I've Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

I didn't think I could do it. I sat on my yoga mat and stared at the instructor with a slight sense of wonder. I could feel that my head was tilting to one side as the confusion raced around in my brain. I was perplexed. "How did she do that?" I thought, and as she softly explained that it was our turn to the try the tripod, no one moved. I wasn't the only one with a crooked head overflowing with thoughts of doubt, amazement, and shyness. I continued sitting still, just the same way everyone else did. The woman next to me finally moved and was successful at the tripod while the rest of us watched. I remembered how that woman had once told me that she's been doing yoga for 12 years so I assumed she'd done that pose many, many times before. I've only done yoga for a year so how could my body possibly balance like that? Almost as quickly as I was doubting myself, the instructor gave us another chance. Those infamous words came to my mind as I straightened my...

The great Michael Jordan once said, "some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen." When I came across this quote last night, I had a certain pang in my heart. I thought, that's me. The one that wants it to happen. And I was instantly let down and disappointed with myself. In the life of a 24 year old girl, I have created many dreams and ambitions for myself, knowing that everything in time works itself out, and some of these things I do make happen, but many others remain a distant dream, or just a good conversation starter; they seem to remain things that I only wish would happen. Some of these goals of mine have been to run a half marathon or even a few road races, to spend my free time volunteering and helping people in need, visit certain big cities, to write a book, to write and illustrate a children's book, and to ultimately become an English teacher. My dream and desire to have a blog that depicts different aspects of m...

I wish I wasn't falling asleep to the groaning sound of the neighbor's generator. I actually wish I was falling asleep to the beautiful sound of nothingness, to the absolute sound of silence that Mother Nature seemed to grant over us in the past few days. Silence, darkness, and chilling cold air surrounded me. As eerie as it felt to drive from one end of Cheshire clear to the other without seeing a single welcoming light, it was also peaceful, and it was bright. The stars seemed to glisten brighter than I've ever seen them. I had yet another reality check and moment of pure gratitude, when I was reminded that despite being without electricity, I was not without food, family, and my home. Things can always, always be worse. It was a time to cleanse my soul. Before I snuck off to my warm, welcoming bed, I opened the front door and saw an abundance of stars twinkling above me. Stars were shining that I've never seen before, that have never been brighter than the light poll...