Someone to Care

Make it a Method.

The whole reason I started this blog was because I loved this quote:

"Happiness isn't a destination, it's a method for life." 

Life is full of things. Good things. Bad things. Silly things. Happy things. Sad things. It's hard to put on the good face all the time. Trust me, I know. Life is like a rollercoaster some say. But I've come to realize that though it is a rollercoaster, we can learn to find reasons to be happy even in the hard times. To really make happiness our method. 

The other day I was in a bit of a bad mood. Tired (probably on account of staying up super late watching Iron Man 2...anyways), hungry, thinking a lot about school, etc. I didn't want to be happy, in a way, I just wanted to be let alone to mope a little before I changed my mood.

I made that decision.

That day me and my friends were going to go out together. I came downstairs, my miserably mopey self to find a look and air of sadness in one of my friends. I don't know exactly what it was, but that moment changed everything about my attitude. I forgot about my own "terrible woes," (which weren't that terrible in hindsight) and all I wanted was to see the smile on my friend's face that I've been seeing so much more often this semester than others. 

Has that ever happened to you? 

A bit ago I finished "Miles to Go," a book by Richard Paul Evans (which I highly suggest!!) and there was a part in it where a lady says "I'm happiest when I'm taking care of someone." I kinda brushed that off, though it was a nice thought. But it's true. I've found personally- just in that experience with my friend- that when there is someone to care about you can find greater happiness. 

Everyone needs care, everybody needs a friend.

If we choose to be there for others, we can be happier. 

Let's care, why don't we?

Make it a method.

-gracie

Keepin' Busy

It's been quite a while since I've written in here. That is going to change. I am making a point of it to keep up on this. I love blogging. I don't know why I've let myself stop, even though I think about it often enough.

Anyways, I have been super duper busy working on school this semester. I can hardly believe that it's already five weeks into the semester. Doesn't seem real. I've been on the run, doing this for that class, and doing that for this class. Sometimes I hardly know what I am doing because I am constantly changing gears and working on something different.

But no matter how busy it gets I love it.

Being busy keeps you from doing stupid things, or at least a lot of stupid things anyway. We all make mistakes of course, but by keeping yourself from sitting idly around you find yourself doing more good than bad.

This semester has opened my eyes to that. Not that I had been into mischief or anything before, but with how busy I've been this semester it's helped me stay focused on what I want to do and leave out the ridiculous time wasters (to a point, anyways). I don't know about you, but I am much happier when I feel like I'm doing something productive. I much rather feel accomplished than guilty of doing nothing important and nothing really that cool.

I challenge you- whoever you might be- to find a bit more happiness in life by finding something to keep you productive.
I know it's helping me.
Maybe it'll help you.
Go find something to make you happy, won't you?
-gracie

Courage

Courage is resistance of fear, mastery of fear; not the absence of fear.

-Mark Twain

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

-Walt Disney

You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Sometimes life is hard.

Right?

Sometimes we are scared.

Right?

Sometimes you just want to be happy.

Right?

No matter how hard life is, or how scared we might be to face something- we can find that happiness. We need courage. Take it, honor it, hold it close to your heart. It will not fail you if you hold tight.

We all have the potential to succeed, to face the most important things in our lives and go far beyond the expectations. Why don't we? Fear settles in quite comfortably in quite the quick fashion. Sometimes we don't even hear him enter in. Sometimes, though, we notice he's making a home out of our heads, and we just don't want to bother him by saying anything to him. 

Wait... Did I just say that? Confront a stranger? Get rid of an intruder? Psh, who in their right mind would want to get rid of someone breaking, entering, and making a home out of yours without consent? .... Isn't that illegal?

Well it's just as illegal in your head. The first step to getting rid of fear and standing up for what you believe is having the courage to say something. Courage, like Mark Twain said, isn't the absence of fear, but resisting it. Fight fear by doing what you know is right and showing others what you believe. 

Have that courage to be happy.

That is all.

-gracie 

:)

Design for Good

Have you ever looked at what your future could be like, and realize how utterly impossible it seems to be?
I have.
Have you ever taken a second look, and come to the fond realization that you are capable of anything and everything?
I have.

You should too.

The last few days I have been at a national AIGA conference (and for those of you who don't know, just know that it is a national conference for everyone with the most stupendous jobs in the world: Graphic Design). I was expecting a few things out of this before I came down:

Networking with the Professionals.
Leaning more about design itself.
Get a few more ideas.
Expand my vision of what I could become.

And let me tell you, all of this was possible. Every part of my expectations were easily fulfilled. But, know this: I have learned something that has forever changed my perspective on what I do.

The theme for AIGA this year, or maybe it is a campaign in and of itself, is: Design for Good. I was honestly not expecting to come here and get so many deep lessons on service. Of all the things? I wasn't displeased at all. I was confused, yes. But not displeased. Over the course of this conference I learned something more about myself, and my purpose here in life. Listen to this: What we do for a living, no matter what it may be, can be used as a force for good.


I am a graphic designer, and I want to create a better place through my talents. I always have said that, but it never hit me as much as it did this weekend here in good ol' Phoenix, Arizona. We all have potential, potential that is just waiting to burst out and be used as a force for good. There is so much bad in the world. We need to start acting. Making that move through OUR OWN TALENTS AND INTERESTS to make a difference.

So, if you are having those twiddling thumbs, only seeing the impossibilities in your future, you need to take a step back. Back away, and realize that there are those opportunities. Back away, and realize that you have potential. Don't diminish it. Use your talents. Nurture them, and you will see how they multiply.

We all can do it.
I promise to use mine.
Will you?
-gracie

Physically Possible

Many people really do not enjoy working out.

That would be me.

But here's the deal. So many people try to go by these crazy diets, taking pills, eating random foods that sound, smell, and taste horrid, do strange things to themselves. Do they not realize that the basic way to be healthy is eat right, sleep, and exercise? I know that there are some people who really do need different treatments, but most people actually do not. And yet they are too lazy to do something as simple as walk instead of drive somewhere.

I am not trying to be rude. But... Why don't you try it?

This week I came up with the absolutely crazy notion that I wanted to become a runner. My brain is still asking "why why Why Why WHY?!" But I have decided it, and with it I have come to the decision that it is physically possible. I am not that great, I got passed up by an older gentleman today (I wasn't too embarrassed... but still). I am trying, though, and that is what matters.

Healthier people are happier people. It is important to take care of your body- a God-Given gift. Don't try to take an easy way out- it's not worth it. There are mounds of ways for you to exercise, and many of them are really fun! Why sit and be lazy, then spend a handful of money to pay for some pill that is supposed to help you be healthy when you can go have fun doing something that is good for you? I finally got that through my head.

Even though every morning I wake up in a bit of a haze, running has seemed a bit enjoyable (wow, did I just say that?!) and I have decided I want to get good at it.

Go find something useful to do!
Get healthy.
Get happy.
-gracie