Follow Your Dreams. Do What You Love.

Lately the topic of discussion has been: "Follow your dreams. Do what you love."  I seem to always talk about dreams and being passionate about things.  But when other people begin to talk about it, it draws me in.  They have my full attention because I am interested to see what people believe about dreams, being passionate about something, and doing it whole heartedly.

In class and from professors, mentors, and people I care the most about they have advised me to "Follow my dreams by doing what I love."  The two things I have the most passion for are: fitness/health and helping people out.  This dream is easy to follow as long as I take the right steps towards that.  But one of my other favorite things that I have become a lot more passionate about is social media.  I want to learn more about what's behind it all and how you can best utilize it.  I love being connected to people, learning new things about people, and sharing my story with the world.

How do you follow this dream? A professor once told me, (please keep reading, I promise I'll stop being redundant.) "Follow your dreams. Even if you don't know what those dreams are, follow what you feel the most passionate about. Even if there isn't a job title to match your passions, one day there just might be and if not why not come up with it yourself!" What great advice!

However, fitness bloggers are all over the place, health websites pop up all the time.  But helping people via the internet is very motivating but there is no physical interaction.  To me, this step is extremely important in helping people out.  This world cannot be come so globalized that the only way people communicate is via technology.  It is completely inhumane!

So, why can't I just do both? I can get paid to help people in person as a fitness instructor or personal trainer and when I'm not doing that have social media to help back me up? Tons of people do it, why can't I? It's not much of an aspiration compared to some people's dreams and goals but this is my dream and what I feel led to do! It brings me complete satisfaction.  I believe that is one of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs :)

Here is what I hope you can gain from this blog post, if you aren't doing everything to fulfill complete satisfaction stop doing what isn't making you happy.  Try and follow what will make you happy.  It means more in the end of your life to know you did everything you wanted/needed to do.  You lived out your life to the fullest! So, Follow your dreams and Do what you LOVE!

Kayla

April: The Month of Change

Can anyone believe it's April already? And the 2nd at that? What happened to the first day of the month? That was a full day... it definitely didn't feel like it.

This month is going to be the month of change.  Well the preparation month for change.  I accepted a job as of last week that I will be starting May 14th.  I am so excited for this next chapter and relieved that the job searching process is over!

However, one of my other dreams is to be a fitness instructor.  This process has only just begun and it will definitely be a lengthy process.  I'm still working on some details then this process should be finished before the summer ends.

Another thing that is also changing is that classes will come to an end and school will be over.  Making the move from college to work life will hopefully be an easy transition.  It will definitely be a learning experience so I expect a lot of blogs to come from my many hurdles to overcome.

Also, I think it is time for another addition in my life.  NO! Not a kid! I have wanted a puppy, or as normal people call them dogs or pets, for quite some time now.  My parents deal was as soon as I get my first paycheck, I'm free to do as I want because they won't be paying for me to live.  I have started the search but I know I will need some time to get use to my new life as a working professional before an addition can fit in my schedule.

This is the month of change people.  I encourage you to change something in your life.  Don't get stuck in a rut! Switch up your workouts, eating habits, people you talk to, or activities you partake in.  Don't be afraid to do something new.  It will keep you fresh and more energized when you aren't doing the same routine everyday.  Please leave a comment and let me know what your changes are.  We can help each other through these times.


-Kayla

Goals and Dreams

Everyone has a dream or a goal that they are trying to reach for.  Even if you don't think you do, you do.  There is always something in this world that is sure to make you the happiest you have ever been.  That is your dream.

Everyone's dreams are different.  Some may be the same as others but it is still your dream and your life.  Only you know what that dream is and how to completely satisfy that goal.

For quite sometime now, I have known that I'm a dreamer.  I was silly enough to get it tattooed on my hip just to remind myself that I can always fufill my dream if I just set my mind to it.  For the last couple of years, I have been completely lost on what exactly my dream is.  A lot of things make me happy so it is hard to just choose one thing to fully satisfy me.

This semester in school, I was given a project to design a website about myself.  On that website, I was required to have a page about my goals in life.  Well, being a senior in my major, about to graduate, you would think that would be a simple page.  It was definitely the toughest for me.  I have had this project since early February and the project is due next week.  I have just now completed my goals page! I had the entire webpage completed 2 weeks ago with the exception of that page. 

I have finally been able to put it down into writting.  My dreams or "goal" in life is to help people.  Simple as that.  As long as I am doing that I will be completely satsified.  Granted, add a little fitness, health, and fun and that would be my ideal way to help people.  I want people to be the best they can be and know they are the best they can be.  That is something I strive for everyday.  I want everyone to know that you can do anything you want to do, if you just set your mind to it.  Including health and fitness is just a great way to show people that you are doing the best you can.  As long as you are doing something to better yourself, that is enough to make yourself proud and strive for the next day.

If you are interested, check out my website I have been working on for a class at this link. Now the goal page isn't updated but it wil be tomorrow afternoon because this project is due Monday morning :) So check back Monday for a completed webpage!

March Madness Kayla Edition

Hello blog world!

It has been quite sometime since I have written a blog and my last one was not an update on "Running Through Life".  That title has been more relevant than ever this semester.  I never thought my mind would be racing with so many thoughts about my future.  Like you all know, I'm a planner and my thoughts have never made me this dazzled.  Because it has been sometime since my last blog, I will probably be writing a series of blogs about everything that has been going on.

I feel like I have been cheating on my virtual journal.  I have been keeping a written journal that I write something down, even if it's just what I did that day,  in this journal.  I'm hoping in a year I can look back at it and see how much I have changed and what happened through the year.

Spring Break was last week.  It was a nice week to just clear my head of all my thoughts and crazy schedule.  Reading books, hanging out with friends, splurging on food and drinks, and playing games all while being on the beach! Ah... it was amazing.

However, I still managed to have thoughts running through my head.  But the only one that I let stay there during the week.  That thought was "What are my goals in life?" Coming to college I knew I wanted to do something with nutrition.  I wanted to help people lose weight, make a healthier lifestyle for them, and just encourage people all over the world.  After realizing I wasn't going to be able to get a degree in Nutrition & Dietetics.  Personality tests revealed only a small part of what I thought I would do with my major in Hotel & Restaurant Management.  The title makes it seem my only options are hotels and restaurants.  False.  The amount of jobs that fall into the category of hospitality is HUGE!

This made me realize that I can still fulfill my dream with my degree.  I have never been one to give up on my dreams and I don't plan on doing that now.  The only problem now is finding out how to get to my dream.  Finding the right path to get me there.  And that's where I let the thoughts stop while I was on break.  It was a week to take a break from the job search, focus on myself, and have a good time while I was enjoying my last week long vacation for A WHILE!!  I still don't know the answer to that path and probably won't until I make it to the finish line.  But that's okay.  I'm going to make the best decision for myself at this point in my life.

Living out my dreams,

Kayla

Human Touch

In a lot of my classes over the course of four years at Auburn, we have talked about the world become globalized.  Some may ask, what is that? What does it mean?  The world we live in has become so connected with countries and people that live on the other side of the globe.  Our world really is flat.  A conference call can be done with headquarters in Japan and a company in the United States within seconds.  Making it so managers do not have to visit headquarters or CEO's never have to check up on their individual companies.

To me, this is a lazy excuse.  We has humans (leaving businesses out of this) think it is just okay to just text one of our best friends to see how they have been.  We think because we are friends on Facebook and see all their posts that we are somehow still be emotionally connected to that person.  How is our friend we are stalking suppose to know we actually care if all we do is 'like' a status and never actually have a real live conversation with that person?

Telephones (meaning picking up the phone and having a conversation) have become extinct to some people.  This is a huge problem.  Especially because our alternative is texting and driving.  You can't tell me that you get the full idea of what someone is trying to get across is a lyrical status, a silly Tweet, or a text message.  And you definitely can't pay full attention when you are driving (well at least you shouldn't be).  One thing I am trying to make a habit of is not using my phone in the car.  It is extremely hard!  I am still guilty of using it on occasion but the more I think about how important an actual conversation is with someone the less my phone matters to me.  Talking to the anonymous world of Twitter is not the last point of contact I want to have before I die.

Let's not lose connections or relationships with someone because all we do is "talk" online.  We'll lose sight of who people really are when all we do is look at what they post on the internet.  This goes for people and businesses.  One of the most important things I have learned in the past four years as a Hotel and Restaurant Management major is that human touch (not a physical touch) is the most important part of a guests' experience.  It should be the same for a person to person contact as well.  The human touch experiences mean much more to a guest (or person) than a reply to a Facebook post.

Disclaimer: I am not saying that all of social networking is terrible because everyone knows I use every bit of it.  However, if that is the only form of communication you have with someone you might want to reevaluate that relationship.

To reconnecting with the world,

Kayla

Let's Catch Up

A lot has happened since my last post on February 1st.  Birthday's, Anniversary's, Holiday's, and Races!  Let's start from the beginning...

February 10th was Brenden's birthday.  He turned 22 and like any college kid just wanted a relaxing night not to worry about college and life.  Well, on Friday Brenden accepted an offer from a company in Arkansas and has an official start day for May! I am very excited for him and proud that he secured a job way before graduation.  And I might be a little jealous. :/  Before the job offer, Brenden kept telling me he has always wanted to see Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw in concert.  The first few weeks of January, I found out Kenny and Tim were touring together this summer and just had to get tickets for him for his birthday.  So I did.  But the concert is in Atlanta... and he just accepted a job in Arkansas.  Let's just hope he can some how make it there because he was very excited about the tickets (at least he acted like it!).  

After a fun night with friends, we made our way to Birmingham were I was running my second half-marathon on Sunday.  We made it to Birmingham and had the opportunity to hang out with my family and see my friend that set Brenden and I up.  It was so great to see her and spend the night at her cute little apartment in Birmingham.  

Sunday morning, bright and early, in the freezing cold, my Dad, Katherine, Allison, Allison's little brother and Dad and I ran a half-marathon in Personal Record (PR) times for all of us.  I cut 23 minutes off of my time from last year and was able to keep up with my Dad which is an accomplishment in itself.  Allison, Jacob, and Katherine completed their first ever half marathon in 20 degree weather with a wind chill of 15 degrees! It was such an accomplishment for all of us and I, for one, could have never cut that much time off of my first one if it hadn't been for the love and support from my family and friends.  Also, I never could have kept a 9:17 pace if it wasn't for my Dad's competitive spirit and drive to push me to be the best he knows I can be.

After running two half-marathons, having support is definitely a key component in running the long distances.  You don't realize how big of a factor that little emotion has on someone.  Knowing that people want you to succeed and do well makes a world of difference when you do anything but particularly long distances.  Now I am trying to decide, "What's next?" Another half-marathon, a full marathon, or a sprint triathlon? Decisions decisions.  As my sister would say, I am mentally ill!! :)

After running and driving back to Auburn shortly after the race, Brenden and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary of dating.  This sounds silly as I type it (like I'm in high school or puppy love) but to me it was something to celebrate.  I'm not big on Valentine's day so our celebration was just on Sunday night.  I got a gorgeous watch and stylish sunglasses from Brenden and I reminded him of the two tickets I gave him on Friday. :)  Brenden made an excellent steak dinner and we were able to talk about all the changes that are soon to happen to the both of us.

In all of my classes, we are reminded constantly "there should be an action plan for any event, it should be updated regularly, communication is vital, and recapping is of the utmost importance".  That's kind of how our talk was on Sunday night.  What's going well, what can we/I improve on, and what is coming up that we need to plan for.  The past two years have been a growing period for the both of us (he is going to be so mad I'm writing about this on the Internet).  We have developed as young adults and are about to embark on a big step into our adulthood.  We still have a lot to learn about each other and we continue to do that everyday.  I've heard before, if you can make it to the two year mark, you can make it forever.  I don't know how true that is but I sure hope it is. :)

Until next time,

Kayla

One Month Down

Wow!! January flew by.  I can't believe today is February 1st! I graduate in just 3 months and 5 days, Spring break is 38 days away and Brenden's birthday is 9 days away. Can time just slow down a little?  I guess that's why I'm "Running Through Life".

Tonight I did some reworking of my blog (new design) and thought of changing the name of it.  After this month, I've started to realize my life 1. never stops and 2. goes by way too fast.  So I thought why not change the name to something a little more relevant to my life?  Well, honestly, the title is very relevant to my life.  I'm staying busy, time is going by fast, and I'm learning so many things along the way just like running.

My race is in less than two weeks and I'm getting really excited.  I love competing and challenging myself to reach outside of my normal routine.  Even though I run in my normal routine, I don't normally run at 7 in the morning, in Birmingham, with thousands of other people.  Putting myself through something that is so different from my usual routine gets me excited and makes me realize that there are things outside of my tiny little box.

This month has a lot of exciting things coming up. Birthdays, anniversaries, classes will be halfway finished, and training (for SOS) will be almost complete. WOW.  That's all I can say! WOW. This month is going to fly by too! Good thing we have an extra day this month ;)

I've been keeping a hand-written journal since the first day of school this semester.  It has been really short entries but it has been interesting to go back and see all the little (and big) things that have happened in this month.  After keeping this daily journal, I'm starting to realize that my time is very precious.  I don't normally do anything that isn't going to better prepare me for the future.  This month, I am taking extra care of my time.  Like I said I only have 3 months left until graduation then the real world is going to start and it's going to be just as fast.  I better get at the starting line now because race time will be here before I know it (the actual race and the race of life!)

-Kayla