Hello 2017

I haven’t posted yet in this new year because I feel like I haven’t quite gotten a hold on everything that’s going on in my life. I’m constantly making to-do lists and crossing days off my calendar.

However, I recently secured an internship for this spring which was TOTALLY not planned, but I’m very thankful that this opportunity came up. I’m SUPER proud of myself for taking a risk out of the blue and applying, interviewing, and getting it all in the span of one week! At the same time, I’m trying to figure out housing for next year, possibly adding a Women’s Studies minor, applying to study abroad next year, and applying to be an Orientation Leader for the fall. OH, also I’m trying to get an internship for this summer. HA. Honestly, the list just keeps getting longer and longer (good thing I have a big notepad). So, as you can see, it’s been a bit of a never-ending race to achieve all these things, do well in my classes, and continue to be a social justice warrior in the middle of this terrifying presidential administration. WHAT A BLAST, right?

I think that it’s super easy for me to list out all of the things that are stressing me out, making me anxious, or causing me frustration. It’s hard not to dwell in this negative energy that is inevitable with worry and stress, but I’ve been trying to hold on to those little moments that create light in my life.

This past week, Laura, Katherine, and I drove to Laguna after our classes ended in the afternoon. As we drove through the winding hills with the windows down, I was reminded of the earth’s beauty and how humbled I was to be enjoying that wonderful afternoon by the ocean. We drove right up to my favorite spot of all time and sat on some rocks to watch the sunset. As we sat there sipping Arizona tea from cute mugs, I was utterly amazed and grateful for those human beings and just for being present in that moment. Even though there were a million things in the back of my mind, I tried to create space for myself to enjoy THAT moment in its entirety. Being by the ocean somehow makes my mind fresh and my heart full.

So even though this past month has been packed with different emotions, I continue to be thankful for the moments that remind me why I’m doing what I’m doing.

I had the great opportunity to go on Chapman’s Social Justice Retreat again this year, and I tried to soak up as much information and compassion from these individuals as I could. Just yesterday I attended a Women in Leadership conference at Chapman and heard from some amazing speakers who are doing great things in their fields to make space for women’s voices to be heard. It’s times like these that spark such a warm feeling of hope in my chest that overflows inside me. One of my favorite quotes mentioned in the conference was this very powerful quote from Audre Lorde: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare.”

I love this.

I think the quote is so relevant in this very draining political climate that is constantly attacking so many different identities. It is necessary to take time to regroup and nurture yourself, and it’s something we shouldn’t feel guilty about.

I guess I’m just really thankful for everything that’s been going on, even if it’s been a struggle to get through some days. So that’s why I haven’t written a lot since my last post, but thank goodness that my roommate Laura prompted me to write this post and continues to make me journal every single night. Writing tends to ease my mind because my thoughts are no longer bottled up in my head. I will continue to make endless lists of my various endeavors, but I just have to remember that every day is a new day to laugh, spread love, take care of myself, try new things, and do the best that I can.