Gratitude

I'm currently working on an assignment for a class based off a book we are reading where we have to pick something and be consciously grateful for it every time we use it/it occurs. After much deliberation I chose to meditate on every time I enter a warm building/bus/car after being outside in this ridiculous cold. What this assignment has taught me thus far though is that, I'm actually quite acutely aware of the small things in my life that are good, the feeling of wrapping up in a warm blanket, a cold drink of water, warm mittens, the beauty of my surroundings after a fresh snow, etc. I think that after my bought with depression, one of the biggest things I did to get out of it was that my dad used to call me every single night and make me list three good things that day. Eventually I just began doing this unconsciously, taking moments in my day to appreciate every good thing, small or large. I just never realized I was doing this because it became such an innate part of my life. Regardless of how it began, I think it is a really good idea to take a few moments every day and be thankful for at least three good things in your life. It helps alleviate stress, depression, and so many other things.

"Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you are going to live your life." -Joel Osteen

Dance Makes the World Go 'Round

So last year I got involved in an organization on my campus that is a student run dance organization. I am so thankful that I did that because I met some amazing friends that way. Tonight I worked with two of them on choreography for a dance one of them is in charge of. It was amazingly fun. I can't believe how incredibly lucky I am to have met ALL of my Attitudes friends.
Also, I love having a dance outlet. I am not very talented when it comes to dance, I don't have the training. But oh man do I love to dance. It makes all of me just let go of everything that is wrong and I get totally immersed in the dancing and the music. I love having this outlet. I'm going to miss having Attitudes in my life next year.

“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

Learning Through Life

I am a true believer in learning new things for all of your life. Tonight I started a community ed Italian language class, which I am incredibly excited for. It's just once a week, but I feel like learning for fun is important. The best way to learn effectively is to enjoy what you are learning. When you are enjoying what you are learning, it makes you want to learn more. You should never stop learning throughout all of life.

"Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow." -Anthony J. D'Angelo

A New Beginning

So I'm starting this blog as an experiment in cleansing my life. I'm going to use it to write about things and just get them out there. After a lot of trials and tribulations I think I've finally reached a place of peace (well as close as I've ever been anyway) and I'd like to stay there. So the first thing I'm doing to support that is to not hold things in anymore, exciting or frustrating or whatever. And this gives me an outlet to let it out without actually forcing anyone to have to listen (or read in this case) if they don't want to.
Today I started my second week of my last semester at college. I should be graduating in May with a degree in Anthropology and a minor in Photography. I'm pretty excited to graduate! Entering the "real world" used to scare every bit of me, but I'm now engaged to the greatest guy I've ever met, and he helps me put things in perspective so I'm really not so scared anymore. It's going to be a really big year for me, graduating in May, and married in November! I never planned to be getting married this early in my life, but as they say in the movie My Life in Ruins, "How can you plan life?" And I met the guy I want to spend the rest of my life with, who also (for reasons beyond my understanding haha) wants to spend his life with me as well.
This semester I'm taking my final five classes, The Photographic Book, History of Photography, Senior Seminar, Anthropology of Landscape, and Social Movements, Protest, and Change. Most of my classes should be pretty great. I'm still not sure what's going on in Senior Seminar or what the plan is for the class, but I'm pretty sure the professor doesn't know either. Whatever. I don't expect much out of this professor though. He's not really that high on my list of people I super love so...
It should be an interesting final semester.

"Life can either be a daring adventure or nothing." -Helen Keller