I. Love. Tacks.

As you probably could've inferred from the photograph, I did place my Post-it at church today!

Being it is Mother's Day (Happy Day to all you mothers/grandmothers!), my Sunday school class decorated a flower pot with cute little pansies in them. I tried to give them relevant Bible verses to write on the cards, but they all insisted on writing the same thing: "Honor your father and your mother blah, blah, blah..." It was cute, though.

After that, the little kiddos had to sing during service, so I put in some overtime (Haha!) and accompanied them to church to make sure they didn't bring wild animals or something in.

As I was walking out, I tacked the Post-it onto the bulletin board. I had to laugh- it looked so silly next to all the important who's/whats/whens of church life. I liked it.

I also appreciated the tack. Sometimes I kick myself for not taping Post-its, because as wonderful as the sticky notes are, their "sticky" factor can be less than favorable. So anyway, the tack will hopefully keep 'er there for awhile.

My church, however, is a little on the conservative side, so if for some reason the Post-it is not there come next Sunday, I'm just going to pretend someone LOVED it and took it home. Deal?

This afternoon I've done a few things of importance! Did a little more grocery shopping (It wasn't very extensive- the bulk of it got done last night!). I also got in a nice run and PRed distance wise. After, I went on a fun little bike ride with a girlfriend... And made my way back home! My legs hate me right now, but they'll thank me later.

Plans for tonight? Well, I need to watch The Bucket List. I ended up getting a late-night phone call from a friend and never actually started the movie. I have a pretty strict bedtime... Just joking, but I knew I needed all the sleep I could get when it came to my 4th graders this morning!

Other than that, there's always laundry to do or dishes to clean... Or nails to paint... Or pictures to color... Or fun recipes to make! I guess I can handle doing the last three options... If I have to. ;-)

Later gator,

Meagan

Childhood Reminiscing

Happy Saturday! Hope you had a wonderful day.

Clearly, I'm writing this well into the evening hours... When, in fact, I've had practically all day to do it. Maybe I just think better in the PM- who knows!

I did, however, have a semi-eventful day. I was a little groggy after spending the night with a girlfriend who is "mothering" one of those computer-programmed babies for an Intro. to Childcare class. Let me tell you, I've never, ever, ever, in my entire life, met a baby as obnoxious, loud, or HUNGRY as that one. Gosh, if parenting were as hard as that doll made it seem, humanity would be in for a great downfall. I'm not saying it's anywhere near easy, but even the adults who witnessed this crazy baby agreed that real parenting is not quite as difficult. Maybe it's just hard to keep nurturing a plastic doll... In any case, it woke up, what seemed like a thousand times last night, so I've had to refuel with a few different cups of coffee today...

Anyway, I did some mild car shopping (But it wasn't really shopping. More like looking.) It was sort of successful... We'll see if anything falls together.

I got home late afternoonish from all that hustle and bustle and was pretty tuckered out. I did some online car researching as well as just moped around the house.

Then... Since I've always been an honest blog-keeper, I'll have you know that I totally forgot about placing a Post-it while I was out and about during the AM hours. I tried to think up some reason to go into town and ended up deciding that renting a movie sounded quite ideal. So, at approximately 9:00, I jumped in the car and headed that way. After renting a favorite, The Bucket List, I ambitiously decided to stop by the grocery store and pick up a few things- One of them being almond milk. So excited to try it! (I've bounced around from a few different milks. Lately, I've been more of a rice milk kinda girl!) I also picked up a few grapefruit because I read something somewhere that said they are good for your metabolism... Or something.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot about the entire purpose of my blog AND evening run to town (Baha! Long day)... The Post-it! I placed it in the bathroom at the Video Den in town.

Don't you love Annie? I fell in love with that movie as a child... And recently learned to re-appreciate it for what it's worth! Such a cute story. Hopefully someone else will recognize the note's message. And you know what? They'll be in the bathroom of a rental store! How perfect... I didn't even plan that out!

Anyway, that's today's story. Tomorrow I'll be up bright and early teaching Sunday School to eager-to-learn 4th graders (MAJOR exaggeration here. Actually, major sarcasm is more correct.) And then I'll head over to church and ask for forgiveness for all the mean things I wanted to do to that baby when it was crying at 2:30 this morning ;-) I'm assuming my Post-it will go up sometime during all this commotion, but you never know!

Have a good night!

Meagan

Side note: It's so funny- I always have to laugh at myself when I take MULTIPLE pictures of Post-its. It only ever really happens when I put them on mirrors because I can never get the right angle so that my hand/face aren't in the picture. For some reason, I'm just ridiculously self-conscious about having any part of my body in the photo. So silly!

A Lesson on Respiration

In through the nose, out through the mouth.

I think that's my thought for LIFE. I can almost apply it to everything! Overly excited, upset, scared, exhausted... Breeeath.

I wish we had more reminders that told us to breathe. I just laughed out loud as I wrote that sentence... Makes me sound not so smart. Obviously, I know how to breathe. But sometimes, it feels like I sure do forget!

When I say "breathe," I definitely mean it more metaphorically, you know? I'm the QUEEN of staying busy. I normally take more than I ever really want to do and don't hesitate to take up one more thing after that. I wouldn't call myself a "push over," necessarily, but I rarely refuse a request. Now, although I'm a people-pleaser, I really do think that this constant adding comes more from trying to please myself. If I do one more thing... If I work a little longer... If I add one more To-Do...

Being self-initiative and determined is good, but everyone has a limit. Sometimes, at least for me, it's too easy to get going and keep adding and continue pushing until you hit rock bottom and have no idea how you got there. When you take to time breathe (this may be literal, as well as physically, emotionally, or mentally), you often get an inside view of the craziness you've begun to consider routine. It's then that you realize what's priority and what is negative guilt or pleasing that's just begun to boil over.

Breathe! Try it. It's funny how we do it all the time, constantly, 24/7, and yet when we take a moment to think about the involuntary action, it feels so relieving.

Listen to me. I sound like a yoga instructor! Regardless of whether this made any sense, today's Post-it was meant to be a reminder that sometimes in order to keep moving, you need to stop. How's that for an oxymoron? Especially as the school year dwindles down, and teachers/students are just anxious to be done for awhile, these last few weeks can become quite stressful. The year won't end any sooner because you're rushing to fit last-minute things in. In fact, when you take a moment to breathe, you may just see how quickly it's been moving all along.

What's that I hear? Oh, it's my algebra 2 calling my name... How sweet. (Dripping in sarcasm!) Unfortunately, I have to take this call.

Have an awesome night! Tomorrow is Friday :-)

Meagan

Believe to See

Hey, hey!

So in case you're one of those people who scrolls around to find the picture before reading the post (I think I might be one of them, so just thought I'd give a little shout out...) then you may want to quit looking. Baha! That sounds bad.

Let me start over.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of today's Post-it. Sometimes I feel bad when I don't, you know? Like I let the project down. But then I consider the positives of not having a photo...

Exhibit A: Maybe it'll allow you to exercise you're own imagination. When you don't have a visual, you subconsciously create one in your head, right? That's gotta be healthy!

Exhibit B: You could, if you so desired, set out to make your own Post-it! You already have all those creative juices floating around in your noggin... Why not put them to good use? Feel free to pull out a pad of sticky notes and design YOUR Post-it. It doesn't necessarily have to say the same thing as today's, but the saying is there to start you. That decision is definitely for those visual learners... I almost said those who need to "see to believe." But maybe... In this Post-it case, you need to "believe to see."

Believe that you can make a difference with a small 3x3 inch note. Once you are confident in this unusual and down-to-earth truth, you'll begin to see Post-it ideas flash across your mind.

That's one thing I've realized lately. It doesn't take me very long to come up with a phrase to go on a Post-it... I know that any small, encouraging line can work wonders.

Well, I may be in this prophetic mood after an Empty Bowls presentation. (Empty Bowls = fundraising/educational event designed to teach the effects of poverty and raise money to send to local/global relief projects.)

This was also the time I placed today's note. It said "You can make a difference," in light of the night's event. Gosh, I know that if I found that, I could easily find it in myself to cry. But I find it in myself to cry at the most cheesy, silly things all the time... So... ;-)

AND, I also got the sweetest note from a friend in Honduras as I arrived home. As I mentioned once before, I went there a few months ago for mission work and spent most of my time teaching in a small, three-room school house. The teacher there, Teresa, sent me the sweetest facebook post...

"So this was what Isai told his classmates: "Meagan is my girlfriend...only Meagan! " see that`s special lol.....love you girl."

Isai was a little boy I became especially attached to... Well, and vise versa. The younger boys took to me exceptionally well (I definitely don't attract boys my age as quickly...)

Anyway, I thought that was cute.

Alrighty, well I'm off to finish writing some letters and round up some stuff for tomorrow.

G'night!

Meagan

Learning to Love

Hi there!

Today, the Post-it went on a mirror. It seemed necessary considering the note's content...

Sometimes I wonder what I would do if I found one of my own Post-its. (Granted, I wouldn't know who it was from. Does that make sense?) Anyway, it would probably be one of the greatest experiences of my life. Okay, okay, I might be a little bias considering I am leaving notes hoping that they serve as some sort of encouragement...

Let's see. If I saw this note... I'd be tempted to take it with me. But I think I would come to the conclusion that the longer it stays there, more people will have a chance to look at it. I don't know if I honestly would have thought like that before embarking on this whole Post-it journey. But I like it!

I may breeze right by it... Especially if I have some super exciting class to get to! (Wait, do I have any of those? Just kidding!) Or maybe, while washing my hands or throwing my hair up, I'll take a second to let a few of my inner qualities flash across my mind. Are they good? Do I use them in the most beneficial ways possible? Do I believe in them?

Sometimes it's easier to see them in other people. I guess it kind of goes hand-in-hand with the advice topic of yesterday's post. Maybe it all comes down to learning to love ourselves. Each and every part. Yes, that toe that's a bit too long or... falling off? (Bahaha! Britt.) Or, for this girl, learning to see inner beauty on terrible hair days or when it seems like everything in my closet clashes.

Speaking of which, I have some laundry to do. And you know what? Maybe I'll treat myself to a good ol' nail painting, after... And then start making friends with my hair before tomorrow morning. ;-)

Meagan

Advice Epiphany

Dear Meagan,

Take your own advice!

Sincerely,
Meagan


Okay... Ooofda. Just had to get that off my chest. Monday morning hit me harder than I expected and it took me a while to get back into the swing of things. Remember when I said that stressful Mondays could use a good Post-it? Well, I neglected that thought until this evening. Silly, silly me.

Isn't it weird how sometimes we can be so good at dispensing advice, but when it comes to following through ourselves, we seldom listen. I look back at old emails, letters, think about conversations... And sometimes, I really sound like I have it figured out! But, I don't... I don't know many people who do. Takes a good old Monday morning to knock some sense into me, I suppose!

Maybe from now on, when I get in a stressful/frustrating/bad (by the standard of a semi-emotional girl!) situation, I'll try and pretend that I'm advising a friend on what they should do. Maybe then the answer will magically appear like I'm Rafiki off of the Lion King...

Or maybe not. But it's worth a try! (Not the monkey part, the pretending to give advice part.)

Anyway, Today's Post-it was put on a choir folder. I have choir as an hour during my class schedule, but I'd never have enough time to do anything secretive in there. It's like a zoo! I did, however, find time to place the note in a random folder during our last concert this evening.

Being that I cry at stoplights (Obviously, that's not literal.), tonight was emotional as we let our senior choir members finish out their last high school concert. Not to mention, the half way point for me, as a sophomore.

So, in light of seniors graduating and moving on to bigger and better things, the sticky note said "Dare to Dream." Oh boy, I hope they do!

Well, as you can see, this is another late night post... 9:30 isn't really that late, especially for a high school girl. What does that say about me and my exciting life? Oh well... I have a secret Post-it project that very few know about. It's like being a secret agent. Sort of.

I think sleep is a must right about now. I'm getting a bit delirious, don't you think?

Have a GOOD Tuesday!

Meagan (If I wasn't schizophrenic before, my little episode at the top definitely confirmed it... Yup.)

Bright Side of Stress

Long time, not talk!

Just joking, it really hasn't been that long... But it sort of feels like it. Friday slipped by me like a bar of soap! After school, I had to work and by the time I got off, it was time to babysit... The kids were AH-DORABLE, but I didn't make it back home until 3 in the morning. Saturday was just as busy with bright & early ensemble competitions and working again that afternoon...

That all brings us to Sunday (One of my favorite days of the week!) where I now finally have the chance to sit down and chat with you! (Or... Myself. Bahaha!) I suppose I take what I can get.

Throughout all this weekend busyness, I did find time to get a few Post-its out! On Saturday, I was at a state solo ensemble festival, where I found my first Post-it target. Sometimes I look forward (Maybe that's not the term I'm looking for...) to stressful situations because it provides the perfect opportunity to place a positive note for someone! Being this was a state competition, nerves and emotions were high. Anyway, I put it in a woman's bathroom on the college campus in which we were performing.

Today's Post-it went on the soap dispenser in the girls' bathroom at church. I put in in there after a presentation on a trip to Honduras I took a few months ago... I guess I just had some "ambition" vibes running through me!

Hopefully someone else does now, too.

Well, I guess it only makes sense that I have homework, laundry, and some sleep to catch up on after my eventful weekend...

Here's to a good week! And you know what? If Monday doesn't seem to be calling your name (Does it ever?) and looks to have the word stress written all over it... Maybe it's time to leave a Post-it :-)

Meagan

P.S. This is my first May post! How exciting!!