Baseball is life

Last night was the Super Bowl. This marks the end of the football season, but more importantly....

THE BEGINNING OF BASEBALL SEASON.

I am a huge Texas Rangers fan. I finally received my first Rangers jersey for Christmas after years of asking. It is my pride&joy. Granted, very few people understand in Nebraska, but I know the entire state of Texas is backing me up, and that is all that matters.

I am such a die-hard Rangers fan that when they didn't make it to the World Series last year....I cried.

My friends drove me to get ice cream because I was so depressed.

That, my friends, is dedication.

My brother is seven years older than I am, so he was always the babysitter, driver and shaper of my interests. Being forced to watch ESPN 24/7 in the summer, when baseball was prevalent, required me to fall in love with America's pastime.

Some of my favorite things about baseball:
1. The history
2. The legends
3. The art
4. The class
5. The baseball pants (I mean I am a girl after all...)
6. The technique
7. The ability to come from so far behind and win the game. This is America's game.
8. The awesome baseball movies
9. It is an equalizer for people of different backgrounds, faiths and beliefs (everyone likes baseball)

I was 4-years-old when I went to my first baseball game.

The crack of the bat to ball. The 'thwip' the catcher's glove makes when the ball is caught. The smell of hot dogs and and grass. The beads of sweat from the blistering sun. The art of base stealing and picking pitches. The uniting of random strangers to stay behind the team through thick and thin.

The game is magic. It's the greatest thing come January.

I cannot wait for opening day. It's like second Christmas.

Or birthdays.

The best relationship

I am a young woman, who like many other young women is trying to find her place in this world. That can be demanding, stressful and at times very lonely.

We are strong independent human beings, though, and we can withstand any trial.

However, I worry about some of my friends. A few of them have been in relationships since pre-teen days. That isn't surprising because they are beautiful, amazing people, but when they break-up with one of their boys, they are lost. They don't know how to recover, even if they think they are fine.

And my advice is always the same... don't fall in love with another guy; fall in love with yourself.

The best relationship you can ever have is with you. I'm not saying become self-involved; I'm saying love who you are, and be proud of what you have to offer. When you are in love with your life, other people cannot help but fall in love with you as well.

So when people are worried about being by themselves, I just want to remind them that they have never been alone. Yes, it is great to share in adventures with someone who you want to spend your life with, but you have your WHOLE LIFE to do that.

Perhaps it is a tradition to find someone right out of college, and for some people that works. However, for the people who don't find their soul mates as soon as others, just enjoy pursuing your dreams and leaving light wherever you go.

My parents found each other, when they were 19. They fell in love and were engaged after 6 weeks. However, they grew up in a different time and with childhoods that forced them to be independent very young. So when they found their soul mate, they finally had the opportunity to have someone to lean on.

All I'm saying is don't focus on getting married and settling down at 19 and 20-years-old.

Focus on nights you will never forget and the world that is waiting to be found.

 

<3

Personal branding

For one of my internships, I have been working on the company's brand. It shows people who you are; what you stand for; and how you can make them better.

So I started thinking, what would my personal brand be? I have looked at all the websites about how to make yourself a brand. They say the same thing. They tell you what to do, but don't give an example of what it looks like. Right brain thinkers, this is for you.

1. Find out who you are, and own it.

This might be the most cliche thing I have ever said, but no one wants to hire someone who doesn't have an inkling of who they are.

 Ex. I am the world's biggest nerd, but I love that about myself.

I love getting caught up in Harry Potter, lotr, Game of Thrones and comic books. How does being nerdy help my brand? Well, it gives me the label of quirky, which is 100% true.

 

Be like Jennifer Lawrence. Never stop owning up to who you are. (Also, coloring books are amazing).

 

2. Match everything to your personality

 

Don't make yourself seem so serious on paper, when you are energetic and fun-loving in real life. 

 

Ex. My resume has my favorite font of all time on it. It is called "Badaboom." I think it's representative of my personality, and it is similar to comic book fonts.  It's a little piece of me in the corner, in a world of black&white. (Things are getting deep).

 

3. Realize you have weaknesses

 

You are not perfect. Your resume may say differently, but if you get caught up in your strengths, then you forget how to make yourself better.

 

Ex. This isn't a business related example, but I cannot stand any kind of vegetable. They make me nauseous and depressed. However, I am a peer educator for the University Health Center, and it is my job to teach people healthy eating habits. This makes me a hypocrite. This past semester, I learned to eat a salad. This, honestly, could be considered one of my greatest accomplishments. I'm not saying you have to go eat salads. I'm saying you have to continue to make yourself better, otherwise, you will never make the business you work for better.

 

4. Fall in love with passion

 

 Find something that you love. Hold onto it. Make it your niche. Make it evident in everything you do.

Ex. I love the environment and volunteering. This is what I am crazy about. I built an environmental learning center for kids, because I want them to fall in love with the environment too. I am a part of green organizations, and I spend three days out of the week volunteering. It makes me happy. I want to pursue public relations, so that I can help promote environmentalism and charitable outreach. This is what I have made my niche to be.

5. Remember where you come from

Your background is what has made you who you are. If you forget that or can't find pride in your origin, then you can't appreciate who you are.

Ex. I am from Texas. I am so proud of that statement that it makes me smile. I wear cowboy boots. I say y'all. I grew up where farming and ranching was prevalent. Texas has helped shape me into the person I am today.

 6. Accept things as they happen.

Not everything in life has to go according to plan. In fact, why would you want it to? The perfection is within the mistakes; the laughter; the experience. Perfection is when you appreciate who you are for what you are. Don't do anything for more money or more vacation days; do something because you love it, and it is perfect for you.

If you need an example for this, then you are way more visual than I am.

7. And finally, remember this

 

Maybe this isn't the greatest post about branding, but if you know who you are and what you want to represent, then you are already branded.