I'm on a roll!

Yesterday, I confessed my severe lack of motivation. BUT! After a great day today, I am feeling very motivated to stop being so unmotivated! As Coach Otterbein unrelentingly quoted at the beginning of every single morning practice, every single year (and I'm sure the football boys are haunted by this): 

"This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it! When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good, and not evil; success, and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it." 

So let me tell you why today was a good day:

1. I made it through another exam in PA school (although, at this point, tests hardly seem to faze me anymore). 
2. I had previously spoken with Marietta's head track coach about getting back into competition-shape while also helping him out at practice. So today after class, I got to strap on the ol' sprinting spikes that have been sadly moping in my closet for the past year and a half. I must admit that after so much time off, I was a bit terrified of the outcome - but I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I've still got it (well...some of it)! And it felt soooo GOOD!
3. I was already in a great mood after running, but the night has continued to get better and better as my phone continues to ring. First, a conversation with Heidi about her latest trip to Gulu, followed by a much-needed catching-up with Mrs. Anna Dunham. I've said it before and I'll say it again a million times more....I have the greatest friends in the world. So if anyone else wants to call, I would be more than happy to chat :)

And this is completely unrelated to all of the above, but I recorded another song today....so if you're not already bored by the rest of this post, maybe you'd like to listen to some Norah Jones - Sunrise.

I'm singing! I'm in a store and I'm singing!

Lately I've been doing a very good job of procrastinating and being, well....just plain unmotivated. It has involved a lot of movie-watching, ipad-playing, house-cleaning and guitar-playing. I should be studying right now, in fact, for my test in the morning. Yet, here I sit playing guitar and blogging. And although I'm not Buddy the Elf and I'm not really in a store....I am singing!

So here is my all-time favorite Ingrid Michaelson song - Giving up. In my opinion, there's just nothing better than some Ingrid to make your day a little bit better.

And while I'm fearlessly flaunting my very humble musical skills (that kinda sounds like a tongue twister), here is another favorite by A Fine Frenzy called Near to You.

"It's the people..."

...but not the townspeople (aka "townies") as the Hillsdale welcome-sign implies. In fact, if you were to judge Hillsdale by the quality of most townies, you may not leave with the best of impressions. But if you were to base your judgements upon the character and community of Hillsdale College, the statement truly maintains it's integrity.

I believe I will always remember my four years at Hillsdale College as one of the best experience of my life. It is where I learned the value of education, where I practiced my love of track, and most importantly, where I met my closest friends. I've become much more appreciative of all of this in the year and a half since graduation. Now that I'm in the "real world" and outside of Hillsdale's comfortable bubble, I've realized that the people of Hillsdale College truly are of a unique variety.....


And all of this just to say that it was great to be back for Homecoming with the people that I love and have shared this amazing experience with. All the hugs and shared laughter was refreshing, even if I am feeling a bit nostalgic in the aftermath. So to all my fellow Hillsdalians, thanks for making Hillsdale College the best school in the nation (Yeah, I said it...we're the best and I don't care if it's arrogant). I look forward to seeing you all next year!