Monday, January 20, 2014

January Update

     I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year!  I did not really make a resolution...  I just promised myself to do whatever makes me happy, but that is a vow that I hope to carry over every year.  It is already past the middle of the month!  How is this possible?  Last year flew by and this year is flying by already.  I'll be 25 before I know it...  Insane!

     What have I been up to?  The beginning of the month caused quite a bit of stress in my life, but I have since worked through it.  When I was younger, I always wanted to join the Peace Corp, but it was something that I had ruled out of my life.  The reasoning behind this was because I thought that a lot of it was agriculturally based and I don't feel that I am equipped for a farming lifestyle.  I have since ran into an old friend that has a girlfriend in the Peace Corp and it made me want to have a look at it again.  Upon researching, I found out that they were looking for English teachers.  I have certification to teach English as a foreign language and my wheels started turning again.  I am madly in love with Europe and would like to spend my LIFE there, so I decided that the opening to Macedonia suited me best if I chose to join.  Unfortunately, the deadline for this application was the end of this month!  I was hardly sleeping trying to sort out if this is what I was mean't to do in my life.  I came to the conclusion that 2 1/4 years commitment was way too much when I tend to be a pretty spontaneous person.  I couldn't do it and I had to put it aside.  I do believe it is a great organization though, so give it a look if you have any desire.  http://www.peacecorps.gov/

     What do I want to do with the rest of my life?  I have no clue and am finally at peace with that.  I still have my moments of stress where I feel like I should have a plan, but ultimately I feel okay just cruising right now.  I don't think I need to have all the answers at 24 years old.  It is hard being in America because you feel pressure to live up to the American dream, climb up the corporate ladder and make tons of money.  I cannot and will not work a 9-5 job, but when I am here I feel that pressure from family and society.

    Next trip?  As you can imagine, traveling around the world for 10 months and then being stagnate in my home town for 2 months has caused me to become pretty antsy.  After very little thought, 1 week to be exact, I decided after looking at flights and seeing that I could get a killer deal, WHY NOT?!?!  I was missing friends abroad, spoke with them, found out they were free and that was that.  I booked and here I am today excited about a trip to Portugal, England and Scotland that is 2 1/2 weeks long.  I can't wait and I am leaving in a little over 2 weeks!  I am young and I have jobs that are wiling to work with me and my schedule, so I  had to go for it before something might constrain me in the future.

     Today, my best friend and I did the "March for the Dream" walk in downtown Sacramento in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with her mother and a friend.  It was truly remarkable seeing thousands of people, marching bands and a drill team marching through the streets for this great Civil Rights leader.  I was so moved!  It was really great day supporting the best cause out there, human rights!







 California State Capitol




     If you haven't listened to the entire "I Have a Dream" speech, I really encourage you to do so, American or not.  It is brilliant and the message can carry on to any human rights issue that has occurred all over the world.  He has a powerful voice and his memory will live on forever.  Let's work on curing this planet together.  Look into a cause or volunteering opportunity in your community that you can be a part of!




"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." 
-Martin Luther King Jr.

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