The Spice of Life
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
- Albert Einstein
-A quote that changes my life on a daily basis. As I get caught up in a busy schedule and having a million things to do, I try to remember this saying. It helps me see that amidst every little task I do, big or small, life is still chugging right along. It’s all too easy for me to get caught up in the “work” of things and miss the little moments that make life great.
As I begin my year as a state officer, I don’t want to miss a thing (and yes I did just sing that Aerosmith style). I want to enjoy every single step of the journey- be it happy, sad, disappointed, hyper, reflective, unsure, excited, or anywhere in between.
To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1
Therefore, I am making a conscious decision to live my life as if everything, EVERYTHING, is a miracle. To put my best foot forward, (being the list maker that I am) I decided to make a list of all the little things in my life that add a little glitter -- the spice of my life if you will.
1. SUMMER. I live for it. My friends call it an obsession. I just call it love. It’s when the sunsets are prettiest, the snow cones taste the best, there is no shortage of watermelon (my favorite food), and the best part: FIREWORKS! Not to mention a little star gazin’, some crickets singing, firefly chasing, and flip flop tans.
2. A healthy dose of television- it is my vice, but there’s just no bad day that Boy Meets World or the movie Runaway Bride can’t cure.
3. The zoo. Plain and simple it’s just fantastic. Giraffes are my favorite! Did you know they have no vocal cords?
4. Some good ol’ country music. New or old, it just has a way of taking the dust out of everyday life.
5. The board game Risk. I happen to be the reigning champion in my house! Careful, this (and Slap Jack) I’m actually competitive at!
6. Gardens. Though I never had much interest in flowers before, since becoming a horticulture major, I’ve developed a whole new appreciation for them.
7. Stumbleupon.com It is phenomenal. If I’m completely zonked and need a break, I do a little “stumbling” while watching TV. It’s a website that brings everything cool on the internet right to your fingertips- no search engine required!
8. I imagine heaven looks something like a cross between Barnes & Noble and a scene from Sweet Home Alabama.
9. Denim, thunderstorms, daisies, teddybears, turquoise, frozen apple cider, blue, flannel, trees for climbing, books, hammocks, fishing, dirt roads, Calvin & Hobbes, horses, drawing, picnics, peanut butter m and m’s, puzzles, swings, dogs, old trucks, attics, swing dancing, rodeos, duct tape, quilts, altoids, fair food, midnight snacks, ribs, Halloween, candles, puddle jumping, snow globes, and, of course, lists!
And last, but certainly as far from least as you can get...
10. The FFA. Before my freshman year I had no clue what FFA was. I had never heard of it. I signed up for the general agriscience elective and a chain reaction started. I met my advisor, who helped me get involved with events I had no idea I would grow to love. I found my Supervised Agriculture Experience projects which later influenced my college major- Horticulture. And I found inspiration in an organization that I could have an impact on and that impacted me. If I hadn’t happened to try Ag as a high school freshman, I would be lost, without purpose, and missing out on the most influential part of my life:
Agriculture Education.
What is the spice of your life?
Appreciate all the miracles!
