Let's Get Physical

The gym.

A love/hate relationship for most Americans, including myself.

I love the results I am getting from it.

I hate having to actually go and sweat.

Trust me, I love the outdoors, just not sweating or doing anything that involves too much running, walking, or sweating.

Hence, I have thunder-thighs, a pot-belly, flabby arms, and a double chin.

If only there was a magic pill that I could take that would shrink me without having to sweat!

Okay, so I go to the gym and workout, and for the first week I hated it.

Then I found out I can hook head phones and listen to the TVs as opposed to reading the captioning!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Amazingness!

Who Could You Be?

When I was younger, I always wanted to be something.

Didn't we all?

Whether it was a fireman, astronaut, or doctor, we all wanted to grow up and be something.

We had dreams we wanted to achieve and we wanted to be successful, even if we weren't sure what successful meant or looked like.

For me, I had a new career path every day it seemed.

Veterinarian, princess, nurse, stay-at-home mom, fashion designer, chef, psychologist, photographer, lawyer, politician, senator, and those are just the ones I can remember.

I love that for anyone the choices are unlimited. You could be anyone you want.

There was a little kid song one time, I think it was from Barney.

Okay, so I'll admit it. I love Barney. He was the bomb when I was little and I still can sing almost everyone of his songs. What? They were catchy.

Anyway, Barney sang a song called, 'Who Would You Be?'.

The lyrics, 'Who would you be? Who would you be if you could be anybody? Who would you be?' and the singer burst into different career paths, blah blah blah

(Now that I think about it, I think Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen sang that... Okay, you caught me, I liked them too).

That song was awesome to me because it told me I could be anything I wanted.

So of course, I picked the crazy, impossible, only-that-weird-Jimmy-kid-from-science-could-do, things.

Yeah, yeah, so I was some what of an over-achiever as a kid.

Yes, I did want to build some pretty crazy things, and I did want to be successful from a very young age, but to me that was fun!

It was fun letting my mind run wild and to try doing the impossible things as a child.

I figure, that is why, at 15, I have my own photography business.

As a child, I created a passion inside my self to achieve the unachievable.

To do things differently then everyone else.

To dare myself to reach for goals and dreams that may be out of my reach.

To be unafraid of being myself, no matter what that self looked like.

It bothers me when parents tell their kids that they can not do something because they are not big enough, or old enough or that isn't the way it is supposed to be done.

Somethings, I understand, but why not let your kid draw out the lines?

Why not let your kids help you make dinner?

Why not let your kids have fun and explore?

Why not let your kids get dirty?

I understand limits must be set, without them there is no discipline, but let go and have fun one day.

Let your kid get dressed them self.

Or have them pick what's for dinner (Yes I understand you may have to have mac & cheese. Or heaven forbid, McDonald's, but is that really going to hurt you?)

Or let them show you how they do something?

Ever wonder how they have such rockin' dance moves?

Or how to play that video game?

As we get older we forget what it was like to be a kid.

To be carefree, and to laugh at silly things, or be crazy sometimes.

I did all of these things and I turned out okay.

I have parents who love me and inspire me to reach goals.

I learned that nothing is impossible if you have a right heart, will power, and God on your side.

I know responsibility, and I have a good sense of humor.

I know how to cook and I know I hate the taste of alcohol.

I know that sometimes it is okay to laugh at yourself, and it isn't the end of the world if I make a silly mistake.

Seriously, is that so bad?

I mean, this summer I am traveling to Washington DC to be a page for the United States Senate. I have been offered many different opportunities because of my academic excellence, creativity, hardwork, and leadership skills.

If I thought these goals were too hard or not worth it, I would have given up long ago.

I maybe still a kid, but I do know what being a grown-up feels like and I do know a thing or two.

Responsibility, is one thing, but growing up is another.

I mean who really wants a 4 year old who sounds like a 34 year old.

You take the cuteness factor right out!

So my last words for this blog are this;

One day let your kids open your mind and eyes back up to the wonders of their world. Trust me, it is worth it!

Dissection of the list: 11-20

More dissection.

11. The smell of the ocean - For me it is synonymous with laughing, family, love, and happy times. That is truly awesome.

12. Laughing at funerals - When I say this I don't mean it in a mean or disrespectful way, I mean it in a happy way. When you are able to laugh during a time of sorrow it is okay. It's okay to laugh and remember the happy times of the life the deceased has lived

13. When your Grandma waits on you hand and foot - That is the best. It really show me how much I loved. (No I don't let her do it all the time)

14. Cookies just out of the oven - Hot, gooey, moist... Makes me want one now!

15. Little kids who dress themselves - Hey they my be mixed-matched, with clothes on backwards, or not have their hair not combed but seriously, when is that never cute?

16. Waving at the person in the car next to you at a red light - If you get the courage one day I strongly suggest you do this, the outcome is hilarious!

17. The time of night when everything is funny - Yes we all know what I mean, and yes we have all done it! I'm not sure if everything is funny because we are tired or if our brains are messed up by that time, but it is funny.

18. Inside Jokes - When are those never funny?

19. Long time best friends - You can tell them everything, they understand you, tell you the honest truth, and pretty much love you no matter what

20. Seeing what your parents looked like in high school - Yes, we've all done it, and one day our kids will too. It's the never ending mean/comical cycle!

Dissection of the Awesome List: 1-10

I am dissecting the list I just wrote last night so sit back and relax as I share why I think these things are awesome.

1. When kids hit the age that you are the best person ever - You know how little kids get so attached to one person and they think that they are the bee's knees? I mean seriously, who doesn't enjoy that?

2. Laughing at a stranger with another stranger - We have all done it. Whether it be the person in front of you who is buying crazy things or the person at the gym who is really into their work-outs, and music.

3. The smell of the library - Okay old books, 'nuff said.

4. Newborn baby smell - Heaven in a baby.

5. When someone has already highlighted the answers in your used textbook - Okay that is quite possible the best thing ever, lazy, but so awesome!

6. Sunday afternoon naps - Need I say more? Who doesn't like a Sunday afternoon nap?

7. Freshly washed cars - The shimmer of the car and the smell of fresh wax, nothing beats it!

8. Little kids showing their muscles - So precious. Kids are the bomb, especially ones who show you their muscles.

9. Free food - The best kind of food. No doubt about it!

10. Seeing a skyline appear in the distance at sunset - It might just be my inner photographer talking but seriously isn't that like the prettiest thing ever? It just makes you feel... Peaceful, and in awe of what our Father created!

My list of Awesome

So there is this blog called "1000 Awesome Things".
Pretty funny, I encourage you to check it out! http://1000awesomethings.com

So I decided to make a list of my 100 awesome things (Note that I am almost 16 years old and these thing are purely awesome to a teenager)


1. When little kids hit the age where you are the best person ever
2. Laughing at a stranger with another stranger
3. The smell of the library
4. Newborn baby smell
5. When someone has already highlighted the answer in your pre-used textbook
6. Sunday afternoon naps
7. Freshly washed cars
8. Little kids showing you their muscles
9. Free food
10. Seeing a skyline appearing in the distance at sunset
11. The smell of the ocean
12. Laughs at a funeral
13. When your Grandma waits on you hand and foot
14. Cookies just out of the oven
15. Little kids who dress themselves
16. Waving at the person in the car next to you at a red light
17. The time late at night when everything is funny
18. Inside jokes
19. Long time best friends
20. Seeing what your parents looked like in high school
21. When you see or hear on a TV show or movie the name of your city
22. When someone saves you the last seat
23. Driving around with the windows down on the first warm day of Spring
24. Going on vacation an forgetting what day it is
25. Sleeping babies
26. When your fries order has a few onion rings inside
27. The night before a really big day
28. Seeing old people holding hands
29. Catching food in your mouth once and not being able to do it the next time
30. A little kids laugh
31. When you realize that your favorite book is being turned into a movie
32. Laughing so hard you cry
33. Letting the waves bury your feet in the sand
34. When a couple tells you how they met
35. Being the first one to know really important news
36. High-fiving babies
37. The one person laughing when you tell a horrible joke
38. When someone invites you to do something on a night you had nothing to do
39. Free ice cream samples
40. Tossing garbage into a garbage can far away
41. Admiring your newly cleaned room
42. The smell of freshly cut grass
43. The kids table
44. When your grandparents tell a funny story about your parents
45. Finding that the new top you bought has pockets
46. When you buy something and realize it was on sale
47. Leftover takeout
48. The last pieces of cake
49. Sneaking candy from home into the movie theater
50. Old people who asks where you are going to college when you are a freshmen in high school
51. When you look at your cell phone at there are a bunch of text messages waiting
52. When the lights go out in a thunderstorm
53. Family game night
54. Spit-takes
55. Waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon
56. When little kids let out adult burps
57. Sleeping with one leg out of the covers one leg under
58. Untangling a knot you have been working forever on
59. Revisiting a place and realizing that it is a lot smaller now
60. Laughing so hard you make no sound
61. My dads laugh
62. Play-Doh
63. Watching someone sing and dance in the car next to you
64. When you realize that you did better then you thought
65. When someone gives you their last piece of gum
66. Looking at the clock just as it hits 12:34
67. When you receive a surprise check in the mail
68. When you spill something on you and it doesn't stain
69. Sleeping in freshly washed sheets
70. When someone says weird and funny secrets in their sleep
71. The smell of crayons
72. When you realize that your old enough to remember something
73. The take a Penny, leave a Penny bowl
74. When someone has the same name as you
75. The smell of the coffee aisle in a store
76. Finding that your birthday is on Friday or Saturday next year
77. The smell of a campfire
78. Getting truckers to blow their horns
79. The first shower after not taking a shower for a long time
80. Using Rock-Paper-Scissors to solve anything
81. The smell of gasoline
82. Finding money you didn't even know you lost
83. New car smell
84. Getting to the cash register to pay and the stranger in front of you already has
85. Forgetting someones name and remembering it just before they come talk to you
86. Realizing that you are tall enough to reach something
87. Jumping contest
88. Pregnant ladies
89. Finding out that you aren't the youngest in the group
90. Open fields
91. Delayed reactions
92. Saying yes
93. Turning on the radio just as your favorite song starts
94. Knowing the question on Jeopardy
95. Forgetting you ordered something online then it just randomly showing up
96. Home school jokes
97. When your parents buy something that you really want
98. Receiving a gift that someone forgot to give you months ago on your birthday
99. Roasting the perfect marshmallow
100. When you realize that someone loves you


So yep, that is my list.
In my future blogs I will be discussing a few of these items so if you really want to know stay-tuned!

Excitement!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls!

It is official

In July I will be traveling to Washington DC to take place in the United States Senate Page Program!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will blog more when I can control my excitement!