GUEST BLOGGER: May Challenge - Y is for YOLO

Meet Summer Springstead

When I first heard the term “YOLO” (You Only Live Once), I thought it was the latest teen abbreviation to join others like LOL, WTF and OMG. I believe it was my dearest college friend, Tina, that first said it to me. I can’t remember the decision I was wrestling with at the time when I was talking on the phone with her, but she simply and frankly said to me, “Come on, Sum. YOLO!”  For some reason, hearing that simple term at that moment in my life stuck with me and is now something I always think about.

If you were to ask Tina, or any close friends or family member to describe me in a nutshell, they would likely include something like, nervous Nelly, plays it safe, likes to be prepared, isn’t a fan of surprises or tries to avoid  “burning the candle at both ends” (along with other silly descriptions like bathroom humor enthusiast).  When it comes to making decisions or plans, I typically air on the side of what’s easiest, simplest and makes the most sense.  However, as I’ve gotten older, YOLO is a term I now try and push myself to think about first.

Being in my early thirties, I pretty much have it nailed down what’s most important to me in life.  It’s very simple, my family and dear friends.  My husband, parents, sister and my sister’s family are the greatest gifts I’ve ever received in life.  My family’s love is the luckiest blessing I’ll ever receive.  My precious girlfriends have always been there through thick and thin and I know if I needed any one of them, they would be on the next flight out to NC.  With friends and family as my most prized possessions, why should I ever grapple with decisions when it comes to having the opportunity to spend time with them or showing them how much I love them?  Of course, everyone’s life is busy, bank accounts aren’t always as full as we’d like and travel requires a lot more effort than staying home.   However, now, when I have a decision on the table that involves someone I love, I’m try and remind myself to seize the opportunity, it might not come around again… YOLO.

The reason I try to keep YOLO in the front of my mind is because of some realizations/life lessons that have become clearer to me as time goes by.

Here are the top three:
 1)  Life is unpredictable—you never know what will happen next
 2) Life is short—time flies-treasure every moment
 3) Seize the opportunity- it might never come by again

So the next time you’re debating over going to a girls weekend because it’s too far away, your grappling with purchasing a plane ticket to surprise your parents that’s a little more than you want to spend, you really want to go to sleep to get a good nights rest before work but your husband has a tight cuddle around you on the couch, you think about saving up work vacation days instead of going to family beach week, or you skip telling someone you love them because you assume they already know…..think YOLO.  Life is precious, live with no regrets and love big. You Only Live Once.

A Good Friday, indeed.

Today is indeed a good Friday for many reasons:


1. There was no traffic on my way into work because everyone is off but me. Flew down the turnpike, flew down the Blue Route -- the Juke was jukin’ it up fo sho! Wish everyday’s commute could be as simple as today. #wakeupPeterPan
2. Today is the start of what I hope to be a great weekend with family and friends. A wedding, a birthday and a holiday this weekend. Wanna talk about some excitement!!! #littlethingsinlife

Sarra and I

3. For all of your religious folk out there, you’re almost there. In just a few days - after a loooong 40 days – you get to eat/drink/smoke/what have you on what you gave up for Lent. As many of you know I’m not religious but I did participate in Lent two years during college with my best friend, Sarra, because I AM great bff. She asked me and I couldn’t help but say yes to those squinty/Asian eyes. Gave up ice cream AND soda. Tough indeed but my body felt great. Should maybe do it again… MAYBE.
4. MORE for all of your religious folk out there: wait no more, as you’re sitting at a restaurant on a Friday night and I am covered in ketchup from my big, juicy cheese burger you can smile and say, ‘oh hell yes, meat is back in my life!’ Eat up friends, BEEF – it’s whats for

dinner!!!
5. Most importantly, TGIF. We made it through another work week, we‘re alive and we’re surrounded by tons of people who love us.

It’s a good Friday, indeed. Is it a good Friday for you? 

Hey YOU!! Love your 20s

My friends and I were chatting the other day about how Dec. 21 is suppose to be the end of the world while we were at a happy hour. Someone asked, "If this really is the end of life, would you be satisfied with what you have done with your life?" I was quick to jump at the gun and I said no. But you know, after sitting on it and looking at the past 25 years of my life, maybe I should have said yes. Or maybe I was right. 

Yes -- I've accomplished some pretty cool things that some people don't have checked off their list [played a Division I sport in college, was a collegiate  coach, ran a marathon, had a byline, been a maid of honor TWICE,  I'm an aunt.] But to be honest, I can't help but have this dark cloud over my head -- a feeling that there is lots I have not accomplished [I still live at home, no where close to being in a committed relationship, never been on a cruise, cant' pay my car insurance without help.]

I doubt I'm the only 25 year old doing this, but I'm often comparing my life to other people. I can't help but be a negative Nancy sometimes, filled with jealousy of how happy many of my friends are and envious that they get to go to THEIR home with their partner at their side each night.  I know I should not compare and I'm working on it -- but being in your 20s is tough. Who else is with me??!!??

One of my best friends, my ride or die girl, is my biggest cheerleader in life. She sees things in me that I don't even see in myself. (oh what I would do to see myself in her eyes for one day. Maybe that would give me a wake up call to life.) But anyway, she sent me this article by Shelley Armenta called '20 Things That Will Make Your 20s Even Better.' The article was featured on the website LOVE TWENTY. 

So for my fellow 20-something friends who should look on the brighter side a little more, here is a killer list to tackle. 

1. Step away from the computer long enough to get some fresh air.

2. Acknowledge moments of happiness and be grateful for them.

3. Invest in a good camera (or even a phone with a good camera) and take more pictures than you know what to do with. (I'm getting one for Christmas, woo hoo!!)

4. Pack a bag and get out of town. Travel as often as you can to wherever you can.

5. Make a point to spend more time with your friends and family in person. Texting, Facebook, and Skype are great, but nothing can beat sharing the same air with those you love.

6. Don’t let your mood or your self-worth be directly tied to your bank account balance. Money is important, but it is not everything.

7. Don’t let your mood or self-worth be tied to anyone else’s mood or self-worth. There will always be people who try to bring you down, but do not let them.

8. Never forget that while you are getting older your parents are, too. Spend time with them and always say “I love you.”

9. Spend less money on clothes and makeup and more money on experiences like concerts, trips, baseball games and dinners with friends.

10. Get a library card and use it. Time spent nourishing your mind and soul is never time wasted.

11. Find an activity you love to do that is good for your body. Dancing, running, yoga, kick boxing, cross training, roller derby and paddle boarding are some workouts that kick your ass but that you will have fun with, too. Win win? Win win.

12. Learn to accept yourself for who you are and what you have done in your life. Made some mistakes? Good. Learn from them and don’t look back.

13. Get some friends together and take a cooking class. Learning to cook well for yourself and others is a skill that all of us should have tucked away.

14. Educate yourself in politics. You don’t need to be an expert if you don’t want to, but you should know how you feel about big issues.

15. Start a gratitude journal. Spend a few moments every morning jotting down a few things that you are grateful for. Having a visual of all the good in your life will be an amazing thing to have when you are having a bad day.

16. Don’t be scared to fall in love, but remember to fall in love with yourself first. (been trying to work on this one for years!)

17. Learn to defend yourself intelligently. Fighting gets you nowhere. Name calling makes you look like a child. Whooping someone’s ass mentally is the way to go.

18. Walk away from relationships where you are treated like an option and not a priority.

19. Always be kinder than you feel like being. You never know what other people are going through.

20. Let go of the need to rush through life. When we are young, all we want is to be older. Pretty soon, we’re going to be wishing to be young again.