The Bathroom Chronicles: Volume 2

April: the weather's getting warmer, our attention spans are getting shorter, I'm sharing my student office at work with at least three bumble bees...

...and people still feel as if they will greatly influence another individual's life by writing something that they feel is particularly witty and/or inspirational on the walls of a bathroom stall (which, by the way, I would not touch with a ten foot pole much less a pencil). Today's inSTALLment comes from the Ellis Hall, 1st floor bathrooms. Amidst the ongoing grammar smack down is, in fact, a wee bit of wisdom:

It's true, folks. Although it's nice to believe that we're just here boppin' around until one day we wake-up and *BOOM*, our destiny is standing at our door with a packed suitcase and some snacks for the road, the fact is that you're here now. You don't wait for the wind to blow you in some pre-destined direction, you change your sails and go the way you choose.

Let's look at the glass half full, shall we? YOU have the ability, right now, to make the moves, right now, to be what you want to be, right now. Everything you're doing and everything you've done up to this point is just adding pieces to the puzzle that is you. You are the books you've read, the places you've went, the people you know, the new things you try out.

It's kind of liberating in my opinion. Want to be that girl? That guy? Be it. Don't wish you were funnier, more outgoing, less of a procrastinator, too much of a busy-body...change it. Sometimes we get so caught up in the flow of things that we forget that we can stop and turn around, stop and breath, stop and start over any time we want.

It's never too late. Think of this as your reminder that there is an "edit" button, if you will.

And of course, never underestimate the writing on the stall.

Re-Usable Advice...

    I'm back! And after much deliberation, I have decided what type of post I feel is appropriate for this time of year. The end of the school year is often a time to reflect so, naturally, I looked back to the Senior Edition of my school newspaper, printed just about this time last year (hey, I'm a Journalism major...what did you expect?). Inside, I found my senior letter, in which I bestowed on the student body of my high school the wisdom that I felt I had gained over the four years prior to my graduation. Now, although I am no Aristotle, I do believe that it is interesting to see what I was thinking during the "monumental" point in my life when I was being thrown out into the hard, cruel world (or so I thought at the time).

    So, here it is. Maybe inside you will find something relevant to you, whatever point in your life you are at.

    "Roughly 28 classes, 22 teachers, and, what seems like, thousands of AP Literature papers gone by and still, here I sit, listening to the Rolling Stones, biting my nails, and attempting to write this paper, that you are currently reading, the night before it’s due. Although some things will never change, I feel that many things, such as my wisdom, have. That being said, here is some advice I feel is notable.
    Don’t over think the small stuff. It sounds so simple , but many people don’t take this advice. So much time is wasted on petty fights or problems that will mean nothing in the long run, so don’t waste perfectly good moments being mad.
    Put yourself in awkward situations: join a club that none of your friends are in, do something that makes you uncomfortable, go out of your way to talk to someone you don’t know. You can’t truly experience new things unless you step out of your safety zone.
    Enjoy the moment while you’re in it. It’s easy to get caught up in things and stress out while they’re happening, especially senior year. Even when things are crazy, take time to sit back and enjoy the beauty of what’s going on. Breathing doesn’t hurt either.
    Only worry about those who worry about you. Don’t waste your time trying to impress everybody. Your friends and family are the only ones who matter and, chances are, they will love you no matter what you wear, say, or looked like in the fifth grade.
    Leave the past in the past…or it will be impossible to live for today. People will come in and out of your life, but in the end, the ones who make it to your future are the ones who are suppose to be there. Forget the past, but remember what it taught you.
    See one of your favorite bands play live. I know this doesn’t really tie into the other ones but just trust me on this one. Also, camp with your friends.
    Tell your family you love them. Frequently. Appreciate what they do for you and let them know that; you won’t always have that luxury.
    Take Journalism. Biased? Maybe…but for me, it’s been more than a class. It’s been an experience; one that has taught me a lot about myself. It’s something I‘ve become passionate about through being on staff and with a little help from Mr. Covey. So I guess maybe this last bit of advice should be "find something you’re passionate" about and do whatever it takes to pursue your dreams with it. That’s what I plan to do at least."

In need of more inspiration? Check this out.

The Bathroom Chronicles: Volume 1

    Although I've never quite understood why people feel the need to ponder life's bigger questions on the wall of a bathroom stall (I mean, why not start a blog?), and, furthermore, I don't think that I will ever be able to get my head around why people feel the need to comment back on these alleged wall writings (What are they thinking? "Man, I sure showed that guy!"), I've found that these words can actually be quite insightful. Therefore, I will be starting a series of posts called "The Bathroom Chronicles". Now, although these posts will be titled the Bathroom Chronicles, I will take inspiration from anything that I feel fit.

That being said, here's todays inSTALLment (ba-dum-chhh) of wisdom:

   

    How true. This particular piece of restroom reading material has been popping into my mind quite a bit lately. Maybe, it's my nature, or maybe it's the fact that I am a public relations student, but regardless, there is no doubt that I have a problem saying "no". Although many times this small habit (or curse, perhaps) has lead me to help people out or try new things, every once in a while it leaves me racing from one activity to another without time to stop, think, or even breathe.

   

    But for what? Sometimes we can get so caught up in being the "go-to" that we don't leave time for ourselves. Don't get me wrong, I'll be the first person to tell you to help someone or something for a good cause, but you don't always have to be the leader, or the best, or the most involved. Try your hardest, do what you're passionate about, but live a little. Life is happening no matter if you're there to experience it or not. If you're in college, this is only the beginning of the work that is yet to come. Just be. There will always be work to do, and someday, when there isn't, you might not be in the condition to do all of the amazing and exciting things you are capable of now!

    So, stay dependable and hardworking, but don't let it consume you. Lay outside in the sun, go out with friends, sit and do nothing. You're only human after all.

"I'm in a hurry to get things done. I'm rushing, rushing 'till life's no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die but I'm in a hurry and don't know why."

-Alabama

...never underestimate the writing on the stall.