A Reminder

Today's post is simple.

This goes out to a friend who needs this inspiration. Though, I'm sure everyone needs this reminder.

Enjoy this TED talk and check out his blog/website. You won't regret it. And check out his books-- you also won't regret it.

“Life is so great that we only get a tiny moment to enjoy everything we see. And that moment is right now. And that moment is counting down. And that moment is always, always fleeting. You will never be as young as you are right now.” 

Also, how about the new header with the pictures? Trying something new. 


 Happy Weekend!

Love,
Carrie

Nutella, I AM & My Running Shoes

Have you met my new boyfriend?

Yeah, he's Italian. The tall, dark and handsome type. His name is a little feminine. But... it doesn't matter. He can also bake-- and he's the perfect ingredient in this new brownie recipe that I made for my friend, Olivia's birthday. 

 Oh yeah, and he's fat free.  Which means he's in shape. Right? 

Anywho. Try the brownie recipe-- I may have tried a nibble to make sure the birthday girl didn't fall over with how good it was. I think she'll be fine.

I've been a little under the weather, which is sad because it's been so beautiful outside.

I love the smell of honeysuckles. When I was in elementary school, I remember my friends and I used to go chat over by the honeysuckles that were in the woods beside the playground. When I smell them, it always makes me think about that time.


I hurt my lower back earlier in the week and haven't been able to do a whole lot of running, but I went today. Returned home for some advil. It's getting better though. I hurt it on Monday and quickly called my friend, Molly, to Wikipedia it. She goes, "OH, girl, it says this is really common."

"Really??"

"Yeah it says really common for....Oh....*silence*.... 40-50 year olds."

Which is where all the walker jokes have come in this week. Old lady central over here.

But being off my feet has also let me re-watch one of my favorite documentaries. Before you tell me to put my pocket protector away, you really should watch this film. I'm talking-- it's really interesting! 

It's called I Am: The Documentary and it's produced and directed by Tom Shadyac, who also directed Ace Ventura and The Nutty Professor. Basically, the point of the film is that everything we do on an individual level affects everyone, even those who are not directly near us. We are all interconnected and we need to start realizing that everything we do has implications, both positive and negative. And that serving others and spreading our love and talents around are the two things that are going to make the world a better place. Check it out-- you won't be disappointed. They have a copy of it in the Undergraduate Library or you can rent it on Itunes. 

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve… You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Have a Great Weekend!

Carrie

Where's Your Sense of Adventure?

It seems like New York City has come up in so many conversations recently. I miss it. Big time.

I miss that sense of adventure and that sense of determination to figure out how to do everything in such a short amount of time. Literally, I couldn't get enough. I did miss the South. I did miss my family. But I was happy and content being in a new territory.

So when my friend's boyfriend found out he got into NYU this past week or when my other friend was talking about her birthday in the city or when I heard another friend was going up for this weekend-- talk about jealousy.

 New York was such a renewal experience. Similar to the beach renewal, but in a less-calm-let's-grab-life-by-the-horns-until-3am kinda renewal.

I started this blog because of that trip-- to help me remember what I felt while I was there. That sense of adventure. That sense of learning while exploring. I have never been less scared-- navigating through the city like I'd been there 100 times before. Finding myself happy to be lost in a place I'd never been before because ultimately, I'd find something cool to explore. I didn't sleep much while I was there because I had plans to find something new.

And I miss that. 

I want and need a new adventure. I want to see new things and get lost in a place I've never been before.

While I've never been abroad-- I hope that something works out where I can go explore other countries--anywhere. I just want to see what's out there. What all this world has to offer us.

I watched this video today that got me pumped to see and explore the world that we live in-- Hope you find it inspiring like I do!

Make your life count. Go find your sense of adventure!

Happy Wednesday,
Carrie

Blue Skies, Full Bloom

When the alarm sounded this morning, I pressed the snooze button about 3 times. I was in denial about leaving the beach. So I went for a short jog-- hopped in the shower-- packed and left. Still wearing "my beach clothes" and not sorry one little bit.

But the beautiful weather and the Carolina atmosphere made coming back a bit easier.

Today was busy-- filled with meetings and wrap-ups and class. I ran this errand and that errand and listened to my new favorite song...Thank you, Abby, for sharing!

Thank you to all of you who continually follow my blog. Supposedly I stepped on some toes the other day when I apologized to just my family for not writing in a while. My favorite of thost many conversations about it went a little something like this: "Shut up, Carrie!" (out of the blue). "What, Sarah?" "I read your blog everyday and I am definitely not related in any way ever, you golden retriever." 

So thank you family AND friends. It makes me happy to write-- makes me happier to know you read.

So much good news this week from friends accepting jobs in new locations to friends accepting to go to particular graduate schools-- I am so proud of all of you and will need to start putting aside money to come visit you. And I'm waiting patiently for my own plans to follow suit.

Excited for the many possibilities ahead!

What are you excited about this week?

Nothing For Granted

Music inspires me. I am constantly listening to something--anything-- carefully drinking up lyrics. My favorite "new" artist, Brendan James, sings a song called "Nothing for Granted". Listen to it here.

The beach is such a source of renewal. I come here from time to time, sometimes carrying feelings from the past week and just like the ocean waves carry the sand off shore, so does the ocean wash away all my concerns. I was going to spend the weekend with my sister and nephew, but the entire household broke out in sickness. But for the last two weeks I've been envisioning myself in a beach chair over Easter and I hightailed it down here anyway to do soak up some cloudless skies and warm sun. When I arrived yesterday, I quickly dropped my things and scrounged through bags to find my bathing suit. I left a pile of clothes on the floor as I put it and sunscreen on--grabbed a towel--jumped out the door. I didn't even stop to get an easily-accessible beach chair. Didn't care. I was just happy to be there. 

My camera did not leave my side this weekend. I'm trying to take my camera off all automatic settings and learn what ISO, F-value, and aperture really mean. Also, I learned this weekend that a picture looks overexposed when details of the picture look "washed out" and shadows/definitions are missing, NOT when someone in the picture is wearing a bikini that is too small. Just....FYI. 

I enjoyed going on my runs that lasted hours, reading books that were not necessarily educational, people watching, and writing. I love to write-- most of it doesn't end up on here, nor would it really make sense. It's thoughtless ramblings about what this and that means.

When you're by yourself, you get to make your own schedule. You eat when you get hungry, not when it is twelve o'clock. You sleep when you feel like it. (I caught up on sleep-- so nice!). You wake when you feel like it. I even decided last minute to go check out a Ferris Wheel. This trip reminded me of the time I traveled to Coney Island and the boardwalk pictures that came from that trip. I miss New York.

Myrtle Beach's brand new Ferris Wheel. 

 The sky delivered that night, right? It had just rained and then cleared up miraculously opening up to a sunset.

I was so proud of "Little Pink Camera" for capturing what I was experiencing that night. A fresh rain on the beach of Coney Island. Given, the "beach" there does not compare to the beach here.

Taking pictures allows me to not take anything for granted. It makes me recognize the everyday things. And makes me see things from different angles. 

Given, I am still learning. I even felt the need to explain myself to an elderly man who was watching me take 435 pictures of a seagull. "Poor gull," he said to me while chuckling.

"I'm learning," I replied, realizing how open-ended that statement meant.

I'm learning how to not take this life for granted. I've been guilty of saying to myself, "Self, you can make it through this week. You can get to Thursday and you don't have class on Friday-- so, you can do it." 

That's no way to live, you know? The beach reminds me of that time and time again. She (the Ocean) says, "Hey Carrie, wake up from your slumber and enjoy this quickly passing life!"

I watched this couple from the balcony-- so cute, so in love with each other.

So with camera in tow, I sought out the sun today as he fell deeper into the sky. You KNOW I love a good sunset. Don't get me started on how beautiful they are.

I found a little boardwalk that I'd never been to before and watched as the sun fell over the sound. 

So today I made an effort to not take anything for granted. I bought my favorite foods-- chicken pot pie and Caramel Cone Ice Cream-- and I lived up this Easter. I celebrated life, just as He would have wanted us to celebrate. I finished a wonderful book, started on a second. I listened to my favorite songs. I danced some. I tanned. I wore my favorite pair of jeans rolled up at the ankles. 

 I obeyed all the rules.

 I people watched. Oh, people are so interesting. And kids at the beach are my favorite. 

And I took pictures. 

And I enjoyed the full moon over the ever-wide ocean-- despite the fact that I am not quite sure how to take pictures at night without a tri-pod. 

I laughed when I sent it to a friend who said, "Is that an ultrasound". Hope not! Just the moon.

I'm learning, remember?

I usually have a favorite part of songs. My favorite part for the Brendan James song? 

Stop believing there's no time
Stop your heart from closing off
I think you deserve it all

Love your future, love your past
Love your body, it's all you have

And run with me down these midnight streets
We will take nothing for granted

 Life is short and sweet. Take nothing for granted. 

Happy Easter, 

Carrie

Differently Normal

Last semester I was in a performance class fulfilling one of my requirements for graduation. Not only was this a class that did not interest me in the least, but it also made me do what I hate most: Give speeches or presentations in front of really intelligent professors and students. I am not an introverted person, but standing in front of a group of peers declaring things that I firmly believe in can be quite intimidating.

So, for my final project, I decided to pick something that was easy for me to talk about-- autism. I knew a lot about it, had worked with kids who were on varying levels of the spectrum, and had become known by friends as the autism advocate. It is something that is near and dear to my heart and I knew that I could give a performance about it in hopes of teaching people what this growing epidemic meant.

I usually blackout when I am giving presentations. Literally, I have no idea what I said up there, but I guess my professor was listening because she gave me a great grade and when I ran into her again in the pit the other day she reminded me of what I said. Apparently I said, "Normal is a setting on a washing machine."


Normal. What a loaded word.

I remember when I was a little girl-- about preschool age-- there was a boy in my class named Daniel and he had Down syndrome. I don't recall a lot about him, but I remember that we were buds. We would sit in a pink bean bag chair, read books together, and play on the monkey bars. I also specifically remember a time when we both decided to taste Elmer's glue together and I remember one of my teachers running over to stop us-- but that's beside the point. Daniel was the first person who taught me to look past differences-- however, it wasn't that hard at that age.

Fast forward to my freshman year of high school and I met Jack and Jake and forever my life would be changed. These twin boys with autism made me the advocate that I am today.

Fast forward to college, I got the amazing opportunity to work at the National Down Syndrome Society and got a chance to work with Chris Burke, a famous actor from Life Goes On who also has Down syndrome, defined by an extra twenty-first chromosome. And again, my life as an advocate grew stronger.

April is Autism Awareness Month.

March 21st was Down Syndrome Awareness Day. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am reading Bloom by Kelle Hampton, and I have literally been soaking up every last word she says about her experience of finding out that her second daughter, Nella, had Down syndrome. How her perfect image of what a person should be changed when Nella was born and how this unexpected twist in her life changed her for the better. Made her stronger. Made her more capable.

While I will never understand what it's like to have a child with either Down syndrome or autism, I know that I can work to help make the world a "safer" place for those who do have children with either of these disorders. Help to bring awareness. Help others to understand that no one is normal and that differences are what make us beautiful. Differences are what should be celebrated.

Love and respect others, no matter their abilities.

"The concept of perfection is not flawless or ripped from a magazine. It's happiness. Happiness with all its messiness and not-quite-thereness. It's knowing life is short, and the moments we choose to fill our cup with should be purposeful and rich. That we should be present for life, that we should drink deeply. And that's perfection."
Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected, Chapter 15 -- Kelle Hampton

Quick Ten Day Recap

It's been 10 days since I wrote anything. (A) Time sure does fly.  (B) Withdrawal. (C) So much has happened. (D) My sincere apologies to my family because they are my only readers.

Last week was nuts. The 2012 Overall Committee chose and welcomed the 2013 Overall Committee for UNC Dance Marathon. We interviewed and let them know after we had our decisions meeting. We went door-to-door surprising them with their job for the next year. And it was funny and exciting to see their fresh enthusiasm for UNC- DM. It was also refreshing to know that the organization will totally be in good hands. I am already so proud of them and cannot wait to come back in a year to see $483,210 replaced with something so much better and to see more lives impacted by this beautiful and inspiring group. 

Here are a few snapshots of the shocked faces. 

A few days later we were heading to Charlotte to officially transition everyone. We packed some  supplies for their year and gave them presents. We gave them advice on things we know now that we wish we had known when we were in their current shoes. 

Mine being-- make every moment count. Don't sweat the small things. Everything ALWAYS turns out exactly how it is supposed to and love on everyone because everyone's fighting the same "battle" you are. Lean on each other. Support each other. Ask for help. 

It was hard. I could never tell you otherwise. It's been something I have been involved in for the last four years and as I carefully took out items from my basket to give Abby, I was shaking and holding back tears-- not making eye contact with a single person because I knew the waterworks would happen shortly thereafter. 

But Abby. Oh, she's going to do wonderful. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind. She's wonderful. 

Finally, our year came full circle when we had our last Ben and Jerry's Free Cone Day and it was exciting to see the 2013 Overall Committee run their first event. I am so thrilled for their next year. (And frankly, a bit jealous). 

So this week? Was filled with doing things I've been meaning to do for a long time. Like...work on some photography skills. 

Thanks to Molly for showing me some of the ropes. What a sweet friend I am fortunate to know. 

And reading some Catching Fire.Well, actually, Catching Fire got put on hold for Bloom, by my favorite blogger, Kelle Hampton. I'll tell ya. Girl may be 25 years older than I am, but even though we're in different life stages, she can always "speak" to me. I got the book about two hours ago and I'm already half way finished. Drinking it up. 

And catching up on schoolwork and working on a grant and photos from a local non-profit that my class has taken as their own, the Carolina Campus Community Garden. 

And basking in spring with runs that last over an hour and the temperatures that make you never, ever want to go inside. 

And interviews that have my fingers and toes crossed. Maybe I'll be back here after all. 

What's got me excited today is this beautiful campus and the beautifully bloomed bushes surrounding the Old Well and the ten thousand tour groups of high school students who are all on Spring Break and eager to attend this University that I've had the privilege of attending.

And for friends who are too precious. 

 I'm a good friend, I promise.... hahahah Sally.

 I'm thankful for this upcoming weekend's plans. Easter + family + beach sounds pretty perfect to me. More to come soon on Easter Egg hunts and why April is such a special month. 

Happy Thursday, 

Carrie