I suppose I've grown somewhat cynical this year, but the meaning behind New Year's celebration this year is gone, for me. Granted, I will still be celebrating, but it is more of just having a good time with friends and family than a fresh start or anything. To me, New Year's is like "Yay, arbitrary point in time celebration!" and nothing more. I am reminded of a quote by someone, I cannot remember who, which says something to the effect of take each moment and improve it, make something of it. I wish people could do this more often, myself included. Why wait until midnight? Why not start now?
In lieu of a so-called New Year's resolution, I encourage people to take a look at themselves and not decide what new activities to do, but rather what it is about themselves which makes them think they need a New Year's resolution. I think that people could really benefit and learn about themselves by taking some time to do this, at the very least before they go and establish "resolutions." This is not to say that resolutions are bad, but that I do not feel as if they are as helpful in improving ourselves as people.
Whatever way you choose to ring in 2012, even if you don't do any of these things, I want to wish you well in the new year. Perhaps there is something in the collective "fresh start" of a new year which can help you in whatever way you might feel you need it. Cheers.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Family and Family Time is Invaluable
The title gives away my message, and it's not some sort of new revelation, but as a reflection on this Christmas season I want to talk about it briefly as it relates to me.
Last week my great Uncle Skip passed away, leaving my grandma on my mom's side as one of three remaining siblings in her family. Her husband, my grandfather, died the year before I was born. A surprising list of extended relatives have passed away in December, making for some difficult times at this typically joyful season of the year. Yet my entire mom's side of the family, as I have known it in the 21 years since I was born, was present to celebrate Christmas this evening. Everyone was there for dinner and the annual present-opening marathon. In the past at holidays we have had people working or out of town or with prior plans or even in the hospital. But tonight, everyone was present.
Before I go on, I don't want to leave out my dad's side of the family, whom I had a great time celebrating with today. It's merely that there are so many more direct relatives on my mom's side that the perfect attendance stood out to me so much. That being said, it struck me how fortunate I have been in my life to have never lost a close family member, or even a friend. And call me a pessimist, but I recognize that opportunities for my whole family to get together will become rarer and rarer in the coming years. Everyone is getting older, both kids and adults, and it's hard to imagine a Christmas where somebody would be absent.
As I write this now, however, I realize that I have missed my family's past two Easters due to being at school for rowing. Life goes on, people adjust, and the celebration still occurs, but that whole body of people that I have grown up sharing the special times in my life with so rarely can get everyone together that each event where it happens becomes so much more valuable. Family is a unit, and a valued one for me. I am learning not to take for granted the opportunities I have to be with my family, to enjoy the little things in life that have the biggest meaning.
I am thankful for the life I have for so many reasons, but perhaps the greatest reason of all is for the family in my life. To me, it is unparalleled, and the only thing I could ever ask for is more time to spend with it.
Last week my great Uncle Skip passed away, leaving my grandma on my mom's side as one of three remaining siblings in her family. Her husband, my grandfather, died the year before I was born. A surprising list of extended relatives have passed away in December, making for some difficult times at this typically joyful season of the year. Yet my entire mom's side of the family, as I have known it in the 21 years since I was born, was present to celebrate Christmas this evening. Everyone was there for dinner and the annual present-opening marathon. In the past at holidays we have had people working or out of town or with prior plans or even in the hospital. But tonight, everyone was present.
Before I go on, I don't want to leave out my dad's side of the family, whom I had a great time celebrating with today. It's merely that there are so many more direct relatives on my mom's side that the perfect attendance stood out to me so much. That being said, it struck me how fortunate I have been in my life to have never lost a close family member, or even a friend. And call me a pessimist, but I recognize that opportunities for my whole family to get together will become rarer and rarer in the coming years. Everyone is getting older, both kids and adults, and it's hard to imagine a Christmas where somebody would be absent.
As I write this now, however, I realize that I have missed my family's past two Easters due to being at school for rowing. Life goes on, people adjust, and the celebration still occurs, but that whole body of people that I have grown up sharing the special times in my life with so rarely can get everyone together that each event where it happens becomes so much more valuable. Family is a unit, and a valued one for me. I am learning not to take for granted the opportunities I have to be with my family, to enjoy the little things in life that have the biggest meaning.
I am thankful for the life I have for so many reasons, but perhaps the greatest reason of all is for the family in my life. To me, it is unparalleled, and the only thing I could ever ask for is more time to spend with it.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Networking!!!
I met with my academic adviser last week to talk about finding internships for summer 2012. I know that I dream big, but dreaming realistically is something that I am also trying to do, given that the journalism field is changing, to say the least.
In any case, my adviser--who is familiar with my high school (St. Ignatius) and the Cleveland area recommended I use that connection to my advantage...and I did.
I joined my high school's alumni LinkedIn group and posted just a brief notice about myself and what I am looking for, and less than a week later I have heard from another Ignatius alum who runs his own PR-type business in Cleveland. It wasn't a personalized message, (it just asked me to send a resume and writing samples in) but it's the idea that I would not have known about this business or perhaps this internship opportunity were it not for reaching out to the widest network that I am a part of.
It's too early to tell whether this is anything that will lead to an internship, but it's a start...or as we say in the journalism world, it's a lead/lede. So if anyone actually is reading this blog, heed my advice: use your networks! Results will vary, but it's better to reach out to those you have a connection with than those you don't.
Also, thanks to my adviser, Dr. Joan Price for prodding me in this direction!
In any case, my adviser--who is familiar with my high school (St. Ignatius) and the Cleveland area recommended I use that connection to my advantage...and I did.
I joined my high school's alumni LinkedIn group and posted just a brief notice about myself and what I am looking for, and less than a week later I have heard from another Ignatius alum who runs his own PR-type business in Cleveland. It wasn't a personalized message, (it just asked me to send a resume and writing samples in) but it's the idea that I would not have known about this business or perhaps this internship opportunity were it not for reaching out to the widest network that I am a part of.
It's too early to tell whether this is anything that will lead to an internship, but it's a start...or as we say in the journalism world, it's a lead/lede. So if anyone actually is reading this blog, heed my advice: use your networks! Results will vary, but it's better to reach out to those you have a connection with than those you don't.
Also, thanks to my adviser, Dr. Joan Price for prodding me in this direction!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Life Requires Friends
I came up with this mantra today before I attended a memorial service: life requires friends.
It's simple, which I like. But it says so much, too. It is friends that get us through the lowest, most trying times in our lives. It is friends which make the most joyful, most memorable moments as such. I would hardly consider what I have experienced life were it not for the presence of my friends (family being a given).
I was fortunate enough to head out to a bar for a few hours with a few friends from high school. We didn't do much other than sit around and waste time together, a la the message from The Little Prince. The little moments in life are hard to appreciate alone; you need people there to give them importance. So while I suppose an exact mantra would read "a fulfilling life requires friends," I'm just going to assume that all people hope for a fulfilling life--loosely defined by yourself--and leave it as a simple rule: Life requires friends.
It's simple, which I like. But it says so much, too. It is friends that get us through the lowest, most trying times in our lives. It is friends which make the most joyful, most memorable moments as such. I would hardly consider what I have experienced life were it not for the presence of my friends (family being a given).
I was fortunate enough to head out to a bar for a few hours with a few friends from high school. We didn't do much other than sit around and waste time together, a la the message from The Little Prince. The little moments in life are hard to appreciate alone; you need people there to give them importance. So while I suppose an exact mantra would read "a fulfilling life requires friends," I'm just going to assume that all people hope for a fulfilling life--loosely defined by yourself--and leave it as a simple rule: Life requires friends.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Why the Next 30 Days are Going to Rock
They say "Home is where they always love you."
For me, while that is true, home is where I always love to be. I don't think any other life could compare with being surrounded by family on the regular, and being able to stop over friends' houses to do nothing for hours on end. Not to mention eating homemade food, having a fridge stocked for me and getting to fly by the seat of my pants. Family can get annoying, but so can friends and school and life. But when it comes down to it, there's always something here, at home, where I can always find peace.
Home extends beyond the boundaries of the house or yard. It includes Bay Village, neighboring suburbs, my high school, the city of Cleveland, and the houses of countless friends and families. The welcoming attitude that seems to permeate this time of year does not end after the holidays for me when I am home. It's here year-round. Whether I've been away for a day or many months, I never feel like a stranger.
It was after hanging at one of my best high school friend's home last night that this became a strong realization for me. I hadn't seen him or his family in months, and yet it was as if no time had passed since I would stop by weekly during high school. I am fortunate beyond words to have this life and the people in it that I do, both at home and away from it. I acknowledge that. I believe this is part of the reason why I try to be so hospitable to others; it is a small way in which I can pay it forward. I hope that people will always find my place of residence, both now and in the future, as a place that they can drop in and stay at for any length of time.
So, for the next 30 days or so, as I explore the largesse of homes that I call my own, I hope to share my appreciation for those who have allowed me to have this wide area of welcoming and share the same welcoming attitude to all whom I encounter, both during this holiday season and hereafter.
For me, while that is true, home is where I always love to be. I don't think any other life could compare with being surrounded by family on the regular, and being able to stop over friends' houses to do nothing for hours on end. Not to mention eating homemade food, having a fridge stocked for me and getting to fly by the seat of my pants. Family can get annoying, but so can friends and school and life. But when it comes down to it, there's always something here, at home, where I can always find peace.
Home extends beyond the boundaries of the house or yard. It includes Bay Village, neighboring suburbs, my high school, the city of Cleveland, and the houses of countless friends and families. The welcoming attitude that seems to permeate this time of year does not end after the holidays for me when I am home. It's here year-round. Whether I've been away for a day or many months, I never feel like a stranger.
It was after hanging at one of my best high school friend's home last night that this became a strong realization for me. I hadn't seen him or his family in months, and yet it was as if no time had passed since I would stop by weekly during high school. I am fortunate beyond words to have this life and the people in it that I do, both at home and away from it. I acknowledge that. I believe this is part of the reason why I try to be so hospitable to others; it is a small way in which I can pay it forward. I hope that people will always find my place of residence, both now and in the future, as a place that they can drop in and stay at for any length of time.
So, for the next 30 days or so, as I explore the largesse of homes that I call my own, I hope to share my appreciation for those who have allowed me to have this wide area of welcoming and share the same welcoming attitude to all whom I encounter, both during this holiday season and hereafter.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Sometimes You Have to do What is Best for You
I would have though the above message would be obvious, but only recently have I found it useful. I started this blog in the late spring, but was advised that blogging is "dangerous" for a young writer hoping to pursue a career in journalism...not that blogging is bad, but that what you say can come back to haunt you.
I don't know why this halted me, for when I am a journalist my words will be out there still. But it did. Now, after a tumultuous semester where I experienced so much, I am taking this moderately selfish route and doing what is best for me by continuing this blog. I am reminded about the first post I wrote, and I am encouraged by it. WRITING IS MY PASSION. And I need to do more of it. I am a busy student, but I should never be too busy to post up a few words, thoughts, etc. Writing is what I do. And it is what I will continue to do. And it is why my goal is to keep up regularly (4-5 times a week) with this blog. Cheers.
I don't know why this halted me, for when I am a journalist my words will be out there still. But it did. Now, after a tumultuous semester where I experienced so much, I am taking this moderately selfish route and doing what is best for me by continuing this blog. I am reminded about the first post I wrote, and I am encouraged by it. WRITING IS MY PASSION. And I need to do more of it. I am a busy student, but I should never be too busy to post up a few words, thoughts, etc. Writing is what I do. And it is what I will continue to do. And it is why my goal is to keep up regularly (4-5 times a week) with this blog. Cheers.
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