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As we enter the holiday season, the last thing we'd ever hope would be for someone to pass away, but in the early hours of this morning America lost someone they will never forget. Bob Feller, a baseball great and American hero, lost a long battle with leukemia at the age of 92.
The year was 1936 and Robert William Andrew Feller was only 16 years old. Born in Van Meter, Iowa, Feller was a small-town boy with a wicked fastball. Shortly after his graduation from high school was nationally broadcast, he signed with the Cleveland Indians...and the signing bonus was nothing (quite literally) compared to some of the bonuses athletes receive today. Wanna guess what Feller signed for? Go ahead, take a shot. One hundred dollars? Nope-lower. Not even fifty, my friend. Bob Fellers signed on to play with the Indians for ONE DOLLAR and an autographed baseball.

That bonus was certainly not a reflection of the hurler's numbers. Some of his most well-known stats were his 104 mph fastball (which was measured by throwing against a motorcyle), his 3 no-hitters and 12 single-hit games. Feller was known for throwing alongside some of the greatest pitchers to ever be a part of baseball; Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, and Mike Garcia. Forget the "Big Three"...this big four of the Cleveland starting rotation combined for a total of 93 wins in the 1954 season. That's more impressive than the celebutante show that the Miami Heat three attempt to put on.But Feller is known for much more than his baseball career, a career that was halted in 1941 when the United States entered World War 2 after being attacked at Pearl Harbor. One day following the attack, Feller enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a chief gunner's mate in the Pacific Theatre. In place of living the dream playing American baseball, Feller risked his life to protect our country...something more men should have done. He doesn't consider himself a hero, he felt it was his responsibility to serve America in a greater way than his 104 mph fastball.

Sure, Feller was a legendary baseball player from a small town in Iowa who shocked America...but I think after his passing, fans everywhere (especially Cleveland fans) are finding themselves thinking of him as a hero who risked it all as a part of the greatest generation.

"a perfect heart's length away"

Ever had a song that just reaches out and grabs you for some reason? Duh...we all have. Because it's finals week for me (as well as most other college students across the nation), I've been listening to A LOT of music. The kind of stuff that puts you in the zone...John Legend, Iron & Wine, etc.

I recently was introduced to a song by Imogen Heap called "Half Life". It brought me to tears. I know that those of you familiar with my rarely seen emotional side are aware that I'm a crier, but a song...really?! Slightly embarrassing.

Anyways, the song transported me to a place I'd been to before...in a half-life relationship, knowing "the odds were I'd never win". It was the perfect description; not abusive or unhealthy per say, but just half.

Looking back on who I've become since that place is what moved me--I realize I deserve whole life from someone. And even though I may not want to invest in something like that at this point...I know what to look for.

Have a listen and let me know what you think.

Digitally Dying for World AIDS Day

Alright, so this might be a little creepy to some people, but I think it's AWESOME! In honor of World AIDS Day yesterday, some of the most well-known celebrities digitally "died" in order to raise money to increase awareness and fund research for one of the most deadly viruses in the world.

The use of social media for charitable causes has been absolutely astounding to me lately...creative campaigns we never would have imagined are now readily available to use at the click of a button. The celebrities participating in the fundraiser have agreed to abandon their Facebooks and Twitters until those who donate "bring them back to life" with whatever amounts they choose to give. The money raised will provide a year’s supply of medicine, food, care and support to the 1500 children in South Africa orphaned by the AIDS virus. This will empower first class doctors, nutrition, transportation, testing and to help the orphans and abandoned children who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

To donate, you can text the name of the celebrity you'd like to resurrect to 90999 to donate just $10. Below are a list of celebrities participating:
Alicia Keys
Lady Gaga
Daphne Guinness
Janelle Monáe
David LaChapelle
Elijah Wood
Kim Kardashian
Justin Timberlake
Khloe Kardashian
The Buried Life Cast
Jay Sean
Swiss Beatz
Serena Williams
Jennifer Hudson
Kimberly Cole
Ryan Seacres
Bronson Pelletier
Usher

Jimmy V Week Spotlight

This afternoon, as I took a quick break from the piles of books and papers that surrounded me, I flipped on ESPN. The piece I saw on SportsCenter was a feature for Jimmy V Week, one week out of the year honoring NCSU basketball coach, Jimmy Valvano. Valvano was diagnosed with cancer and battled the disease for an entire year before passing away. Known as a spirited and passionate coach, Jimmy V has become an icon in not only the world of college basketball, but the world. His well-known speech at the 1993 ESPY awards was the kick off to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. Jimmy died 2 months later.

Back to the feature story I was initially writing about...sorry, took a little background information to get there. Anyways, ESPN's piece this afternoon was something that touched my emotions and brought tears to my eyes. For those of you who know me, this isn't unusual; I cry at every movie I watch or book I read. But this story was different-it focused on the cancer battle of a 14 year old boy named Matthew Costello, a young quarterback and avid Baltimore Ravens fan.

Does anyone remember the first score for the Ravens in the AFC playoffs last year? If you don't, Ray Rice rushed the football for 83 yards to strike first against the New England Patriots. But after realizing who called the play, it wasn't the 7 points that mattered...it was who orchestrated the play to kickoff the Raven's 33-14 playoff win. It was Costello, who was a classmate of the Cam Cameron, the offensive coordinator in Baltimore.

Today, Costello continues to build a relationship with the Raven's franchise...hanging out with Rice and texting Cameron suggestions of play-calls in sticky situations. And the Ravens listen. They listen to the 15 year-old kid who has fought the hardest fight of his life...they listen to the avid young fan who couldn't see straight a year ago because of a massive tumor is his brain.

Who woulda thought that the Baltimore Ravens (a team loathed in Cleveland) could have brought tears to my eyes at 2:00 on a Wednesday afternoon? Not me, that's for sure...but they did with the story of their secret weapon, Matthew Costello.

So Foursquare DOES have a purpose...

So recently, I was at the PRSA Student Day in downtown Cleveland and an audience member during the keynote speech curiously asked, "So what is Foursquare? Does anyone use it?" I found myself asking the same question until I stumbled upon a couple different articles about the use of Foursquare in holiday campaigns and charity efforts.

Gap recently launched its newest holiday campaign with a Foursquare feature; online ads for the campaign include a Foursquare Gap "To Do" list. A list of Gap stores nearby the user appear on ones computer or mobile phone, and checking into these local stores earns shoppers 30% off any purchase. As another part of the campaign, Gap will donate $1 for every check-in their stores receive. This relationship with Foursquare isn't new; about a year ago, Gap offered 25% to all users who checked in to their stores.

After reading about this, I started doing a little bit more research on Foursquare because, I'll be honest...I thought this application was one of the creepiest. We're always being lectured on keeping our whereabouts private when it comes to using social media because it has been known that robberies occur when people broadcast their vacations or work trips through Facebook and Twitter. But this application can be used for good things too!

One of the coolest Foursquare campaigns was that of US hunger relief charity Feeding America. The week before Thanksgiving, Foursquare users could check into local food banks in order to have $1 donated for every check-in. Thoughtful, isn't it? It's an easy way to get people involved with little effort...which appeals to all of us that lead busy lives but still want to find a way to do good.

Although I was a bit weary of the overwhelming effects of social media on our lives, I have to admit, the more I research the good that has come out of tools like Facebook, Twitter and even Foursquare...I realize that the possibilities to help others are becoming even more endless. Foursquare isn't just a game we played at recess, it's a way to help those that need it (and maybe get a discount while we're at it)!

Success! Aussie gets invite to Thanksgiving by strangers

I recently read an awesome story on Mashable (for those of you that don't read articles from this site or follow him on Twitter-do it now!) about an Australian man who was accidentally receiving emails from a family in America, the Trans. For over three years, James West was included in the preparation for Tran family Thanksgivings. This past holiday, he finally responded. Sure, it's a tiiiiny bit creepy, but how cool is this?? He posted five YouTube videos in hopes of tracking down the Trans...pleading to be included in their Thanksgiving celebrations. After he discovered who they were and where they were located, West was welcomed with open arms into the household for Thanksgiving dinner.

Some may see this as creepy, but I think it's a sign that genuinely nice people are still out there...the Trans could have shut their doors on poor Mr. West but instead, they opened their home to him on one of the most popular holidays of the year. Think what you want, but I'd invite this guy to my Thanksgiving! What a cool story.

stopping concussions at the grassroots: why it's too late for some

As I park it on my huge leather couch and watch football for the rest of this wonderful Thanksgiving day, I can't help but think of a story I saw run on CNN the other night. Max Conradt was a 17 year-old quarterback with a bright future when he was rocked by two extremely dangerous helmet-to-helmet hits. Playing on a Friday night after suffering a handful of concussions over the course of two weeks is something that is almost unheard of these days...but it was something that almost killed Conradt. Today, Conradt is 25 years old, living in a home for adults who suffer from brain damage. He has the capacity of a 9 year-old. He'll never remember the glory days before his injury and we'll never know what kind of athlete he would have turned out to be.

Although much of the legislation from the supreme court of football is being handed down at the professional level, helmet-to-helmet hits should really be stopped at the grassroots: high-school and college football. While concussions are a widely publicized injury, most schools don't govern how they are treated...and even worse, most coaches can't even identify when a player has a concussion. As a college athlete, I am beginning to see concussions treated with more and more care...fellow athletes are being forced to sit out weeks, even entire seasons, because of head injuries. This is the change that needs to happen, but it doesn't seem to be happening fast enough.

Don't get me wrong, I was raised by a father who continuously told me to "walk it off" or "rub some dirt on it!", but let's face it...concussions aren't something to be fooled with. When teens are dying after playing with multiple concussions, something has to be done. Let's hope that the consequences for dangerous hits at the professional level trickles down to those at the grassroots.

For more on the touching story of Max Conradt, watch the video below:

hollywood's undercover renaissance man

My first impression of Scott Caan wasn't the best: he was playing the snot-nosed agent, Scott Lavin on HBO's hit show "Entourage". His character was meant to rub viewers the wrong way as he snuck around behind the back of always-loveable E, the agent of star Vinnie Chase. When I saw that Caan would be one of two stars of the show from the 1960s, "Hawaii Five-Oh", I cringed a little. Why? Caan is good-looking, smooth-talking and suave, but I just couldn't bring myself to like any characters he played. This all changed when I caught his appearance on Jay Leno a few nights ago. He was charismatic and funny, yet tough: three qualities I adore in a man.

So I started doing a little research on my new crush; creeping, if you will. He is all over the place! I'm not kidding, this guy does it all; he's an actor, direct & writer, and a photographer. Yep, a photographer. His most recent screenplay is Mercy, a drama about an author struggling to find what's missing in his life as he falls in love with his biggest critic. Caan stars in the film alongside his father and wonderful filmstar, James Caan. As I previewed the trailer for the film, I was entranced...it is heartfelt love story with a strong script that involves friendship, family and most of all, love. Okay, so Caan gets an A in acting and writing.

I moved on to his photography next...WOW. His pictures are raw and emotional, not something you'd expect from the son of an acclaimed actor that grew up in Hollywood. He captures the moments of normal people and the struggles of the the not-so normal ones. Caan released a book of his photos called "Scott Caan Photographs: Vol. I" that is available on his website. Click here to view the site. Finally, I'll leave you with some of my favorites from his online photo collection so you can see for yourself just how talented this undercover renaissance man is.

all i want for christmas...is a fashion blog?

this holiday season, COACH is doing things a little differently...
Fashion bloggers from all over were invited by the luxury handbag design company to write about their favorites of this holiday line offered. Online shoppers are greeted by each of the bloggers (and even one male model) as soon as they enter Coach's website. Click here to talk holidays with some of the featured bloggers.



I'm in LOVE with this campaign...it offers a personal peek into the minds of some of the smartest writers in the fashion industry. My experience with fashion only goes as far watching Heidi Klum and Tyra host their runway shows, so glimpsing in to the holiday traditions of these bloggers lowered my defenses; I allowed them to speak to me and eventually, I found myself wanting to run out and buy a Coach wristlet. By connecting with their publics through fashion bloggers, Coach has taken holiday advertising to a different (and neat!) level. This witty holiday campaign is an A+ from me...so go out and have a Coach holiday. :)

Does e-Learning get an F?

In one of my classes this week, we were discussing a new movement that some colleges are turning to in order to replace selling textbooks in their bookstores: e-Readers. Of course this conversation turned into one concerning learning and tutoring online and there were some very strong opinions on this matter.
This past summer, I took what is called a "hybrid course" in macroeconomics at a local community college. I wasn't prepared for how difficult it was going to be...the online homework didn't coincide with class lectures, and tests were confusing and didn't allow me to show any of my work on the problems I was attempting to answer. I'll be straight with you-economics is already like a foreign language to me. For me it's as simple as saving more than you spend...that's it. But of course we discussed graphs, supply & demand patterns, and federal spending. OVERLOAD. By the end of week 2 I wanted to toss my textbook out the window. Until I remembered that I was using my thousand-dollar laptop as a textbook. Oops.
Alright, so I have a confession to make at this point in my babbling-both of my parents are high school teachers. You may ask yourself, "Okay....so what does this have to do with the e-learning that she's bs-ing about right now?" Well, what do you think will happen if internet learning communities take off? Will teachers keep their jobs? No way! Traditional classrooms will cease to exist as we know them and face-to-face time between teachers and students will almost be non-existent.
Personally, I can't learn in this fashion. I go to school to be taught, not to teach myself. Teachers value their positions and have a passion for informing students. Without the classroom involvement, students may not be inspired to develop their own opinions on important matters they'll face in the future. School isn't just about learning the material, it's about learning who you are. I would not be the person I am today if it wasn't for the discoveries I made about myself in high school and college.
Sure, sometimes e-Learning can be a good thing: working moms, single parents, or people who simply just can't afford to attend a traditional college. But learning online just isn't for me and I hope and pray that I'm out of school by the time this new-age way of learning takes over.

What?! This can't be real.

Alright, so I'll be 100% honest: ESPN is the homepage on my MacBook. So, of course, I get a pretty regular update on news in the sports world. Some may say this makes me half-man, but I can deal with it. Some of the most valuable public relations case studies come from sports, the most recent and well-known being...you guessed it: LeBron James.

As a lifelong Cleveland fan, I've dreamed of the day when the wrongly dubbed "mistake on the lake" brought home and championship...in anything really. I know thousands have people have said this but having LeBum in town gave us some serious hope. His public divorce from Cleveland led to burnt jerseys, a great beer and a brand new sign on the Sherwin-Williams building. Most of all though, the nation saw the true colors of a great athlete caught up in the whirlwind of his own fame.

Okay, back to what I was originally trying to get at...sports updates on ESPN.com. Phew, took me a while-sorry. Anyways, I was getting online and saw a headline on the home page about LeBron being a finalist on the Time list for Person of the Year. WHAT?! PERSON OF THE YEAR!? I literally shook my head and closed my eyes, hoping that the discovery was a heinous joke. But lo and behold, upon refreshing the web-page multiple times (and by multiple I mean about 15) I was terrified to realize that it was, in fact, real.
WHY. Why would LBJ be on that list?! Just to give you an idea of some of the other finalists, I'll list a few.

Sarah Palin: Sure, not everyone likes the lady that can see Russia from her porch but hey, she did big things. A VP nod from the GOP and rumors about running for President in the future are no small accomplishments. She has a family and ran a state...I think that's pretty impressive.


Hamid Karzai: The Afghan president has formed anti-Taliban coalition in the country where the terrorist group has the most support. His recent conversion to the Christian faith had people talking all over the world, and the president faces immense challenges in the future.


The Chilean miners: The 33 brave men who somehow survived 10 weeks trapped in a collapsed mine are the highlight of the list of finalists. They showed extreme humanity and friendship throughout their 152 day ordeal, becoming sensational heroes all across the globe.



Now let's compare what LeBron has done to these accomplishments. Or maybe it will be easier to compare what he didn't accomplish. He failed to bring a ring to Cleveland not once, but twice. Choking in game six against the Celtics was just a glimpse into the crystal ball that forecast the future of LeBron James in Northeast Ohio. Sure, he made big news this past summer, but he doesn't deserve this kind of honor. Let's be real, if LeBron wins this award for "Person of the Year" there's a good possibility that the Cuyahoga River will be aflame...not the first time that's happened, right?

"A Million Reasons to Believe"

Okay, so it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but let's be honest: we've all got Christmas on the brain. Admit it! It's hard to resist the holiday commercials and cheerful music blaring from the speakers of our local shopping malls. We are all victims of the Christmas spirit, and I couldn't be happier about it.
The holidays are always times of giving and joy, but sometimes it can be easy to forget that there are those who don't have the good fortune of being able to give to those they love the most. Macy's is trying to change that this year.
Macy's department store has always been a marketing powerhouse. From their ever-symbolic red star to the beloved Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the department store is always visible to the public eye. That's why it came to a surprise to me that one of their coolest campaigns was kind of left in the corners of their website to find.
As the first department store to introduce the in-store Santa, it doesn't come as a surprise that Macy's still continue to insist that Santa lives on. When a young girl named Virginia asked in a letter to the New York times is Santa was real, the editor responded by saying that good old St. Nick exists "as surely as beauty and joy exist". This strong belief is crucial to the Macy's campaign and they make it clear on their website; the "Yes Virginia" piece on the "Believe" campaign website is proof of that.
Okay so moving on to the actual campaign...I know, I've kind of beat around the bush and for that, I apologize. This holiday season, Macy's is encouraging consumers to write letters to Santa in order to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. To participate in the Macy's "Million Reasons to Believe" campaign, individuals can download letter template on Macy's website or submit a letter online...it's that simple. It only takes one stamped letter dropped off at a local Macy's department store for the organization to donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Easy, right? The campaign is great because it appeals to people of all ages; children, parents, and those in-between still seeing light in the belief that jolly old Saint Nicholas still exists to make life better for everyone.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions in hopes of improving the quality of life for them and their families. The Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted almost 200,000 wishes since their start in 1980.
For more information concerning the Macy's Believe program, visit http://social.macys.com/believe2010/#/make-a-wish.
Help Macy's grant a wish of someone who really needs it this holiday season...and discover the real magic of Christmas.

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Being an icon in a small farming, community isn't easy. But Scott Bailey made it look effortless...he was naturally charismatic, good-looking, and most importantly, respectable. It is this respect that I look back on in awe over three years after he has passed.

Mr. Bailey could command the attention of a classroom as well as a football field. When I first met him my sophomore year in room 208 of Crestview High School, I was 16 years old and I didn't have a clue what the next two years of my life would bring. I like to think of myself as a mature high-school student, although looking back now I wasn't anywhere near mature (hell, I'm still not). My parents had always, always! taught me to respect others, especially those responsible for teaching me. But I had never felt the kind of respect for a teacher that I felt for Mr. Bailey; the time I spent in his classroom was precious and sacred to me. I didn't know it then, but I know it now: no teacher would ever teach me as much as he did. Sure, he opened my eyes to the rich history of our country, the unspeakable (and often unknown) horrors of American wars and the complexity of politics...but above all I learned about respect, self-preservation and strength from the man many knew simply as "Coach."

The road to learning these from Mr. Bailey was a rough one, beginning in the spring of my junior year when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The moment you learn that one of the strongest people you know is beginning to weaken is a scary one, and I struggled to understand the seriousness of the situation that lay ahead. Our school came together, hoping and praying with every second that God would bring us through...that God would return Mr. Bailey to our halls and sidelines-HEALTHY. We played ball, ran track and went to prom but not once did we stop praying. We grew up together while he fought the disease that would eventually take his life...a disease that would change all of ours forever.

When I got the phone call on July 15, 2008 I could not believe that the fight was finally finished for Mr. Bailey. But the one thing that was far from over is his legacy; I will forever be grateful of everything he taught me and I thank God every day for not only bringing me to a struggle but pulling me up out of it a stronger and more faithful person.

Hold On

Recently, my life has taken a complete 180-degree turn. Three weeks ago, I was on the brink of what I thought was going to be the best summer of my life. I had a great relationship with a guy I loved, an awesome summer job, and a house lined up for the fall. In 6 days, two of those three parts of my life fell apart: I truly thought I was facing a summer alone. (And if anyone knows me, being alone is one of my absolute worst fears.) After two days spent at home, not moving from a couch surrounded by Kleenex, I really thought that my life would never be the same. My brain never stopped running, even when I was sleeping; nothing was good enough to distract me from the terrible week that I had just gone through.
This past week though, I have started realizing what my life was really all about. My job with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society makes me incredibly proud. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to work for an amazing organization with a cause that I truly believe in. The second thing I realized was how incredibly lucky I am to have a family that surrounds me when I need them the most. I spent days at the lake with my grandparents, driving around listening to their stories, laughing, and singing along to the radio with the windows down. I hadn't done that in weeks. And, even though I have struggled with finding true friends, I now know that I have people I can really trust and be honest with...people that will force to me to pick myself up even when I don't want to.
These past three weeks of my life have shown me that when things don't go as planned or one of your worst nightmares comes true, what's most important in the healing process is learning to focus on every positive aspect you have. Even though everything around you might be falling down, pick yourself up...don't pull yourself even deeper into the self-pitying, nose-blowing, and overall depressing rut that is ohhhhh! so tempting to fall into during hard times. The only person that can raise you up is yourself. When things go wrong, focus on yourself-bake a cake, take your dog for a walk, read a great book in the sun, watch a funny movie...do what YOU need. Love yourself, and know that there is a silver lining in every single black cloud that tries to cast a shadow over your life.

Sandra Bullock adopts!

Today People Magazine released a teaser about their breaking news story on Sandra Bullock and her new baby. Bullock has adopted a 3 1/2 month old baby boy born in New Orleans. Louis is the joyful secret his new mother managed to keep from the press for (here's the kicker)...over two months! Now that she has filed for divorce, Sandra is finalizing the adoption as a single parent. Isn't is awesome to see the power of adoption actually work in our country? It always baffles me how people don't even give the process a second thought because it "takes too long" or "isn't your real child"...what could be better than taking a child out of an unhealthy environment and giving them everything they could ever imagine needing in life? I hope Sandra's actions inspire those struggling with the decision to adopt to go down the unbeaten path and change a life. After all, don't they say that changing lives is how we change the world?

Struggling with finals week? Get through it!

Alright, so for a lot of college students across the country, it's finals week. This last week of college for the year is bittersweet for most of us; the arrival of summer brings loads and loads of homework, studying, and unwanted textbook reading. The hardest part of it is looking forward from the stacks of books and papers and seeing that summer is right around the corner. To help ease the pain of finals, here's a few tips I'm trying to take myself!

-Make sure you don't completely cut the time for yourself: Even though most of your day may be consumed by classes, reviews, study groups and writing, don't forget that you still need to set aside some "you-time". Because this may be a little harder to do during these last couple weeks of school, there are some little things you can do to give yourself a little down-time. Paint your nails, watch your favorite show online (you probably missed it because you were studying), extend your shower time, go to a 45-minute yoga class, turn off your computer, phone, and tv and just read a book YOU want to read.

-Stay in touch with your galpals: This may be the last week you get to see some of your friends before they move back home for the summer! So don't let finals get in the way of your social interaction. Suggest a study group with your closest friends and take a quick break to get ice cream or coffee. You can also include your pals in some of your "me-time"...go get a quick mani-pedi, watch "The Hills" or "Glee" together...you don't have to spend the whole day together to get your doses of friendship in!

-Take the time to eat well and workout: Make sure you don't cut out these two crucial aspects of your life. If you have always worked out, make sure that you continue your workout schedule throughout finals week. Studies show that regular exercise and a good meal help to increase alertness, stamina, and most of all...energy. Try to avoid the crapola food in the vending machines...they won't do anything for you. Instead a quick Lean Cuisine or an easy chicken dinner will be a good break from studying and also a good source of energy for that crazy college body of yours. So skip the RedBull and head to the gym for a quick workout...you'll thank yourself in the end.

yo yo yoga!

Alright, I'm gonna be honest...I've never thought I'd be a huge fan of yoga. I've always been the "sweat and tears" kinda girl when it comes to workout; a hard run, tons of abs, and maybe i'll even throw a little bit (emphasis on "little") bit of weight around. But last week when I randomly decided to give the yoga fad a shot, I was pleasantly surprised with my experience.
Starting out, I had a few fears that were rattling around in my head. For one, I am NOT flexible at all. I can barely get past my knees when I lean over...and that's on a good day. Second, I am not a person that is easily relaxed. I'm in no way saying that I'm uptight, I just find it very difficult to sit still and stay quiet for an extended period of time. And by extended period of time, I mean over five minutes. Really, it's pathetic...I'm like a five year old with an IV of Mountain Dew permanently stuck in my arm. Alright, back to the point: pushing my uneasiness aside, I decided to give yoga a shot because I've been stressed out of my mind with school lately.
When I arrived at the session, I was automatically feeling out of place: everyone around me looked serene, ultra-relaxed, and flexible. I'm pretty sure at one point, the woman next to me put her foot behind her head...scary. I also had shown up without the crucial yoga materials: a flowery mat, trendy looking water bottles, and tight fitting black pants with a sporty little tank top. Oops. Fail. Feeling awkward and nervous, I sat down on an oversized mat-ball mat that took me back to my grade school days when I got in trouble for being too competitive playing kickball. The session began and I quickly found that this would be a challenge. How was I supposed to relax when I couldn't even complete any of the poses and stretches that everyone around me was molding themselves into with ease? But slowly but surely, I felt my muscles warming up and becoming more loose. Once I got the "yoga breathing" down, I could feel the relaxation start to take over. At the end of the 45 minute session, I felt like no time went by. The crummy mood that had followed me throughout the morning was gone, and I was ready to take on the rest of the day. I've continued my yoga sessions, but haven't abandoned my crazy workouts...they can coexist as far as I'm concerned!

Say what you need to say

Ever have one of those days when anything and everything imaginable hurts? Your head pounds, your eyes sting, and your stomach won't stop tying itself in knots? Everyone has. Those are the days when nothing will go your way, and the worst part is youou feel like you can't turn to anyone to make it better. Something that I constantly struggle with is telling the people in my life what I need from them. I feel selfish voicing my concerns and I never want anyone to think that I am trying to get more out of them than what they are giving. Balance in a relationship is key to its survival but let's face it, sometimes that just doesn't happen. And when it does, everything is untouchable and perfect. But when it isn't (which is most of the time), we struggle with keep everything in scale with the people that matter most to us. Think of a relationship of yours that is failed and really try to understand why it didn't work out. Was there an obvious issue that came between you? Did you not feel loved or appreciated? Or were you just not compatible with each other? I think you'll find that when you try to answer these questions, there will NEVER be a simple answer. Personally, I don't think some relationships work because keeping a relationship alive (whether it be with a friend, a family member, or a significant other) takes TONS of work. We can't keep looking to movies like "You've Got Mail" or "The Notebook" for advice...because we all know the truth is staring us in the face: it just isn't that easy, people.
We're all busy and in this day and age, survival is key...for ourselves. We live in a selfish and conceited world. When it comes to maintaining relationships with the people that surround us, we all fall short of the minimum requirements needed to keep their hearts alive and pumping. I know how cliche this all sounds, but sometimes we just need a real-life wakeup in order to understand all of this. I got that when 3 of the people I thought I could trust the most turned their backs on me and walked away. My friends made selfish decisions...and I was the one who was left to deal with the aftermath. Losing a friend hurts almost as much as losing a boyfriend, or a family member. I struggled to find a place where I felt I fit in after the dust cleared, but I couldn't find it anywhere. And that feeling-the knotted stomach, constant headache, and anxious feeling began to take over. No matter what I did, I couldn't stop blaming myself for THEIR actions...when in reality, I had nothing to do with it. You can blame whoever you want, but in the end it was their job to take responsibility for their own actions, not me. After realizing this, the cloud of confusion and hurt lifted and I realized I had done nothing wrong...I gave them everything I could have as a friend and they chose to disregard that and literally walk away from me as if I had never existed.
So be honest with yourself for once, are you putting enough work in for the people that mean the most to you? Even though what happened to me could happen to anyone, don't stop working hard for those that you love. In the end, the ones that love you back will return the favor.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

I recently became an intern for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as their Light the Night Campaign intern. My interest in the organization was sparked when my grandfathers eight year bout with leukemia finally went into remission this past year, leading me to search for any organizations that I could work with in order to allow others that are struggling with a cancer to be just as lucky as my Grampy was.

In my search for this organization, I came across Sheri Kellner at a college career fair. Sheri is the director of the Light the Night Campaign at the Northern Ohio Chapter of LLS. I expressed an interest in her cause and a few months later received a surprise phone call as I was lounging in my pajamas over Christmas break. We played phone-tag for a while, and I was to the point where I was nearly convinced that the internship wouldn't work out. Luckily though, we caught up with each other and discussed an opportunity that she had for an internship. I met with Sheri and Amy Pausche, the Executive Director of the Northern Ohio Chapter on a Wednesday and heard back from them that Friday informing me that I had gotten the internship.

Beginning this Friday I will no longer be just a college student struggling to get her foot in the door, or a friend without a job, but I will be an intern with an organization whose mission I strongly believe in and whose cause will be a light in the night for millions across America who struggle to find the hope for survival.