I don’t know about you, but lately I have been BOMBARDED by blogs about 20-somethings. They all have similar titles… 20 things twenty somethings should do… or not do… or know... or accomplish. Literally, I cannot get on facebook or twitter without seeing their headlines, each of them drawing me in. I’m particularly entrapped by the ones that explain things YOU KNOW HOW TO DO while in your twenties. Sometimes these lists can affirm you. I often feel myself puffing up when I come across a list that I have almost mastered. But, more often than not, the lists show things that I have not accomplished, seen, or know. Then the panic sets in…WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE?
That internal question then leads down a slippery slope that ends with me feeling like a failure. Sure, some of the items like, “know how to parallel park”, aren’t too heartbreaking to not have mastered. (P.S. I have not been able to nor do I ever foresee myself being able to parallel park. Let’s hope I never live in a large city.) But, there are the other accomplishments that “I should” have mastered that never even crossed my mind. I see the tasks a twenty something should have mastered and I feel small. I feel behind on the curve. I feel like what I’m doing isn’t up to par with what my twenty something friends are accomplishing.
This is not me saying that “20 something” blogs are bad. I am saying that letting others make a list for your life can be harmful. The twenty something lists can be fun as well as act as a sort of guide but should never be seen as a checklist for life. I believe that we are all placed on a path and my journey is different than my twenty something peers. Not only is my journey different, but so are my talents, weaknesses, and dreams. So instead of panicking that we aren’t falling in line with what twenty somethings should be doing, we should celebrate what we have done and what we will do (even if it doesn’t include parallel parking).
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Senior year vs. freshman year
Recently, a good friend of mine, Allie Heckel, wrote an article talking about the differences between freshman year and senior year on Auburn's campus, and I do not think I could have said it any better myself!
Check out her article: http://family.auburn.edu/profiles/blogs/10-things-that-change-from-your-freshman-to-senior-year-at-auburn?xg_source=activity
Comment and let us know what has changed most for you from Freshman to Senior year!
I think my biggest change has been the way I care. That sounds very broad of a subject and I could probabaly talk about it all day, but I am secure in my frienships, in myself and what I've got going on. I care so little about what others think and so greatly about what my friends think. It's been a really interesting change for me. I was ultra involved on campus the past 3 years at Auburn, and I kind of let that go senior year and it has made all the difference. I used to be so focued on what position I would hold next and defined myself by the amount of people I knew and the amount of people that knew me. As you get older you realize that true frienships mean far greater to you than all the acquaintances in the world.
The change from freshman to senior year is inevitable. You grow and mature so much that if there is no change there is no growth.
Heather Duncan
Check out her article: http://family.auburn.edu/profiles/blogs/10-things-that-change-from-your-freshman-to-senior-year-at-auburn?xg_source=activity
Comment and let us know what has changed most for you from Freshman to Senior year!
I think my biggest change has been the way I care. That sounds very broad of a subject and I could probabaly talk about it all day, but I am secure in my frienships, in myself and what I've got going on. I care so little about what others think and so greatly about what my friends think. It's been a really interesting change for me. I was ultra involved on campus the past 3 years at Auburn, and I kind of let that go senior year and it has made all the difference. I used to be so focued on what position I would hold next and defined myself by the amount of people I knew and the amount of people that knew me. As you get older you realize that true frienships mean far greater to you than all the acquaintances in the world.
The change from freshman to senior year is inevitable. You grow and mature so much that if there is no change there is no growth.
Heather Duncan
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The distance isn't too long...
I am in a long distance relationship and chances are that you have been in one too. Some estimates state that up to 75% of college students have been in a long distance relationship at some point. Being in a long distance relationship has its pitfalls for sure. Many friends, family members, and even strangers seem to have a take on my long distance relationship. I often hear comments like, “UHG isn’t that SO hard?”, or my favorite, “Why don’t you just date a nice Auburn boy”. (Note: I am proud to come from a university that has such fantastic gentleman. The fact that I’m dating someone from a different university doesn’t reflect negatively on the top notch men here on the plains!) The comments about my relationship are often times discouraging. Rarely do I tell people that I am in a long distance relationship and hear, “WOAH! That’s awesome.”
Each of these comments reminds me what of a fact that I know too well: That the person I love isn’t as close to me as I want.
Of course, anyone in a long distance relationship wishes their significant other was closer. Don’t be discouraged. Being in a long distance relationship IS awesome! I am here to encourage you my long distance loving friends! I should have known after meeting my current boyfriend on an airplane (YES that does happen.) that our relationship would be a little different. He is currently a student at the University of Georgia while I attend the most beautiful school on the plains, (he disagrees) Auburn. Between school, work, internships, and extracurricular activities a relationship is hard to juggle. A long distance relationship just adds another added curve ball to the mix. An article from CNN (September, 2013) states that persons in long distance relationships felt more committed and connected to their significant other. In my opinion long distance couples work harder to show their love through different medium.
Below I listed a couple ways that I have strengthened my relationship and made the distance seem shorter:
Communication is key in relationships and not being able to see your loved one face to face is difficult, but thanks to technology we have the next best thing. Video chatting is a great way to stay connected. The best video chat programs I have found are Skype, Facetime, and ooVoo. If you prefer the written word you can email, send a letter, or even send a telegraph. TelegramStop.com is a website that lets you send an old fashioned telegram for less than $7. You can also write a few letters to give to your love that they can open at a later date or moment. If you’re in the mailing mood, sending a care package is always a great idea! Fill a flat-rate shipping box with all their favorite things. The dollar store is full of fun items and food to fill it with!
Surprises are also a great idea when you are in a long distance relationship.
My favorite thing to do is to order food from Chris’ favorite restaurant and have it delivered to his house. It’s an easy and cheap way to let your someone know you’re thinking about them. Since your relationship is long distance it’s always a good idea for Christmas and Birthday gifts to be something you can do together (think concerts or fun festivals).
The most important way to make long distance relationships work is to make the most of the time when you are together! I know it can be difficult to begin the moping before your visit is even over but STOP. Make the time you have together count. Make sure you make lots of memories to make up for the time you aren’t together.
If you have any other ideas on make long distance relationships better let me know!
-Logan Hubbard
Each of these comments reminds me what of a fact that I know too well: That the person I love isn’t as close to me as I want.
Of course, anyone in a long distance relationship wishes their significant other was closer. Don’t be discouraged. Being in a long distance relationship IS awesome! I am here to encourage you my long distance loving friends! I should have known after meeting my current boyfriend on an airplane (YES that does happen.) that our relationship would be a little different. He is currently a student at the University of Georgia while I attend the most beautiful school on the plains, (he disagrees) Auburn. Between school, work, internships, and extracurricular activities a relationship is hard to juggle. A long distance relationship just adds another added curve ball to the mix. An article from CNN (September, 2013) states that persons in long distance relationships felt more committed and connected to their significant other. In my opinion long distance couples work harder to show their love through different medium.
Below I listed a couple ways that I have strengthened my relationship and made the distance seem shorter:
Communication is key in relationships and not being able to see your loved one face to face is difficult, but thanks to technology we have the next best thing. Video chatting is a great way to stay connected. The best video chat programs I have found are Skype, Facetime, and ooVoo. If you prefer the written word you can email, send a letter, or even send a telegraph. TelegramStop.com is a website that lets you send an old fashioned telegram for less than $7. You can also write a few letters to give to your love that they can open at a later date or moment. If you’re in the mailing mood, sending a care package is always a great idea! Fill a flat-rate shipping box with all their favorite things. The dollar store is full of fun items and food to fill it with!
Surprises are also a great idea when you are in a long distance relationship.
My favorite thing to do is to order food from Chris’ favorite restaurant and have it delivered to his house. It’s an easy and cheap way to let your someone know you’re thinking about them. Since your relationship is long distance it’s always a good idea for Christmas and Birthday gifts to be something you can do together (think concerts or fun festivals).
The most important way to make long distance relationships work is to make the most of the time when you are together! I know it can be difficult to begin the moping before your visit is even over but STOP. Make the time you have together count. Make sure you make lots of memories to make up for the time you aren’t together.
If you have any other ideas on make long distance relationships better let me know!
-Logan Hubbard
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
I am beyond comparing myself...
"Comparison is the thief of Joy" is a quote that has been engrained in my head by my mother from a very small age. Think about it; we have been comparing ourselves to one another ever since I can remember.
Let's rewind in time to kindergarten, first day of school, lunchtime. As we are sitting around the table, girls and boys separated from one another, I can't help but stare at everyone else's more colorful lunchboxes, cleaner cut sandwiches and more extravagant sweets than what lie in my lunchbox. Why has this always been a point of jealousy? We all were fed, but what was in your lunchbox spoke volumes to the table of giggling girls.
Or, remember in middle school gym class when all the girls had to change in front of one another in the girl's locker room. I will never forget how the heavy set girl would go into the bathroom stall instead of parading around in her bra and underwear like the rest of us. Why as women do we put so much pressure on one another?
There is constantly an element of comparison in each and everything we do.
In our world of twitter and instagram, we are each trying to make others believe we are doing it right. We are having the most fun on a Friday night, wearing the cutest clothes and hanging out with the cutest boys. We are trying to show the thousands of acquaintances that follow us on the internet what a fun time we had that night whether we really did or not.
Seek to please yourself.
As I approach the real world come May, I am faced with the unknown. I see girls my age getting engaged, landing incredible jobs and having the next steps of their lives paved for them. I find myself jealous of what they have.
As women, we have to find happiness within ourselves. Seek to do what makes you happy each and every day; stripping your brain of the constant thoughts of what others possess. Flee from comparitive thoughts, if this means deleting your instagram then delete your instagram. Take small steps to make the thief of joy slowly fade away.
Heather Duncan
Let's rewind in time to kindergarten, first day of school, lunchtime. As we are sitting around the table, girls and boys separated from one another, I can't help but stare at everyone else's more colorful lunchboxes, cleaner cut sandwiches and more extravagant sweets than what lie in my lunchbox. Why has this always been a point of jealousy? We all were fed, but what was in your lunchbox spoke volumes to the table of giggling girls.
Or, remember in middle school gym class when all the girls had to change in front of one another in the girl's locker room. I will never forget how the heavy set girl would go into the bathroom stall instead of parading around in her bra and underwear like the rest of us. Why as women do we put so much pressure on one another?
There is constantly an element of comparison in each and everything we do.
In our world of twitter and instagram, we are each trying to make others believe we are doing it right. We are having the most fun on a Friday night, wearing the cutest clothes and hanging out with the cutest boys. We are trying to show the thousands of acquaintances that follow us on the internet what a fun time we had that night whether we really did or not.
Seek to please yourself.
As I approach the real world come May, I am faced with the unknown. I see girls my age getting engaged, landing incredible jobs and having the next steps of their lives paved for them. I find myself jealous of what they have.
As women, we have to find happiness within ourselves. Seek to do what makes you happy each and every day; stripping your brain of the constant thoughts of what others possess. Flee from comparitive thoughts, if this means deleting your instagram then delete your instagram. Take small steps to make the thief of joy slowly fade away.
Heather Duncan
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