I would like to begin this particular blog post with some stats, if I may. In four years, I have received 405 views on 12 different blog posts. I have 26 followers total, most of whom I know or am related to in some way. Obviously, this blog is not the most popular one out … Continue reading Until we meet again…
Unity
It is difficult to run a blog (even one that is seldom updated, such as mine) and not feel compelled to write about things currently happening in the world. Of course, the topics that a blog usually addresses are small in the grand scheme of things. A blogger may write about a war in their … Continue reading Unity
Reflection^2
When I look at the last few years of my life, it seems to me that many of the errors I have made or obstacles I have run into have had a common contributing factor. Since the shift from my high school to my college career, I have somehow lost the ability to reflect. If … Continue reading Reflection^2
Fortress of Solitude
It's 10:30 A.M., and I'm sitting in my hometown's best local coffeehouse. The sounds of coffee being ground, brewed, and poured fill my ears, and delicious scents of pastries and breakfast burritos fill the room. The walls and ceiling are done almost entirely in wood paneling (none of it matching), and the lamps and chairs … Continue reading Fortress of Solitude
College Acapella
For the past two years, I've been a bass singer and beatboxer with my university's acapella group. Being in such a group, the main question I get asked is: "Is it like Pitch Perfect?" Sometimes I tell people "yes, it is." But that's just a simple answer. In reality, it's quite different. If you've ever … Continue reading College Acapella
Musings on “Everything That Remains”
"Our identities are shaped by the costumes we wear. I am seated in a cramped conference room, surrounded by ghosts in shirtsleeves and pleated trousers." Those are the opening lines to "Everything That Remains," a memoir-esque work written by Joshua Fields Millburn (with "interruptions" by Ryan Nicodemus). Within the first couple of pages you can … Continue reading Musings on “Everything That Remains”
…it broke
Have you ever forgotten about your phone? You know, when you put it in a pocket or backpack and leave it there for a few hours? If you haven't, I definitely recommend it. There's something that happens when we don't have our phone in our hand or even within reach. That being said, I recently … Continue reading …it broke
Finding Your Packing Party
Recently, I embarked on my latest minimalist project (or challenge, depending on how you look at it). I kicked off the month of April by holding a packing party. The "party" part might be debatable, especially since I was the only one who showed up. But party or not, it went off without a hitch. … Continue reading Finding Your Packing Party
Passion
This past week, the stars seemed to align just right. Every single essay or blog post I read on minimalism talked about pursuing your "passion". What I found myself thinking while reading all these things is that "passion" doesn't always equal "job." When people talk about pursuing their passion, we often assume they're a small … Continue reading Passion
Overused Words and How To Reclaim Them
Have you ever read the book The Giver? Whether you have or not, you've probably heard someone, somewhere use the phrase "precision of language." According to an analysis of the book by Shmoop, "the entire purpose of 'precision of language' should be to avoid conflict and problems, misunderstanding, and even potential violence." Personally, I prefer … Continue reading Overused Words and How To Reclaim Them
Clutter-free
What if your living space was clutter-free? What if your car, your desk, your kitchen, and your phone contained only things you needed or used every day? Maybe you're thinking: "I'm a pretty clutter-free person, I don't want to read this." That's perfectly fine. I thought I was a clutter-free person, too . . . … Continue reading Clutter-free
Reflecting on Failure
I heard one of my new favorite quotes this morning. I don't know who said it, but it went something like this: "Just because you failed, that doesn't make you a failure." This is an important distinction, and one that has been helping me deal with my failure as healthily as I can. I'll start … Continue reading Reflecting on Failure