This weekend I got a little change-up from my daily routine of doing pretty much nothing at my house, and drove up to Cincinnati, Ohio to see my big sister Diane graduate from University of Cincinnati Law School. It was a splendid trip since I got to see my two sisters, hang out with the family, celebrate my incredible mom for mothers day, and see my sister get hooded to mark her officially becoming Esquire Diane Kendall. I am so lucky to have a role model like my sister Diane who has it all, but has worked hard to get it. She is a brilliant example of becoming educated as possible and I couldn't possible be more proud of her. Makes me wonder where I will be by 25...maybe I'll still be blogging then so you can find out....
We toured around Cincinnati a little bit and took a visit to the Cincinnati Zoo , which was awesome by the way. And, of course we road the carousel because they are my favorite. I ran straight for the cougar since I'm missing BYU so much.
And here is me and my incredible older sisters at Diane's law school gradation. (For those of you who have trouble figuring out who's who: Rochelle, Diane, then me :] )
peace. love. and lawyers
p.s. I leave for India on Friday!!! Let me know if you want to chat before I go about what I am doing over there. I will continue posting from India and will let you know if I need to make any changed to my regular posting schedule since I will be so busy when I am there. As always, feel free to comment, facebook, tweet, or e-mail me!
It has now been a whole week that I have been loafing around my Georgia home and I have to say that this vacation to America has been really nice, but I am kind of wondering when I am going to be going back to Paris, that's my new home isn't it?
But, I guess I have to settle back into normal life now (for at least the short amount of time that I am home). Though, having been separated from my time in Paris for a little while now I've had the opportunity to reflect a small dose. I have broken up my 2012 into three parts: 1. Paris-all about me 2.India- all about serving others and forgetting about me 3.Provo- figuring out how to find balance in the two. So really if you have read the book "Eat, Pray, Love" then my year is much like the character in that novel.
I can't say that letting go and choosing to give myself everything I wanted was too hard for me. Indulgence is easy. I ate everything I wanted (and probably a little more), I didn't even pack my tennis shoes, I slept in, only had a few classes, didn't hesitate to make some fun purchases, and went anywhere I could every chance I got. Life was hard. But I think that I needed it. A little bit of time to set aside all the craziness (figuring out "what I'm doing with my life," taking classes, dating, making plans) and just focus on what I wanted, and what I needed.
So how am I going to carry this over into my life? Obviously my wallet, my physical fitness, etc. would be doing rather poorly if I lived like this for much more than I did, but it made me realize how important it is to set everything else aside every once in a while. My Fall semester was really insane, I didn't take any time for myself, and instead drowned in my crazy schedule, along with all the craziness around me. If I had maybe just stopped here and there, and focused on me, not the future me who I can get crazy stressed about, but the now me who needs a little time to herself, then I might of been able to get a better handle on things.
So since you have had to read through my blog posts for 3 months about all my me time, I am right here giving you permission (and in fact insisting) that you take a me day at least once this summer where you get whatever you want. If you are familiar with the show "Parks and Recreation" they call it a "Treat Yourself Day." So, go do it! Have a treat yourself day. You deserve it.
In honor of the City of Lights, the most perfect city I know of, a song (Ellie Goulding: Lights) and some pictures from my last days in Paris...
A lovely view from a little part of Paris that I am sad I discovered so late.
The view from the top of Eiffel Tower. It may have taken us 4 hours in a line, on a surprisingly cold April Monday, but we made it up. It was so cool picking out all the sights that we had become familiar with and get a better feel for how Paris is all planned out.
After a boat cruise as a last hurrah for the whole study abroad group, a few of us went to ride the carousel next to the Eiffel Tower. Seriously though? Carousels and the Eiffel Tower= to of my absolute favorite things.
And on our very last night we went to see Paris's classiest lady sparkle one more time. Nothing but magical.
