Simplicity

If I could, I'd just like to vent for a moment.

I have come to hate the word: simple.

I keep seeing all of these beautiful typographies on pinterest about being simple, living a simple life, simple is best, etc.

Okay, sure, fine. YES, as humans we totally over complicate things. I mean honestly we get so wound up about little stuff when really there is a simple solution. Maybe if we looked at things more objectively life wouldn't be so complicated. (However, I think there is a lot of amazement in the fact that we have the cognitive ability to analyze and think critically about our world, a gift unique to us).

.... and YES when we're all truly living well beyond our means, we could stand to remove some clutter and excess. A little simplicity in terms of what we accumulate is a good thing as well.

However, please, please, please, don't EVER call yourself a simple person. Or think that it's best to be simple, or uncomplicated in your character. We are humans. We are complex, there is no fighting it. That's the beauty of who we are and how we were made. We have complex feelings and ideas. If we didn't we wouldn't be half as advanced as we are now. We are complex and complicated for a reason. It is not a negative thing to have a million different facets. If diamonds were simple they'd just be glass. We are not transparent pieces of glass. We are diamonds, radiant, multifaceted diamonds, and we should be proud of that.

I think the word simple is verging on the same definition as perfect for a lot of girls/women today. That's incredibly dangerous. To be called simple is depreciating our amazing and complex feelings, emotions, thoughts, ideas, actions, passions, values, lives. Not to mention, perfection does not exist. Not in simplicity, or complexity or anywhere. The only form of perfection exists in every one of us being true to ourselves and being perfectly imperfect.

Don't ever start to try to simplify yourself. You can try to simplify your life. Eliminate clutter and bad juju. But don't ever, ever aim to be a simple person. No one is simple. There is way too much beauty in complexity for that.

Thank you for reading my rant.
You are not simple.
You are a beautiful, complex, complicated, multifaceted, person with way too much to contribute to just be "simple".

Thankful

Yay! It's finally Thanksgiving week! As I was driving to class this morning in the beautiful weather, listening to Christmas music (why fight it?) I couldn't help but think for all of the things that I am thankful for this year.

Here are 5 in no particular order:

1. I am thankful for my education. It has been a long, exhausting, road to get to graduation. I've gone through a lot of hardship but also experienced a lot of personal accomplishment over the last 3.5 years. I'm thankful for the opportunities I was given to further my education and for what I have accomplished. No matter where I go from here, no one can ever take away my degree, education, or sense of accomplishment. thank you.

2. I am thankful for supportive family and friends. The past few years have been turbulent to say the least. I've done a lot of mind changing and risk taking (probably not enough though). I would not have been able to get through any of it without the support of my family and friends. Even if they think I'm bat-shit-crazy sometimes. thank you.

3. I am thankful for my employers. I've been so lucky to work for two great establishments with wonderful co-workers and killer bosses. I could not have asked for more understanding people to work for. In the rough economy I'm so lucky to be employed at all so I never take for granted my situation. thank you.

4. I am thankful for a beautiful fall. I am so thankful for the beautiful fall weather we've had in Ohio for the last few months. Fall is my favorite season and I've been able to enjoy it so thoroughly this year. It's done amazing things for my spirit. thank you.

5. Lastly,

Mostly because I found this picture and love it. Just kidding, but really, everyday I wake up happy, healthy, and alive I am thankful. I am so privileged and I can take it for granted. Purely waking up in the morning is a blessing. So I am thankful for today and the chance I have to live it. thank you. 

What are you all thankful for this year? We're hosting Thanksgiving at my mom's house this year so I'll be working my butt off starting tomorrow! Can't wait to hear of everyone's experiences next week!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone! 

Be thankful for your good lives.

Countdown

So, did not having class/work Monday throw anyone else off? I seriously don't even know what day it is (clearly since I'm posting on a Thursday). What I do know, however is how many days until some big milestones!

Ready:

7 days (one week) until Thanksgiving!

image via Lindsey Ocker Photography

Who doesn't love Thanksgiving? We're hosting it at my Mom's house this year and I have Tuesday and Wednesday off work/class to help prep! Yay!


30 days (one month) until I graduate!

image via (I can't find a credit! HELP!)

It's been a long (3.5 years) coming. I'm so stoked to seal this chapter in my life and move on to the next. I'm also pretty terrified.


40 days (one month, one week, 3 days) until Christmas!

image via tumblr

Be real people, I've already started listening to Christmas music (hate on it). I'm so excited to get everyone gifts and spend some good quality time with the families!

I'm so excited! I hope you all have some exciting things to look forward to for the end of 2012!

Enjoy

Hey all,

Sorry - the end of the semester is finally approaching. That means I've got lots of work to wrap up for my classes/jobs/other responsibilities. It's exhausting - but I just keep mentally counting down until I'm "free".

Anyways, I took an early walk this morning to drop off some papers and meet my sister for breakfast. It's such a beautiful day in Cinci. You kind of have to take what you can get here, but it's pretty magnificent outside. I snapped these shots on my walk:

instagram: scollopy

Our President is a serious "tweeter" and started the #HottestCollegeInAmerica trend. I mean, I may be biased, but UC is pretty smokin' hot. Especially in the fall.

PLUS - Basketball starts this weekend, and let's be real - our Bearcat's have been on a bit of a hot streak too.

I love this time of year. Take a second to enjoy it!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Election Day

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Sorry for the silence over here. However, can you really watch Validation too many times? I think not.

Regardless, election day is here. Let me just say, living in a swing state - I'll be glad when this is over. John Stewart seriously said it best.

As did the lovely first Lady.
I'm not endorsing one candidate or the other, I just think that this quote truly sums up my outlook on life:



What an incredible woman!

Regardless of your political affiliation, you need to get out and vote today. Politics may be messy, corrupt, and incredibly frustrating but the only chance we have of changing that (or keeping it the same) is to vote. It's so, so, important.

How fortunate are we to live in a country where we have that right?

Get out and vote, I already did!

Validation

This is hands down the greatest short-film I've ever seen.

Everyone needs some validation.

Validate someone this weekend.

Make them smile.

You're all beautiful, unique, and extraordinary people with so much to give to the world.

Words for your Week

What? A post on a Monday! I know! What's wrong with me?

I saw this quote on Facebook this morning and had to share:

"Don't give up on yourself. So you make a mistake here and there, you do too much or you do too little. Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick." - Diane Keaton

Isn't Diane Keaton the greatest? I mean seriously! But.. I was just talking to my Grandmother yesterday about my plans for after graduation. I'm in a terribly indecisive, anxious-nervous, and scared-stiff state. She assured me that I would figure it out and that if I didn't or if I failed, it would be okay. Because in her words: if you don't fail at something or make mistakes you're never going to learn anything. Sometimes it's really nice to hear that from someone who's lived a whole lot of life ahead of you.

So I think my Grandma and Diane have a point here. We really shouldn't be scared to fail. We should embrace it.

Hang in there 20 something's, we'll figure it out!