Enjoy life, stress less

What a year 2013 was.

I began my sophomore year of college, became an editor of a college newspaper, learned how to wakeboard, got to be a bridesmaid in the most beautiful wedding of one of my dearest friends, went to Hawaii for the first time, and the list goes on…

It was a year of many firsts. And each new thing I did really helped me grow as a person. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s actually true.

But, really, the thing that stands out the most in this crazy year of mine would be my trip to Hawaii. I finally went to visit my oldest sister after she had lived on the Big Island for almost two years; my middle sister and I even coordinated so we would be visiting
at the same time— all three siblings, on the same land mass, at the same time!

Hawaii is all it is hyped up to be: complete paradise. I understand why my sister moved there, and why she stayed. I can’t wait to visit again. And not just for the hot weather, shaved ice or warm, sandy beaches. It’s because of the way of life.

Today’s youth, who are constantly on the go, would be blown away by the apparent concept of time on the island: Don’t rush. Hurry? What hurry?

There is something wonderful to be said about those who live their lives permanently in a place where some very lucky individuals find themselves on vacation.

I feel as though these people are more aware of the beauty surrounding them. How often do most of us stop and notice the beauty of where we live? …those everyday occurrences that may be extraordinary, but that we are often too caught up in our own hectic lives to stop and notice.

So, my revelation of the year and the moment that I fully realized while watching a “this-can’t-possibly-be-real-life” sunset in Hawaii, is that I am going to try to live my life more like I am on vacation all the time. As if I live in Hawaii – more care-free, less stressful and gloomy. Because really, what’s stopping me?

I’m not trying to say that just because you live somewhere as beautiful as Hawaii means you don’t have any problems, because that’s not true. Just like every other part of the world, things are far from perfect. There is plenty of poverty and homelessness there, which I got to see firsthand in poorer parts of the island and remote beaches with permanent campers.

What I am saying is, while I was there, I felt like everyday people—who, even with the daily grind of work— were so much happier. Their happiness is what makes me want to go back. There is something all of us can learn from island life.

I guess for now, the best I can do while I endure these long months of cold, wet, winter in Oregon is keep my memories of warm, sandy beaches close at hand, and a smile on my face.

– Rebecca Gaulke

 

 How to take a compliment

One of the biggest obstacles that I’ve overcome this year is learning how to accept love and kindness from other people. I have always had a terrible time accepting compliments and always felt an urge to repay someone’s act of kindness back to them immediately after the fact to avoid feeling uneasy or uncomfortable.

This past summer at Eagle Fern Camp, I worked with a small crew of other college students who genuinely desired to be a reflection of Jesus in their lives. Through this, I think I was confronted by the fact that we are sometimes given things we don’t deserve, and that not all people have ulterior motives when they compliment you, or they are just being genuinely kind.

Most of the time, the best thing I come up with is to say “thank you” in return. It can be a vulnerable place.

It came down to me becoming aware of a self-dependent mindset that protected myself from being hurt by the possibility that some people might not be genuine. And the truth is, there are a few individuals out there who might not be. But I believe it’s worth the risk, because we will discover the ones who are genuine through being open to receiving others’ words.

Now I feel that I’m more attentive to others around me and able to notice others when they accomplish something that they struggled with, and really be able to genuinely say “good job,” offer them a piece of gum or a ride home from school, without expecting anything in return.

– Jared Lichtenberg

 

 Habits are hard to break

This year I learned how hard it is to kick a habit, and how equally hard it is to make good ones stick.

I wanted to kill two birds with one stone: exercise every day, and stop eating fast food, because my metabolism won’t be this awesome forever. Simple, right? Wrong!

For me, fast food is like a toxic on-and-off relationship. I try to distance myself from fast food as much as possible, but there is always a part of me that thinks it won’t be so bad this time. And then fast food calls me up and says, “Hey Danny, we’ve got some great new limited-time item for five dollars. Now get your butt over here.”

We hook up, and then I immediately feel terrible and sick. I say it will be the last time, but fast food just smiles while it waits for me to drag my sorry butt back to the drive-through.

For a while, I was such a good boy. I was eating better, gaining some muscle and (mostly) sticking to my routine. I felt like a flaming stallion pumped full of bull shark testosterone. But for whatever reason, I totally dropped the ball and stopped working out.

I forget why, but I stopped for a couple days. And then I started eating fast food again, and that made me less inclined to work out. I broke my own heart. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Why am I so hard to reason with?

Manufacturing change for yourself is incredibly hard. I used to play on the tennis team in high school, and I would take lessons throughout the year. This forced me to work out each day, because it was required. I also ate healthier because my mom used to make all my lunches and dinners.

Forcing yourself to abide by your own rules is really hard because you can persuade yourself to slide out of commitments pretty easily.

I found that consistency is key. Even if you’re not working out a ton, just work out at least a little a day. And don’t let one fast food meal slip into your regular diet. Just doing what you have to do every day, without fail, will get something to stick… or to fall off.

Well, here’s hoping this time will work. Trying to escape my own bad habits has made me respect other people who have the same issues that much more.

– Danny Perez-Crouse