I just stood there awkwardly jamming hors d’oeuvres into my mouth. When I finally worked up the gumption go over and talk to someone, my heel broke and mini hotdogs went flying off of my mini plate. Some rendition of this worst-case hypothetical flashes through my mind in those last-minute makeup-check-in-car moments. I actually love going to networking events and meeting new people. I attended three happy hour get-togethers this past weekend! But I admit that a few minutes before I walk in, a little voice in my head is like, “Are you sure you want to go?”
The Key to Beauty
Neither is urgent, but I figured that I should finally start getting these minor issues taken care of before I begin working full-time; bye-bye, undergrad vacation schedule. I saw two periodontists and one dermatologist in the past two weeks. Without going into my entire medical history, I have a couple of concerning moles, and a tooth around which my gums are crazy high up thanks to six years of orthodontia and several oral surgeries.
My boyfriend and I were driving in the car after going out for some Thai food, and I was staring out the window. Spotted. I don’t usually do this; I talk, sing, and dance in cars. When he asked what’s wrong, I said “nothing” because that’s what you always say when your boyfriend asks you what’s wrong and something is wrong. I felt silly; it was just gums and moles, and they are not much different than they have been the past few years. “Angry? Tired? Sad?” he gently pressed. I knew he’d never stop so I squeaked out the pathetic truth. Continue Reading
Still Haven’t Dared to Drink Green?
I steered clear of green drinks until recently; maybe you have too. After all, smoothies shouldn’t be green, and even if we do get past the color mishap, they taste bad, right? After having Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Detox Island Green, I found out how wrong I was. I now blend my own green drinks several times per week! If you’re still holding out on the green drink trend, here’s why you should dare to drink green too:Continue Reading
How Much Are You Worth?
Sometimes I catch myself scrolling through other people’s meticulously filtered Instagram pics or LinkedIn profiles a little too hard. Wow, everyone is doing so much! Why don’t I ever do exciting things like that? I’ve done such and such, but why haven’t I had a job like that one?
I’ve always gone to private school. Early on, the rigorous learning environment made me a lover of learning with a strong work ethic and a powerful internal drive to do my best. I was and am surrounded by peers who have achieved unbelievable things thus far in their lifetimes. The alumni are established leaders in their respective fields; many are wealthy. And recently, I had the privilege of graduating from SMU in Dallas, where it’s not uncommon to see a row of students’ Louis Vuitton tote bags on the bench of the gym. Students of both of the institutions that raised me and those that are similar are surrounded by achievements and worldly success that constantly reminds them of all that they must do to “make it.”
I am blessed to have studied in these top-level institutions, but I also noticed that growing up in an atmosphere saturated by worldly success made me feel like I was never doing enough even though I was always busy. Many times during college and high school, I had to ask myself whether I was adding more to my plate just to set myself apart, or because that activity was what God was encouraging me to do. I heard a message at my college youth group one Wednesday evening that has stuck with me, and everyone should hear it at least once: nothing you do can change your value in the eyes of God.