10 Things I Will Do Before the Year is Over
1.) Celebrate Christmas in Vermont.
2.) Finish reading at least one of the books I’m partly through.
3.) Tell my family how much I love them.
4.) See “Precious”.
5.) Secret Santa.
6.) Goose laugh.
7.) Deep clean the apartment. Like really clean it. Like hands-and-knees-holy-crap-I-can’t-believe-that-came-off-there clean.
8.) Yearn for the return of “Glee”
9.) Get my grades. (Keepin’ my fingers crossed for a 4.0)
10.) Paint another picture.
10 Things I Want to Do in 2010
1.) Post on here every day.
2.) Go somewhere cool.
3.) Get published somewhere new.
4.) Relaxation – perhaps yoga? Guided meditation? Something.
5.) Read more books for pleasure.
6.) Paint more pictures.
7.) Take more pictures.
8.) Be a better girlfriend/daughter/friend/sister/cousin/etc.
9.) Not get a concussion.
10.) Spend more time being happy.
I’ve really been sucking at keeping up with posting – though I will try to explain.
My tardiness first began after Thanksgiving. Family was in and spending time with them was just more important. I laughed, shared memories, and spent a lot of time talking to others about what is important, what I should be looking forward to, and what I’m really afraid of. Yes – I am afraid of a lot of things, despite my somewhat fearless exterior. Sure, it’s fun to be fearless, but I am human. I do have feelings. I do sometimes get stressed out and fear for the future. It’s only natural. I’m 21, in love, in college, and in debt. There’s a hell of a lot to think about.
So, after the family departed and I had a small breakdown over what I should be doing with my life (oh, you know you’ve been there before too), I ran into that lovely time of year that always brings the best out of people: Finals Week. I’ve had my rear kicked six ways from Sunday when it comes to school work this semester. The sheer volume is just mind boggling. Couple that with other stuff I have on the side and it’s a pretty deadly combination. I had to make a choice and unfortunately, instead of writing to you dear readers, I chose instead to write of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the questions I have about God.
But now, it’s time to come back. I’ve missed you. The pain has just been to great to keep me away 
We’ll talk again real soon.
And here’s a hug for good measure.
-Mandy
It’s fun to run. Right now, I’d love to run far away to somewhere nice – but I can’t always run when I want to. I have to stick some things out and wait – and that’s okay. Really. It is okay to have to wait, but not too long.
Only a few more days till Thanksgiving. You’ll run home to see family and friends. I’ll run home to two loving families and two turkeys and well, pretty much two of everything. It’s wonderful having a big crowd of people that care about you and don’t just want something. They give. I come from a family of givers and that’s something to be thankful for.
I can bet that you’re thankful for your family too, but sometimes, you run from them. You run away. You get frustrated and take off. We all do it and it’s only natural. One can’t expect for everything to be peachy keen. One can’t be expected to keep waiting.
But when the you-know-what hits the fan, then it’s time to run. Run as fast as you can to the people who know and love you. Run faster and harder than you ever have before. It’ll pay off. You’ll run and feel thankful and look at life a whole lot differently than before you took that first step in the right direction.
Happy Thanksgiving
Image Courtesy of http://www.wordle.net/
1.) Customer service = win. I had an awesome customer service experience with the staff (esp. Sara Nerius) at the Web 2.0 Expo. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and understanding. Thank you.
2.) More often than not, that networking thing that you’re trying to do, well, it’s just going to turn into a pissing contest. Get ready to hear about all of the remarkable things that people have done, are doing, and will do – just remember not to speak while they’re tooting their own horn. So, what do you do again?
3.) Don’t get hung up on the little details. Think about the bigger concepts. Focus in on the idea, then start thinking about implementation.
4.) Presenting to other people – on or off the web – is difficult. Having the courage to publish or be heard is just as challenging. Do not belittle it or trivialize it.
5.) Chances are, you’re not a social media expert – and that’s *breathe* ready? Okay. It’s okay.
6.) Don’t forget that all of the people up on that stage or in that conference room are human. They have feelings. They have thoughts. They are not alabaster and unapproachable. Say “hello” if you want to. Ask questions. Introduce yourself and make a connection. Start up a relationship. Don’t ask for favors (thanks to Chris Brogan for reinforcing this in both his keynote and his session).
7.) Have respect for other people. I know you live in Manhattan and you have your own really edgy, innovative company/software and your laptop is more expensive than my car, but please, let’s be ladies and gentlemen here.
8.) Bus rides + concussion + cold symptoms = ick.
9.) Come to each event with an open mind. You never know what you could learn. Never think that you’re smarter than everyone else in that room.
10.) Finally, you don’t have to settle for the status quo. Attending the Web 2.0 Expo and interacting with others there made me think about something concerning the communications/media/advertising/PR/social media industry. You don’t have to become cut throat in order to survive. That’s what everyone else is doing. That’s what everyone else thinks is right. You also don’t have to be a jerk and get into pissing contests with other people when you meet them. You can have conversations. You can talk with instead of at people. Sure, call me naive, but I’m pretty sure that most of the speakers up on those podiums weren’t doing what everyone else was doing when they make the leap to do something awesome.
