The Pickens Plan!

Today was a great day! I got the opportunity to meet T. Boone Pickens. I've been following the Pickens Plan since the first day it was announced on July 8, 2008. I think its a great idea to try and be solely dependent on domestic energy. An interesting fact that I learned today was that America imports $450 billion of oil every year. That amount of money could be invested nationally not internationally and create new jobs and help benefit national healthcare and education systems! I'm all for renewable energy! I think wind energy is awesome, even if the wind doesn't blow all of the time, how great would it be to be able to store energy from the wind and rely on a clean energy source! Same with solar energy, sure there might be cloudy days but there can still be some capture of energy. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for America's energy! I have faith in the Pickens Plan. Thank goodness someone finally came up with something! Even if it doesn't work perfectly, at least its a start and will help make America less dependent on foreign oil supplies and boost our credibility throughout the world. And if our money is spent nationally, I can only hope that it will be helpful in stimulating our national economy. If you haven't joined the Pickens Plan or even heard about it check it out at http://www.pickensplan.com.

Words of Wisdom: A fool with a plan is better off than a genius without a plan. - T. Boone Pickens

Adventure awaits

I love to travel. I need to travel. I would be perfectly content traveling the world by myself, backpacking across Europe and through the jungles of South America. To live a life of a traveler for a time would be such an experience.

There is so much that we can learn from other cultures. I have a friend who is studying abroad in England and says that she has learned more about America by being abroad than she had while living here her whole life. I have a hunger for adventure, and even if its not abroad, there are many treasures to be discovered in the States. Not only through traveling do we learn about other cultures but we can make many discoveries about ourselves. I want to travel to be somewhere else and learn to love people everywhere. Although I want to see all the touristy places, I truly desire to discover what it would be like to be a native of another country; to follow their customs and daily routines.

At the same time that the world is calling me to discover its wonders, I know how important it is to remember my roots and know where to always call home. For that is where I started and where I became who I am to this point. No matter where I travel, home will always hold the fondest place in my heart.

I pray for opportunities for travel to present themselves to me but as this is slow going, I'm off in search of these adventures. Some people are content to look at the world around them and say, "Yes this is perfect, why must I ever see anything else?" Or "I read about it in a book so that alone is enough." I, however, am not content with such thoughts. Adventure is calling my name, the whole world awaits me. Soon, I shall answer its call, to discover more about myself and God's amazing creations.

Words of Wisdom: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." -Mark Twain
"One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller

Witness to Love

Today was a very eventful day! Although I've known for almost a month, today my roommate got engaged and I got to assist in this wonderful event. It all started 3 weeks ago when I went to Wichita with Laura! That evening we went to her high school's homecoming event. While she and our friend Retta were conversing with a teacher, Laura's boyfriend of 5 years asked if I would be around March 7 because he was planning on proposing that day and wanted me to help him. I said yeah I'd be glad to help in anyway I could. Over the next 3 weeks we would occasionally talk and he would throw an idea out to me or tell me his plan and what I needed to do. During this time, I continued to behave normally around Laura, joining her in pondering when the proposal might be. She was convinced it would be in NY while they were there for Spring Break. I would just laugh to myself knowing it would be sooner, and verbally agree with her!

On Thursday, David revealed his final plans for the proposal. And today I was in charge in helping them go smoothly. He had emailed me 4 letters in which he slowly revealed the plan to her. The first note told her that he had scheduled a massage for her and I in celebration of her 20th birthday, which is in a week! The second note was accompanied with a delicious lunch of chicken fettuicine alfredo, garlic mashed potatoes and her favorite brownies; all of which had been prepared by him while we were at our massages. Then I was to "find" the third note which instructed her to get ready for the day, and preferrably be ready by 2. My ridiculous way of finding the note was to say it was sitting on my bathroom counter. As ridiculous as it was, she surprisingly didn't realize my lie until later when she had a moment to think through it. As she hopped in the shower, I placed the fourth and final note on her computer, surrounded by rose petals. This final note told her about the puzzle hidden within the letters, which spelled out "Meet Me At The Campanile." After I left the last note I slipped out of our house and went to campus to meet David, where I was to be taking pictures.

She said yes! It brought tears to my eyes and filled my heart with love for their love. I am so so excited for the two of them and the things that their future together will hold. Although they're young, their love for each other is beautiful and true. They are both strong and believe in what they have and believe in each other. In fact, these two people, Laura and David are my two friends who had a disagreement the other day, but were still able to work it out. The funny thing I learned today about this argument is that he was unavailable and not very sympathetic because he had been busy asking her parents for permission!

Laura, if you read this I wanted to let you know: Today is day 1,905. I love you! I wish you and David the most happiness and love two people can have! I hope to one day find a love like what you two have! Best wishes!

Words of Wisdom: Choosing a love, and then, being strong enough to live up to your commitment of love is the essence of love.

My visitors

Yesterday, as I sat outside on campus, in unusally warm weather for Kansas on the 5th of March, I was joined by two ladybugs. It was unbelievably strange but I also felt lucky. I read somewhere once that ladybugs are good lucky so I felt particularly blessed. So as I allowed the first one to crawl around on my hand I pondered what sort of luck they would bring me. A new love perhaps, or maybe I could pass the luck on to my little brother whose basketball team is one game away from State Basketball! Then as I was wondering how long the ladybug would stick around, it flew off, hopefully to bring good luck to another KU student!

I was sadden that the ladybug had left me and was also superstituous that perhaps I wouldn't have any luck after all. So there I sat in the beautiful sunlight and fixed my hair, enjoying the nature around me, and I looked down and there was another ladybug crawling towards my armpit! I almost squished it! This ladybug stuck around a little bit longer, crawling around on my pant leg and my backpack until I had to leave for class. Again I was caught thinking about what luck and good fortune could present itself to me in the future, all because of a little bug! I love the times in my life when I realize that every little moment in my life has been touched by the hand of God. These are the moments when I remember how amazing His love is and am totally in awe.

Word of Wisdom: There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing in life is a miracle. Second is as though everything in life is a miracle. - Albert Einstein

Don't be afraid to dance to your own tune!

I love music! Its an expression of the heart, so many things can be communicated through the lyrics and rhythms that I cannot say myself. Or sometimes until I have heard a particular song, that makes me realize we are not alone in this world. That at this particular moment in time, someone could be feeling the exact same way we are. That's what makes a song popular I think.

Obviously artists write their songs so their fans can sing along at concerts and their words can be spread around the world. I however, often aim to ruin this magnificent plan. If I don't understand the lyrics, I sing whatever I want to. For example, "Kiss Me" by Six Pence None The Richer, says, "Lift your open hand and strike up the band." For years, I thought the lyrics were "Lift your auburn hair and strike up the band." Ooops! Now I've proudly been telling my friends that I don't know the correct lyrics to many songs.

Words of Wisdom: Dance as though no one is watching you. Sing as though no one can hear you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Live as though heaven is on earth. - William Purkey

This isn't for the weak

Love, I've discovered isn't for the faint of heart, or the one who gives up easily. It takes work. As a child I think I grew up with the notion that love is easy and that my parents relationship always worked smoothly. This was of course because adults, I think, try to always make their life seem easy to their children or atleast mine did. Now I see the struggles they go through day in and day out. But still after so many years they're still together, working to make their marriage and love work.

This morning in church, I glanced around at the many couples surrounding me and never felt more alone. I pondered why I couldn't make a relationship work. And then I realized, love takes work. For a relationship to really work, both parties must be completely committed and moving on the same track, willing to share everything that makes them who they are. And that sometimes is a scary thought to be able to open yourself up that much. I have yet to find the man who is willing to be that devoted till death do us part, though many have thought they were to that point. I also thought about how difficult it must be to transition from dating to marriage where you then must share everyday with another person.

My point is I've recently realized that love is not all I always thought it was. Perhaps its like most things in life: you get out what you put in. The more willing you are to work with someone and to reveal to them your deepest secrets, the closer your hearts will grow and the more you will get from love. It does take work but those who work hardest will be greatly rewarded. I envy those who have found someone with whom they can work towards the same goals with and inturn reap the benefits of love.

Words of Wisdom: When love beckons you, follow him though his ways are hard and steep. -Kahlil Gibran

Saying it how it is

So earlier I was thinking about what really makes a relationship work. For example, when in a situation where a woman is having a bad day and she looks to her boyfriend or husband for support or just a simple, "I'm sorry to hear that dear," but receives nothing of the sort, is it okay for her to be upset? Of course it is! The man should of course been more sensitive. However I'm convinced that sensitive men are a myth much like the Lochness Monster or the Abominable Snowman. I've been witness to this insensitive man act one too many times. I once handled it in a manner where I calmly explained how the lack of caring hurt my feelings, however, I received a response saying, "you're expecting too much from this relationship." This relationship ended almost as quickly as it had begun.

This afternoon I witnessed a close friend take the same approach with her boyfriend of 5 years. I'm sure this is not the first time this incident has occurred, yet she received a similar response as I did. Why do men not learn? Lucky for her, they're still together and will probably be till the end of time. Perhaps its true that men are from mars and women are from venus. Quite obviously communication is key in any relationship. Like I said in my last post, love is not for the weak and communication can be quite difficult.

Showing someone you truly care about them takes three easy tasks in my mind: listening, prioritization, and involvement. First, listening is not hard to do, open your ears and your mind and pay at attention to small details. Second, prioritization means just making time for that person and not taking them for granted. Third, to be involved in a relationship means you should actually want to be in it and give as much as you receive. I know I personally love to give and give my time, my words, and small gifts while I'm in a relationship and I would never expect someone to give that much in return. However, a small bit of acknowledgment or reply to a note in return means the world to me and most women.

Words of Wisdom: Make it a habit to give - whether yourself, your time, a word of your encouragement, or a listening ear - and you’ll find peace and happiness that can’t be beat.

And the words come out...

I'm new to blogging and thought it would be a great idea to start a blog of my own. I also need to learn how to blog so I can teach interns this summer for my job. Right now, I'm seriously regretting it. I think I'm an interesting person but I really don't know who would want to follow this or what I can even write about on a regular basis.

Back in my childhood, which seems like forever ago, but really isn't, I wanted to be a famous author. I still have that silly little dream but instead of publishing simple minded poetry, I want to be that one writer who shines a light into the lives of others. I want to write words that people would want to quote the world around, or that someone could turn to in a moment of darkness when they're looking for an answer. Perhaps through writing this blog someone will find me inspirational and I'll be on my way to helping others. Haha. However this is my first post so I should take a step back before diving into the deep end.

Words of wisdom: Take one day at a time.