Fridays with Friends #4!

Can we make my rock climbing
expertise official? I think yes. 

Friday is almost over, but I would like to post this video, nevertheless. It's like they always say - better late than not on Friday! Okay, so I have mentioned my adoration of rock climbing before, but the overwhelming urge to climb rocks came over me again recently. I'm so thankful for spontaneous friends who join me on random mini-adventures.
I tried out a new gym today, and I loved it. I ended up making a new friend, and he will serve as the "friend" for this week's Fridays with Friends segment. I'm inquisitive, so I started to ask him about his life while he was giving us tips on belaying and climbing and such like. And, you know how you can just tell when someone is passionate about something? I got that feeling. So, I asked if he would quickly share that passion with you all. He said yes. So, what I have for you is the most spontaneous Fridays with Friends segment to date. Enjoy!

And, remember, continuously finding a better way to do something you're passionate about - and inquiring about that others on that same journey - makes life simply wonderful. 

Wellness Wednesday #6 (yup, it's Thursday...)

Here's the thing guys - I love love love the alliteration of Wellness Wednesday but Wednesdays are actually one of my busiest days of the week, so a post can't always get penned then. So, we're going to keep going with the theme on different days of the week. Get it? Got it? Great!

Okay, so update from last week's challenge: I have created many mini life maps over the past couple of days, and I gotta tell you - I get a surge of energy when I think of all the great possible routes my life could take. It's not so much overwhelming as it is inspiring. But, I suppose its' all in the way you look at it. So, my advice is this: don't let your dreams scare you, let them dare you. As in, dare you to move to make that progress!

Moving on to today's challenge:
I want you guys to expand your minds...your BLUEminds that is! Today is a big day. It's the Bluemind Summit in Rhode Island! Tune in on the link below to check out the talks by Dr. Wallace J Nichols and others. I'm 100% certain you won't be disappointed! Well, the only "disappointment" would be that you're not there to experience it in person, but oh the glories of technology! Enjoy!

Watch the summit live here: http://bambuser.com/v/3630256

Music Monday #15

I was driving down the highway, and an old favorite of mine came on my Pandora. You guys, it's the original YOLO; this song came out before YOLO was a thing! And, it serves as today's Music Monday song: "You Only Live Once" by The Strokes. The song reminds me of being pulled in so many directions, constantly having to choose, and I think the point is that you simply must decide. You make the decision, and just go with choice, wholeheartedly.

Apply for that job and just see what happens

Choose to let yourself gush over your latest crush even if nothing comes of it

Decide to save up your pennies for a day trip with your friends at the end of the summer

This is your life right now. And, like Jennifer Aniston said in the movie The Switch, "life is in session!"

So, live it. 

Favorite Line: "Twenty ways to see the world; twenty ways to start a fight." 

It's all about what you choose to do in this life, y'all. 

Wellness Wednesday #5 (Yes, I know it's Saturday...)

So, yes. It is Saturday, but Wellness Wednesday lives on nevertheless!

Check Up from last Wellness Wednesday Challenge: 
I have definitely mastered this whole drinking at least 64 ounces of water daily. Water bottles help. That probably goes without saying, huh? Well as far as physiological benefits - I've no doubt they're working at the molecular level. But, just like with sleep, I'm guessing it's going to take some consistency before I actually see any of the benefits. So, let's say in a month or so I will be able to confirm about my hair looking more moisturized and my skin being clearer. Okay, go!

Moving on to this week's Wellness Wednesday Challenge:
So, recently I fell in love with this blog post about traveling. Now, I'm no where near having the financial means necessary to travel to my heart's desire...yet. But, I still appreciate the sentiment behind travel blogs and such like. And, this got me thinking: you don't really have to go somewhere to travel...let me explain.

There's something wonderful out there in the universe, and it's called the Holstee Manifesto. One line in this poster says that "travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself." I love this quote. And, I feel like it's true even when you travel in your mind. For example, I often daydream about the impact I want to make; about the profession I want to pursue. These are mind-boggling thoughts that take me on a journey of self-discovery. Sometimes I get a little lost in thought and  most times I end up being fairly confused. But, at the end of the confusion comes acceptance and discovery.

Here's what I'm trying to say: I'm going to keep on saving up my dollars and cents to explore this great big world we have before us. But, until then, I can keep exploring the facets of my personality. The parts that continuously help me to get to know who I am better and better. The part that conjures up a billion possibilities about what I want to do in this life. The quirky parts that I couldn't hide even if I tried (not that I try to, of course,...okay, sometimes I try to suppress it, but let's face it - I never really can.)

So this week, I want you guys to travel in your mind. It's a mental wellness challenge. Dare to dream up possibilities for your life. Get "lost" in these seemingly far-fetched thoughts, and find yourself. Enjoy exploring!

On the road to a new place; view from my friend's dashboard

Here's a tip: I often have my best "lost in thought" moments when I'm driving down a long, winding road - which is often here in Texas. So, maybe that can jumpstart your journey if you need the boost! 

Music Monday #14

I want to take this moment to stop. Stop and really appreciate the way my life is at this exact moment. Sure - lately there have been some slight inconveniences, and there's certainly been a few disappointments. But, truthfully, things can always be worse. Equally true, though, is that things can always get better, too. It's like my preacher said in yesterday's sermon, "if you don't find a reason to rejoice, life will always give you reasons to complain." So, I want to declare that whether I'm up or down, or down and out, I will always strive to be thankful for the life I have right now. Life teaches us all too well that things can change in an instant.

With this sentiment of contentment, today's Music Monday choice is "Closer to Fine" by The Indigo Girls. I first heard this song in a karaoke bar in Beaufort, North Carolina with a group of some of the coolest classmates I've ever had. The lyrics literally spoke to my soul, and I haven't forgotten them ever since. So, I hope it can speak to you, as well. Peace, my friends :-)

"the less I seek my source for some definitive, the closer I am to fine..."

Fridays with Friends (May 17, 2013)

Continuing with the theme of the blog being back, I happily present to you all another Fridays with Friends segment! This time I chatted with Brandon Hall, a head trainer with the nationwide organization Camp Gladiator. As someone who has once participated in a session, I can tell you these innovative outdoor boot camps are indeed changing lives. As Brandon finished up his session right before the interview, I overheard him encouraging his campers to keep on aiming toward success in the workout. When it comes to getting in shape, it's so very important to have someone there to motivate you, and Brandon definitely does the job! So, let's hear from him how he "impacts as many lives as possible through physical fitness":

If you have any questions for Brandon or about Camp Gladiator, message me through the links below!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasminAldridge

Facebook: 

Wellness Wednesday #4

Blog's back so that means our theme days continue!

Check Up from the last Wellness Wednesday Challenge:
In case you don't remember, the wellness challenge from the last Wellness Wednesday post was promoting the aromatherapy. And, believe me, I successfully achieved this. This is why my lighter is all out of fluid! (By the way, it's official: I cannot strike a match...) But, yes, the aromatherapy definitely assisted in keeping my stress levels reasonably low while I studied for final after final and completed assignment after assignment over this past month. Challenge completed.

This Week's Wellness Challenge:
Are you water-deprived?! I think most of us are. This simple compound of two hydrogen molecules and an oxygen molecule is a bare essential of life that is often overlooked. For me, drinking at least 64 ounces of water daily takes conscientious effort. So, that starts ... NOW! Join me! Let's drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. Bear in mind that some days require more water than others. For example, the day that you decide to run a mile or two, you're going to be losing more water than usual, so be sure to replenish! Also, keep in mind that everyone is different and "64 ounces" may not be your magic number...but it's a good start, right? So, let's get hydrated!

Music Monday #14

Well hello there! Has it really been four whole weeks since I've posted in my blog?! (I guess I could have just said a month...) The answer is yes. Yes, it has been quite a while. I needed to take a break from blogging. Sometimes circumstances in life require quiet self-reflection time. Nevertheless, I'm back! And, I'm really excited to share some fruits of that quiet self-reflection with anyone who will read!

During the past couple of weeks, I realized something: I don't think I've ever really shared my faith with you guys on this blog. Which is interesting because it's usually my daily devotionals that leads me to certain conclusions that end up in my blog posts. Here's a conclusion I've come to over the past month: I believe that the things that happen to us in life have divine significance. Now, we usually don't realize (or truly understand) their purpose until much later on, in hindsight. And, this can be frustrating, if you let it. I'm finding that choosing to relinquish all illusions of control and to just simply accept the peace of mind is a preferable alternative. I realized that I'm not always going to understand why certain people came into my life this past year: whether a reason, season or lifetime. Only time will really tell which category certain people will fall into, I think. But, what I do know is this: at 22 years old, all I have to really do is "trust steadily, hope unswervingly, and love extravagantly." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Which brings me to today's music selection: Nada Surf's "Always Love". The very first line of this song has always resonated with me: "To make a mountain of your life is just a choice." It's exactly the sentiment that I'm trying to convey with this post. Life can frustrate you to no end if you let it. But, if you just strive to love above all of the disappointments, all of the heartbreaks, the mistakes - that's all you really have to do. I'm not trying to oversimplify the solution to the struggles of life, I'm just sayin': no matter what, always love. Love yourself, love others, love each and every experience that makes you who you are. Always, love.

Favorite Line: "To make a mountain of your life is just a choice"