The past few weeks/months have been very busy for me. I was in a performance of The Wizard of Oz (three shows total!), and had my spring dance recital the same weekend.
The build-up for both of those was long, strenuous, and very time-consuming. Being the introvert I am, I needed a lot more alone-time than I was getting, and as a result, almost every other area of my life was put on hold until I could finally think again.
During all of the craziness, one day in particular quietly slipped away, hardly catching my attention.
On April 17th, 2015, Walk in the Rain With Me had its 2nd birthday...
It's hard to believe that it's really been two years since I first started writing on my little blog. It's hard to believe that tiny project has become what it is.
That very first blog post... so very long ago. Before I used my own photos as headers. Before I spent any time on formatting. Before I knew what 31 Days was.
Now, two years and 8,000 views later, it's incredible how much has changed in such a relatively short time.
My writing style has definitely shifted since I first started blogging. I've developed a fairly consistent writing voice that is genuine, and true to who I am.
My subject matter has also changed since those early blog posts. It took me a while to really find my place and figure out what to write about, and part of that has definitely bloomed from my struggles with chronic illness.
As I've changed and grown, so has my blog.
Through all of my struggles and victories, the pain and joy, this blog has been my outlet. It has been a platform through which I have touched several lives- including my own- and I am so thankful I mustered the courage to create this little website two years ago.
I am beginning to enter a new stage of my life. Next year is my senior year of high-school, and already things are changing. I have to start applying for colleges soon, and I'm doing a lot of thinking and praying about where I'm supposed to go these next few steps. My summer already promises to keep me quite busy, and fall doesn't seem like it will offer much relief.
I don't know yet what this will mean for Walk in the Rain With Me. I'm not sure how much opportunity I'll have to write here, nor do I want to make promises I can't keep. I have no idea what the next year has in store for me, but I do know this- I want to continue growing my gift with the written word. I will keep writing, whether that means blogging here, working on the novel I have in progress, or just jotting things down in my private journal.
This blog will always hold a special place in my heart as the first time I put myself and my writing in a public format. It has helped me grow as a writer and a person, and I do not know if it still has room for me.
But no matter what happens, it will be here- ready and waiting- for anyone who wants to enjoy it. Myself included.
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How has your life changed over the past two years? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, over at my Facebook page, or you can email me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com!
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101 Things: Counting Down
I got behind on my Bucket List, and I am now working to get back on track. I've checked several more things off of my list this month, and I'm updating the list to show my progress. Be sure to check that out!
This blog will always hold a special place in my heart as the first time I put myself and my writing in a public format. It has helped me grow as a writer and a person, and I do not know if it still has room for me.
But no matter what happens, it will be here- ready and waiting- for anyone who wants to enjoy it. Myself included.
...
How has your life changed over the past two years? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, over at my Facebook page, or you can email me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com!
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101 Things: Counting Down
I got behind on my Bucket List, and I am now working to get back on track. I've checked several more things off of my list this month, and I'm updating the list to show my progress. Be sure to check that out!
No matter who you are or what you're doing, if you're reading this right now, then you've made it.
Just think about it... You made it. Every second of every day for the rest of your life means you made it. Every second of every day you've ever had was once the future.
This very moment was once a part of that not-so-distant future that caused you anxiety. This very moment is new, and fresh, and a chance to start again. This very moment is proof that you lived through the last one.
Everything in the future is imaginary. Everything in the past is finished.
But the present... the now...
You've made it.
Thank you to this amazing poem (as well as my incredibly busy week!) for the inspiration to write this.
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This is for everyone who needed a reminder that the past is the past, and the future has yet to come. Leave a comment below, over at my Facebook page, or email it to me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com.
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101 Things: Counting Down
I've had an incredibly busy week, and now that it's over, I can finally get back to work!
This very moment was once a part of that not-so-distant future that caused you anxiety. This very moment is new, and fresh, and a chance to start again. This very moment is proof that you lived through the last one.
Everything in the future is imaginary. Everything in the past is finished.
But the present... the now...
You've made it.
...
This is for everyone who needed a reminder that the past is the past, and the future has yet to come. Leave a comment below, over at my Facebook page, or email it to me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com.
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101 Things: Counting Down
I've had an incredibly busy week, and now that it's over, I can finally get back to work!
We all need to slow down, sometimes...
I am having an incredibly busy week, and it seems like everything is going at top speed right now!
I knew from the beginning that this week would be crazy, but no matter how much you try, you can never fully prepare yourself for the insanity that is a full week of theater rehearsals and shows plus a dance recital.
Physical (and mental) stress like this is not kind on my body. The more exhausted I get, the more my various health issues start to kick in. It's always a bit of a toss-up on how well I'll hold up during show week, and I was a little bit nervous about this year, but I've actually done alright so far.
We've been having some really beautiful weather (think lots and lots of rain!), and a few days ago, my little sister and I decided to take advantage of it, so we did what everyone does (right?) and decided to take a bunch of pictures.
I've never really taken many pictures in the rain before, so it was a learning experience for me.
Only a few of the pictures turned out very well, but it was really nice to just take a deep breath and enjoy being outside.
Our society does not value stillness.
We have gotten so concerned with always being productive that we've forgotten the beautiful art of just being.
Today, I challenge you to take a few moments out of your day to just enjoy life. Look out your window for a few minutes. Read a chapter of a book.
I know it's difficult to slow down, especially if you're like me and feel guilt over not "getting stuff stuff done." But what is life if it's not being lived?
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How do you like to slow down? Let us know in the comment section below, over at the Facebook page, or you can email me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com.
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101 Things: Counting Down
I'm working on writing letters (#10) right now, and also getting more cranes done.
There are 26 letters in the English alphabet. Put together, these make up the 1,000,000+ words in the English language, which can be combined in an almost infinite number of possibilities to create books, magazines, billboards, blog posts... And yet it seems there are simply not enough words to express what I would like about the amazing woman I have been blessed with the privilege of calling Mommy.
I have never been a mom, and I am not entirely sure I ever will be, but I can still say with certainty that being a mom is one of the hardest, most important jobs there is. I don't care what "kind" of mom you are- whether you stay at home or have an office job, whether you have one kid or seven- you have a very difficult position to fill.
There is so much pressure to be the perfect mom. It seems you're expected to have it all together. With a house that looks like it popped right off of someone's Pinterest board, a body that shows no signs of childbearing, and a kitchen that always smells of something good.
But the reality is... real-life usually doesn't look that way. Real-life is messy. It's exhausting. It's difficult. And it doesn't always turn out the way we hoped it would be.
And that's discouraging.
So to all of the mothers out there today, I just want to say...
Thank you.
Thank you for the many, many things you do that make the world a better place. We don't always tell you how much we appreciate you, but we really, really do. We could not survive without you.
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I have been blessed with an incredible mother to celebrate with.
My mom is amazing, and I cannot even imagine what my life would be like without her. I am so thankful for all of the help and support she has given me over the years, and everything that she has done and continues to do for our family.
She has sacrificed so much for us, and I know that she could never get all of the thanks she deserves. She has been there through every dance recital and theater practice. During every doctor's visit and ER trip. Through grief and tragedy, laughter and joy...
And I know that she's not perfect. I know that she sometimes gets discouraged. I know there are times when she wishes she could have done something more.
But Mommy... It's okay. We know how much you love us. And I hope this helps you remember- today and every day- that no matter what happens...
You are loved, too.
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Share this with the Moms in your life!
I wrote my manifesto.
For anyone who doesn't know, a manifesto is (according to the all-knowing Google) "a public declaration of policy and aims." As I understand it, businesses and organizations use their manifestos as a way of clarifying their beliefs for themselves and their potential customers.
On a personal level, a manifesto can serve as a daily reminder of what you stand for and what you want your life to look like. It's a way of holding yourself accountable. It's motivation to live in a way that you would be proud of.
Writing a manifesto was a somewhat daunting idea, because I take everything so very seriously. I wanted it to not just be a check mark on a list (writing a personal manifesto was on my 101 Things list), but something that would actually encourage and motivate me in life.
I read several different articles before I ever started crafting my manifesto, and got some great ideas from various blogs and websites. (For anyone interested in creating their own personal manifesto, HERE and HERE are the posts I found most useful. I also used THIS as the inspiration for my formatting.)
From there, I sat down for about an hour and dedicated myself to completing my manifesto. I figured out several particular areas I wanted to address- how I treat myself and others, how I deal with failure, etc.
Once I had an idea of what I wanted to cover in my manifesto, I wrote down some key questions like "What are my strongest beliefs?" "How do I want to live my life?" and "How do I choose to define myself?" Taking time to answer these deep questions and really think about what I believe was a very cool thing, and it's something I recommend that everyone do periodically.
Next, I wrote down a bunch of little quotes or phrases that I think are important to remember- worry less, go the extra mile, be curious, pursue your passions, etc. I didn't spend a lot of time on this step, but just wrote things down as I thought of them.
I then divided all of those little quotes and phrases into three groups- How I Treat Life, How I Treat Others, and How I Treat Myself. This made things easier when it came time to actually put my manifesto together.
But before I did that, I took all of the quotes and phrases I'd written down and simplified them. "Never stop hoping" became "Hope always." "Think outside the box" became "Think dangerously."
And then I was finally ready to put my manifesto together. Because of all the planning I had done, I already had exactly what I wanted to say. All I had left was to put together in a way that was simple, easy to read, and sounded nice.
And now, without further ado, I give you my personal manifesto!
I am incredibly happy with how my manifesto turned out. I wanted it to reflect things that I struggle with as well as things that I really believe, and it does. It may not all make sense to someone who isn't me, but that's okay. We are all such unique individuals, and we all have our own struggles and strengths.
Before I finish, I want to mention one line in particular that I knew from the beginning was going to be part of my manifesto.
Live dangerously.
This is something that I think is really important and yet struggle with immensely.
You see, I deal with a lot of anxiety as a part of my life. It's really difficult for me to admit that I struggle with anxiety because it's so contrary to everything I value. I value logic, reasoning, and rationality. It's very important to me that things make sense.
And my anxiety... more often than not simply doesn't make sense. There is no logic behind my anxiety, and yet it's still there. I can walk myself through all of the reasons why I'm not making sense, but that doesn't always ease my mind.
And as hard as it is for me to say, I've definitely let my anxiety rob me of experiences I would have enjoyed. I've let fear get the better of me more times than I care to relive (of course, seeing as I'm also an obsessive perfectionist, I have difficulty stopping myself doing that, too), and there are things I regret not doing which I can never go back and change.
As I've gotten older, it's become even more important to me that I never get to a point in life where I look up and realize that I've forgotten to live. I don't want to have more regrets that exciting experiences. I don't want to be so afraid of failing that I never try.
I actually had an experience just this past week or so that reminded me how valuable it can be to take a risk.
I signed up to audition for a play that would be preforming this summer. The group that's doing it is fairly competitive. I've seen several of their shows, and the people who get parts are amazing. From the beginning, I was reminding myself and the people around me that I'm auditioning for the experience, because there's a pretty good chance that I won't get a part.
As the audition date got closer and closer, I started second-guessing my decision. I had really no idea what the audition process would be like, I'd never auditioned for something as competitive as this before, and I was beginning to search for a way out.
Somehow, I survived. I made it to the audition without giving up. I had done everything I could to prepare. I was as confident as I could be in the monologue I had to preform. I was freaking out, but I was there.
And you know what?! In spite of all my anxiety, it ended up being one of the best experiences I've ever had. I came out of the audition feeling like I could have climbed Mount Everest. I knew that I had done the best job I could have, and whether or not I got a part, I was just happy with how it had gone and the fact that I had done it.
I was pleasantly shocked and astonished this morning when I opened to my email to find that I even got a callback!!!
...
What is one thing that would be in your personal manifesto? Let me know in the comment section below, over at my Facebook page, or you can email it to me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com!
...
101 Things: Counting Down
I've actually checked off several items from my list in the past few days. #19 (Plan your own funeral), #45 (Do something terrifying), #33 (Take a day trip someplace new), #87 (Write your personal manifesto), and #93 (Have a photo shoot with someone outside of your family).
For anyone who doesn't know, a manifesto is (according to the all-knowing Google) "a public declaration of policy and aims." As I understand it, businesses and organizations use their manifestos as a way of clarifying their beliefs for themselves and their potential customers.
On a personal level, a manifesto can serve as a daily reminder of what you stand for and what you want your life to look like. It's a way of holding yourself accountable. It's motivation to live in a way that you would be proud of.
Writing a manifesto was a somewhat daunting idea, because I take everything so very seriously. I wanted it to not just be a check mark on a list (writing a personal manifesto was on my 101 Things list), but something that would actually encourage and motivate me in life.
I read several different articles before I ever started crafting my manifesto, and got some great ideas from various blogs and websites. (For anyone interested in creating their own personal manifesto, HERE and HERE are the posts I found most useful. I also used THIS as the inspiration for my formatting.)
From there, I sat down for about an hour and dedicated myself to completing my manifesto. I figured out several particular areas I wanted to address- how I treat myself and others, how I deal with failure, etc.
Once I had an idea of what I wanted to cover in my manifesto, I wrote down some key questions like "What are my strongest beliefs?" "How do I want to live my life?" and "How do I choose to define myself?" Taking time to answer these deep questions and really think about what I believe was a very cool thing, and it's something I recommend that everyone do periodically.
Next, I wrote down a bunch of little quotes or phrases that I think are important to remember- worry less, go the extra mile, be curious, pursue your passions, etc. I didn't spend a lot of time on this step, but just wrote things down as I thought of them.
I then divided all of those little quotes and phrases into three groups- How I Treat Life, How I Treat Others, and How I Treat Myself. This made things easier when it came time to actually put my manifesto together.
But before I did that, I took all of the quotes and phrases I'd written down and simplified them. "Never stop hoping" became "Hope always." "Think outside the box" became "Think dangerously."
And then I was finally ready to put my manifesto together. Because of all the planning I had done, I already had exactly what I wanted to say. All I had left was to put together in a way that was simple, easy to read, and sounded nice.
And now, without further ado, I give you my personal manifesto!
I am incredibly happy with how my manifesto turned out. I wanted it to reflect things that I struggle with as well as things that I really believe, and it does. It may not all make sense to someone who isn't me, but that's okay. We are all such unique individuals, and we all have our own struggles and strengths.
Before I finish, I want to mention one line in particular that I knew from the beginning was going to be part of my manifesto.
Live dangerously.
This is something that I think is really important and yet struggle with immensely.
You see, I deal with a lot of anxiety as a part of my life. It's really difficult for me to admit that I struggle with anxiety because it's so contrary to everything I value. I value logic, reasoning, and rationality. It's very important to me that things make sense.
And my anxiety... more often than not simply doesn't make sense. There is no logic behind my anxiety, and yet it's still there. I can walk myself through all of the reasons why I'm not making sense, but that doesn't always ease my mind.
And as hard as it is for me to say, I've definitely let my anxiety rob me of experiences I would have enjoyed. I've let fear get the better of me more times than I care to relive (of course, seeing as I'm also an obsessive perfectionist, I have difficulty stopping myself doing that, too), and there are things I regret not doing which I can never go back and change.
As I've gotten older, it's become even more important to me that I never get to a point in life where I look up and realize that I've forgotten to live. I don't want to have more regrets that exciting experiences. I don't want to be so afraid of failing that I never try.
I actually had an experience just this past week or so that reminded me how valuable it can be to take a risk.
I signed up to audition for a play that would be preforming this summer. The group that's doing it is fairly competitive. I've seen several of their shows, and the people who get parts are amazing. From the beginning, I was reminding myself and the people around me that I'm auditioning for the experience, because there's a pretty good chance that I won't get a part.
As the audition date got closer and closer, I started second-guessing my decision. I had really no idea what the audition process would be like, I'd never auditioned for something as competitive as this before, and I was beginning to search for a way out.
Somehow, I survived. I made it to the audition without giving up. I had done everything I could to prepare. I was as confident as I could be in the monologue I had to preform. I was freaking out, but I was there.
And you know what?! In spite of all my anxiety, it ended up being one of the best experiences I've ever had. I came out of the audition feeling like I could have climbed Mount Everest. I knew that I had done the best job I could have, and whether or not I got a part, I was just happy with how it had gone and the fact that I had done it.
I was pleasantly shocked and astonished this morning when I opened to my email to find that I even got a callback!!!
...
What is one thing that would be in your personal manifesto? Let me know in the comment section below, over at my Facebook page, or you can email it to me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com!
...
101 Things: Counting Down
I've actually checked off several items from my list in the past few days. #19 (Plan your own funeral), #45 (Do something terrifying), #33 (Take a day trip someplace new), #87 (Write your personal manifesto), and #93 (Have a photo shoot with someone outside of your family).
