My future sits in my hands.
I must do what I need to for myself.
I will become only what I work towards becoming.
These thoughts have inspired me to start taking responsibility for what lies ahead in my future and realizing I need to make something of myself today. So, my lack of posting has been the result of me taking control of my future.
Last week I set out to find a internship at a newspaper this summer, which ended in me actually getting a promising response from my hometown newspaper. Then, I decided to contact my campus newspaper, which I had been told I would get assigned a story last semester, and until yesterday, I was still eagerly awaiting my first assignment. But, I can't complain, I got one, even though it was a little later than anticipated. I also got assigned a story by one of my former professors, and I actually get paid to write it! So, while my pen has not left the paper, or rather my fingers have not left my keyboard, my writing has not resulted in any new postings, which I decided to resolve tonight.
As I have taken on more work for myself, I have attempted to continue leaving myself some time to relax. Of course by relax I mean sweating my butt off and pretending that I am running on the beach as I work out for an hour each day. Normally, I do a little workout video in my room because the winter cold has some very convincing points as to why I should not walk to the rec instead. But, yesterday I decided to brave the cold (the coldest day of the week at that!) and make the long journey to the rec.
I must really turn off my brain when I go into the rec and zone out into my own little world because I never fail to make a complete and utter fool of myself. Yet, I always go back, so I must not get too embarrassed.
Anyway, as I ran the track above the basketball courts, I tripped, as must be a requirement for me to even go there. I think it's because I like to watch the games going on below instead of watching the people pass me (I like to keep a slower pace, you know, practice for the speed walking competition in the Olympics). But, my tripping, catching myself on the ground, and turning around to see if somehow the ten other people on our little track didn't see that is a typical event at the rec for me.
What I really got embarrassed about was when I was walking around the track. I swear every idea I had, the guys walking in front of me must have had too. First of all, we all walked out onto the track at the same time. Then, after walking a few laps, we all decided it was time to find a mat to do some ab workouts. Apparently, we have the same amount of ab workouts or decided that it was awkward that we had all stopped at the same time because we also finished the ab workout and continued our way around the track until we decided we needed a drink of water precisely in sync.
I don't think I would have been as embarrassed if I wasn't walking only two feet behind them and didn't seem to be a pro stalker. Eventually, I decided they probably thought I was following them and decided to take off running for a bit, hence my usual tripping stunt.
While my experience ended up being a little awkward, I left reminiscing about how nice going to the rec really is. I forgot how enjoyable it is to workout with other people around, rather than my workout video friends who always have the same words of encouragement I have learned to despise as I struggle for those last 5 push ups. And, I feel like I workout harder with other people around.
So, as I work on my future in journalism and in my physical health, I need to remember to work on my mental and social health. Mentally, I need to keep my focus, but remember that while I can work on my future I need to enjoy the present as well. Socially, I need to take the extra time to go to the rec to spend time with people and not just my video instructors.
I am happy with where I am, I feel like I have found my balance in living in the moment and taking advantage of all the present has to offer while also working to making a better future for myself.
