Sunday, April 28, 2013

Stuff of Legends

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have opened a new post, hoping that maybe, just maybe, I could think of something to say.  Or open a notebook in hopes that words in my head would flow through my fingers onto the page, but as you can see, neither has happened.  No real inspiration, I guess.

I will admit that this year has been a real eye opener for me, mainly because I am forcing myself to consider the possibility that I could and should want more for my life.  To live it rather than let it pass me by.  To consider the idea that I am worthy of enjoying life, rather than sitting on the sidelines, cheering on those around me.  It's one thing to be told this over and over, but to realize it for myself means so much more.

After years of thinking that maybe school was something that wasn't meant for me, I have taken the plunge and have enrolled to finish my prerequisites at the local community college before transferring to a year program.  What an amazing feeling.  

I have already begun planning my trips for the year.  After reaping the benefits of that last year, I now know that this is something that I have to continue or else, my day to day life will wear me out and its really not worth it.  

Tonight, I went to see the movie 42, a movie about the late, great Jackie Robinson.  A man who changed the game of baseball by changing people's perception of racism in sports, by doing what he did best: playing the game the only way he knew how and not letting the world tell him that he couldn't.  Like anyone, the pressure of course got to him, but what I loved about this movie and this man is that he never let the cameras see him crack under the pressure.  Had this have happened, the man we now know as a legend would have been sent back to where he came from and baseball or any sport for that matter would have continued along the same road it was on, never changing.  But he didn't.  This man is a true inspiration and legend.

The owner, Branch Rickey, who pushed for Jackie Robinson was in his own right was brilliant.  This man never listened to the nay-sayers when they said signing him would be bad for the sport.  It was his love for the sport and doing what was right that started this change, bringing to light the real issue that the country faced at the time.  Showing that maybe racism was tainting this game that people loved.  

The movie, from start to finish, was amazing, brilliantly done.  I am far from being a baseball fan, but I love history and this was an important to not just baseball, but American History that should not be forgotten.  

Go check it out...it is worth every penny.

So, I realize that this is an extremely heavy post, but I guess that's just how it goes.  

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Transitioning into 2013

I feel like I have started, deleted and restarted this post several times, struggling to find the right words to say about about ending 2012 and looking forward to what 2013 may bring.  So let's see how this turns out, because this is it.

Looking back at the past year and realized how crazy it was, but what kind of made it easier to deal with is how much I grew as a person.  I still have a ways to go, but I'd like to think that I made some great progress.
  • Took a couple trips to West Michigan by myself to just get away from everything and loved it.  It was extremely relaxing and I'm kinda wondering if the fact that I was out of cell phone range for part of it helped. (Shh...don't tell mom!)  So I'm thinking that this will be something that I plan on doing every year.
  • Met some crazy people who have become like another family who refuse to let me continue to be antisocial.  I hate them for it sometimes, but I think that's what I love about these people.
  • My grandmother's multiple hospital visits in the fall definitely threw my family for a loop and reminded me that each day is promised, but a blessing.
  • I managed to shock the hell out of people and got a tattoo.  Despite everything I have heard about people wanting more tattoos after their first one, I am about 99.9% sure that I am NOT one of those people!  But I don't regret getting it.
  • I have become a little more vocal about my own needs and have slowly, surely begun to get my point across
  • I have begun to eat a little better and cut down on how much I eat out.  Right now, I would like to make coffee, and maybe even meat, an occasional treat.  
My main goals for the coming year is to go back to school to finish my degree and look for a  new job.  Almost a month into 2013, I'm really looking forward to see what it brings.