Day 21: 2013

First month down!!!

Top moments of 2013

1) Turned 18

2) Graduated High school

3) Gave Graduation Speech

4) Ewest Family Road Trip to Alaska

5) Car Accident

6) Got lice... (Worst part of my year)

7) Got rid of lice!!!!!

8) Started Freshmen Year of College!!!!!!

9) Blogged consistently for the first time

Ready for a new year!!!!!

See ya-all next year!

Day 20: In Spite of the Situation

The worst, wild, crazy, bad, scary, disturbing, awkward, weird experiences can bring out the best in a person.

In the spirit of sometimes sticking to the overall theme of my blog; my positive experience 4 today?

I have been sick for the last week and although it has been a little crappy, I have been home with my family!

#feelingblessed
#feelingbetter

Day 19: Writer's Block

Thoughts

flowing 

through 

my 

head 

so 

fast 

I 

can 

not 

single 

one 

out.

Day 18: (untitled)

Today, I do not know what to say.

I am tired & sick...



I am blessed

Day 17: Capturing the Moment

Christmas Day brought a couple gifts.

And yet the best of all was not an object I can hold

but memories...

Today I am thankful for my mother always trying to capture the moment.

For every moment she captured and every moment that passed,

My mom and dad have been there through if all

Every moment

Thanks

Day 16: Split Second Christmas (Happy Holidays)

The Christmas season is supposed to bring about great feelings of;

Joy, Happiness, Wholeness, Splendor, Awe, Excitement

& some sort of sparkly warm glow that comes from the heart...

Along with peace on earth!!!

Sounds like alot of pressure to me...


Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas!!!

● I wore a Christmas Sweater almost every other day for about 2 weeks up until Christmas.

● I love to watch Christmas movies like

Elf, White Christmas,  A Christmas Story & It's A Wonderful Life (& can quote most of them)

"The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear" Buddy the Elf

"snow, Snow, SnoW, SNOW, it won't be long before we'll all be there with snow-OW!" White X-mas

"Teacher says, every time a bell rings and angel gets his wing" Zuzu (It's A Wonderful Life)

And many, many more!!!

● Green is my favorite color

● & although an overly jolly fat man wih a beard is a little creepy sometimes,
he seems like a nice guy!


But alot of my "Christmas Feeling/Moments" tend to happen in split seconds


Some Split Second "Christmas Feelings"

-Putting the angel on top of the Christmas tree

-Driving by a house framed in Christmas lights

-The look on someone's face when they see that you're wearing a Christmas sweater

-Dressing up for Christmas Eve Service

-The first tear of the wrapping paper when opening a present

(There are other times thar I "Feel It")


Sometimes I fear that in the search of finding that "Feeling Of Christmas," that we miss the

meaning behind Christmas all together.  

Day 15: One Test More!!!!

(Feel free to youtube One Day More instrumental.
Listen to that as you read the following)

One Test More

I started studying a little too late

What if I fail this test, oh that I'd hate

Retaking this class would not be fun

How would I explain this to my parents?


One Test More


Until I can say I'm out of here

Just thinking about it fills me with cheer

I can run and laugh and yell and play

Maybe build a snowman with my siblings


One Test More

A semester has come and gone

Full of trial and temptation

I'll be glad to start a new...

semester after break!!



Tomorrow I will sleep in late

So far away, I just can't wait.

God give me strength to carry on

Just one more test and then I'm done!!!


One more final

One more test

ONE. TEST. MORE.

Day 14: Cinderella Paper

So it begins the final hours before my paper is due
and all I want to do is dance around the idea of finishing 

At midnight the turn in will close and I will turn into a pumpkin... 
no brains, no thoughts, just the mush from inside a pumpkin...

Procrastination has never felt so wrong.
Procrastination has never smelled so sweet!

Focus will not come easy.
What is focus?

And here I am again stuck between a paper and the internet...
This time I will defeat it!

My Prof will search high and low for
misses spelled word,
gramatical errors,
and messed up MLA formating...

Though she might find one or two
I will not run,
I will not hide.

I will proudly put my name on it 

Midnight stikes...

Submit.

and know that I have done all I can do.

Sleeping in my bed
as a pumpkin

Day 13: Phonathon

This fall I found myself in need of a job to help with college bills...

The last place I thought I would find my self was in a calling center.  Although I love talking to people picking up phone and calling people is a little intimidating.  Even more intimidating,  asking them (total strangers) for money.

To tell you that this last semester was easy would be a lie.  It was very difficult it be hung up on and told 'no' over and over again.   Sometimes I would get someone who didn't have much to say or a 30 minute life story from an older woman who just wanted someone to listen.  

And although it took awhile I eventually got better, conversations became easier, and I grew stronger. 

I didn't take it personally to hear the word 'no'
I can pick up the phone without knowing who is on the other end, No problem. 

Change can come from where you least expect it.

Day 12: In This Crazy Quiet

Finals week.

Everyone in this library is quiet, quiet on the outside....

But can not stop talking in their heads!

"I'm gonna fail!"

"This paper will never be done..."

"What if I fail???"

"Where will I go next?"

"I can't wait until Christmas Break."

"I can not wait until next week!"

"I hate this..."

"I wish I had paided attention in class..."

And yet in this time of non stop thinking, studying, and anticipation it is important to remeber to stop and be still. 

Be still and listen. 

Quiet your mind and listen...

You never know what you might hear.

My view from the library

Day 11: Winter Banquet

A beautiful night in the twin cities!

Dressed in black, waiting to meet the night air.

We walked into an extravagant open space ten stories high,

Up the glass elevator we went looking for an adventure.

Chasing ideas of love and romance...

Many pictures snapped trying to capture the escaping moments.

Dined in style, pinkies out!

Once the table were cleared we danced the night away,

Forgetting the worries of the coming week!

Now just a memory, a wonderful memory.



Photo Credit to Kristy Reinke

Day 10: Always an Angel

Around Christmas time in the church I grew up in we would have a nativity play.
I always wanted to be Mary, always...
But never was.
Always an angel never Mary

Day 9: Ability to Listen

I love to talk.
At times I love to talk a little too much.
But many times I have found that listening brings about great events. 

I am not just talking about in class when the professor is lecturing. 
(Even though that is very important too!)

This is more about listening
To those who are quiet or soft spoken
To those who feel out spoken
To your parents wisdom
To God

Listen, you never know what you will hear...

Day 8: Son/Sun

Everything comes back to the SUN.

Everything comes back to the SON.

And though it seems dark it is still there.

And though it seems dark He is still there. 

Day 6: Boxes

This time of year brings about a lot of reflection. 

When I was packing for college I split my stuff into 3 groups. 

-The stuff I will use over the next four years
-The stuff I want to keep in a box for four years
-And the stuff I do not need or want any more

Some of my possessions were easy to throw in the "get rid of" box. 
The single sock that I have kept in the hopes of finding the other one...

Other things are a little more difficult to throw away...
Sea shells from the ocean!

The materialistic things in life tend to cause more trouble than they are worth.  

They have this unnatural need of attention that districts us from other, 

more important aspects of life.  

Do not get me wrong, I also love things! 

Ode to Things by Pablo Neruda is one of my favorite poems. 

But in this season of my life simplification seems to be a major theme that goes hand in hand with my change in scenery.   It has become a hassle to have things, to clean them up, to buy new things when the old ones are broken or worn out.  

With less stuff to crowd my thoughts, reflection becomes ten times easier. 

Day 7: Saturday

Today was a good day with so much to be thankful for

1)The Sound of Music Live; Even though it was not Julie Andrews and at times it was very cheesy it was easy to tell that they were having fun!

2)Indoors; I love winter but it is wonderful to sit inside and feel warm.  

3) The Ability to Focus: even if it is not always present

Day 5: Random Acts

I have always found it easy to talk to people, especially people who I do not know. 

Random strangers are some of my favorite people.

I love seeing how their faces melt from a stiff, focused face into a beaming smile!

Like when the sun comes out from behind a cloud. 

My baby I grew over the summer

Day 4: Exercise or lack there of

As the snow continued to fall today my level of motivation reached an all time low.  The combination of the weather and finals coming up in less than two weeks I have been able to focus on very little outside studying, sleeping, studying, eating and studying.

Let me just point out that exercise did not come easy before the snow was falling and finals just in sight but now... the thought does not cross my mind.

Physical exercise these days consists of walking to and from class, walking to and from the dinning center and to and from work...

Mental exercise? Every day! All the time!
I am constantly working out my mind.
Stretching it with new ideas,
Running into new dreams and plans for the future,
Sprinting to study for the next exam! (YIKES)

I know that I will get around to the physical stuff one of these day

For now I am focused on the mental stuff

Back to studying!!!

Day 3: Lost Not Found

On my way to dinner my friend, Amber, saw a little black ball of fur run across the road and hide under a van.  We proceeded to run over to the van and look for the kitten.  After about 15 minutes of walking around campus meowing like crazy college students we decided to go to dinner….

The little lost kitten reminded me of myself this last semester. 

I definitely got lost.  Between my studying and friendships, morals and family everything felt like it was caving on top of me with nowhere to turn.  A lot has changed since the beginning of school and I know that this is just the start of many more changes to come.  Through all the changes I am doing better! Sometimes I still feel like a little lost kitten trying to find my way but I know that I am not alone and that I am loved. 

I guess this is not exactly a “positive experience” but I know that I can see better things coming in the future and that gives me hope. 

I like to think that the little black kitten was found by another college student. 

The little black fur-ball is getting all the love it deserves! 

Feeling a little less lost and a little more found

Day 2: 5 Mini Challenges

Hello! Happy Monday!

After reading further into Shawn Anchors 21 Day Challenge I found 5 activities that make up this challenge....

Each day I will focus on one of these five;

1. Record 3 new things that you’re grateful for
2. Journal about one positive experience  
3. Exercise
4. Meditation
5. Random Acts of Kindness

With Thanksgiving last week I am going to start with #1 with a twist!

3 X 3 Things I am Thankful For

3 "Serious"

Faith- Blessed to live in a place where I have religious freedom.  A place where I can grow spiritually! Bethel has been a blessing for me in many ways!

Family- My Crazy family.  Oh the adventures!!! Leaving home was one of the most difficult things I have ever done because those guys are so awesome! I love them like no other.

Friends- The new and the old! I have gotten so much love and support from them over the years.  Through the tears, laughter and late late nights! I love them all and I can't imagine life with out them!!!  All of my beautiful, odd, fantastic, weird, crazy friends!

3 "Sarcastic"

The Holes in My Boots- A reminder not to get to comfortable

Early Morning Classes- A reason to get out of bed... (or else I would stay there all day)

Winter- An excuse to stay inside and watch movies (or CRAZY OUTDOOR FUN)

3 "Silly"

Mint Dark Chocolate M&Ms- Just because they are SO GOOD.

Perkins- The FREEDOM of going out late at night and getting a huge PLATTER of food

Naps- I never understood napping until I came to college...  Now they are my best friend. 

Day One: Introduction

Hello! Let me just say how excited I am for the next 21 days!

First off an introduction

My name is Haliee Ewest,
I am a freshmen in college,
and I love adventure!!!

I have never been able to stick with a blog for more than a couple days but after watching a video on TED Talks I had some hope. 

In the video Shawn Achor talks about how changing a behavior in 21 days can, "change your brain to be much more positive and receptive." 

I am not exactly sure if this is what Achor had in mind but I think a couple steps in the right direction is better than standing still. 

I don't know what will come of this but...

Who ever is out there reading, I hope you enjoy!

Haliee