Exactly

For the last ten months I have been working for my dad's small business (SWS) and living at home with my parents. I graduated with my masters of education in May of 2012 and have been ardently pursuing the job search since then. I am very blessed to be able to live at home and work for my dad, which I actually really enjoy. I can definitely see myself coming back to the family business, but I also want to venture away to experience a new place and work in the field that I have studied. I'm not sure if I will love or hate this next chapter of my life, but I know it is an adventure that I need and am ready to begin.

During this in-between time, I got down on myself a lot. It has taken me a good deal longer to land a position in my field than most of my former classmates. I often felt as though I should be somewhere else, like this wasn't what I was supposed to be doing. I learned quickly that should or shouldn't and what if thinking is in no way constructive. It's extremely destructive and makes you feel much worse about most situations. Around the time I began to spiral into these negative thoughts, I received a card from a great friend and sorority sister of mine that read "You are exactly where you need to be." I can't tell you how many times I have read that card. Reminding myself of this makes me feel more appreciative of where I am in any moment. Of course some days it is easier to believe this than others, but I think it's important to tell yourself this everyday. Especially on the days that it's most difficult to believe. "I am exactly where I need to be."

Yesterday I began sorting through everything I own so that I can pack it up and move to a new city for a new job. I am leaving my Canton, Ohio home sweet home for the east coast in just 10 short days. Initially, I didn't think much of cleaning out and organizing my stuff. Mostly I thought "This kind of sucks" and "How in the world have I accumulated SO MUCH crap?!?" Then "Stop This Train," by John Mayer played (dammit, Pandora.) and I found a box that reminded me of some college friends whom I miss terribly. Surprisingly, I did not cry (I am typically a hot mess when it comes to any type of life transition. When I was six years old I got a new bedroom set and cried for a week strait, when I got my braces on in seventh grade I did not speak or smile for three days. Like I said, hot mess).  But I was not sad that my friends and I could not be together or that I will be leaving home soon. Of course I miss my close friends and will surely miss my family, but instead of sadness I felt this overwhelming sense of gratitude. In that moment, I only felt thankful and blessed. Thankful that I have so many people that care deeply about me. Thankful that I care deeply about so many people. Thankful that my mom and dad are always there for me whenever I need them. Thankful for all of the opportunities and experiences I've had that have brought me friendships that will absolutely last a lifetime and probably longer because I think heaven will probably be a cool place to hang out. And finally, I felt so very thankful for moments like that one when you have an awe-inspiring sense of clarity and know for certain that you are exactly where you need to be.

Are you hard on yourself about where you should be in your life and what you're supposed to be doing? Are you thankful for where you are in life? What are you thankful for?

Love,
Logan

A thought for today

Love,

Logan

Great Love

Love,

Logan

All the Single Ladies on the 14th

The evil Queen of Hearts from the 1951 Disney film "Alice in Wonderland."

This Thursday February 14th  is Valentines Day. If you couldn't tell from the advertisements and television shows, this is the most romantic day of the year and if you are single on this day you are a complete loser, especially if you are a woman.

As a single woman, you have a couple of options:

1. Be really annoyed that it's Valentines Day because that's so stupid ugh whatever

2. Get together with a bunch of lady friends and talk about how much men suck

3. Reminisce on failed past relationships

4. Watch a romantic movie by yourself, cry, and worry that you will never find someone to be with. Live tweet this experience, please.

No. Ewww no. Please do not do any of those things. And do not talk about how being single on Valentine's Day is so depressing because it's not. In the words of Sweet Brown, ain't nobody got time for that! If you are in a great relationship come February 14th, have fun and do something special. It's exciting to have someone special and I genuinely hope you have a happy heart day. If you are single on this Valentine's Day, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I would recommend doing the opposite of those silly sarcastic things I listed above such as:

1. Have fun. Wear red. Smile. Make some valentines for coworkers, friends, or family

2. Go out and get drinks with your single girlfriends or guy friends- catch up and laugh

3. Don't dwell on past relationships. I'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason. Your moment will come. Those relationships weren't right. You learned something from them and are a better person that is going to find the right person for you someday. Believe that and have hope.

4. It's okay to watch a romantic movie, but be excited that your romantic story could be just around the corner. Please tweet the channel the movie is on because I love a good romantic dramedy.

5. Listen to "Happy Valentines Day" by Outkast because it has a great beat. I do this every year.

In short, be hopeful and positive. Stay as far away from bitter as possible- nothing good comes from from being bitter and I guarantee you will not find a happy and successful relationship as a bitter person. Buy yourself some chocolate because it's an awesome excuse, and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,

Logan

Star Bright

Remember:

Love,

Logan

Try Again

Had a wonderful weekend full of skiing in Holiday Valley with family. My family and I ski once a year so I'm no expert. I'm usually very timid and play it safe at the top of the mountain. My brother has always been so brave when it comes to skiing. Starting at a pretty young age he insisted on skiing as many black diamonds as possible. Five years older and much less bold, I would follow him nervously while praying for my safety. Obviously if my little brother was brave enough to do it, I had to at least pretend I was brave enough.

This trip was different. After I got warmed up, I was confident. I became bored with my typical runs and found myself wandering off on my own to conquer parts of the mountain that once terrified me. I did some of my best skiing ever. I also had one of my craziest wipe outs. My cousin and I were skiing down a pretty tough black diamond. The moguls were a little icy, but I was getting the hang of them. "FINALLY," I thought. "Wrong," the world said. And I slid in between two moguls into about two feet of snow. I ended up face down in the snow, my right ski 10 feet up the hill from me, my left ski still attached to my boot. My little cousin stopped quickly and asked, "Are you okay?" "Yes," I said. And then we both laughed so hard we cried. I could barely stand up I was laughing so much. The thought of that wipe out still cracks me up. And the fact that I had to walk up the hill to retrieve my other ski. It must have looked absolutely ridiculous. After that fall, I was ready for anything. I wasn't afraid to fall anymore.

Sure we have all heard this story before.
"Big risk, big reward."
"There's no success without failure."
"If at first you don't succeed, try again."

All of these sayings are so cliché, but do you know why? Because they're absolutely true. These are such familiar and overused expressions because they are incessantly proved correct. Time and time again we find that if we get back up after we fall, we can successfully finish something that once had us completely stumped.

I'll leave you with this quote by the star of Space Jam (because how awesome was that movie/soundtrack):

That's all folks!

Love,
Logan