Not that my whole trip to New York/Washington D.C. wasn’t Providencial enough…
When I sorted through the hundreds of photographs I took, I unintentionally came up with 44 that I wanted to share (Link to my Flickr Photo Set is below).
Funny how that works.
I hope you all enjoy! I have video to share as well!!! That’s coming up soon, so check back here soon!
Good news people. I just spoke with my friend Justin Ruckman, the editor at CLT Blog, and it looks like they’ll be using some of my content from the Obama Inauguration on their site!
I’ll be posting commentary, photos and possibly video here, but make sure you pop over there and check it out as well! Love all my Charlotte people at CLT Blog! Keep tearing it up!
Photo Credit: EyeTunes (CC)
I’m in Portland, OR today, searching for houses with my three roomies. I won’t lie. I’m pretty freakin’ excited! New city, new people, new beginnings. And it starts with a home.
We were out looking at places yesterday and since I’m the daughter of the best Realtor ever (YAY Mom!), I’m generally pretty discriminating. But while we were shuttling between viewing appointments, I got to thinking. I started thinking about how lucky I am to be employed right now. And how grateful I should be to be able to have a home. There are so many people in this world, and increasingly, in this country that cannot boast the same blessing.
I have bums at my local coffee shop. That’s what most people would say. In reality, they are homeless gentlemen, who have become some of my favorite people. They break my heart and inspire me at the same time. These are people who most consider to be the dregs of society. Many of the baristas look condescendingly at them as they order a small coffee or hot water. They roll their eyes as they take a seat and read the paper.
God, they’re sitting down. What will our customers think?
Well, this is what I think. I think the gentleman who humbly asks for hot water in his stainless thermos, says thank you with genuinely grateful eyes and then precisely rations a portion of coffee he bought from the shop is an incredible human being. He doesn’t fuss over no-foam, light whip, 148.7 degrees. He doesn’t sigh with exasperation, checking his watch and tapping his polished designer-soled foot when he has to wait in line behind two people for 3 minutes (God forbid). He’s polite. He’s appreciative. If he had any money to leave a tip, I’m sure he would. He does the freakin’ New York Times Sunday Crossword IN PEN. He is not stupid. He’s just homeless and yes, he does smell a little. But I’d rather sit and converse with him than most of the yuppie hypocrites at the next table. What a life story he probably has! You wanna sit and brag about how you’ve diminished your carbon footprint with your Prius? Who the hell cares? Why don’t you ask him about sustainable living? He could probably give you a few pointers on conservation and reducing excess.
We just get so into ourselves, don’t we? It’s ALL about us, right? I gotta get mine. Me me me me me.
It’s not ALL our fault. American society is built to cater to the desires of the customer. “The customer is always right” right? And that infrastructure of expectation and entitlement makes it really tough to step out of a critical mindset and be grateful for what we have at that moment. For instance, I have two jobs. I have a home and a reliable car to get me around. I have good friends and a loving family. I got to play volleyball in college–hell I got to GO TO COLLEGE! I live in a country where women can work and own property and say what they think! So why is it so hard for me to pull my mindset away from BMW’s and hot condos in the Pearl District?
As the U.S. economy and housing bubble continue to deflate, leaving thousands of Americans wondering if they’ll have a roof over their heads next month, I find myself so thankful that I’m capable of providing one for myself. I am acutely aware that the organic 1/2 decaf quad espresso with a splash of soy sitting to my right is a luxury–not a right. We have to be prepared. 2009 is going to bring stories of intense hardship as more people lose their jobs and enter the realm of financial uncertainty. Good people. Talented people. People with college degrees and 10 years experience. No one is immune. You might be one of them. I might be too. So we each need to be grateful for what we have right now. We might not have it tomorrow. Besides, it’s not a 3000 square-foot house, richly furnished with European imported furniture and surround sound that will make us happy. A shelter from the storm will suffice. Like my homeless friend, whose name I don’t even know, we can learn to smile more while working with less. It all comes down to what your priorities are. Success, wealth and acclaim are nothing to be ashamed of wanting. But we don’t need them. And we can <gasp> be happy without them.
I’ve already written out goals for 2009, but now I’m thinking that I need to get my priorities in line as well. Accomplishing everything on my list will make me feel good, but I’m convinced that I can still be happy if a few of them fall by the wayside. Don’t get me wrong–that doesn’t mean I won’t be busting my ass trying to get them into the “been there, done that” category, but I also don’t want to lose sight of the big picture. It’s Maslow’s Hieracrchy of Needs. We can’t neglect our foundation in the scramble to get to the peak. Who wants to be rich and unhappy, while my friend enjoys his daily ration of coffee and the abandoned New York Times Crossword from a wealthier man’s paper?
Not this little girl.
Before diving, fearlessly, à la Michael Phelps, into 2009…let’s take a moment to fondly remember 2008.
Finally. God, I’m so over 2008.
On to 2009!
After posting on goal-making strategies and tactics, I thought it only right that I post some of my own. You’ll notice, however, that I’m not calling them goals/resolutions/aspirations. Nope. It ain’t the little girl way. I’m just skipping over all of that fluff and defining them as achievements/successes/accomplishments to start with.
Wait, isn’t that playing against the rules? I haven’t actually achieved/succeeded at/accomplished any of these things as of yet. It’s definitely possible that I’m breaking some hallowed goal making rule, but it’s also certain that I really don’t care. One thing I learned from my college volleyball coach, Joel McCartney, is that you have to create the environment you want to exist in. That means if you want to be playing Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season, you put the dates on your schedule. You train and work with the idea that YOU WILL BE THERE. And guess what? We made it all four years I played at Winthrop.
How d’ya like dem apples?
Point being: I’m taking initiative and pre-manifesting my success in order to create an environment where every single thing on this list is crossed off by this time next year.
Here it goes! In no particular order…
Between January 1, 2009 and December, 31 2009, I:
1. Ran the Eugene Marathon in less than 3 hours. Training program began Monday, January 5. I also raised $10,000 for Train For Humanity. (This is like a three for one deal as far as goals go! I’m not sure if that means I’m more efficient or just an over-achiever. Suspecting the latter…reasonably certain I’m O.K. with that)
2. Traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to report via photographs on the situation there (Honestly, I’d settle for a trip being in the works. It’s going to take a lot of resources for this one)
3. Called three friends who are long-distance from me each week. Wrote one personal connection email every single day. Went out of my way to engage and meet new people. Handed out my card to EVERYBODY (O.K. not all 6 billion of us, but you get the picture!)
3. Supplemented 1/2 my income from revenue made off of my website. (I’ll need some help from all of you on this one. Keep reading! Keep using your voice! Together, this small group of concerned citizens can and will make a difference. Want to advertise you business on the site? Let me know!)
4. Got accepted into graduate school, with scholarships, for documentary photography. (I’ve got 5 schools on my A list. I’ve got 7 months to put together the most bangin’ portfolio out there. If you have any ideas/leads for me, please feel free to leave a comment or email me!)
5. Volunteered 2+hours a week. (I, like most Americans, don’t give back nearly enough to say thank you to the universe for the amazing opportunities I receive in life. That’s changing. I hope you’ll join me!)
6. Was published (photographs and/or written word) in 6 magazines.
7. Got a show in a gallery/had my artwork included in a gallery show
8. Published one video story every month that was developed, reported and edited by lil ol’ me.
9. Chopped off all my hair (well not ALL, I’m not going for the Britney Spears in the midst of emotional breakdown look) and dyed it platinum blone! Hollaaaaaaa!!!
and No.10 (drumroll puh-leeeezzzzzeeeeeee) Crossed every item off my yearly To-Do List for the first time ever.
OMG. OMG. O.M.G.
Photo Credit: eschn3am (Flickr Handle)nto being.
There’s something to be said for the power of positive thinking and putting a vision out into the universe with the intent to manifest it into being.
About a month ago I made it known that I would beg, borrow and steal to get a ticket to the Obama Inauguration. I mean, short of selling my soul or my body, I was pretty much down to do anything in my power to get there.
But I wasn’t coming up with any opportunities. Congressman? Nope. Local newspaper? No way, Josè. Craigslist? I don’t think so.
But then…Two nights ago my friend Chas text messaged me with a lead. A friend of his friend had a ticket, was looking for someone to drive from New York to D.C. with her and was I interested in being that someone? Uh, HELL YEAH I was interested! But I didn’t let myself get too excited, because there were a lot of details left in the realm of vagueness and disappointment.
So I called him and let him know I wanted to know more.
He called me back with more.
She was interested too. Would it be O.K. if he passed on my contact info? Ever the professional, Chas is. Still couldn’t let myself get too worked up, but it was getting a lot harder to suppress my growing elation over the possibility that me + inauguration = reality could be a verifiable equation.
I got a call today, 20 minutes before going to work, from Eva. We chatted for a bit and connected instantly. She offered me the ticket if I could get myself to New York this Friday. Lucky for me, I’ve been saving a free airline ticket for something amazing and this turned out to be it. Five hours later and I’m booked on United 6404 out of Eugene, headed to D.C. to witness history and the birth of Generation Y’s era in political power.
I’ve got a golden ticket. Yeah baby.
I honestly can’t believe it’s really happening. Still in utter and complete shock. I’ve stopped shaking outwardly, but inside I’m all a flutter. I just know that this is something so much bigger than me. It’s so much more important than I can fathom in this space, at this time.
I can’t wait to see what comes. I can’t wait to share what happens.
This little girl is already on cloud nine.
Stay tuned for my LIVE report from clouds 10 and higher.