Word to the wise

My view every evening I bike home from campus.

Over the last few months I have been challenged. I have been criticized, praised, robbed, put down, and everything in between. My first semester of graduate school is almost over, and I have little travel adventures to speak of. The direction of this blog is going to change, undoubtedly, as will the trajectory of my writing in general. Having just accepted an internship position with Voices for Rural Resilience and part-time work with Panache, LLC., I aim to expand my knowledge of social media marketing, web content development, and apples!

If nothing else, I would be remiss if I didn't offer some pieces of wisdom that these past few months in Minnesota have instilled in me:

1. Stand up for yourself. This can take shape in myriad ways, whether through a post-meeting email or an outright confrontation. Not one to easily engage in conflict, I have more subtle ways of getting my message across that still packs a punch. While this is easier said than done, no one else is going to stand up for you. I'm learning to stand up for my passion for farming, the values that guide my decisions to work in seasonal jobs, and my commitment to writing.
2. Don't be bashful when it comes to loving others and lavishing praise when it is due. You might be surprised by how people react.
3. Surround yourself with inspiring people as often as you can. Absorb the qualities you love about them and learn how to avoid mimicking their less appealing ones.
4. Remember that education is not a tool to distance yourself from others but to change the power structures that reinforce the worst parts of our society. An advanced degree means nothing if you're not using it for the greater good. Be humble about your accomplishments and only brag if you've been given permission to do so.
5. Finding ways to learn outside of your existing job or classes (if you are a student) will keep the mind satiated. I have found that in the past two weeks of listening to the Mindvalley podcast, I am more focused on my school work and motivated by what the future brings because I know I am the one in control of my future.
6. Sleep more, and study or work less. The power of quality sleep is not something to take for granted. Most people require on average 5-7 sleep cycles of about 90 minutes per night. I've noticed that in prioritizing both sleep and exercise on a daily basis I can get more done in less time, freeing up space for other activities. I am also in the best shape that I've been since I was in high school, and have a much healthier relationship with food because my sleep deprivation and stress levels are so low that I don't have to take it out on food. Credit to Darya Rose's Foodist Podcast and mindful eating challenge for getting me started on this path to good health!
7. Listen to your body. Recognize that every day is different, and the previous day's fitness regime or eating habits will impact your ability to do work. Be patience with yourself and recognize that consistently feeling great about your body, your work, and your relationships is a marathon, not a sprint. Work towards forgiving those who have hurt you and I'm quite sure you'll be more at peace with your life than ever before.
8. Break all conventions, unapologetically. Life is too short not to be yourself. Make it a priority to put yourself in environments that both challenge your assumptions about the world but also give you joy. You may find that overcoming the challenges takes time before you find joy from the same activities, but that's part of what makes reaching the top so rewarding.
9. Don't be embarrassed to carve out time for yourself and make yourself unavailable to others. It has taken many years for me to learn this lesson. I'm still working on this through limiting the number of times a day I check my inbox, for instance, but like I said--every day is a new beginning, a new chance to do something differently and get better.
10. Lastly, be flexible! If you keep an open mind about what the future will look like and how you can achieve your goals, you will be amazed to see what opportunities (that you had not perceived as opportunities previously) will find their way to your doorstep. Approach everything with a sense of humor and you'll be more likely to have others want your company.

That's all for now, folks. Stay tuned to see where this whole writing thing ends up. Apparently a blog like this is "so 2007", so I'm making a commitment to changing gears in 2019. Let me know if you have suggestions about how to do this.