half-birthday

Happy half-birthday to me! Today marks the day that I am officially half way through the initially horrifying 23^rd year of my life. And guess what, I’m making it making the most of it. And dare I say, 23 looks good on me? Oh yea, I believe it does.

Facebook is awesome at target marketing, meaning my news feed is often full of articles like “Things I wish I Had Known in My Twenties,” “The Ultimate Bucket List for 20-Somethings,” “Letter to My 20 Year Old Self,” etc. etc. So of course I read all of them. Some of them are very inspiring and helpful, while others are a little unrealistic. How many 20-somethings do you know that can afford trips to China, Europe, the Burning Man, Thailand, etc…(to fulfill the 20-Something Bucket List, of course!) Maybe I’m a minority in this case, but I’m a poor 20-something that is paying off student debt with every paycheck, so I don’t see a trip, let alone multiple trips, out of the country happening anytime soon.

Nonetheless, soaking up all the 23-year-old targeted information has led me to be more conscientious about setting realistic goals for myself- like making health a habit after college and finding a church that fits me and budgeting myself so I can have minor splurges when “necessary.” These are things that I have probably been working on for some time, but they seem to move higher up the priority list every day. It’s funny how much the relationship with yourself grows after college. I have become my own personal mentor and counselor after leaving my professors and sorority sisters behind. But thanks to the help of Alex and a few phone calls home, I think I’m making it pretty darn well.

Thus far into 23, I have learned to cook, I find myself being a mindful shopper by checking the labels, I’ve purchased five books with intent to read them all and have finished one of them (possibly two by the end of today- (this is impressive for me)), I treat myself to hot tea (Yes, hot tea. I’ve always enjoyed it but only recently did it occur to me that I can have it anytime I want. If that makes me non-Southern, then so be it.), I have a 401k and a credit card with cash back rewards, I invested in my first Erin Condren Life Planner (I’m hooked now), I’ve found myself entertaining the thought of participating in a half-marathon on multiple occasions (though my longest running distance ever was a little over 3 miles. Hey, dream big!), and I read the news instead of just pop culture headlines. I also did my first tire burnout at a busy intersection because I believe that some things aren’t meant to be outgrown. If this year has been good for anything so far, it’s definitely the investment in myself. I could do better, but I could always do worse too.

So here’s my cheesy half-way through 23 list of (no-super-obvious) things I believe every early 20-something should do:

1. Read devotionals or something that stirs your spirit, not just your imagination.

2. Be around people of all ages and learn from them all. Don’t just listen to older people when they talk, ask questions as well. Chances are, they will love telling stories and giving advice and there’s an even higher chance that you will walk away with a lot more than you bargained for. And spend time with younger people too. Be entertained by the enthusiasm and open-mindedness of children and always listen when a teenager is talking…they will need you to tell them regularly that life isn’t over after a breakup or a bad day. Appreciate being in the middle. You may feel lost sometimes, but you fit perfectly right where you are.

3. Eat real food. Don’t just snack on junk. And be aware of what you put in your body. Don’t eat something you can’t pronounce, unless it’s foreign. Even then, you should probably Google it first just to be on the safe side.

4. Find what you’re passionate about and continually make time for it. For some it’s a lifelong journey- I still haven’t exactly narrowed my list down to what exactly makes my heart beat, but always be in pursuit of those things and you will never feel unfulfilled.

5. Invest in a crockpot. Sometimes it’s necessary to have dinner ready when you come home and only one dish to wash. Thank God for paper plates.

6. Clean your house once per week. You aren’t in college anymore- don’t let your home look like you still are.

7. Make old relationships a priority. Don’t let your time be so overtaken with jobs and chores and new ventures that you forget who really matters. Make the phone call. Make the drive. Save up for a plane ride/family vacation/girls weekend. It will always be worth it.

8. Don’t worry if you still don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing or are unsure with your direction in life. My dad is about to retire and still has never decided what he wants to be when he “grows up.” There is a time for everything and I firmly believe that your 20’s are all about patience and trusting God. Just keep hanging in there and remember, not everyone peaks in their 20’s.

9. Be a supportive alumni of whatever you did. Telling people how much better things were when you were there is for high school. We’re older and more wise now…give good advice and always cheer on your successors, for better or worse.

10. Get a job. Even if it’s not THE job. Don’t live off other people when you’re capable of supporting yourself. And don’t be a complete Millennial. There are pro’s and con’s to our generation- embrace the pro’s and try to maneuver around the con’s as much as possible to prove that our generation is not completely worthless.

11. Wear sunscreen and don’t smoke cigs, for crying out loud. Your skin’s cellular turnover (or whatever the heck it’s called) is slowing down, just like your metabolism. Live accordingly.

So there you have it; I have now given my Facebook-advertisement-worthy blog advice for 20-somethings. Sorry if you were expecting a nice even numbered list- I don’t do even numbers. Ever. Not even on my alarm clock. And that’s another great thing about being 23- I don’t care if we don’t see eye to eye. Makes life that much more colorful.

Here’s to the next six month’s worth of 23.

Love always,

Addie

“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” –Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

“I’d discovered, after a lot of extreme apprehension about what spoons to use, that if you do something incorrect at table with a certain arrogance, as if you knew perfectly well you were doing it properly, you can get away with it and nobody will think you are bad-mannered or poorly brought up. They will think you are original and very witty.” –Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

“What a man wants is a mate and what a woman wants is infinite security,’ and, ‘What a man is is an arrow into the future and a what a woman is is the place the arrow shoots off from.” –Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

mermaid cake and the magic guy

Excitement. One word that can lead to a multitude of outcomes.

I received a birthday card from Aunt Laurie (currently hanging over my desk) that shows a more than excited little girl and the words “…and the mermaid cake and the magic guy and the swirly ice cream and the piñata and the…” I can completely relate to this little girl- (especially over the fact that she wants a mermaid cake. And a magic guy.)

Excitement fuels the intensity for which we live. It kindles our very being and pushes us. It fills the gaps between dreams and reality. It’s the zest for a life worth living and something to look forward to, and gives your heart a natural cardio workout that’s much better than going to the gym. It’s also easy to spot because those that have it in their blood seem to be on fire. On the other hand it can also cause you to overreact, have accidents, and let your nerves get the best of you.

I think that some people see excitement as a one-size-fits-all kind of deal: when you’re a child your body is smaller and thus is much more easily overtaken by excitement, but as you grow, your body becomes larger and much more able to withstand or contain the excitement and anyone that cannot contain it is either confused or just plum crazy.

I disagree. I believe excitement grows in direct proportion with the body, but some find it more comfortable in a serene, less stimulating adulthood and choose not to acknowledge their zeal. Eww.

I want to be intoxicated by everything. If there are no fireworks, I don’t care to waste my time.

Recently I have been excited about healthy lifestyle changes. (Temporary until I decide which ones I like the most.) I have always been an advocate of chiropractic wellness and hot teas. So I decided to start researching health benefits of tea, which led me to vitamins and supplements, and the next thing I know, I’m shopping for a reasonable fruit and veggie juicer for the “casual juicer” like myself. (I’ve never juiced anything, but I like a good spinach smoothie on occasion so why on earth wouldn’t I also be a fabulous juicer on occasion? note: sarcasm)

A couple weeks ago I landed in a yoga class where I was thoroughly enjoying myself in all the toe spreading and pelvic stretching goodness, and absolutely considering making it a weekly routine. So I started searching for other fitness classes in my area and eventually caught myself reading about ballet classes- of which I am definitely not cut out for.

I am the worst about letting my excitement carry me away to over-the-top-ness. But I think that’s why I like it. I look at fashion magazines and fall in love with weird tutus and head pieces and immediately picture myself wearing them to Walmart and the gas station and all the other usual places I attend, none of which seem fitting at all. I can stand staring at my closet all morning asking “what do I want to be today?” and the answer will usually always be the same because I don’t think the venues that I frequent are up to par with the visions in my head. I guess I could stand to be a little more daring when it comes to certain choices like what I feel like wearing, but the excitement is still there, none the less.

Another excitement that I felt recently (and forgot to blog about) was that of “sitting on a turkey.” I grew up in a family of hunters, however the sport never grew well on me. Mostly because spiders in the woods are way bigger than house spiders and after sitting for 30 minutes looking at the same trees, my attention deficit gets the best of me and I start thinking about things that completely distract me from the whole point of being there in the first place. But I can now say that I have had a rich and exciting turkey hunt, without the attention deficit (for the most part).

Before I tell the story, here’s a little turkey hunting vocabulary in case you’re like me and didn’t know:

On a turkey: You’re not really on him, you’re just tracking him closely and can guess his whereabouts.

Cut: No knives involved. This actually is the verb used when you call a turkey.

Roost: The noun form is where the turkey rests. To roost a turkey (verb) means to scare him up into the roost spot (noun), typically at the end of the day, so you know where to find them in the morning when he starts moving again, making the hunt much easier.

Now back to the story….

After trekking through the woods all morning listening for gobbles and trying my best to step only when Alex stepped in order to make as little noise as possible (something I’ve never been good at), we finally got to….eat lunch! I know that’s not what you were thinking I was going to say but at that point it was probably the second most glorious part of the day, right behind hearing the first turkey of the morning, which also happened to be the first turkey I’ve ever heard. Ever. Weird, but they don’t sound like what I thought they would, making the whole experience even more surprising. (At one point we were “on one” and I admit that I did get a little excited, but when we rounded the corner, he had vanished. These birds are magicians- literally. No other explanation.)

Finally, after eating my ever first order of Church’s Chicken (two thumbs up) for lunch, we set out to check out the woods with no real hopes of seeing or hearing anything since most turkey movement is in the early morning. We stopped once for Alex’s dad to “cut”. The second time we stopped for a “cut”, only about 40 yards or so from the previous spot, we heard one call back! Following Alex’s lead, we bailed off into the ravine and quickly found a tree to sit against. I pulled my face mask on as fast as I could and just as I got my gun up, the ole Tom (turkey) came strutting out. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I slowly put my bead on him just as he popped his head up but I couldn’t think fast enough. He strutted past a tree, which ultimately blocked my shot and as soon as Alex realized, he took it for me. Turkey down. Apparently I wasn’t the only one not breathing because after the shot, Alex couldn’t seem to catch his breath either.

A strutting turkey is actually a funny thing to watch, but in moments like that when excitement creeps up on you out of nowhere, it’s almost magical, and definitely breath taking. One minute I’m walking down a dirt path, smelling like chicken, and being annoyed that I don’t have my sunglasses. The next minute I’m trying to think and gain enough focus to simply pull a trigger. Excitement has a way of capturing and paralyzing me in those moments. Time slowed down while my heart raced on. And after the dust had settled, I finally understood the hunter’s addiction. Rushes like that are intoxicating and drug-like. Similar to finding the dress you’ve been eyeing on the clearance rack- in your size!

It’s those times that make life so full of life. Embrace excitement. Celebrate every single day and all that it holds. And know that even the attention deficit woman can find as much of a happy place in the woods as she can on a yoga mat or at a clearance event.

Namaste.

Love always,

Addie

“I like living. I have sometimes been wildly despairing, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.” –Agatha Christie

still not OLD enough to share

Well it’s Thursday. Thursday’s don’t have a typical theme in my established presets for this blog but I haven’t posted in a while and felt the need for an update:

I guess I should start by informing everyone that I did in fact live through my 23^rd birthday. And though it was the most “grown up” birthday I’ve ever had, it was one of the sweetest. I had a beautiful flower arrangement delivered at work by my handsome knight in shining armor  farmer in Carhart bibs and was told that we were going to dinner. After work I went home to start curling my hair and began mentally sifting through possible outfit options to wear- all of which were discarded after Alex showed up in dress pants and a button down. So I crawled to the back of my closet where I keep the “fancy” dresses that are for special occasions and weddings and picked out one that was just right. We went to J. Broussard’s in downtown Columbus, which I always assumed was like the Broussard’s in Cape. Wrong. Obviously the “J.” makes quite a difference in terms of attire and setting. I reveled in pecan encrusted catfish and a glass of expensive wine by candlelight. I had to stop myself on the salad before licking the ranch off the plate…it was that good. Eventually the dessert display made its way to our table and we ended up with some sort of apple and ice cream and croissant combination. I believe the waitress referred to it as an apple “encrue”…but I’m not even sure if that’s a word and I’m not familiar with Cajun or Better Crocker terminology for that matter so I could be completely off track. Either way, it was heaven in my mouth.

Mom assured me that we will celebrate my birthday more officially this weekend at home during the Easter festivities. In short this means we really won’t celebrate my birthday but rather Easter and the “birthday triple header” (me, Matt, and Nanny), an Easter usual for our family. I’ve never liked sharing much, especially my birthday, but I guess that’s part of growing up. Alex even tried to enlighten me with the news that National Agriculture Day fell on my birthday. He was overjoyed….I was not.

I don’t really care today though because first and foremost I’m drinking my first cup of chai tea in a very long time. If I had a kryptonite, it would probably be this. And secondly because this weekend is going to be epic. I am leaving shortly to head to Murray to watch step show. As an alum of the step team, you can only imagine my excitement level which is somewhere between a kid on Christmas morning and a gay man awaiting the outcome from Congress about the current marriage equality rights. Marsha is meeting me in Murray and after the show we will be joined by Mamie, Becca, and the rest of the Murray crew for a novel night at the Apple to celebrate Marsha’s birthday. Where else did you expect me to go, after all? Good Friday will be spent in Nashville preparing pregaming for the color run that Marsha and I are running in on Saturday. After the race Saturday I will head home for the notorious “eve of any holiday throw down” at Jerry’s with S-town’s finest. Sunday will be spent at church and my house for the family Easter festivities and eventually I will hit the road again to return to my sweet ole Mississippi home. Four states in four days. You don’t have to tell me twice to get excited- I’m there.

I promise I’ll write again soon, but I’ve gotta get off this keyboard before my fingers bounce right off from all the adrenaline running through me.

Have a great weekend and Happy early Easter! And don’t forget to cheer on my ladybugs with the Alpha swag tonight at the Step Show to raise money for March of Dimes.

Love always,

Addie

“…Why do you look for the living among the dead?He is not here; he has risen!” –Luke 24:5-6