Sometime earlier this year, I started saying, "That's rad." I'm not sure what started it, but after I realized that I said it three times within 20 minutes this afternoon, I considered my use of it. It's not like I have a great connection to the phrase, and I probably only substitute it for saying, "That's cool/awesome."
Rad. It obviously derives from radical. When I think of the word radical, I first think of hippies in the '70s. I don't know if that's when it became popular (sorry for the lack of research...it will be continued in this post...I'm really sleepy) or if my brain has some other reason to associate those, but it does. Then, I think about radical people.
Who are the radical people in your life?
Because of the protests / peace war happening in nearby-ish Ferguson, MO, I automatically think of that. Many of the people who I met in college are connected to the area, and some have even taken part in trying to help solve the situation. It is seriously heartbreaking what I have read on Twitter and Facebook about what is happening. I'm astonished that it is happening in America, and it's no longer simply an issue of Michael Brown's death. I know that gas bombs and shooting people with rubber bullets happen in other parts of the world much, much more frequently than in the US, but I think it takes a great amount of courage to stand up for what one believes in and try to make peace in the situation. Those peace-fighters are radical.
Other radical people who I admire are people who I only know through the internet and literature. Welcome to the awesomeness of Jamie Wright (theveryworstmissionary.com), Rachel Held Evans (rachelheldevans.com), and Sarah Bessey (sarahbessey.com).
Jamie was introduced to me first on Twitter, and then on her blog. Now, I also follow her on Instagram and Facebook. She is the most realistic Christian of, like, ever. For a while, she and her family - which includes her husband and three teenage sons - were missionaries in Costa Rica. Then, they moved back to the US and are living in California. She is passionate about reaching beyond Christian norms to lead people to Christ, and she is also passionate about freeing people who are held captive as sex slaves. I admire her work, her honesty, and her tell-it-like-it-is attitude with her family and her ridiculously creepy cat, Knives. Jamie is rad.
Rachel was introduced to me through one of her books, A Year of Biblical Womanhood, by a friend in February after that friend had listened to Rachel speak at my friend's alma mater. I fell in love with the book; Rachel researched 12 things in the Bible that women are supposed to do that are not commonly practiced, and she practiced each for one month. Her dedication to that alone was cool. Then, I found her Twitter and blog, and I continued to respect Rachel. She is blatant and stands up for social justice and is all around kick-butt. I recently read Rachel's other book, Faith Unraveled, which was originally published as Evolving in Monkeytown. Although I did not agree with everything that Rachel said in Faith Unraveled and everything that she posts online, I think she is living as Jesus called her to do: standing up for what she believes is right and following God as best as she can. Rachel is rad.
Sarah is my newest Christian writer who I fangirl over. I'm currently reading her book, Jesus Feminist. It's structured much differently than Rachel's books, but I can see where Sarah is going with the text. She grew up in Canada not knowing that sexism exists in the church, moved to the US and was amazed by the sexism that exists in the realm of Christianity, and moved back to Canada with her husband and three "tinies" (what she calls her kids) to pursue her fight in social justice while believing that Jesus was a feminist. To that, I say, "Right on." Sarah is rad.
So, obviously I admire these three Christian women who I have not met. I know Christians in real life who I think are rad, too.
Look around at the Christians who you know. Who is very blasé in the faith, and who is doing things to actively serve others? I really think that loving and serving others are two of the best characteristics of Christians, and it's what I strive to do (though they are both really difficult for me because I have a natural disposition to dislike people).
I am not at all a perfect Christian. I often fail to read my Bible regularly which is pretty sad because I love reading and I have given two talks about the importance of studying God's Word. I don't always reach out to others when I should, and I am kind of a bad friend at times.
I'm a work in progress, but...aren't we all?
So, what do I do to try to be rad?
I work closely with Chrysalis, a bi-annual church camp which I regularly work on with monthly services where I am on the board for the community. I volunteer at my town's consignment store about once a month. I try to be uplifting on social media (at times when I'm not talking about how much I dislike people). I play keys in my church band sometimes; this may not be super rad, but I'm using my love of music and slight amount of talent to serve God and hopefully serve others.
I feel like being a Beta Club Co-Sponsor is a calling in my life. It may seem silly that a club of high school students is what I think is one of the very most important parts of my life, but teenagers deal with a lot of crap, and I want to put positivity in their lives while allowing them to have fun learning how to serve others and be involved in the community.
I try to not use churchy words. While hanging out with three friends tonight who happen to be Christians, we were discussing whether we were "hanging out" or "fellowshipping." Why do people put certain terms on Christians spending time together? I think it's weird, dude. I also hate when people say that they are going to "love on" others. Why can't you just "love" someone?
Aaaand now this is an awkward ending because I don't have a way to wrap this up because my brain stopped thinking of words and I only want rice which is what I'm going to eat now but I don't have any soy sauce so it's going to be plain and kind of gross and this is a run-on sentence like obvi...
What are you doing to be rad?
Monday, August 18, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Where have you been, KT?
Once upon a time, I planned to exercise once each month and blog once each month. Lol, 2013. What was I thinking?
That obviously failed. So, here I am in February of 2014 with a lot to say but maybe not much. I think about blogging often, so it's possible that I will return to a normal-ish blogging schedule, but don't bet on me or keep your hopes too high. ;)
2013. I moved for the second time as an adult. I learned how to live completely on my own - hating it and loving it at times, but more loving it. I finished my college career and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication: Multimedia Journalism and a minor in literature. I disappointed people. I made them happy. I bought internet access for my home.
I did a lot of living, but I hope to do more of living life in real time in 2014. I don't want to do, I want to be.
Eh, go ahead and judge me for sounding super ambiguous. YOLO, c'est la vie, etc.
For 2014, my goals are to be creative as often as possible, hang out with people who I say I want to see, and be happy. Being happy is a work in progress, being creative is more difficult than it seems sometimes, and it's difficult to fit everyone who I want to see in my schedule. But, trying is key.
As for being creative, I have created (haha) the hashtag: #2014Creativity to use on Twitter and Instagram to record what I am doing this year in regards to first goal - resolution, if you will. I am learning how to play an acoustic guitar. I am learning a little more of the keyboard and understanding the vast world of music. I painted a few wall quotes, and I hope to make more. By the end of the year, I would love to be able to play a few songs fully and record them to show my progress. It may not happen, but you never know if you never try, riiight?
So, here's to 2014. :)
That obviously failed. So, here I am in February of 2014 with a lot to say but maybe not much. I think about blogging often, so it's possible that I will return to a normal-ish blogging schedule, but don't bet on me or keep your hopes too high. ;)
2013. I moved for the second time as an adult. I learned how to live completely on my own - hating it and loving it at times, but more loving it. I finished my college career and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication: Multimedia Journalism and a minor in literature. I disappointed people. I made them happy. I bought internet access for my home.
I did a lot of living, but I hope to do more of living life in real time in 2014. I don't want to do, I want to be.
Eh, go ahead and judge me for sounding super ambiguous. YOLO, c'est la vie, etc.
For 2014, my goals are to be creative as often as possible, hang out with people who I say I want to see, and be happy. Being happy is a work in progress, being creative is more difficult than it seems sometimes, and it's difficult to fit everyone who I want to see in my schedule. But, trying is key.
As for being creative, I have created (haha) the hashtag: #2014Creativity to use on Twitter and Instagram to record what I am doing this year in regards to first goal - resolution, if you will. I am learning how to play an acoustic guitar. I am learning a little more of the keyboard and understanding the vast world of music. I painted a few wall quotes, and I hope to make more. By the end of the year, I would love to be able to play a few songs fully and record them to show my progress. It may not happen, but you never know if you never try, riiight?
So, here's to 2014. :)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Happy 2013!
Oops, this is delayed. And as I write this, I think it should be noted that I'm supposed to be writing two journalism stories. Yolo. (Btw, I say that meaning oh well or no big deal, not saying it in the way of doing something stupid because I only have one life...just to clarify.)
Yea, it's been a while. Time to catch up. Not really. I will attempt to focus.
Heyyyy, it's a new year. I really tried to think of great resolutions. I've pondered it quite a lot, and I have nothing too deep. Of course, there are the personal reminders that I can always take time to be healthier or grow closer to God, but - not to discredit those in anyway - those aren't my focus of the year.
Instead, I have a seemingly silly list of things to accomplish within this year. Lehgo...
1) I would like to watch all of my movies within the next year.
I probably own 75 movies, but I watch less than 20, and I feel like I'm wasting them by letting them sit.
2) I want to blog and work out at least once per month, but obviously not at the same time.
Oops, I already failed. So, I'll make up for it by blogging and working out twice this month...or I will wait until December and do both of them 12 times. Jk, I'll try to be consistent and bump those up to more than once a month if I can fight the laziness.
3) I would like to wear a bikini and not feel self-conscious.
Don't judge me. I don't want to do this to show off my body or because I want attention from guys. I want to do it to show confidence. I currently don't have the confidence to do it. I'm not sure how to find the belief in myself to be ok with it by the end of the year, but I'm determined to do so. I want to be able to walk in front of people at the beach or on the way to a pool and not feel like the entire world (or the x number of people around me) are judging me and going to talk about me to their friends. I want to feel like it's just another outfit.
4) I want to find a new place to live in July where I'm happy and free.
I really don't have a choice on a part of this one. My lease ends in July, and I'll be forced to move. No big deal. But, I currently don't know where I'm going to live. I have a few ideas in my mind, but nothing is really saying, "Hey, Kirsten, live here!" like my current apartment complex screamed to me when I toured it. God will provide.
5) I want to work toward life goals.
These goals could change, and that's ok, though I know that some will always remain. Here's the current list: 1) Grow spiritually. 2) Keep my very close friends close to me and appreciate their friendship. 3) Work on a friendship with someone in particular and attempt to make it grow to the best of my ability. 4) Be happy. Do what makes me happy and not what anyone thinks I should do, even if it's one of the very close friends. Live life, whether that means moving to Chicago to go to my dream school or eating Mint Oreos everyday because they're freaking delicious. 5) Even if I go nowhere with my theatrical dreams, always try to pay it forward with kids who may not have any other performing outlet.
So, are these really resolutions? Maybe random goals? Maybe things to try to get me to where I want to be in life?
Idk. I only know that they have been swarming around in my mind and buzzing me constantly to let it out. Here I go. I shall try to fulfill my list.
Yea, it's been a while. Time to catch up. Not really. I will attempt to focus.
Heyyyy, it's a new year. I really tried to think of great resolutions. I've pondered it quite a lot, and I have nothing too deep. Of course, there are the personal reminders that I can always take time to be healthier or grow closer to God, but - not to discredit those in anyway - those aren't my focus of the year.
Instead, I have a seemingly silly list of things to accomplish within this year. Lehgo...
1) I would like to watch all of my movies within the next year.
I probably own 75 movies, but I watch less than 20, and I feel like I'm wasting them by letting them sit.
2) I want to blog and work out at least once per month, but obviously not at the same time.
Oops, I already failed. So, I'll make up for it by blogging and working out twice this month...or I will wait until December and do both of them 12 times. Jk, I'll try to be consistent and bump those up to more than once a month if I can fight the laziness.
3) I would like to wear a bikini and not feel self-conscious.
Don't judge me. I don't want to do this to show off my body or because I want attention from guys. I want to do it to show confidence. I currently don't have the confidence to do it. I'm not sure how to find the belief in myself to be ok with it by the end of the year, but I'm determined to do so. I want to be able to walk in front of people at the beach or on the way to a pool and not feel like the entire world (or the x number of people around me) are judging me and going to talk about me to their friends. I want to feel like it's just another outfit.
4) I want to find a new place to live in July where I'm happy and free.
I really don't have a choice on a part of this one. My lease ends in July, and I'll be forced to move. No big deal. But, I currently don't know where I'm going to live. I have a few ideas in my mind, but nothing is really saying, "Hey, Kirsten, live here!" like my current apartment complex screamed to me when I toured it. God will provide.
5) I want to work toward life goals.
These goals could change, and that's ok, though I know that some will always remain. Here's the current list: 1) Grow spiritually. 2) Keep my very close friends close to me and appreciate their friendship. 3) Work on a friendship with someone in particular and attempt to make it grow to the best of my ability. 4) Be happy. Do what makes me happy and not what anyone thinks I should do, even if it's one of the very close friends. Live life, whether that means moving to Chicago to go to my dream school or eating Mint Oreos everyday because they're freaking delicious. 5) Even if I go nowhere with my theatrical dreams, always try to pay it forward with kids who may not have any other performing outlet.
So, are these really resolutions? Maybe random goals? Maybe things to try to get me to where I want to be in life?
Idk. I only know that they have been swarming around in my mind and buzzing me constantly to let it out. Here I go. I shall try to fulfill my list.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
The Next Biblical Post
I don't always read the Bible, I don't pray as often as I should, and I fail sometimes, but I'm trying. Some people don't even try, and it amazes and saddens me at the same time.
While reading the Bible just now, I thought about heaven. I imagine it to be like the happiest times, so I imagined it at B-Dubs during musical after-parties (without the alcohol because I really don't think that's in heaven). I imagined the coolest people ever, the best food (I know we don't need food in heaven, but why not have some boneless wings and sweet tea?), the greatest atmosphere, and everything happy and heavenly...obviously. But, then I realized that people will be missing. There are people who are close to me, or used to be, who will be missing from the party. And after it is too late, I can't extend a late invitation and say, "Oops, I forgot to invite you earlier. You should join us now." It will be too late. There is an expiration date, and it's approaching, whether on December 21st when the Mayan calendar ends / zombie apocalypse happens or when I die when I'm 95. I'm obviously adding in somewhat of a joke at the end, peeps.
I don't want my friends to be missing. I want everyone to be there. Everyone has a choice, of course, but am I doing enough to try to persuade them to get the acceptance to the party? Am I doing as much as possible to make sure I'm always on the list, or do I almost waver into the area of not so sure sometimes? The answers are that I'm failing.
At the beginning of my high school career, I was set on making everyone in the school a Christian. As I later realized, I can't make anyone do that. It's a choice, and I can't force it on everyone...and forcing it is definitely counter-productive. But, when I realized the counter-productivity, I gave up. I focused my energies into other things rather than on attempting to lead others to Christ. Yea, I post things on Facebook and Twitter occasionally that are Bible verses or quotes from Christian songs with hopes of inspiring others to follow God, but I'm not actively ministering to others. It's the work of all believers, not just the pastors and people at the top of the lay people social food chain.
I need to take a better approach. I need to stand up for my beliefs (in more ways than simply saying I'm a Christian), and I need to reach out to others. I have great opportunities to do this on campus and with my friends in both real life and those who I know in real life but only get to interact with on social networking sites. I pray that God will give me the direction on how to do this because I am at a loss of ways, though I'm sure that He will show me in time.
While reading the Bible just now, I thought about heaven. I imagine it to be like the happiest times, so I imagined it at B-Dubs during musical after-parties (without the alcohol because I really don't think that's in heaven). I imagined the coolest people ever, the best food (I know we don't need food in heaven, but why not have some boneless wings and sweet tea?), the greatest atmosphere, and everything happy and heavenly...obviously. But, then I realized that people will be missing. There are people who are close to me, or used to be, who will be missing from the party. And after it is too late, I can't extend a late invitation and say, "Oops, I forgot to invite you earlier. You should join us now." It will be too late. There is an expiration date, and it's approaching, whether on December 21st when the Mayan calendar ends / zombie apocalypse happens or when I die when I'm 95. I'm obviously adding in somewhat of a joke at the end, peeps.
I don't want my friends to be missing. I want everyone to be there. Everyone has a choice, of course, but am I doing enough to try to persuade them to get the acceptance to the party? Am I doing as much as possible to make sure I'm always on the list, or do I almost waver into the area of not so sure sometimes? The answers are that I'm failing.
At the beginning of my high school career, I was set on making everyone in the school a Christian. As I later realized, I can't make anyone do that. It's a choice, and I can't force it on everyone...and forcing it is definitely counter-productive. But, when I realized the counter-productivity, I gave up. I focused my energies into other things rather than on attempting to lead others to Christ. Yea, I post things on Facebook and Twitter occasionally that are Bible verses or quotes from Christian songs with hopes of inspiring others to follow God, but I'm not actively ministering to others. It's the work of all believers, not just the pastors and people at the top of the lay people social food chain.
I need to take a better approach. I need to stand up for my beliefs (in more ways than simply saying I'm a Christian), and I need to reach out to others. I have great opportunities to do this on campus and with my friends in both real life and those who I know in real life but only get to interact with on social networking sites. I pray that God will give me the direction on how to do this because I am at a loss of ways, though I'm sure that He will show me in time.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
A bit of an addiction...
"Live from Hollywood, it's Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars!"
Those are some of my favorite words. Yes, I very willingly admit that I am totally addicted to Dancing with the Stars. I love dancing, I love celebrities, I love tv, and I love shiny costumes and trophies. It's kind of like little pieces of perfection wrapped into a time of awesome every week...until my favorite people are eliminated, and then I hate it until I remember that other favorite people remain on the show.
Sadly, the All-Star season has ended. My Twitter followers are probably thanking Jesus for this because I blow up Twitter every time that I watch DWTS...but I do the same with Glee, The New Normal, Breaking Amish, etc., so I don't feel badly about my choices. I would share them in person, but no one seems to enjoy it as much as I do, so I'm seeking out someone in the Twittersphere who may like to converse with me regarding the glorious reality show. I have not yet found anyone. That's ok. ;)
My favorite couple the entire season has been Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough. I'm a huge fangirl for Shawn. I have loved her since she first competed in the Olympics, I voted for her in season eight of DWTS, I wanted her to return in the Olympics this summer and was devastated when she couldn't, and I was EXTREMELY ecstatic about her return to DWTS: All-Stars. She's the bomb. Derek pushed the boundaries so much this season, and I love him for it...most of the time. My favorite was definitely the trio dance with Mark because hello, beast mode. The bomb.
Regardless, I'm glad that Melissa won. I wanted Shawn to win, but I loved Melissa this season and definitely wanted her to do better than Kelly in the finale (no one is buying that crap that she and Val are just friends...no one...). Others who deserved to probably be in the finales or closer to the top than they were are Sabrina and Apollo. Sabrina is wonderful and Apollo is a really great dancer. I was so sad when Apollo and Karina messed up their hip hop dance, but throwing a classically trained dancer into a rough and jaunting hip hop dance is entirely unfair. It's like taking me and putting me into a Latin dance without much prep time, but I suppose that's what the pros do with the celebs, so whatevs. I still sympathize for her. And Sabrina. Oh, darling. She's magnificent, but she didn't have enough audience support. :( She's exceptional and deserved to go really far. People know this "shocking" truth *wink, wink*, but whatevs. "It is what it is," to quote Liz and Dick.
So, this is a really fluffy post. Nothing serious, but that's ok. Humanity needs to focus on a few lighthearted things sometimes when there are mounting pressures that are always looming above our heads such as term papers and finals....or maybe that's just me. Anyway, I love Dancing with the Stars. <3
Those are some of my favorite words. Yes, I very willingly admit that I am totally addicted to Dancing with the Stars. I love dancing, I love celebrities, I love tv, and I love shiny costumes and trophies. It's kind of like little pieces of perfection wrapped into a time of awesome every week...until my favorite people are eliminated, and then I hate it until I remember that other favorite people remain on the show.
Sadly, the All-Star season has ended. My Twitter followers are probably thanking Jesus for this because I blow up Twitter every time that I watch DWTS...but I do the same with Glee, The New Normal, Breaking Amish, etc., so I don't feel badly about my choices. I would share them in person, but no one seems to enjoy it as much as I do, so I'm seeking out someone in the Twittersphere who may like to converse with me regarding the glorious reality show. I have not yet found anyone. That's ok. ;)
My favorite couple the entire season has been Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough. I'm a huge fangirl for Shawn. I have loved her since she first competed in the Olympics, I voted for her in season eight of DWTS, I wanted her to return in the Olympics this summer and was devastated when she couldn't, and I was EXTREMELY ecstatic about her return to DWTS: All-Stars. She's the bomb. Derek pushed the boundaries so much this season, and I love him for it...most of the time. My favorite was definitely the trio dance with Mark because hello, beast mode. The bomb.
Regardless, I'm glad that Melissa won. I wanted Shawn to win, but I loved Melissa this season and definitely wanted her to do better than Kelly in the finale (no one is buying that crap that she and Val are just friends...no one...). Others who deserved to probably be in the finales or closer to the top than they were are Sabrina and Apollo. Sabrina is wonderful and Apollo is a really great dancer. I was so sad when Apollo and Karina messed up their hip hop dance, but throwing a classically trained dancer into a rough and jaunting hip hop dance is entirely unfair. It's like taking me and putting me into a Latin dance without much prep time, but I suppose that's what the pros do with the celebs, so whatevs. I still sympathize for her. And Sabrina. Oh, darling. She's magnificent, but she didn't have enough audience support. :( She's exceptional and deserved to go really far. People know this "shocking" truth *wink, wink*, but whatevs. "It is what it is," to quote Liz and Dick.
So, this is a really fluffy post. Nothing serious, but that's ok. Humanity needs to focus on a few lighthearted things sometimes when there are mounting pressures that are always looming above our heads such as term papers and finals....or maybe that's just me. Anyway, I love Dancing with the Stars. <3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)