My Legacy

Geez Louise I haven't blogged in ages.  Guess that means this post will be lengthy and difficult to decipher.

My sincerest apologies.

Tonight I spent the evening with one of my greatest friends and we watched the movie Julie & Julia.  (If you haven't seen it you should!)  The storyline follows an ambitious woman who decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook while (wait for it.....) writing a blog depicting each recipe, and simultaneously finding herself through Julia's extraordinary encounters.

So of course my self pitying, zero confidence, worry wart self began thinking....

"What is my 'thing'? ...what is something I could exert innumerable amounts of energy and effort into doing that would subsequently turn me into the epitome of a wonderful human being?"

....hold that thought.

So, as I was walking out to my car I got a little adrenaline rush (this is normal) because it was pitch black, I was alone, and she lives in the woods (kinda).  Then as I got into my car (per usual) I turned around to check the back seat for intruders, and sped out of the cul-de-sac in order to make it home where I could surround myself with lights and sound.

As I began driving down the highway, I encountered a very slow moving, dark colored, beat up vehicle and my fear intensified.  My mind begins racing with horrible fantasies.

What if they turn around and begin following me?

What if they know who I am and have been plotting my abduction?

What if someone is in that car with a weapon and intends to thoughtlessly use it against me?

As dumb as this all sounds, we live in a world where these kinds of things actually do happen.  And whether they be freak accidents or not I once saw an episode of Oprah where a criminal entered a woman's car while she was pumping gas and from then on used her to perform her own kidnapping. 

How do these seemingly unrelated topics coincide?  Well, I then began thinking,

"If it's God's will that I be savagely taken against my will by a clan of lunatics.....will I be satisfied with my accomplishments?"

Ahhh....the classic question, what would you change if you knew it was your last day?

What is one thing you'd do if you knew it'd be the last thing you ever did?

& my addition, Why aren't we all doing these things now?

While I don't know exactly what I could or should or would be doing as opposed to anything I am, I do know it wouldn't be cooking.  But what could I be doing to make myself a better person?  To make myself a better Me?  Or simply to make myself happy and excited to live this life I have, no matter how short it may turn out to be?

I've got some ideas floating around up there....

crafting..

volunteering..

studying...?

I just don't want to feel like any of my time has been wasted.  And most of all I want to feel like I have made a lasting contribution.  A legacy.  I want to know what passion feels like.  And I'm going to make THAT my mission.

So...sorry for the randomness and ridiculosity of the extremely opposite natures of my tidbits.  But hopefully I may have sparked a thought in your mind, and maybe you have some insight for me on how to be who I want to be.

The List

Alright, so I have already confessed my obsession with StumbleUpon.  But I promise not to talk about weddings today....but I can't promise they won't be mentioned.

One of my "favorites" while stumbling is something along the lines of self improvement, and recently while reading a list of ways to improve or add excitement to your life I found a really creative idea:

100 things to do this year.

I try to journal daily, so I thought I would just add to my list each night as I write.  & let me tell you it's a heck of a lot harder to come up with 100 things than it might sound.  I'm currently on #91 and have been working on it for 2 weeks.  I'll admit I have accidentally put the same things twice.

So essentially it's a Bucket List for the upcoming year, and one I'm going to try really hard to accomplish.  I thought it might be a cool idea to share some of the tasks if you will, with you.  That way maybe I can inspire someone else to take on this challenge!

You can add anything to the list, it's your year do what you want!  Some of the more broad things I have are,

#1. read the entire bible

#3. finish all 7 Harry Potter books (I'm on 3)

#7. not cut my hair

#14. help a stranger

or #57. start reading the newspaper

But I also have sections of similar things that relate to each other.  For instance, my health,

#33. ride my bike more

#53. run the Indy Mini

#49. stop ordering pop at restaurants

#67. don't gain weight at school next fall

& #73. stop texting and driving

Or school,

#51. join a new club and be passionate about it

#19. get 2 more 4.0's

#64. declare my minor in spanish

#47. plan my study abroad trip

& #68. become a role model for freshman girls that join my house

Then there are the really important things like,

#30. make a german chocolate cake

#37. learn every Taylor Swift song

#59. get asked on a date

#62. become a fan of a team

& #74. make a list of potential wedding songs

See, your list can be whatever you want, whatever makes you happy.  But what I have decided is that you shouldn't limit it to things you think you'll accomplish.  For me, I'm making a point to put some things on my list that I know will be a challenge.  Because then I will subsequently be opening my mind and broadening my horizons.

So, even if there is less of a chance for you to get asked on a date than there is for me, put it on there!  You never know what might happen in the next year, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Another year wiser

This past Sunday, I visited my grandparents on Easter, and my grandma posed to me a complicated question,

"What is the most important thing you have learned in your first year of college?"

I was caught off guard.  I mean people ask me all the time, "How's school?" or "Do you like sorority life?" but never actually expecting me to answer with a developed and thought out response.

So I thought for a minute or so and responded with,

"Keep an open mind."

And there you have it.  The advice I have been giving myself this year has been to be open to new things,  to not limit myself & also to never be quick to judge.  Compared to my high school experience, college has been a complete culture shock, & it has not been an easy adjustment for me.  In high school I was your typical "Do-gooder".  I was president of 1,000 clubs, always making straight A's, and home by 12 on weekends.

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed made it through without any major fall outs, and I respect my parents for holding me to such a high standard.  But to be honest, my attitude in high school was all wrong, & I had no idea what I was missing out on.

Another disclaimer, I'm also not saying that college is all about partying and celebrating newfound freedom in irresponsible ways, but I never knew how important it was to be open and adaptable to new environments.

This especially came into play when I went through recruitment.  At the beginning of the week I never would have guessed I would end up where I did.  But I made my motto for the week to keep an open mind, which allowed me to see the girls for what they really were.

I also found it liberating to discover that I didn't have to be in every club, or the most involved girl on campus.  & to be completely honest I was tired of my extracurricular schedule in high school.  But at the same time, the amount of random organizations at my disposal was exhilarating & I found myself participating in ways I might not have back home.

In a nutshell, I am so proud of myself for taking the road less travelled and attending a college where few alum from home would be.  By radically throwing myself out of my comfort zone, I came to learn so many new things, & grow in so many different ways.

My only hope is that going home this summer and getting tossed back into the old grind doesn't clog my newfound pores, but instead allows me to share my new perspectives with those close to me back home.

Put on a Happy Face

As anyone relatively close to me knows, I am an extremely emotional gal.  Whether it's a fight with a loved one, innumerable stress, or a romantic novel there's no doubt you can probably find me crying it out in a heap in my closet.  I have tried talking to counselors & all that jazz, and don't get me wrong that's a really good thing!  But sometimes you have to work out whatever is bringing you down on your own.  This is a task I am currently trying to master.  

Today, inspired by the BEAUTIFUL sunshine beaming in my brightly decorated dorm room and some nostalgic Paul Simon blasting from my iTunes, I'm going to share with you a few things that never fail to cheer me up.

Probably the easiest way to lighten the burden is taking one little look at these yayhoos.  I know I talk about them all the time but come on, look at those faces!?

Alright judge me if you want on this one, but I am a true Belieber (term used to describe die-hard Bieber fans).  This past weekend my roomie and I forked up $26 to see Never Say Never in 3D.  Best $26 I've ever spent hands down.  Anytime Bieber comes on my iTunes or the radio the volume goes up and the dance moves come out.  He's a mood booster for sure.

I'm sure you're not surprised that not only am I a Justin Bieber fan, but I am also a huge Gleek.  How could you not be?  While the premise of the show may be (dare I say it) a little cliche, the music is fantastic.  I will admit some Glee versions of top 40 hits are better than the originals, and they are notorious for making me laugh out loud and sing with joy.

This represents 2 things that are excellent mood boosters: sunshine and the beach.  It truly is amazing to me how much my spirits are lifted by a clear sky.  I never really realized it until I came to college because I was used to being cooped up all day.  But now that I'm outside between classes and relying on sunlight for light in my dorm room I have come to find that sweet sunshine has a 180 effect on my day.

Same with going to the beach.  Emily (my super great fantastic awesome beautiful funny perfect roommate) and I are counting down the days (10) until we depart for sunny, warm Florida for a week of bliss a.k.a. spring break!  To me there is nothing better than plugging in the earbuds, lathering on the tanning oil, and laying out in the warm sand under the hot sun.

Now, I know I have made many references to music, but I music is like sunshine in the fact that it quickly picks my sadness up of the floor.  This song (mostly just the Dirty Bit) is a surefire way to nip my depressive states in the bud, maybe it has the same effect for you!

I encourage you to think long and hard about the things that make you genuinely smile.  

The things that you look forward to.

The things you wish would occur more often.

& the things that make you laugh out loud.

& next time your heading for the closet, take my advice and turn that frown upside down!

Welcome Friends

My name is Jessie Munn, and this is the start of something great.  

My first blog post EVER.  

Hopefully one of many to come.  Hopefully one to be followed by meaningful, uplifting, interesting blurbs of information.  Hopefully one which will start a never ending phenomenon of happiness and joy.

OKAY, needless to say I am very new to writing for fun (a.k.a. writing anything that is not going to be turned in for a grade)..... & likewise I am extremely nervous to do so, 

SO

 this first post will be just a little "Get To Know Me" session...along with a little description of the title of my blog.

Enjoy!!

I am a Freshman, Exploratory (meaning I STILL have yet to decide what to do with my life) student at Butler University.  

This is my mom: a.k.a. my best friend.  We have been through everything together.  She is my rock.

This is my obsession: baked goods.  Basically anything sweet, just call me a dessert connoisseur.  I usually don't leave dinner without ordering it.  I'm really good at making it.  & I am the Queen of finishing it.  These divine looking specimen are from the one and only Flying Cupcake.

This is my dream: New York City.  I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the trip this past semester.  I won a ticket to the Butler Vs. Duke rematch game in New Jersey.  Long story short Butler lost, but our hotel was a mere 30 minute train ride from downtown Manhattan.  Going to NYC has been my lifetime dream my entire life and now that I've been I can't wait to go back!

These are my brothers: Johnny and Joseph (respectively).  They are the epitome of the annoying younger brothers, however I would die without their tractors all over the floor and raspy voices waking me up at 7 AM.  

SO.

Why Lover's Lane?  Sounds a little risque eh?  Trust me, I am the polar opposite of any definition you've got in your mind of risque. 

Basically I'm in love with love.

I love romance novels, I love romantic comedies, I love Valentine's Day.  

But it's more than that.  Have you ever heard that love can change the world?  Well it can.  As I am growing up and finding my place in the big ol' world I am discovering what it means to love one another.  Not only what it means, but it's importance.  We all know that life's not perfect. No one's is.  BUT when you spread a little love, show someone affection, or simply pay forward a kind deed you are joining the Love Revolution.

LET'S GO!

Pack your bags and head with me through the twists and turns of Lover's Lane.  Maybe you'll find some inspiration to add more love to your life.  Maybe you'll find the passion to spread a little love around.