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Katherine's South Africa blog is up and running!  Check it out whether you know her or not.  She is one of the coolest people I know, and she is up to some awesome things overseas!  I miss her terribly.  I miss South Africa a lot too.  Just trust me.  You want to see these photos/read these words.

Happy Friday, everybody.

the blog lives/don't freak out

Just ignore all of that last post stuff about "ahh-what-is-happening-to-my-life-the-blog-might-get-abandoned-forever?!?!" etc.

One week down, and to say that law school is intense is a severe understatement.  Surely only crazy people sign up for this.  But while it is true that this past week was up there with one of the hardest of my life, I love it.  Really, truly.  It is going to be very hard, but very, very good.

I can already tell that one of the biggest difficulties is going to be finding a way to not let the overwhelming amount of work take over our lives.  Professors have warned us against it, and the first week proved that their concerns are legitimate.  People get lost in the madness that is 620 Limestone.  But I am determined too not let that happen to me.

In case you haven't realized by now, I am a really low-stress person.  I am spontaneous and flexible and for some reason have been blessed with the ability to juggle multiple things at once without getting stressed out.  I have already had several people ask me this week how I have been able to remain so calm.  My answer in a nutshell?  "Just don't freak out."

This is the goal for the semester.  The next 3 years, really, but we'll take it a semester at a time.  Don't freak out.  Breathe easy, study well, but rest well too.  Keep doing things that I love - things that got me here in the first place.

For me, this means that I will sit outside in the mornings with a cup of tea as many days as I possibly can.  I will lose myself in Trader Joe's and read Matador and continue to say hello to everyone I pass on my daily walk to class, even though no one here ever says hello back.  I will make pointless lists in my Moleskines and waste time in coffeeshops and Twitter-stalk Olympic athletes and the UK basketball team.  I will keep rambling on the blog, even though no one really cares.  I will never stop being spontaneous.  (Let's face it, even if I tried to be 110% responsible every single second, I couldn't make it if I tried.)

All of that said, the blog lives, though maybe a teensy bit less than before.  If you need me, well, I'll probably still be with all the other 1Ls in the library.  But I'll be busy not freaking out.  Come and find me. :)

tomorrow

Tomorrow I start law school.

Could someone please tell me when the heck that happened?

I have no idea what this is going to be like.  I have no idea how much time I will have; I have no idea how hard this will be.  Basically, I have no idea.

While I would be lying if I didn’t say there are moments when I borderline panic, I can say with confidence that I am excited about this.  It doesn’t matter that I don’t know what I’m getting myself into.  It doesn’t matter that I’m not even 100% sure yet why exactly I am here.  What matters is this:

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands…From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  For in him we live and move and have our being…

                                                                                          [Acts 17:24-28] 

Right before I defended my thesis, one of my brothers prayed that the Holy Spirit would “snipe any butterflies” that were fluttering around in my stomach.  (This possibly is my favorite prayer that has ever been prayed.)  But seriously, can it get any better than that?  I get nervous, I ask the Holy Spirit to snipe the butterflies, I start uncontrollably laughing, the Lord hears – and answers, and all is well.

All of this to say, the blog may be taking a hiatus.  Who knows?  This is about to be one crazy adventure, and I’m just along for the ride.  So wish me luck, and if you’d like to offer up some butterfly-sniping prayers on my behalf those are appreciated too.  It is definitely going to be intense.  But like Julian of Norwich said...

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Tomorrow's the day!  Can't wait to tell you all how it goes. :)

be inspired

Here’s to the new possible.

So says one of the many Olympic-themed commercials that have aired on NBC throughout the past two weeks.  Of course I love the commercials during this time, because I love everything about this time.  Watching every sport, learning about every athlete, celebrating every time the US national anthem is played.  I really am obsessed, and it makes me stop and wonder at times…why?  Why do I love this so much?  This AT&T commercial holds part of the answer.

The Olympics represent more greatness, more perseverance, more determination and drive than anything I’ve ever seen.  These athletes are among the most dedicated people in the world, and it is seriously inspiring.  I mean, try explaining the amount of work that goes into winning 22 medals – 18 of them gold – to become the “greatest Olympian of all time.” 

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I can barely even begin to fathom that.  I would say that it’s impossible.  But it’s not.  Because Michael Phelps just did it.  Of course, he is a one-of-a-kind example.  No one has done what he has done.  But no one has done what a lot of other athletes these Games have done either…

How about Gabby Douglas, being the first African American woman to win gymnastics all-around gold?  Or Kayla Harrison bringing home the first United States judo medal ever?  Misty and Kerri winning women’s volleyball gold for the third Games in a row?  Things that might not have seemed possible.  Turns out they are.

But the list goes on, and oftentimes, has little to do with winning an actual medal.  Think about Oscar Pistorius of South Africa, a double amputee running – and often keeping up with – the rest of the athletes.  He epitomizes possibility.  Or Mohamed Mohamed and Samsam Mohamed Farah of Somalia, both excited to simply compete and represent their beloved but ravaged nation.  They represent hope.  What about Sarah Attar, the first woman from Saudi Arabia ever allowed to compete in track and field?  She is a dream come true, and an example of change before your very eyes.  And Manteo Mitchell, the US runner who completed the last 200 meters of the relay prelim despite breaking his leg in the middle of the race.  He reminds all of us to never, ever, ever give up. 

You don’t have to chase gold medals or athletic perfection.  The inspiration these athletes provide translates into just about every area of life.  Like another Olympics commercial says (Nike, this time) – “find your greatness.”  And again, from Powerade - "Favorites don't shock the world.  You do."  Propaganda and nicely timed marketing?  Maybe.  But it's true.  Haven't you just witnessed it?  With dedication, determination, and drive, you can accomplish anything, overcome incredible obstacles.  These athletes just did, and so can you.  So take a lesson from the Olympics and chase your dreams, whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever your dreams might be.

Here’s to the new possible. 

Be inspired.