The sky has darkened and the twinkle lights in my room glow – red, blue, green, yellow. I am almost finished with my to do list, but sometimes you need to take a break and settle into the warm embrace of words of a screen.
Hey friends! Given the busyness of the semester (can you believe it’s already the 7th week of the semester!), I didn’t have it in me to write a well thought out post this week. If you have any blog post ideas, feel free to send them my way! My life has been pretty okay. I think I’m still experiencing some ear pain from the first presidential debate, and I’m feeling a little tired today. I spent ~lots~ of time with friends this weekend and though that’s nice, I really need to hunker down for the week.
Here I present to you – more questions from the web! I say more because earlier this year I did a post similar to this one —->here!
What’s on your bucket list this year?
This honestly feels like a loaded question since who knows what’s going to happen for the rest of the year, but I’d loved to take at least 1 weekend trip for fall of 2020. Next year, though, I really want to travel with my dad to Canada. We have some family there and I haven’t been in Canada for a while. I think things like academic goals or big dreams feel so out there because the future is still uncertain. But I’d like to apply for study abroad either for spring 2021 or for January of 2022. And I’d love to get into the advertising program at my school for my senior year.
What are some of your favorite songs?
If you know me, and I hope you do, you know I LOVE PARAMORE! A few favorites for me are Turn It Off, Let the Flames Begin, and Fake Happy. I definitely love frontwoman Hayley Williams’ new album – listen to Crystal Clear folks. My favorite songs this past month are from a few new album releases – Movements, Knuckle Puck, Neck Deep. I love Tunnel Vision by Movements – I’ve always had a hard time with screamo music but this song does it so well. Miles Away by Knuckle Puck – I’m not gonna lie, their album 20/20 felt like a letdown because it didn’t have their instrumental vibe – but this song is good. And then Neck Deep – their album came out in June but since I don’t follow them as closely, I never had a chance to listen. OMG it might be my favorite release of 2020, and that’s saying A LOT with Hayley’s album. Go check out Telling Stories, Sick Joke, Empty House, and Little Dove. Just a ~vibe~ ✨
What are three things you value most about a person?
Someone who is curious about other people. Someone who is willing to get into the uncomfortable. Someone who thinks about other people – thoughtfulness. I definitely need to work on that last one.
What’s one thing that bothers you about the world today?
Although social media is an incredible tool, it has amplified a lot of emotional issues and affected a lot of people’s mental health negatively. I probably would stop feeling so behind in life if I didn’t have other people to compare my life too. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE that I get to learn about other people through social media. I just know that the constant hum of entertainment via scrolling isn’t always best for us. But it’s so hard to get away from.
What’s one thing you wish you knew how to do?
Well, I feel obligated to say several things – knowing how to invest, advanced computer science skills, speaking French – need I say more? Just being smart with money so that it can grow in the future, having skills that would help me be invaluable to the job market, and speaking French so I can live in another country. It actually sucks that everything I listed was something that is career applicable. I’d love to learn how to sew – my mom knows how and she has always made dresses for me growing up.
What are some of your own personal goals in the next 5 years?
Graduate. Live abroad. Learn French. Land a job in the media industry. Travel across Europe. Pay off my student loans. Invest money. It’s wild trying to think 5 years in advance but those are all my big goals anyway.
Do you have a favorite book? A line in a piece of literature? A poem? Why do you relate to it?
I’ve talked about many a favorite book on here – please check out my About Me page if you haven’t seen it! My current favorite is my reread this summer, A Realm of Possibility by David Levithan. A line in literature that I love? I have this quote framed by Marina Keegan “Do you want to leave soon? No, I want enough time to be in love with everything… and I cry because everything is so beautiful and so short.” This quote just feels RIGHT these days. Everything we’re currently living could just vanish and be changed in an instant. I don’t want to wish life away, go onto the next thing. I want to live fully where I am right now.
What’s your day-to-day mantra?
My current phone wallpaper – “I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the strong and unshakeable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble and neither am I.” Now go listen to Emily P. Freeman’s podcast The Next Right Thing and hear her say those words. Then you’ll understand why that’s my mantra.
How do you rank these three according to importance: career, family, love?
If love was God, then God, family, and career. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy. I do believe, though, that friends and family are in category. I don’t choose my friends lightly and after doing life with them, they have become my chosen family.
What’s the highest point you’ve experienced in your life this year?
My spring break was incredible – until it was cut short by COVID. I had no real stress for school. I was in Charlottesville but there were no real worries or struggles. I was just enjoying learning about Cville and injustice and God with some cool people. Things are different now, but I feel an underlying sense of worry daily that I didn’t before.
Bonus quote ~
I mentioned A Realm of Possibility by David Levithan, and here’s a quote: “These things do not matter except that they matter to us. We have given them meaning in the same way that we have given each other meaning.” Levithan writes so well!
Answer some of these questions down below and let me know what you’re thinking. I hope you all are keeping safe and staying loved!
Signing off,
Gigi
Comment down below some of your answers!
