Be Couragious... No Bull

In 2007 I needed to take one last Spanish class to graduate from SCSU. I decided, if I need ONE Spanish class, I'm NOT going to take it sweating over the summer in New Haven. I've always wanted to fly out somewhere to study but just never had the guts.

So I gathered up the courage to enroll in a summer program in Salamanca, Spain knowing noone. While I was there I met some amazing people, some that I still talk to every day to this day (hola!). One night over some vino, a few of those crazy people mentioned Running With the Bulls; a festival that lasts for 9 days in Pamplona, Spain. A non stop party that starts every morning at 5am with thousands of people being chased after 6 gigantic bulls, triple the size of you. They explained it as the craziest, wildest, scariest thing anyone can experience. I knew right then and there that I needed to do it. I mean, I came this far, right?!??!

This picture was taken RIGHT after I ran. I did it, it was awesome, it was intense, I saw some one break both of their legs at the same time, but the rush I got from doing it was indescribable. (Like when you're driving and suddenly there's a cop behind you and you get so nervous for no reason no matter what, then once they pass you're like AW, NO BIG DEAL!!!!!!!)

The reason I am bringing this up, is because SPRING and SUMMER are coming. There are goals that you all have, things you thought about doing but were too nervous to carry out. Projects you wanted to start but put to the side. DO IT. WRITE IT. START IT. FINISH IT. ANYTHING you have wanted to do; travel, read a book, write a book, interview for a dream job, start a club, join a group, learn how to surf (my next goal).... ANYTHING. Anything you want to do, try it. New year, new beginnings, new story.

What is something you have ALWAYS dreamed of doing but never had the guts to do???

George Mason University!!!

Yeah baby!!!!!

This week I was the guest speaker at George Mason Unversity in Virginia for Positive Body Image Awareness. Here are a few pictures...

book signing for beYOUtiful, February 23, 2010

being so nervous while pretending I am totally cool

Hi does anyone know where the speaker is???

How did I get into this nutshell??

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who showed up and didn't fall asleep. It means the world to me. You guys ROCK!!!!!!! If anyone from GMU was there, please drop a comment and let me know what you thought of the presentation. Or if you weren't there, drop one and let me know what you think of the blog. Thank you!!!

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY!!!!!

I am leaving, on a jet plane, to DC tomorrow morning bright and early. I am going to George Mason University to deliver speeches to undergraduate students for Love Your Body Week. I am so excited and super anxious!!!!!!! Everyone gets SO nervous when they have to get up in front of people and speak, but then when someone else is up there it's not like you are staring at them and judging them, right??? RIGHT??? Haha just kidding. Of course not!! It's all part of getting up there and conquering your fears.

I look forward to a nice little vacation/work in DC and Virginia, hanging out with some awesome friends, and saving the world from little insecurities, one scale at a time. :)

Look in the mirror, darling. YOU....are beautiful.

Try it...........Ya might like it.

You never know if you never try,

right???

You never know if you never try. You never know if you like pizza. Or pickles. Or even brussle sprouts. You never know if you like sky diving. Or speaking Italian. Who would've thought you could dance like your auditioning to a new Britney Spears video alone in your car. How could you tell if you were good at basketball, or air hockey, or oddly enough bowling?? Would you have the balls to run with the bulls in Spain? To go to school in another country not knowing anyone? To eat guinea pig on a stick?? You never know if you never try.

Okay, okay. I already have to apologize to people. (Sorry Vegan Friends). You don't HAVE to eat guinea pigs on a stick. BUT. If you never ever ever give something a chance you will never ever ever understand how it could've changed your life. Was there ever something you were dying to do?? Go on a cruise. Go to nursing school. Write a book. Look cool on a snowboard. Wake up before 9am and eat oatmeal?? Why can't you just...do it?? Save the money, a little at a time, enough for a cool awesome vacation. Register for classes at a community college. Get a crazy story in your head and put it all down on paper, a little each day. Write a poem. Go to Vermont for a weekend and learn how to snowboard (or at least be able to pose awesomely while you're on it). Change your major. Become a lawyer if you want to. Buy a prep book and take the LSATS. Learn somethin new. If you fail, WHO CARES??? No one even has to know you tried it. But remember... you never know if you never try.

Do you hate the job you are working at? Hate the people, hate the atmosphere, hate the way you feel walking in everyday?? Make the most out of each situation. Wear cute underwear under your awful work clothes. Look for new jobs. LEAVE. You do not have to stay anywhere ONE MINUTE longer than you don't want to. ANYWHERE. If you want to leave, leave.

And if you want to stay, stay. And if you want to learn, then pay attention damn it. Because you need to stop focusing on stale negative boring thoughts in your head. You need to change them all around. Realize it's not THAT bad. SEE if you even LIKE pickles. (Gross I hate them. But at least I know). Explore your talents. See what is right for you. Try on something you wouldn't normally try on, it might look great. Take a class. Smile at yourself in the mirror, then roll your eyes. Go to Starbucks for the first time. Finish a book. Talk to that person you've been dying to talk to for weeks. They might be interested. And if they're not, forget it. If you never cook, get a recipe buy the ingredients and cook. DONT BE SCARED!!! Turn things into an adventure instead of your every day old routine.

And if anyone needs to know where to buy guinea pig on a stick, I've only seen it in Ayacucho, Peru.... and C-Town grocery store in New Haven, CT. Hahaha duh. Okay, maybe you don't have to go THAT far. But anything else. Try it. Try it try it try it. Ya know what??? Ya might like it.

What was something YOU always wanted to try but never have????