and the world turned

288,000 jelly beans?

Radical Face

The weather has been so beautiful the past few weeks!
To say I'm THRILLED for summer would be an understatement.
I'm even headed to Havasupai this year.
Trying to be a hard core Utah'n these days.

Here's my latest favorite-I'm currently listening to it on repeat.
Happy April Everyone!

A cool initiative...

Earth Hour is Saturday 3/31 from 8:30-9:30pm.
Turn off your phone, your lights, etc.
Go green. Just for an hour.

Tunes for your blissful Friday!

These tunes were suggested in the comments of my last post. Thanks A.Smyth & Prez Riley!







And a sigar ros song, because it's friday and they are A. May. Zing!

ISO new tunes

I heard this song awhile ago, have I already posted it?
I'm in need of some new tunes, what are you listening to these days?

KONY 2012

I'm taking a graduate class from the University of Utah called Nonprofit Consulting.
I'm working with an Autism organization here in Utah and it's hard to get a concept up and running.
However this video gets me so excited about their potential.

One idea+passionate folks+social media.
And Boom-they are changing the world!

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Is this plagiarism?

Baths are my thing right now.
Make it a *could* and I'd be obsessed with this print!

I found some awesome tumblr sites this week.
Alice and I have similar issues.
Where's the cheshire cat when you need him!
:D

i'm a quote hog..

"Love is absolute loyalty. People fade, looks fade, but loyalty never fades. You can depend so much on certain people, you can set your watch by them. And that’s love, even if it doesn’t seem very exciting." - Sylvester Stallone

Life Coach

< Warning: this is an attempt at journal blogging. >

Recently I've been thinking a lot about my future.
Where am I headed? Am I on the right path?
Deep stuff that makes my brain hurt.
I'm on a great path but am lacking the drive/conviction in most areas.

The last time I felt passionate about life was as a USU student.
And here's why:

College is amazing because there are people everywhere that want you to succeed.
Professors that invest time and create lessons on your behalf.
Mentors that see your potential and provide opportunities for you to exceed.
The world is your oyster and you can choose any path you want!

At least, that's how I see it now.
Hindsight is 20/20 after all.

The ultimate example of this was my ASUSU adviser, Matt Leituala.

Matt was my adviser the summer/fall of my senior year at USU.
I spent everyday on campus that year scheming endless shiz and attending meetings, etc.
The work was hard for me. I was beyond challenged and it pushed me to the max.
Even now, I remember vividly how stressed/anxious I was.
Everyday I felt like a failure because I couldn't run fast enough.

I worked 80 hour weeks that entire year.
I was 'burning the candles from both ends'.
But looking back, I wouldn't change a thing.
(actually yes I would. My grades suffered..and getting into grad school is my Goliath this year)
I learned priceless life-skills that year and I had a fire in my eyes.
I crave that fire but don't know how to replicate it.

My senior year would have been a very different story without Matt.

He saw my potential and ever so gently pushed and challenged me.
He was kind and incredibly calm to work with.
He became my confidant. He cared, listened and had my back every step of the way.
I didn't think much of it at the time.
But as a working professional myself now, I have no idea how he did it all.

As I'm applying for grad school, I'm really hoping I'll be able to find another mentor like this.
One that will again inspire me and blaze the way.
After all, it's not everyday you find a life coach!

Okay that was a long explanation. But these are actually the three things that are ever ingrained into my memory from working with matt.

ONE:
He's service oriented..and strong.
We were always moving furniture/picking up tables/etc.
The labor in putting on events is exhausting.
I can't tell you how grateful I was for his willingness to serve.

TWO:
He's calm.
I'm intense, a busy-body, always moving, bumble bee, little miss twinkle toes.
I am anything but calm and to this day, I'm still adjusting to his pace.
But I think about his example often.
Matt thinks, evaluates, listens, and observes before speaking/acting.
I would be far better off if I could adopt his pace.

THREE:
Driving back from a retreat that summer he listened to me ramble on and on and on and on....
about who knows what.
I talk/ramble to figure things out (noted above).
At the end of the ride, he finally spoke. Here's my memory of the dialogue:
Matt: "You're hard to get to know, do you realize that?"
Me: "No, I'll tell anyone anything. What would you like to know?"
Matt: "That's not what I mean. You talk a LOT but you never open up. I can't figure out what you're afraid of."

Me: < Speechless. For the first time in my life. >

That conversation was 6 years ago and it resonates in my mind weekly.
It took me a long time to see, but he was dead on.
I still don't know what I'm afraid of but I am guarded...to a fault.

Working with people like Matt will make anyone excited about their job/life.
The world would be a better place if everyone had a Matt in their life.
Someone that believes in us, sees our path and quietly pushes us along with a smile.

Matt's a husband/father of 4 beautiful kids, bishop of his church congregation and works at the University of Utah.
I try not to pester him much these days but I think about him often.
Maybe someday I'll have the opportunity to work with him again.
If I could be so lucky...