Still Round the Corner There May Wait, A New Road or Secret Gate -J.R.R Tolkien

I'm writing this blog as a way of letting everyone know what is going on in my life, and also as a way to tell everyone at one time what has been happening and what is happening soon. Please don't be offended if you feel I should have told you this stuff personally, but I haven't talked about it with a lot of people because I wasn't sure if things were going to work out or not.
To preface this blog, I'll give a mini update on my life since graduation. I graduated with an English degree almost two years ago. I moved back to North Carolina (my hometown) and worked for about 6 months, then decided to move back to Tennessee for awhile until I figured out what I wanted to do. I spent the year after graduation applying and interviewing for multiple "real world" jobs, and even debated on moving to D.C. or N.YC. for a change of scenery and to attempt to get a good job. While I still might do that one day, I couldn't seem to shake the itch that I've always had to travel for awhile before settling into a serious job. I spent a semester in England traveling around the UK and Europe, so the urge to travel like that again was compelling me to look into a job that would take me abroad once again.  Everyone I talked to seem to say the same thing: Don't wait! If you wait until you're working in the real world, you'll never go!
I took all of this advice to heart. I continued to look for jobs, but my heart wasn't really in it. In the back of my mind was always the idea that I was supposed to be somewhere else.
I'll sidebar here to say that I've never known what I wanted to be "when I grow up." I was never someone who had plans or even ideas of what I wanted to do after school. The only thing I have ever known is that I love to travel, I love South America, and I have a heart for mission work and helping people in need. I've been on several missions trips to various South and Central American countries, and every time I always wanted to stay longer.
Fast forward to a year ago, when I began to wonder why I was still living in Tennessee when the only desire I've ever really had was to live in Latin America and help people in any way I can.
I began looking into programs that would help me get to South America on a more long term basis than just a short missions trip.
I talked to some people about potentially teaching English as a profession for awhile. I learned that it is a very versatile job, because once I'm certified and have a little experience I can virtually move anywhere in the world to teach.
The country I couldn't seem to get out of my head was Chile. I researched it; I looked at blogs, pictures, conversion rates, apartments, cost of living, transportation, food and local culture. I had quickly fallen in love with the idea of living in Chile, so I filled out an application to become an English teacher in the capital city of Santiago.
And....drum roll please....I'm so excited to announce that yesterday, I received my acceptance letter to join a group of other Americans wanting to teach English as a second language in Santiago, Chile! So now that its official, I can tell as many people as I want to about it! I'm extremely excited to travel and to live somewhere where the culture is different than what I'm used to in the States.
As for the details, I leave in March. I'm originally contracted for a job for 8 months, so I'll reevaluate where I want to go and what I want to do when that time is up.
I'll be working for a company called the Language Company, teaching English to non-native speakers. I'm beyond excited to be able to tell everyone that its actually happening, because its something I've wanted to do for so long!
As for the preparation beforehand, I'm having to save a lot of money! I do get paid as a teacher while I"m there, but I'm going to need a lot of money at the start of the trip to pay for the program fees, flights, and expenses before the job starts. So my main concentration right now is to work full-time, saving every penny, and I'm also doing some side projects in order to try and raise more funds. Those of you who know me probably know that my heart is so completely missions oriented that one of my main concentrations is finding ways I can help the people of Santiago. I've volunteered in orphanages before, so a big hope of mine is that I'll have the opportunity to do a lot of volunteer work with children while I'm there.
So that's that! If you have questions or just want to be excited with me, I greatly appreciate any comments, calls, texts, whatever method you want to use to chat! I'll be posting pictures of projects I'm working on in order to raise money, so if you want to buy anything or request something please don't hesitate to ask! I'm an open book when it comes to this new adventure, and I would love to answer questions if anyone has them.
I've had a few people ask about donating money, so I might be starting a fund-raising site in the near future in order to help me get to my goal.
Thank you for everyone who has supported me so far with kind words and prayers, and I apologize again that this might be the first some of you are hearing about this. I didn't want to talk about it too much and have it not work out, so I've been keeping it a little on the down-low.
I'm sorry this blog post is so long, and that it lacks a certain amount of wit and humor that I usually like to incorporate into my writings.
I promise to keep you all up-to-date through this process, and I will definitely be blogging a lot once I'm living in Chile.
If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading this and taking an interest in whats going on in my life! I'll post an update soon! I can't express how excited I am to be going on a new adventure!!


PS: Here's a visual aide, this is Santiago:

Mini Vacations: A Remedy for Anxiety

People always say, "Don't sweat the small stuff."
While this is great advice, the reverse can also be said about being thankful. We SHOULD remember to be thankful about small stuff in our lives; in fact, it can make the difference between a good week and a bad one.
It is easy to become overwhelmed, especially in today's society full of social media. Not only do we have our own lives to worry about, but we are constantly in a state of attachment to our phones/ipads/laptops/whatever that leads to us almost obsessing over other people's lives. I'm not condemning social media at ALL (those who know me know my love for the ol twitter and instagram) I'm just making an observation about how overwhelming our lives become when we forget to take time for enjoying our blessings.
The weather outside, while still scorchingly hot, is beginning to have that slightly crisp breeze mixed into the stuffy humidity in the air. When I see a few dead leaves on the ground, blowing in the slight wind that comes through the breezeway in my apartment complex, I feel nothing short of relief. While summer is great and full of beaches and vacations and pools, I still can't help but feel that as the summer gets hotter and hotter throughout July, I'm practically holding my breath in anticipation for the day the heat finally breaks.
This type of weather always bring a lot of pensive and reflective thoughts my way. Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be upon us, and that means reflecting on things that we should be thankful for in our lives. I'm starting this process a little early this year and trying to take time to be thankful.
For those of you who don't know, my life has been a bit of a struggle these past five years or so, trying to figure out what direction I want to go in and what things I want to pursue. I've been examining myself closely, trying to define what exactly it is that makes me tick and what my desires are for my life. Yes, it is extremely frustrating, but my dad reminded me today that even though it doesn't feel like it, God is working a plan together for me.
I whine about not having a "real world" job (I'm a freelance writer and I work full time at a local frozen yogurt shop in TN) but my Dad pointed out that I am able to pay all of my bills, I have a flexible schedule, and an owner that is the best person I have had the pleasure of working for, well, ever.
I whine about not knowing what I'm going to do or where I'm going to be 6 months from now, but my Dad reminded me that nothing is more exciting than having no ties and no plans. I can go anywhere, be anyone and do anything I want to at this point in my life.
And to make things better, God has given me an opportunity to serve lunches to homeless people on Saturdays. Serving the less fortunate has always been a passion of mine, and I'm very grateful that I have this opportunity to give back to my community. Not to mention its a ton of fun, and the food is delicious!
My point in saying all of this is that sometimes I think we need to remember to take time to appreciate the little things, and I mean VERY little things in order to not get overwhelmed in our lives.
I have a lot of stress and anxiety (its just my personality) and even though I'm a "chill" person, I still get extremely anxious about stuff. For this reason, I have to take lots of what I call "mini vacations" every week, and I'm convinced that without them, I would go crazy!
I've made a little list of some little things (mini vacations) I like to do to help my mindset get reset when I feel overwhelmed. Here are a few of them:

• Read a book under a tree. For some reason, reading outside, either on a blanket or in a hammock or chair, is one of the most relaxing activities for me. Reading by a pool is nice, and can help with the vacation mindset, but there's just something about being under shade that is just so amazing. 
• Be cliche. Don't be afraid to take a steamy hot bubble bath, complete with candles, wine and a good book. Go for it! It can be incredibly therapeutic. Although, if you have a kindle/nook like me, be extra careful not to drop it into the water! Go all out by bringing ice cream or something of a treat in with you. Listen to that new album you've been wanting to hear, and get lost in your own bubble of leisure.
• Take a walk, or a drive, somewhere you've never been. Even in your own town, no matter how small, I guarantee there are places you've never visited before. Whether its a hike, a stroll downtown, or a drive to a part of town you've never been to before, it will help you feel like you're on a mini vacation in your own town.
• Look at the local websites for fun ideas. Along the same lines as the previous one, pretend like your town is a place you're on vacation, even if only for a few hours. Check out a visitor's center or chamber of commerce and see what there is to do that you've never done before. I found a few small festivals going on in my area, and got to pretend like I was a tourist for an entire afternoon! 
• Go out to eat. While eating in is great for being healthy (and easy on your wallet!) sometimes you just need a night out. Whether you want to go out on a date with your hubby/boyfriend, have a girls night, or even fly solo, make sure that you do things that YOU want to do. Go to a nice restaurant, see a movie, walk around downtown, do whatever you feel like!
• Take a weekend trip. For me, one of my main mini vacations involves going to my parent's house, nuzzled deep in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Something about the mountain air and being home with my family is the best vacation I can have.  Whenever I have two days off, I typically go on a trip, and a lot of times I end up in North Carolina! There's nothing that says relaxing like sitting on a porch watching the sun set over the mountains. No, its not exotic and the town itself is SUPER small, but its one of the most rejuvenating places in the whole world to me. 

Do you have any other ideas for mini vacations? Do tell! I'm always looking for new ways to unwind and destress! Have a great week guys!

Lately...

So I'm going to share a little of what I've been going through the past couple of months. I've been learning a lot about myself (as one often does when one's roommate leaves for over a month and one finds herself living alone for the first time ever) and I have to say, I LOVE having me time anytime I want to. Living by myself gives me the option of always having solo time, but always having the option to call friends up to hang out also. The possibilities are endless! I will admit, I spent the first few days with zero clothes on. If you have never cleaned your apt/house/mansion/wigwam naked, I highly recommend it. Unless you live in an igloo, in which case that may not be much fun (and you could potentially get stuck to the ice furniture...ouch!).
So all of this "me" time has given me a chance to figure some stuff out about myself. One of the more recent things that my temporary roommate (she moved in for a few weeks while my roommate was gone) and I have been discussing a lot is friendship. We have been struggling over how to be a good friend, because I think everyone views being a "good friend" differently. Some might think having drinks on a Saturday night and discussing boys is considered being a good friend, while others might not feel they have fulfilled their friendly duties unless they have had a solid, deep conversation about life and goals and love. My friend Ashley, who has been staying with me, is the latter type of friend. We spent several days together, working and hanging with other friends, but she said she felt like we hadn't even seen each other because we hadn't had any good one-on-one conversations. She's a deep person; she likes to get to know people deep down. I can be that way to an extent, but I also feel like I've had some solid hanging out time with everyone in a big group of people if we all just go bowling or something. I love having one-on-one time with friends, but I don't find it completely necessary to obtain a solid friendship with someone.
The main thing that Ashley and I have discussed is this: How far is too far when it comes to being a good friend? For both Ashley and myself, we feel like being a good friend is helping a friend realize when they are being untrue to themselves, or even if they're just  making a fool out of themselves. Ashley and I both recently went through a situation where we "called out" friends that, er, didn't want to be called out. For me personally, I want people to tell me when I'm straying from my character. I want to be told when I'm not showing integrity, or when I look like an idiot. That's a true friend, in my opinion, because it shows that they care enough to tell me things about myself even though I might get mad. Something I have to remember, however, is that not everyone views friendship this way. There are people who get hurt, frustrated, or even pissed, no matter how gently I try and say something to them.
This has caused me to be a much more cautious friend. A year ago, I would have just called everyone out, but now I think about it before I do it. I try and be careful about how I say things, but of course I still mess up. I'm not perfect by any means, and me calling people out is NOT saying that I don't do the same things or act the same way. Not by a long shot. It is, however, me saying hey, I love you, and I see you actin a fool, and I want to let you know because I'm your friend and I don't think anyone else cares enough to tell you.
I dont know. Maybe we shouldn't call each other out, maybe we should, maybe its our duty as friends? I'm still struggling with this a lot.
So, if you have a friend who has you concerned with their behavior, I have a few simple rules/questions to consider before you say something to them.
1)Ask yourself, is this something that I would want them to call me out for, if I was doing it?
2)Is this something that is detrimental to them, or will make them be angry with themselves later for doing this/acting this way?
3) How close of friends are we? Do I truly feel close enough to them to say something, and have it come from a place of love?
4) Is this something that is just irritating me? Could it be bothering me because I see myself in the way they're behaving?
5) Am I willing to risk them being angry with me, potentially for a long period of time, over this situation?

Anyway, if you've considered all the options and still feel like something needs to be said, it is probably time to take your friend out to coffee and explain to them why you feel like their behavior needs to cease.

Just a little food for thought. Have a great Monday!!

Graduation Things

Well, its Spring! More specifically, its May, which means two things: graduations and weddings. Last weekend and this weekend are filled with graduation festivities, then the next few weekends are dedicated to weddings.
Success and love are both in the air people.
Last weekend was eventful.
Thursday was spent like this:

We laid around in the park on campus for a few hours before I had to head to work.

After work on Friday night, we went and picked up our little "brother" (given this term in England when we all lived together) from the airport. He's finally back, after spending the entire semester in D.C. We are all super excited to have him back! He's been living on my couch, so I get to see him as much as I like.
Anyways, Saturday morning was graduation for my alma mater, and I knew around ten people who were graduating, so we all woke up early and watched the broadcast on tv while getting pretty for the graduation festivities. Like the stealthy people we are, we showed up outside the doors of the ceremony right after it ended. This conveniently enabled to take pictures as if we had been there the whole time (see what we did there?). Unfortunately, it was raining. Like, a LOT of rain. It was really crowded and there was only a small covering, and everyone had huge umbrellas and....shew, it was intense. Pushing through all of those people was very stressful.

I went to Olive Garden in Chattanooga afterwards with about 20 family members of my friend Nicole, who graduated.

And after that, we all napped. On couches, floors, wherever.

Then, the party began. We danced, talked, socialized, played games, oh and enjoyed this fantastic cake:

Shwattttt? Yep, thats a cake. It was so delicious, even though it was so awesome looking I really didn't want to eat it at all. Yummm I want more right now just thinking about it.

Anyways, after driving home from Georgia (where the party was) I went to bed immediately. It was a long day. Sunday was spent relaxing and then going to work (why am I always working?!).

So there's the weekend, maybe I'll catch up on my week here in the next few days. But today is not that day, and I have real work I need to do.

Adios!