Summer bucket list

A couple weeks ago I decided to make a summer bucket list. Now I’ve completed a couple of them so I guess in a way it’s cheating. I also added some of the things I never did from my bucket list I had back in 2011.

I wanted to think of 24 things to do in honor of my 24th birthday (this week).

Let me know if you want to do any of these things with me! =)

 

1. See Vanderbilt play in the Regionals and Super Regionals (completed 05/31/13-06/03/13 and 06/08-06/09)

2. See Carrie Underwood perform at the Grand Ole Opry (completed 06/07/13)

3. Make myself a Vanderbilt themed birthday cake

4. Participate in the Glo Run

5. Check out a book club meeting

6. Go cosmic bowling – 10 pin style

7. Check out CMA Festival (completed 06/09/13)

8. Bake cupcakes for work – preferably these (http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2009/03/cookie-dough-cupcakes-topped-with-cookie-dough-frosting.html) or these (http://www.cupcakesgarden.com/turtle-cupcakes/)

9. Go to movies in the park

10. Volunteer at different events

11. Acquire as many free t-shirts as possible from volunteering at said events

12. Make at least 2 pinterest crafts for my bedroom

13. Go to Falls Creek Falls

14. Make homemade ice cream

15. Experience bonjo java breakfast

16. Go to a Nashville Sounds game

17. Go to a Nashville Farmer’s market and then have a picnic in the park

18. See a drive in movie

19. Pick my own fruit

20. Go to the World Music and Food International Festival

21. Make pizza from scratch

22. Go to the Bluebird Cafe

23. Go to at least 1 meetup event that puts me outside of my comfort zone

24. Have fun!

You Are Appreciated

This past week I started working a temp job at an insurance agency. Now to say the job is less than glamorous is an understatement. Essentially I’m barcoding and scanning documents and folding letters. At first I really struggled with the pride issue of having gone to such a great college and now doing tasks that are below what I did even as an intern at different companies. But, I have continued to remind myself that it is just temporary and it’s providing me with a much needed paycheck.

Earlier in the week while at work a woman came up to me and said “Are you Michelle?” I answered “Yes” a little hesitantly as I feared that I was about to get in trouble for doing something wrong. Instead she told me about this thing called prize patrol that the office has and how you can get a prize if someone writes to her and says that you’re doing something well. I ended up getting this – which is one of those little stacks of paper/notepad where there are inspirational words like dream and believe. It was really nice and definitely made my day!

 At first I didn’t really tell people that I got a temp job. I was kind of embarrassed and felt that it wasn’t a big deal. But, I know the people at the office are impressed with how detail oriented I am (I even picked up on some typos on letters while I folded them this week) and they like that I work in a fast yet accurate manner. It’s been really hard to get accustomed to my role in the office and I still do struggle with a lot of things while there but it’s good to know that even if I don’t feel like I’m doing anything exciting and not contributing much to the world that I’m appreciated.

Isn’t that what we all want in life? To feel like we’re important and making a difference in someones life?

Life Lessons – Life is Fragile

Last week I was babysitting for a new family and while there one of the goldfish died. At first I kind of brushed it off because I know that goldfish have short life spans and die all the time. But, then I started thinking about life and the fragility of it.I thought about how some people know from the beginning that their life span is going to be shorter (whether it be from a genetic condition, disease, etc). But, most people have no idea when or how they’re going to die – until maybe they’re in the midst of an illness. But, as humans we’re expected to live a long time. Many people expect to live well into their 70’s or 80’s.

I started to think about all the things us humans do throughout their years. How we develop relationships with family and friends and how we figuratively and literally grow throughout the years. How we go to daycare, school, extra curricular activities, dances, graduations, college, parties, etc. I thought of all the experiences (good and bad) I’ve had and how I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

While looking at the goldfish I also started to think about how sad it must be to be confined to a small plastic container for your life. I thought of the places I’ve been able to travel to and how every day I can decide if I want to visit a craft store, go to the gym, go food shopping, watch tv, etc. Yet, the goldfish is stuck and forced to see whatever is placed around him. How sad that must be.

Then I started thinking about how the goldfish is fed some little flakey food. The poor fish get the same food every single day. I mean I don’t think they even have “treats” for fish like they do for dogs and cats. I started thinking about all the foods I’d had to eat that day. How I had just had a freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookie and how delicious it was. How sad it would be to be forced to have the same food every day.

Then I started to think about how when people buy fish they have a variety of price levels to choose from. I think the goldfish are usually the cheapest as people know they won’t live very long – I don’t know if the other fish are really more expensive because they’re expected to live longer, that’s just what I’ve assumed. But still, who knew that a $.09 fish could make me think about life so much?