Selfless Sunday

So, my 22nd birthday is quickly approaching. A bunch of my friends want to do different things from Vegas to a cruise to the Caribbean, but my planning for my birthday is going towards something a little different. I have made a list of 22 Random Acts of Kindness, things I have to do while I'm 22, and things I want to work on about myself. My biggest concern lately is making myself a better person physically and emotionally, which I feel go hand in hand more than most people think.

22 before 22:

1. I will run the CASA 5k and reach out to the CASA of Houston to help raise awareness. Although I am still a member of CASA I won't be able to accept a case due to the fact that I don't know when Nicol will get a liver(which means I don't know when I'll start my next job and be shipped of to Miami for three weeks).
2. Improve my self esteem and help others with theirs too. I feel like I can realistically be toned up by my next birthday and that will really help with the way that I see myself. I am way better than I used to be and really am happy with the progress I've made already. I think it'll be easier diet wise because I am helping Sterling with his diet and weight loss. I really enjoy helping people with their health needs. Also, I'm also quite quick to judge others and I have been catching myself quite a bit lately. I want to be the type of person that lifts people up not bring them down. 
3. Start bringing that lady at Bank of America by my house coffee or tea. Let's face it that girl has a shitty job. She's there regardless if it's freezing, 100 degrees, or pouring down rain.
4. Explore downtown Houston and and Montrose more often. I loved my time in El Paso more than anything but there are things I didn't do at first because I didn't want to do anything by myself. I regret that and I don't want to leave Houston in a year with the same regret!
5. Travel. That's pretty self explanatory and achievable, I think. I want to go to as many places as I can for the first 6months-1 year and then hopefully just get Russel to pick Lawanda trips so I can only work weekends while going to school.
6. Get back to doing creative stuff. I am making shadow boxes for Russel and Christmas decorations for Nicol so that should really help. I do miss photography, drawing, painting, and scrap booking though. That includes reading more, it helps to get the creative juices flowing. I love reading any type of literature, that isn't American, and it always inspires me.
7.  I need to finish my cook book. I already have about 12 recipes and would like to keep adding more. I need to work on presentation and pictures.
8. I want to buy someones food at a restaurant at least every 1-2 weeks or buy food and give it to someone homeless.
9. My best friend in the entire world is a soldier serving in Iraq and I have many other close friends that are serving and about to leave for deployment. So, there is a program called Adopt a soldier where you write to them and send them car packages and was eager to start this as soon as I heard about it. I can't imagine someone signing up for the military for reasons like my father did and not having anyone to send me stuff from home. 
10. Work on keeping in better contact with my friends and family. I hate texting and really just having a phone sometimes but I move around frequently and need to keep in contact with friends somehow. One of my best friends brought to my attention just how awful I really am about it. I really want everyone to know that I really do care about them and aren't just blowing them off.  Which leads me into the next point:
11. I used to send random texts, messages,  or letters to friends and family in my life letting them know how wonderful they really are. I need to do that more often. I am beyond blessed to have so many wonderful people that really care about me in my life and I really want to let them know how much I really appreciate them.
12. I need to work on controlling my emotions. There are very few people in this world that can make me lose my temper and they tend to do it a lot. I have always been a little on the dramatic side and it's of my own doing. Plus I think there is nothing better than being able to control your emotions.
13. On that note, I need to learn that I can't always control every situation. I am a super control freak and am prone to anxiety when things aren't just perfect. That and I always make plans. One year plans, five year plans, and after things ended with John I assumed I would have given up on that. It's weird to think that I would have been engaged right now or even married.
14. I am dating without a clue as to what I want. In theory a boyfriend seems like a fantastic idea, until I am close to having one. A friend of mine suggested I make a list and establish deal breakers to help weed through guys that aren't worth the time or effort and when I find one that meets everything I need I may, in fact, be ready for a man. Also, there is a Sex and The City inspired post about such things coming in the near future.
15. I need to become fluent in Spanish so I can start learning other languages. I want to be fluent in at least 6 languages before I'm thirty. Ugh, that's an awful thought, being thirty.
16. I need to try and make more friends. I tend to be a hermit when I move somewhere new! I can make friends easily when I try.
17. I wanna buy a bunch of Eat Your Peas books and leave a little note in each and leave them in random places. My cousins John and Diana bought Me Eat Your Peas for a college student and it really helped me put some things in perspective. 
18. Make some cupcakes and take them to the local police or fire station.
19. I want to start going to more of the local bars and pubs. That was one of my favorite things to do in El Paso. While doing that I want to anonymously buy someone a drink, especially if it looks like they're having a rough day.
20. I need to learn to let stuff go. I am the worst about holding on to grudges and past emotions. I haven't always been the best person and I wouldn't want someone to hold that against me so why would I do that to someone else.
21. I need to set more personal and daily goals a make sure to follow through and meet them.
22. I want to compliment people more. Random strangers, people in my life that are doing great, or people that just need a boost.
23. And maybe one to grow on. (; I need to be more spontaneous. I'm 21 and I need to just let go and have fun more often.   

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes that I try to live my own life by!

"If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared - most of all - to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself....then truth will not be withheld from you." - Eat Pray Love

Prelude

The idea of blogging is one of those things much easier said than done. I started one once in high school and it was full of drama, hormones, and teen angst. As embarrassing as that was, I still have always liked the idea of getting my experiences and thoughts out in to the world. This is all based on the hope that my life is interesting. But in reality my life is

AWKWARD, DRAMATIC, FUN, and WEIRD. 

 

I will do my best to keep posting especially because all I have is time lately. So, I guess I should start with me. I'm a 21-year-old woman living in Houston. I am work doing home health care for a woman on the liver transplant list. I have no desire to be a nurse or continue doing this line of work when I am finished here. Coming here I have received an opportunity for another job once this one is over and am quite excited. The job is a stewardess for a private charter company, meaning I will be transport troops, sports teams, and famous people around the world. Both jobs are helping me to pay for University, law school and to help pay off any debt that I owe. Plus, who would pass up an opportunity to travel for a year. But until then I have more free time than I know what to do with since I just moved here and I don't know a soul. So, I will blog. I will try to leave with a positive quote after each blog. So, on that note:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain