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Before I forget- this is my 50TH BLOG POST!! Whoa! That's kind of crazy, right? I'm starting on year number three and I'm already on blog post number fifty! I would like to say that I didn't really expect to make it to fifty, but I didn't really have any expectations when I started this blog! I kind of feel like having a party in honor of number 50, kinda like TV shows and they're 100th episode....

So this blog is going to be part insight, part update. I think I'm going to go with insightful first, just so I don't lose any of them...and I think they are pretty good insights, so I hope you'll read them :)

Let the insightfulness begin!
This past weekend I finished a book titled "New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance," by Elna Baker. I saw the book over the holidays while I was shopping, but I wasn't shopping for myself. When I picked it up, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I started the book at 10 o'clock or so on Saturday night and after sleeping a couple of hours or so and going to the gym on Sunday morning, I was finished with the book by Sunday afternoon. I will say that I've never related to a character, real or fictional as much as I did to Elna Baker, a chubby Mormon girl who had spent most of her childhood being the funny girl. I don't want you to think this is some sentimental journey of a "fat girl" losing weight, it was REALLY FUNNY. Just to give you an example of the book's humor, when Elna was preparing to go to college at NYU, her very conservative mother gave her some advice to prepare her for life in the liberal and asked her what she would do "if a lesbian asked her to make out?" Elna responded, "I'd say.....no thank you, lesbian.." hahaha. There are many stories like this in the book, and I would highly recommend it, but don't take my word for it. So now for the insights. There's a part in the book where she is discussing soul mates with a friend and her friend says, "I don't believe in fate. You just find someone who likes the same things as you. You just don't know what you like. (or that you like too many things)" I had to paraphrase. This part of the book really hit home with me. I declared several years ago, although it was an internal declaration, that as a youth I was a "people-pleaser." I came to this conclusion when I started to think about the music I liked as a youth, basically sixth grade and younger, was the music choice of those around me. I don't know if it was out of fear or lack of self confidence, but I was never willing to express my opinion around my friends. Working at Girl Scout Camp was the catalyst that brought me out of my shell, although sometimes I feel like I'm just playing a part. I've always found it odd that I can't choose a favorite type of music, color, type of movie, nothing. I also don't have that ONE PASSION. I don't know if having a passion is a myth, but I've never been able to say, "If I could do one thing the rest of my life, it would be...." I like trying new things, learning new things, listening to new types of music. I'm very open-minded about my experiences I guess you could say. I've also never felt that you could "classify" me or "group" me with people. You know, I'm a nerd, but I'm not a nerd that sits around and "dreams about a faster computer" (to quote a friend). I'm wild and crazy, but I'm not one of those wild and crazy people that you always assume is either on something or off medication. I like listening to Rock music, but I'm not about to apply for "Rock of Love." I like watching/playing sports, but I'm not really a "sports fanatic." I could come up with more examples, but hopefully at this point you have caught my drift. For most of my life, I've compared myself to others and thought how do some of these people find their "soul mate." One thing that hasn't changed, I still find it odd that I'm 26 (and 1/2) and have never had a boyfriend or dated anyone. But I've never really felt like the dating type. They say opposites attract, and I don't know that you could have the "opposite of me." I guess some would say that I need to define myself, but I think giving myself a definition is boring. I don't want to be stuck in one category. The problem is that I'm either in all of them or none of them.  I'm not really sure what that means for me. I guess the only thing I can do is be happy with the way my life is, single or not, defined or not. Or decide that it's not the right way to life and give my life "definition" or "classification." I just don't feel like that's something I should have to do. I mean it's not like choosing a cereal brand or what kind of car you want to drive. In some ways, this book has almost made me more confused with who I am, yet utterly content with the person that I've become!!

Now for a news update in the ridiculous life of Lizzy. First, I made the official announcement today, but since I'm leading a group with EF tours, they have international training tours for first time leaders in Paris, Rome, Beijing and Madrid. I've chosen, and signed up for, the training in Paris over the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm really excited about it. Second, this week I "officially" became a girl scout leader, now I just have to get enough girls to sign up. My niece and sister are both pretty excited about it. I think that's about it for right now. I've been working out for almost two weeks and I'm really enjoying it!! In fact, it's time to go to the gym now. So I better sign off. Thanks for reading.

Legolas does everything right

Well, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately, but I'm feeling much better now. We have a Student Council function this Friday and Saturday and our PSIA campus competition is next weekend. I've been panicking on having enought people for it, but luckily I've guilted some of my students in to helping and some of the teachers and parents have come through. I was standing in the office this afternoon with my two main administrators. They asked if I was in charge of tomorrow night's function and then asked if I was in charge of Saturday night's function, of course this was after I had asked a couple of questions about PSIA. So then one of them said, "Is there something you're not in charge of?" We all kind of laughed, and I said "I would say that I'm going to stop saying yes to things, but that's just not going to happen." The response I got to that made all of the stuff I've been doing worth it, "No, you're not going to stop saying yes. You're a good person and a hard work and we appreciate it." It's nice to know that people notice my hard work, of course, that's not why I do it. I couldn't tell you why, but I just do. I'm also really excited about starting to work out again. I couldn't tell you what happened but I just lost it. I've got a workout buddy now and I'm joining the new gym in town "Planet Fitness." I've got a Tuesday night class starting this next week that I'm really excited about. It's the "Traditional Archery II" class at Amarillo College taught by Ken, the same guy that taught me like 6 or 7 years ago. Also, for anyone interested, I will be hosting the first "Dance Party" next Saturday night after PSIA campus competition is finished. I've got to start putting my playlist together, so if you think you're coming you better put in your requests early. No limits- as long as it has a good beat!! Alright, I'm done for now, gotta get ready for Young Adults. Can't believe you got two blogs in one week!!
Until next time :)
PS I don't feel like proofreading so, sorry about the mistakes. :)

Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering

I know, I know! It's been 2011 for a whole week and I haven't blogged yet. I decided to take a week "reflecting" on my resolutions, goals and plans for 2011. This year, I think my resolutions will be different from years past, but instead of comparing them for you, I'll just share them with you now. (As you know making them public puts more pressure on me to actually fulfill them and 2010 was year number 3 of 3 (I think) to follow my new year's resolution!) Also let me say that these aren't in any particular order, mostly.

I resolve to help those around me each day. I acknowledge that this may mean something different each day, but whether it means being a listener, an advocate, a friend, a court jester, a lunch date or a movie date, I will do my best to improve the lives of those around me. For it is by those around me that my life is improved or detoriated.

I resolve to maintain the recommended visits with all health professionals, eye doctor, general doctor and anyone else that is recommended to me. For without my health I have nothing.

I resolve to participate in the sacrament of confession on a regular basis. Cleansing of the soul is just as important as cleansing of the body. Plus, I think there are some bad spiritual habits that I need to break and confessing them on a regular basis may help me break them.

I resolve to be less dependent on technology. I've already begun by turning my phone OFF, not just on silent, during meetings and church. I'm hoping as the year progresses I start to spend full DAYS with my phone completely OFF. This also includes no texting while driving, no one I know, including myself, is THAT important.

I resolve to not be afraid to say "NO." In the first week of the new semester I've volunteered for TWO committees, in addition to the FOUR extracurricular activities I already assist with and I've also taken on another class. I realize that I do not have to be in charge of EVERYTHING and that (for the most part) there are other capable people out there that can do the job just as well (almost) as I can. This also includes saying no to go spending money when I don't have it.

I resolve to host a Dance Party in my living room at least once a month. Nothing feeds the soul or self confidence like listening to some great, and maybe not-so-great, music while looking like a fool. "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth." — William W. Purkey. You are invited if you promise to participate without judgement. :)

I resolve to stick with my past new year's resolutions throughout this year. I will be maintaining this blog as a way of staying in contact with those of you that I've deemed important to my life for whatever reason. I will be reading at least one new book a month, and not just the equivalent of one book a month. Reading should help put me to sleep and if I'm not finding time to read even one chapter every other day, then I need to reassess my priorities.

Even though I said these were in no particular order, this last one is my favorite and the one I look forward to reflecting on at the end of this year:

I resolve to become the BEST possible version of myself that I can be every day and taking steps to ensure that nothing is prohibiting me from becoming that version of myself. This includes my health, happiness, relationships and the legacy that I will leave behind one day, if I don't want it shared at my funeral one day, then I shouldn't be doing it. This also includes overcoming failures and missteps that could cause me to give up completely. I will not allow anything to stop me from being the BEST "Elizabeth/Lizzy/Aunt Lizzy/Teddy" that I KNOW I CAN BE.

 Well, there's my resolutions and goals for the year of 2011. I look forward to sharing with you the plans and progress throughout the year. I feel blessed to have a group of friends and family as fantastic as all of you reading this now. When I started this blog two years ago I didn't think I would ever have anything to write about, and then when I found things to right about, I didn't think anyone would actually read this. And even though I'm  LONG WAY from becoming a Blockbuster movie, you should all start thinking about who should play you in a made for TV movie. Of course my life isn't cheesy enough for Lifetime, I don't live on a farm so there goes Hallmark channel and I'm certainly not hip enough for MTV, so we'll have to wait until we find the right market. :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR (a little late...)