A Manifesto

My Advanced Writing textbook freshman year smacked me on the wrist one time, telling me to never, under any circumstances, begin a piece with the cliched "dictionary definition." But, in my current cheeky state of rebellion against winter (first day of flip flops: yesterday), I'm defying that rude little textbook by offering an thesaurus entry instead.

According to the Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, a

manifesto is a.....noun mission statement, platform, (little) red book, program,declaration, proclamation, pronouncement, announcement.
So, here is a little declaration, a proclamation, a pronouncement, an announcement of things (both insignificant and of utmost importance) upon which I tend to take a particular stance.

I believe in believing.
I believe life is a collection of leaps of faith, both big and small.
I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who has adopted me as His daughter.
I believe in the power of prayer.
I believe that knowledge begins when we accept we cannot know everything.
I believe in purpose.
I believe life is a time is a gift that shouldn't be wasted.
I believe in tradition.
I believe time travel was invented the same day as the pen.
I believe in not sweating the small stuff.
I believe in dreaming.
I believe travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.
I believe a letter trumps an email.
I believe in surprises.
I believe in being young at heart.
I believe the best days begin with a great breakfast.
I believe the best way to spend time is with loved ones or at the beach. Or both.
I believe Asian babies are the cutest.
I believe cacti are underrepresented plants.
I believe in the healing power of cupcakes.
I believe global warming is a sham.
I believe the best way to light a room is with Christmas lights.
I believe in the unexpected.
I believe in life.

 

Kimberlyn's Grand Adventure

Before this weekend, I didn't think I could love the city any more than I already did. I was wrong. 

Friday morning I hit the road bound for Chicago to see one of my best and oldest friends. Sick of spending yet another weekend sitting around in one of America's most boring towns, I resolved to do or die as I hit the road, tank full of gas and pocket full of toll road fodder. 

After my whacked out GPS Rhonda decided it best for me to see the heart of Scary Gary on the way, I squealed when the Chicago Skyline appeared on the horizon! Forty five minutes later, I was sitting in Kim's adorable apartment, stoked beyond belief to spend a weekend adventuring with my best friend.

Friday evening was splendid, as Kim gave me the grand tour of her gorgeous college campus before hitting Lincoln Square for some gelatto. We ended the night in typical Kimberlyn style with watching Pitch Perfect and eating kettle corn. 

Saturday morning I woke up ready take on Chicago. After bundling up, Kim and I braved icy sidewalks to the train bound for Belmont. I firmly believe the best days begin with a great breakfast, so we strolled into Anne Sather’s for some legendary cinnamon rolls and coffee. Once the caffeine and sugar began to take saturate our consciousness, we hit some eclectic shops brimming with amazing stuff that caused my poor wallet to shed a tear.

Once we had our fill of Belmont, we hopped back on the brown line headed for the city. My considerate friend let me take the seat by the window, which my eyes were glued to as the skyline came into view. I had been to Chicago multiple times prior to this trip, but it still made my heart race.

After we climbed off the train, we headed for the Bean. As we pounded the pavement, Kim and I laughed at signs warning against falling bikes, mice, and ice and exclaimed in amazement about the perfect quality of the day. The windows of the towers kissing the sky glinted in the sunlight, as the abnormally clearness eradicated the winter doldrums in eyes of passersby. The gentle touch of the sun gave the crisp air a sweet and comfortable climate. I thanked God for the unusually amazing weather, knowing it was Him alone who granted me the incredible gift of a beautiful day in the city as well as Kim’s enduring friendship through the years.

From the Bean, we picked up some free Caribou hot chocolate (another Kimberlyn tradition) and headed for the Magnificent Mile: Michigan Avenue. We explored floor after floor of things we pretended we could afford, rolling imaginary luggage carts around full of clothes and household items we just couldn’t live without. We stopped in the American Girl Place to re-live our childhoods, and nabbed some free chocolate at Ghiradelli before enjoying a little good conversation over a sushi snack. It has never ceased to amaze me how Kim and I can literally be half a world away from each other but still maintain a friendship that I consider to be one of my closest. Even though years passed during which we were on separate continents, we have consistently grown closer and have chased similar dreams despite the distance. The two of us did the majority of our growing up apart, but I’m convinced our minds have always been on one accord. Almost creepily so.

After almost two hours of talking nonstop, we decided it was time for a caffeine boost. The sky had faded navy by this time, but it was by no means dark outside. The buildings illuminated our path as we continued to explore, Starbucks in hand. We went for Round Two  at Ghiradelli’s before meeting up with Kim’s roommate at Giordono’s for some classic Chicago deep dish. The pizza felt like it took years to bake, but the end result was worth the wait.

When we climbed on the train to head back to Kim’s apartment, it had been almost twelve hours since we had first set out. If only it had actually felt like it had been that long. I assured Kim that I would most definitely be back again, this promise the seal my favorite weekend of 2013 to date. 

The Carpe Diem Project

If there is one thing in this life that my brain cannot get a handle on, it's time. Represented by hands on the clock, falling sand, a shadow across the sidewalk, time is something we can never seem to have enough of. We know a minute is composed of sixty seconds, an hour of sixty minutes, a day of twenty four hours, and yet some minutes drag on for hours while others last merely seconds. Once a moment passes, it is gone forever, only leaving behind shadows in the form of memories easily forgotten. The same can be said for life. No matter how many weeks, months, years we are given on the earth, once it ends, life on Planet Earth is over indefinitely. This is a common fact of life, heavy and sobering. So why is it that we take it so lightly? Why is it that we sit around and stare at each other wondering how to simply pass time that, once gone, can never be retrieved again?

I recently had a conversation with a friend wise beyond his years on this very topic over some hot chocolate.

"People settle instead of going after their dreams," he told me. "They make excuses. The only thing that can limit you, is you."

So, I decided I'm not going to settle. I'm done with making excuses. 

James 4:14 makes a powerful statement: "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." I don't know about you, but thinking of my life as a mist calls for some changes in priorities. I firmly believe time is a precious gift from God, and how we choose to use it reflects our devotion to Him. Keeping this in mind, a statistic I read in the book Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman stated that, by 65 years of age, the average person will have spent twelve years in front of the TV. I am super not ok with this!

So in light of these facts, what is a chronic time-waster to do? With God as my witness (I know He wholeheartedly backs me up on this, in fact I think He's been trying to get it through my thick skull for awhile now), I am proposing the Carpe Diem Project in hopes of turning things around. 

Here's how this is going to work.

1. For three months, I'm going to do my best to live like my life is a mist. 

2. This means....

     -Treating every moment as a gift

     -Being intentional and deliberate with my use of time

     -Honoring God in all I say and do

3. I will only watch TV if it provides an opportunity to fellowship and spend time with friends, or help me to keep from throwing up when I run on the treadmill.

4. Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest) gets 20 minutes of my day. No more, no less.

5. I no longer will provide lodging in my brain for worry, stress, or negativity.

6. Time not spent with friends, in class, doing homework, or working will be spent in three ways: learning, enhancing, and doing.

Learning:  I cannot tell you the last time I read a book to learn something new or just for fun. I want to re-develop this habit and pick up some knowledge along the way. 

Enhancing: There is always room for improvement, whether it is in relationships or skills. I want to spend more time with God and people, as well as writing and creating. 

Doing: I have always hated sitting around, and unfortunately I've slowly let myself settle to doing "nothing" when I find extra time. No longer! Time to get up and get moving, which means seeing new places, trying new things, and exploring what creation has to offer. 

7. I'm planning on tracking my progress. I have an inkling that this little "experiment" is going to radically change things for me, and once May whatever rolls around, it will no longer be a project, but a way of life. 

I know and accept I will mess up from time to time. There will be days where I am tempted to "kill time" by engaging in the mindless activities that suck me in far too easily. But, with the help of my Father, I'm committing to this. I can't afford not to. 

Snowquiescence

As I stepped out into the January atmosphere, I met the morning for the second time. While many were still beginning their day, mine was well underway, as I had been coaxed out of sleep for class over two hours prior. The eyes had been rubbed and the coffee made, but I still felt I had yet to truly begin. Leaving the building wrapped in my silky down coat, a white blanket of clouds softly sprinkled snow onto the ground. As I walked, I became abundantly aware of the hush that had accompanied the accumulation under my feet. It was almost as if each snowflake absorbed all sound, swallowing up every shout and footstep from across campus. The stillness was sweet. With flakes surrounding me and my steady exhalations the only sound to be heard, I felt a calmness saturating the air. The sound of snowqueiscence.

I am generally not winter's biggest fan, but there is just something about snowquiescence that feels magical. Looking out from inside a warm house at a world sealed in white always has a peaceful effect. Combine it with a comfy sweater, a hot drink, a journal, and the instrumental version of England by The National, and you've got yourself a recipe for a perfect winter day.