whatever it is, I hope for a glorious game on Friday.

Until then, I’ll be tomahawk chopping. Go Braves!