What If The Mayans Are Right?

What if the Mayans are right? What if we have two months to live? What if they are wrong and after Dec 21st life goes on? The real question here is why does it matter? Why aren't we living every single moment like it's our last. If the Mayans are right and I had two months to live, these are things I would do the same, do differently, and just do.

I would still incorporate Yoga into every day. I would still show compassion to everyone I meet. I would continue driving the speed limit. I would still cook every night. Buttercream frosted candles would still be burning in my bedroom. I would continue to watch Revenge and see if Emily finally reveals her identity. I would still watch Modern Family once on Wednesday nights and again on Thursday mornings. I would continue to paint my nails a different color every day. I would continue with my nightly skin routine and continue waking up smiling and positive excited about each new day.

I would drop out of college. I would live life.

I would call everyone I had a falling out with, best friends from high school, boys I may have messed with their heads, anyone I had unkind thoughts about I would like one more conversation to either justify my thoughts or rectify them. I would try pot just once, yes I have never done any kind of drug. I would fly to Europe and kiss a gorgeous brit in a "pub." I would buy 25 random strangers anonymous gifts. I would read Markus Zusak's The Book Thief all over again. I would learn to snowboard. I would skydive.

I would go to India.

I would do Yoga and indulge in Indian cuisine. I would eat without counting calories or looking at health labels. I would get a labrador and name him Teddy and spend a full day at the beach with him. I would teach Yoga to troubled youth so they can live their last two months with self love. I would treat my parents to an amazing meal. I would stalk Michael Buble and make him meet his adoring fan, Granny.  I would marry my little cousin off to her crush Nathan Sykes. I would write a letter to my parents and thank them for being so kind and wonderful and fun with me.

I would sense things differently.

I would spend a whole day with my eyes closed and live life with my other senses. I would write every day in a journal. I would anonymously leave roses on peoples cars with a note saying "stop and smell the roses." I would dye my hair tips hot pink and buy a bold shade of red lipstick. I would purchase the Urban Decay Naked 2 pallet and eat gummy bears for a week straight. I would swim with dolphins and mimic their smiles. I would get "namaste" tattooed on my wrist.

I will live.

I am going to start doing these things now, perhaps I wont drop out of school, since I graduate in December. Perhaps I wont fly right away to India or stalk Michael Buble. But there are simple things that I will do differently. I will get my golden lab and name him Teddy. I will teach Yoga to troubled youth. I will not get a tattoo but I will live everyday as if Namaste was tattooed all over my body. I want to drink life. I want to drink it like really expensive hazelnut milk that expires soon. I will be fully nourished by life so that if by some crazy chance, the Mayans were right, when December 21st rolls around, I will say to myself: "I lived, I really lived."

Swim

Today I felt like listening to a band I used to listen to in high school-Jack’s Mannequin and came across the song “Swim.”

I found a tidal wave

Begging to tear down the dawn

Memories like bullets

They fired at me from a gun

A crack in the armor

I swim to brighter days

Despite the absence of sun

Choking on salt water

I'm not giving in

I swim

I’ve been nostalgic and a little weepy lately, thinking back to the times when my grandfather was alive. He inspired me so much every day with his kindness and was so proud of everything I did, it didn’t matter what it was-I was his superstar. Every night I would talk to him and he would tell me how one day he will see me on CNN, I don’t think he understood what a public relations person does even though I would attempt to explain it over and over again.

I think its pretty clear I'm not a natural blonde but I did get his big blue eyes!

He passed away in November and since then despite his passing, so many amazing things have happened to me: fantastic internship, scholarships, good grades… there’s so much I want to tell him but can’t.

Anyways when I heard this song it inspired me maybe not to swim, but to GO! I am going to keep going for all my dreams and know that he is with me watching over me, probably shaking his head at my ridiculous caffeine consumption.

Sometimes we all have those days where we miss how things used to be, or we wish things were different, but we must swim because life is good. Life is an amazing journey and sometimes we may not like the pit stops, but we must remember it’s not the end of the race and only WE get to decide the attitude we have at these pit stops and when we reach the end!

Challenge Your Mind

This semester I took Eng 411 aka Linguistics aka Hell on Earth. The professor's first words were: "Now this is a challenging scientific and mathematical English class." There is one thing in this world I hate more than math and science.. ants!

Three weeks into the class and we began doing linguistic trees. Nothing made sense and i contemplated dropping the class. Due to amazing scholarships from the Reynolds School of Journalism, I decided against dropping. I was going to learn Linguistics no matter what. I emailed the professor and explained that Linguistics made as much sense to me as a message from Athens in Greek. She graciously told me to come into her office a week before every homework assignment was due and she would check my work and help me with questions. So I did that... Every Friday/Monday for four months I was in her office. 

Page one of an eleven page paper. 

As I prepare to take the final I have an 87% in the class and cannot only do trees in English, but I have learned to do them in Tagalog as well for my final project. IT FEELS DAMN GOOD!

It has been so long since I have challenged myself and taken a hard class that I wasn't comfortable with. This class taught me so much about language. More importantly, this class taught me so much about myself. It taught me that I'm 100 times more determined than I thought and a million times smarter and more capable than I could have imagined. 

It's a work in progress!

I cured my mind which was diseased with laziness when it came to math and science. It was like bootcamp for my mind.
It is so important to keep challenging ourselves and pushing ourselves in order to be the best we can possibly be!

I plan to use my Linguistic knowledge in everything I do. I now understand the scientific value of words and the importance of using some words as opposed to others. Amazing press releases here I come!

Linguistic hugs from my house to yours! 

Five Things PR Students Can Learn From Alice in Wonderland

I stayed home tonight and whilst flipping through the channels, I came across a childhood treasure-Alice in Wonderland. As I watched the magical film as an adult, I took many lessons from it which I never got as a young girl.

Alice 101

1. Never be late
Time is of the essence. Rabbit, may take punctuality to the extreme, however we can learn a lesson from our furry friend. By being on time, you are acknowledging that the other persons time matters, it shows you respect them.


2. Encourage creativity
Alice says she thinks if six impossible things every day. Challenge yourself to think of at least two. Step out of the box and into an innovative creative think.

• Here are my two for the day:

Slamming a revolving door & finding something to rhyme with orange (Flourange, pourange, gourange.... work in progress)

3. Brand yourself
Alice constantly questions who she is. When businesses do this it causes consumer confusion. Ask yourself what you stand for and if you are representing yourself or your client in that light. Know who you are, build your brand, and stick to it.


4. Decide where you want to go
Alice does not know where she is going and blindly falls into a hole. While this may lead to an exciting adventure, most of the time this carelessness leads into a confused mess. Know what you want to achieve and do not stray from that path.For example, when creating a strategic plan, do extensive research so that you are aware of the challenges that may arise and are prepared to handle them. When it comes to a business plan never go in blind.


"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to go," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where--" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't much matter which way you go," said the Cat.


5. Effective communication
"Say what you mean" is the advice Alice is repeatedly given. This resonates in creating key messages for strategic plans. Figure out what it is exactly that you want to get across and focus on that. Create a concise, succinct, and memorable message that your target audience will never forget.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."-Walt Disney