Monthly Inspiration: August

Happy August!!! I can't believe summer is coming to a close and that it's AUGUST! This year is over halfway over! But no worries, there's still time left for greatness.

So... not to spring this on you or anything, but I'M MOVING. And not down the street like my brother — proud of you Collin and a little jealous of your sweet set-up! — like up and going out of Los Angeles. Out of state. Specifics to follow, but feel free to make any guesses (unless you already know — don't be a cheater).

I'm really excited about it. Also terrified. But I just put in my notice at work this last week so it's official official.

Because I'm moving, it makes each moment all the more memorable and sweeter. This last Monday night, just as I was about to go to bed at 9pm because I'm that old and was weirdly exhausted, my friend Emily called and said she, AJ, and Ashley were going to kidnap me and we were going to go somewhere fun. C'est la vie and YOLO — I was willingly taken.

They picked me up, had a killer playlist and we drove through the LA night singing and car dancing all the way on to Diddy Riese. There was the "Vacation" movie premiere happening at the Fox Theater with a little VIP party going on next to the long Diddy Riese line. They were blasting some good music too so Emily and I danced in line much to the amusement and embarassment of AJ and Ashley.

I realized this may be the last time I go to Diddy Riese for a long long time. And it's so strange to me how I used to live in Westwood and I can so easily remember my first couple of times going to Diddy Riese and how the area was all so new and confusing, even before I went to school at UCLA. Now these things are preserved memories layered with new memories like the one that night.

On the ride back, when we were almost home, they saw some sprinklers on and apparently running through sprinklers is on their summer bucket list, so we stopped just so we could get soaking wet running through them at 11 o'clock at night.

The quote above came to mind as we were in the car, as we were singing, as we were running through the sprinklers, as the air from the open window was blowing through my face reminding me of where I was in that moment. I wasn't hanging out of the window like in the movie scene of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but that feeling of glorious freedom and being there, in that specific moment of inifinity was present.

I will cherish each moment of infinity I have with these girls for the next four weeks I'm here.

Monthly Inspiration: July

IT'S JULY!! How insane is that?! Without being in school, it's still a little strange to me when I realize it's summer because there's no marker of "summer break" like there is with school — even though it's been two years since I graduated college. Working full time makes me feel like time blurs together even more.

Anywaysss, aside from reminiscing about what used to be, I'm looking at where I am now, and taking time to reevaluate my goals from January, and also prepare to embark on some crazy fun future adventures! More to come on that.

For now though, I'm just remembering this quote, chosen by my friend Whitney: "Trust your heart and trust your story." Because isn't that what life becomes? A collection of stories? I'm hoping to make mine a good one.

Monthly Inspiration: June

This quote was actually not in the original quote book I made. But it should have been.

It was said by a man who gave his life to the service of others. Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints passed away this last Saturday. I chose this quote to honor and remember him.

We all have an incredible amount of good potential within us to achieve so much.

Personally, I get down on myself when I don't know how to do something, and I start doubting myself, my skills, my abilities.

In this past year, I've really tried to focus on believing I can do anything. It sounds cheesy, but even if I don't believe I can do something, I just pretend like I can, and imagine it, and somehow... it gets done.

Monthly Inspiration: May

I'm beginning to feel "old." I mean, I haven't even made it to a quarter of a century yet but that feeling when you realize that you're an "adult" to most people, but you still feel like a kid in the way that your life and your future are pretty uncertain ... do you get that feeling?

I remember when I was younger, I'd look at people who were in college and think they've figured it out, they're on the right path, they know what they're doing. When I got to college I still felt as uncertain about where I was going or what I wanted to really do, what I was supposed to do, as I did in high school. At one point, transferring out of UCLA to an art school sounded like a good idea. And maybe it would have been. Although I probably would have a lot of debt if I made that choice.

Then I started looking at people that had graduated or had solid jobs and professions and families and think again well they've got it figured out, they know what they're doing, they're comfortable, they've "made it."  And now that I've graduated, now that I have a full-time job that I love, and a profession that I can grow in, I still feel as uncertain about my future and where I'll "end up" as much as I did in high school or college. And it's weird too because I'm looking at high school kids now – who I still feel like I relate to and am not much older than – and realize I'm almost ten years older than them. It freaks me out a bit. What happened to that time?! I still feel pretty much the exact same. Just a bit more knowledgeable about certain topics. And more confident in my skillset. But still uncertain about what specifically my future will hold.

It's kind of great though too. I realize that as soon as I feel comfortable, I often become complacent. Life isn't as bright in those gray stages. I don't grow as much, I'm not challenged. A friend of mine made a point once – the friend that gave me this quote – that life would be boring if it was predictable, if we knew what was going to happen in five or ten years from now.

So with that, here's to another month of welcome uncertainty. 

Monthly Inspiration: April

After spending this last weekend finishing the last two books these collected quotes were used for, this quote stood out to me the most for where I am right now.

First off, I love that it's from a French book and it fittingly reminds me of my friend Amanda who not only provided this quote, but who is currently studying abroad in France (learn about the city she's staying in through the program's blog).

Second, I get really restless. And to solve this restlessness, I often look to changing my environment/surroundings. I was actually at dinner with my dad tonight and his relentless changing of cars (I think we counted nine or more within the last ten years?) seems to be the equivalent to my need to go on adventures and explore.

But I've realized lately that, while these things can be really fun and wonderful, and this urge to go and do as many things as possible pushes me to experience and have a continued curiosity for so many things – it can sometimes act as a temporary solution to this continued feeling. So instead, my focus should be – I think – finding peace and patience with where I am at in my life now, and focusing on things that have a long-term impact such as studying the gospel more, and serving more, than wondering where I'm going next.

Honestly, it's a hard balance for me – being so excited about exploring new places, finding fun events, and enjoying that time with friends and family; but also being completely ok with just resting and completely appreciating the now.

So those are my thoughts going into April.

And now for the BIG REVEAL! Read on to see how the books turned out and find out how to make your own.

Monthly Inspiration: March

When I asked my Grandma what her favorite quote is, she didn't understand what a quote was (she's Italian). So after explaining a little, she thought about it and said, "I like to walk."

It's not exactly the kind of "quote" I was looking for, but I love it because it's simple. And it's completely from her. 

Monthly Inspiration: February

I've been getting so lost in what day, month, year, it is. Almost every moment in my life since I graduated college has somehow culminated into just this last year – 2014 – which I've also referred to as 2013 or 2015 because I've been confusing the numbers. It's all relative anyways right?

The inability to keep years straight might be because of how full my schedule is lately and it's really the last thing I care about getting right – sequencing – even if that means saying something took place in September of 2015 when I haven't actually been to that time yet.

But to keep myself from feeling crazy, and overwhelmed by the goals I've set for myself,  I've been putting this quote into practice, enjoying where I'm currently at, and just trying to take everything one. day. at. a. time. And aside from referencing the wrong year, I'm holding up pretty fantastically well.

Monthly Inspiration: January

This last Christmas, I asked about 28 of my friends and family to provide their favorite quote. It ended up being a really beautiful project because I got to know something about that person I never knew. No two quotes were the same, and each had a different approach and perspective to life.

I'm taking twelve of these 28 to post each month this year, the first being my personal favorite. I heard this quote when I was in a design class about four years ago. The statement comes from Nam June Paik reflecting on the concept of his experimental television design. The original quotes states:

"My experimental television is not always interesting," admits Nam June Paik, "but not always uninteresting: like nature, which is beautiful not because it changes beautifully, but simply because it changes." 

So it's slightly altered from the original, but the concept is still there. I loved this statement so much, and obviously still do. It's a great thing to embrace: the simple truth that change itself is beautiful. How appropriate for the new year, ya?