#39 A 2012 Retrospective

There's something about New Year's Eve that makes everyone a little bit retrospective--or a lot retrospective in some cases. The prospect of a new year brings with it the thoughts of the year being left behind. It's impossible to move forward without acknowledging the past, and I think now is the time for me to do that! After seeing tons of Facebook statuses and tweets about 2012 in review, it's my turn to look back.

2012 was a big year for me. It was one full of ups and downs, old things and new things, and everything in between. As all of you know--partly because the majority of you were there with me--this year, I graduated from high school and began my college journey. That in and of itself is enough to constitute a big year. But more than those monumental life events, I'll remember the small things that happened this year too. I'll remember with clarity how much fun I had in the magenta-colored dress at senior cotillion in January in which my friends and I intentionally danced the opposite direction of the crowd during the line dances (yeah, yeah we line dance in Texas). I'll remember going on senior retreat in February...twice...the second time being far better than the first. I'll remember the stress I felt trying to finish the 2011-2012 yearbook for my school in March. Being an editor was certainly one of the most stressful experiences of my life. I'll remember April's senior prom that would be my last school dance and how much fun I had being with my friends for one of the classic high school experiences. Of course I'll remember wearing my Catholic school uniform for the last time and donning my red robe to  graduate from high school in May. Who could possibly forget that? I'll remember taking my first extended visit to college at orientation in June. I was probably more nervous for that than actually going to school, as weird as that sounds. I'll remember taking my last pre-college family vacation to California in July which gave me some much needed, uninterrupted family time in the midst of college preparations. I'll remember the whirlwind of a week in August that marked my last week in my hometown--a time spent staying up far too late and taking advantage of every possible moment with my friends, a time that will always stick out in my mind for more reasons than one. I'll remember September as the first full month I spent in my new home at school, making new friends and learning new things in class. I'll remember my ACL experience in October, something that is bound to become a tradition for me. I'll remember November for marking my first trip back home for Thanksgiving and how happy I was to see everyone. And I'll remember December for putting me through the stress of finals and giant relief of being done with them and making it to winter break. Of course there are plenty of other things I'll remember from the year, but those are the first that come to mind, which is bound to mean something.

Even more than actually remembering these specific events, I'll remember the lessons they taught me. I've learned to let loose and have fun, taking advantage of the time I have with the people that matter to me the most. To cherish family and friends always. That it's important to be open to new things and new people. Life is full of the new, and we have to get used to experiencing it. That we are not alone in anything we do, because there are always people around to support us. That there really is no place like home. That at the end of the day, we need to get over the bad in our lives and concentrate on the good. That it's important to cherish the good memories. That life goes on, regardless of how horrible you think it may be.

Clearly it's been a big year for me, and I want to thank you all for experiencing it with me. I started this blog in January of 2012, so you really have been with me the entire year, reading about my troubles, triumphs, and the advice I give. I can't claim to be an expert, but I can hope that I've reached someone this year. If not, that's okay, because this has been for me too. It's been a good year for me, and I only hope it has been for you too. My advice for today and for the new year is to look back with appreciation for the things that have happened in the past year and look forward with excitement and determination in the new year. Take the lessons of last year and bring them into the new year.

A goodbye to 2012, and a hello to 2013!

Wishing you a blessed new year, 

Morgan

#38 A Christmas Frame of Mind

One of my most favorite Christmas movies is without a doubt Miracle on 34th Street. If you've never seen it, stop what you're doing right now and watch it--well after you read this, anyway. I've always been a sucker for a good Christmas movie, and this one has always hit the spot in my heart. There is one quote in the movie that particularly resonates with me, and it's one I thought I would share with you on this greatest of days. It reads, "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind." I don't know about you, but I've always thought this was beautiful, and the older I get, the more it seems to mean to me.

It seems like in the days leading up to Christmas, there is nothing but the hustle and bustle of trying to get ready for one of the biggest days of the year. Basically it is chaos. I'm sure there is not a person in the world who doesn't get stressed out about something or other during the holiday season simply because of the magnitude of it all. But all of that stress and worry is made worth it when we are able to sit back with those we love and appreciate the most. Christmas waves a sort of magic wand over the world and makes it a softer and more beautiful place. It gives us all a chance to cherish peace and goodwill and be generous with mercy. Christmas is love in action. More than just being a day, it is a state of mind filled with great peace (which is surely much needed after the mayhem in the weeks leading up to the day), goodwill (which comes through the symbolism of a beautiful gift), and abundant mercy (displayed when people are able to put aside everything to show how much they care). 

So on this most wonderful of days, I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and everyone you love. I hope it is a day to remember for a lifetime--it should be if you're in the Christmas frame of mind! 

Lastly, I want to thank you all for giving me one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for, and that is the desire and motivation to keep writing because of your continued support. I only wish I could repay each and every one of you for this precious gift. It really does mean the world to me.  

Merry Christmas to all, and to all...go watch Miracle on 34th Street! 

With love, 

Morgan

#37 When All Is Said and Done...Well For Now

Here we are, fellow first-year college students! It really is the end...of first semester that is. A semester full of news (in both the news as in "Wow I had no idea that happened!" and as in new things), full of highs from good grades, accomplishments, and an overall excitement to have gone off to college, and full of lows from, well, not so good grades and missing the people we left behind. As I sit here waiting for it to be time for the flight that will take me home fresh out of my doozy of an economics final, I can't help but be retrospective. I mean what else am I supposed to be doing? School is over and all of my stuff is packed, so why not go on a thought adventure? And while I know I've been utterly blog-negligent lately (even Facebook was kind enough to remind me yesterday that I hadn't posted anything lately and suggest that I post now), I'm back now. Here I am, crawling out from under all my books, notebooks, and notecards, ready to end this semester, this year, and start anew. But until the year starts anew, how about coming on a reflective journey with me?

In the spirit of "Things I Should've Done," I think it's appropriate to bring back the input post so I, and others of course, can see how you've come to see the college experience. So tell me, what is the most important thing you've learned about college thus far? 

"That family is everything and being separated from them makes you appreciate them a billion times more."

"Have fun with it. Everyone's going through the same stuff that you are. And don't go to college looking for your husband. Go to meet your bridesmaids. Study hard, but remember also that this is where you'll meet some of your greatest friends."

"To enjoy it. Don't over-stress or let little things get to you. Listen to your professors, make new memories, and spend time with your friends. Learn from new experiences and you'll realize that you're constantly learning more about yourself."

"Well first of all that I should study with about a week of anticipation. And that I shouldn't have taken my family for granted while I lived with them because it kind of sucks not having them around as much."

"I think just being true to yourself no matter what you're going through or how much stress you have to put up with or how much you miss home."

"Be open to new ideas, new things, and new people because [college] is the four years of your life filled with the most opportunity for experience. Don't shut anything or anyone out. Either that or don't start worrying about your GPA at the end of the semester."

"Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and experience new things. You meet new people, have some great times, and get to see what all there is to do in college."

"You can do whatever you want, but you have to be willing to accept the fact that when you make a mistake there is no one else to blame but yourself. It's fun, but it teaches you how to have responsibility."

"I've learned that cafeteria food really does get old...fast."

As for me, I think the most important thing I've learned is that college isn't nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be. I'm sure all of you know how freaked out I was by the whole idea of moving away from everything I knew, but once I got over the initial shock, it became just as normal as everything else. I have friends, I have class, I have a routine--I got used to it. Sure I miss people from home and from time to time I wish I wasn't doing as much reading and studying as I have to do, but college is about growing up and learning to adapt in a new environment. Doing just that proved to be a lot easier than I expected, a fact that I was pleasantly surprised about. What have I learned? You get used to it, and you learn to love it.

With 45 minutes left until my flight departs home (granted by the time I post this I'll probably be at home, but you get the idea!), I can't help but look back with great happiness. I can tell I've learned so much already--scholastically and personally--and that makes me all the more excited to continue on the college journey. Though this is starting to have an element of finality, don't worry, I'll be back plenty of times throughout the holiday season and before I go back to school in January! For now, I'm going to shut my brain off and revel in the fact that I don't have to deal with finals anymore!

#36 The Ties That Bind

When I moved away to college, I told myself that I would keep in contact with my friends from high school. I'm a huge believer that it is important to maintain relationships with people you've met over the years. At one point these people were important to you in some way, so it's important to keep them in your life in whatever way you can. I know that it's very easy to lose contact with people from high school once you go to college, but I've made it my mission to stay in touch. Don't get me wrong, I'm not stuck in high school at all. My desire to maintain friendships does not stem from the fact that I yearn for the "glory days" of high school. I'm very happy with my college life thus far, and frankly I'd be lying if I said I wanted to go back to wearing a uniform to school everyday (although sometimes I do miss how easy it was to get dressed in the morning). I just think it's important to keep relationships with people who were with you during your formative years spent in high school. It's about integrating a part of your past with your present and future. I think being able to do this speaks volumes of a person's character. It shows that they appreciate the past and want it to be a part of them forever. This has been my personal goal--keeping in mind the ties that bind.

Recently one of my Facebook friends shared a link that appeared on my News Feed. It was a list entitled "32 Things That Are Worth Caring About." Number one on that list reads "Keeping in touch with friends when one or both of you move away, even if that means reserving time to talk to them even when it isn't convenient." Before I saw this list a few days ago, I'd been making a conscious effort to keep up with people from my high school days, but seeing that only reaffirmed that I'm doing something good. Sure, it's hard to stay in contact with people when you're miles apart, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. If you want to badly enough, you will find a way to make it happen.

So to wrap this all up, I encourage everyone to keep in touch! Send a text, write on a Facebook wall, mention on Twitter, give a call, or if you're feeling crazy, write a letter! (If you know me, you know I have a thing for handwritten sentiments! Feel free to write me anytime!) Use any type of communication possible. The point is that we should all make an effort. What do we have to lose?

For those of you interested in the entire "32 Things That Are Worth Caring About" list, here is the link to it. It really is worth checking out. Enjoy!

#35 I Love You. Thanks For 15,000

I've officially reached 15,000 views!

I want to thank all of you for being on this journey with me for the past several months. When I started this I didn't realize how much it would come to mean to me. It began as something I did because I was inspired one day and thought "Hey, maybe I should blog about that." I didn't think it would last nearly this long, but it has! I would like to say that it's all me, but it's really you. It is the view count that keeps me going. Seeing that number rise and rise makes me feel like people out there actually care what I'm writing on this small little blog. Since you all keep coming back, so do I. You all inspire me. 

I am humbled and grateful that you've supported me like you have even with all the changes--from high school to college, from regret to action, from Things I Should've Done to Things I'm Doing. I know I've changed as a person in doing this, and I think it's for the better. It has proved to me that writing really is an outlet. I encourage anyone looking for an outlet to try it. You don't have to be the best writer in the world to get something from it--in fact you don't even have to be good to get something from it! I learned in psychology class earlier in the semester that writing about your experiences is proven to make you feel better about them, and because of this, I believe that wholeheartedly. 

So again, I want to thank you all for going on this journey with me. I will ask that you stick with me because there are many more college adventures to be had! 

Here's to the next 15,000!

Also, congratulations to President Barack Obama and everyone who voted today--whether it was for the first time or otherwise! You're officially a part of history.

#34 Tom Landry Said It Best

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge football fan, and here in Texas, football is basically a religion. Legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry said it best: "Football is to Texas what religion is to a priest." Here, everybody looks forward to the weekend because there's high school football on Friday, college football on Saturday, and NFL football on Sunday. My school cafeteria even makes football shaped and decorated cookies (pictured below). If that doesn't show how much this state loves football, I don't know what does. I'm not originally from Texas, but I've been here for almost ten years. Most of life has been spent here. My formative years were here, so I learned to love the game from being around people who love the game. Now I'm one of those people who is totally into football season and anxiously awaits football season when it isn't. Because of this, one of the things that excited me most about college was being able to go to all of the football games. UT's Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is the sixth largest collegiate stadium with a seating capacity of over 100,000. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? Going to games is probably one of my favorite parts of the college experience. There is nothing like being a part of all the energy in that stadium. Hearing the cheers of the crowd, seeing the marching band play, hearing the sound of the cannon go off when the Longhorns score, putting your horns up, getting excited when the team does something right, getting angry when they do something not so right, all of it is amazing. Every time I go, I think to myself how lucky I am to be a part of all of it, how lucky I am to be there. I was lucky enough to be present at the October 6th game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in which the attendance record at DKR was broken. 101,851 people. And I was one of them. Granted I was suffering through the cold weather and wind in the thinnest sweater I own, but I was there. There really is nothing better than football in Texas. And football in general. If you're not a fan, become one. It's not just a sport, it's a way of life. Seriously. And also, feel free to get me Cowboys or Texans tickets for Christmas! I won't get into my obsessive relationship with NFL football. I love it too much. But that's a whole other story for a whole other time!

#33 A Lesson in Psychology

I learned recently in psychology class that the strength and longevity of memories is directly related to the amount of emotion felt during the event of their creation. This explains why the things we remember the most are the things that affected us in a large way--by either bringing us great sadness or great joy or some other impacting emotion. I know I will remember this past weekend for a long time to come because it was so much fun. There were several times that I just thought to myself how happy I was, which made the think of how much I need to get rid of the things that hold me back so that I can be that happy person all the time. Yes, it sounds silly, but I did have this epiphanic moment in the middle of a music festival with 75,000 people surrounding me.

This past weekend was the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. For those of you who aren't familiar with ACL, it is a three-day music festival that takes place here in Austin, gathering over 130 musical acts from all over the world to play rock, indie, country, folk, electronic music and more on eight different stages. My favorite acts of this year were The Red Hot Chili Peppers (of course), Two Door Cinema Club, Childish Gambino, Florence + the Machine, Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, and The Shins. I could go on and on about the acts, but I think you get the gist--they were amazing. In addition, it sells food and art from different vendors, a vast majority of them being local. Like I said, it attracts a enormous amount of people. Honestly, it's insane how many people are there. 75,000 people in a huge public park is crazy. But the atmosphere is incomparable. It's almost electric--you know there's something going on there. There is nothing like the sound of the music and all the commotion around. This year was my second experience at ACL, and I loved it just as much as last year, if not more. Not only am I continually awed by the power of live music, but I am also continually awed by the eclectic mix of people you find those three days at Zilker Park.

Another random psychology factoid, the most memorable events in our lives happen when they encompass all of the senses. At ACL, you can hear the resonance of the music across the entire park, you can see all of the crazy people around you, you can smell the local foods being sold by the vendors (not to mention the not-so-pleasent smells you come across), you can taste that food, and you can feel the beat of the music inside of you. All of these combined sensory experiences made me realize how lucky I was to be there, and there is nothing that makes me happier than that. I got to thinking that I need to be a happy, carefree person like that all the time and just let go of the thoughts that aren't good for me. It is for these reasons that I know ACL will always be an experience that I can look back on and remember fondly, and I can only hope to make all of my days as memorable as those three. I may not have Florence Welch crooning in the background of my everyday life, but that doesn't mean every day of my life isn't as special as the three days of ACL. So I guess, live every day like it's an ACL day!