Day 3-Gathering
What was the most memorable event/gathering that you attended or held in 2012?
When my parents approached me about going with them to Colorado over Labor Day weekend, I (literally) jumped at the chance. I was not about to go through another weekend of winding up completely exhausted (my freshman year) or crying a bucket of tears on my bedroom floor (sophomore year). I was feeling that itch to get away from the chaos of campus, as I often do when student life becomes stressful.
But this wasn't just a simple getaway; we would be primarily going to visit my brother at the Air Force Academy since it was his parents/family weekend up there. Along with that, we would also be officially celebrating my grandparents fiftieth wedding anniversary.
It was my first time being back in two years; the last time we took a little mini-vacation so that my brother could do an unofficial visit at the Air Force. I was kind of nervous that the wildfires (back in June) had swallowed up the majority of the natural elements that surrounded the place. There was some truth to that, but not from what I could see.
While my siblings and I occasionally have our differences, I had missed mine very much. Seeing my brother for the first time in two months was amazing. I don't mention this a whole lot, but that kid is like my twin, even though we technically are not. We just have strikingly different personalities, almost to the point of being completely opposites. But he is the reason I have been able to physically accomplish as much as I have; without having him as an example, I might not have gained the motivation to crawl, walk, and a lot of other things, particularly when I was little.
We spent a lot of time doing activities related to the Academy and the wrestling team, which I didn't mind; it was interesting to see how things worked around there, and made me appreciate the things that I have at my school (although the lack of structure can be tempting). There were a few instances where I teared up, such as the fly-over during the cadet parade. I felt so proud to have a sibling that is serving our country and that he gets to do all these things. Don't get me wrong, I've had uncles and grandfathers that have served as well; but for some reason, it didn't hit as close to home. Probably because I never got to see them in the uniform or see the kinds of things that they did.
This may sound silly, but another part that I genuinely enjoyed was the car rides back and forth to different places. Mom would always know to turn on the Country music station for me, and I'd sit back and watch the different mountains go by as we passed them. Hearing Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, and while taking in such incredible views, everything felt a little bit easier. It was relaxing. It was simple.
It reminded me of what you're able to see and experience when you stop stressing out and just sit back and enjoy life.
The end of our trip culminated in having dinner at Cheyenne Mountain Resort for my Grandparents wedding anniversary celebration. Not only was it remarkable to be able to toast to such a milestone (especially today given the divorce rate) but we did so in a place filled with incredible natural beauty.
I was a little depressed on our way to the airport; there's something about Colorado (or maybe the Southwest in general) that is peaceful and uncomplicated. I can't say that I would like to live in the country because of how spread out everything is. However, if God allows it, it would be wonderful to have a little place to go and just get away from the craziness when I feel the need to.
Ultimately, the main reason why that weekend was so special because I had practically everything that I hold dear to me in one place: family, love, and the simple things.
Showing posts with label vacations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacations. Show all posts
December 03, 2012
August 06, 2010
Life Lessons From Colorado
I just recently returned from having some vacation time in Colorado; if I could pick two words to describe the entire experience in itself, they would be beyond beautiful. At times, I felt as though that I wasn't in another part of the country, but an entirely different planet in itself.
Like all of my travels, I like to reflect on my experiences and what I learned from them. However, the hardest part is not trying to pick life lessons out of one particular week, but to actually put them into practice once resuming the usual routine.
I'll admit that I wasn't very keen on going to Colorado when this trip was in it's planning stages; My siblings and I been have spoiled rotten when it comes to travel destinations (My brother and I have been to Disney World about four times, visited the Caribbean Islands when we were both just going into grade school, and we went to Cancun the summer before my junior year). I'd gotten so used to staying at some of the best resorts and floundering around on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. To me, a vacation meant sand, sun and perhaps a fruity little chic drink to go with it. At the time, I so desperately wanted a plane ticket to either California or Arizona for graduation.
But the more I (or should I say, my parents) researched, the more I warmed up to the idea of hiking up a mountain and battling whitewater rapids. After all, they'd been on my bucket list (if you want to call it that) for quite some time.After a seventeen-hour car ride, that's exactly what we did, and more.
The one thing I generally enjoyed about those four days was that they related to what has become the theme of the last couple of months: different, but in a good way. I am normally accustomed to beaches, amusement parks and luxurious hotels. This time, we stayed in a quaint Comfort Inn, (well technically two, since we moved from one town to the other to be closer to the attractions) sipped mediocre coffee in the morning, and practically wore ourselves out by the end of each day. There was very few opportunities to sun-tan, but there was no humidity or pesky misquitoes to constantly slap. The air pressure was something new and it took a bit to adjust, but it was worth it when getting to take in the incredible views that nature had to offer.
But like other getaways that I've taken in the past, it didn't come without a lesson or two. On the last day we were there, I was climbing a rock formation at the Garden of the Gods (a nature center that can almost be mistaken for Sedona) with an intent on taking pictures at the top. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of looking down and thought to myself "Dear Lord, please do not let me fall!" while gripping the rocks to the point where my knuckles turned white. Actually, this was the case for almost everything we did; I had to be holding onto something or someone that could keep me in a position to where I wouldn't lose my balance and fall. It was always the mantra of take plenty of pictures and get down promptly. The one thing I regret was not taking a whole lot of time to marvel and take in the amazing creations before me.
And too often this has related to many situations in my life; since my early teen years, I've fought long and hard battles with my personal self-esteem. Confidence does not come easy, and there were periods that I didn't have any. Now that I'm getting older, I constantly question my abilities in regards to certain physical tasks. The thing is, I know that I'm capable of making my own meals (and I mean actually cooking) and taking care of myself. My biggest issue is actually believing I am. This is especially difficult when I make mistakes and screw up; as much as I hate to say this, there are moments when I think that I am more of a burden then a blessing to my loved ones. This is especially true when I have to hear my own brother remark about how I am not going to survive a semester at college, or when my mother gives me a lecture about whatever the heck I did wrong for the umpteenth time. Deep down, I realize that I am not; but it most definitely feels that way at times.
And though I am probably contradicting what I said above, I once again came to the conclusion that life really isn't all that complicated; or at the very least, it doesn't have to be. I hear so many people (especially girls) bitch and moan about the so-called drama in their lives. In all honesty, I believe that when one constantly refers to a bad situation that they're in, they're the ones making it worse. Stop dwelling on things that are ultimately out of your control.
As for me personally, I know that I worry and stress more then I need to. I can either look at what's happening in the world and get discouraged, or I can use it as a motivation to actually make a change. I can wholeheartedly believe society's stereotypes, or I can defy them and make a life for myself. I can muddle in our financial struggles and fear about not having enough money or my bank account, or I can budget wisely and know that whatever happens, God will give me all that I need.
Life may be a climb, but it's something that should be enjoyed, not feared.
Like all of my travels, I like to reflect on my experiences and what I learned from them. However, the hardest part is not trying to pick life lessons out of one particular week, but to actually put them into practice once resuming the usual routine.
I'll admit that I wasn't very keen on going to Colorado when this trip was in it's planning stages; My siblings and I been have spoiled rotten when it comes to travel destinations (My brother and I have been to Disney World about four times, visited the Caribbean Islands when we were both just going into grade school, and we went to Cancun the summer before my junior year). I'd gotten so used to staying at some of the best resorts and floundering around on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. To me, a vacation meant sand, sun and perhaps a fruity little chic drink to go with it. At the time, I so desperately wanted a plane ticket to either California or Arizona for graduation.
But the more I (or should I say, my parents) researched, the more I warmed up to the idea of hiking up a mountain and battling whitewater rapids. After all, they'd been on my bucket list (if you want to call it that) for quite some time.After a seventeen-hour car ride, that's exactly what we did, and more.
The one thing I generally enjoyed about those four days was that they related to what has become the theme of the last couple of months: different, but in a good way. I am normally accustomed to beaches, amusement parks and luxurious hotels. This time, we stayed in a quaint Comfort Inn, (well technically two, since we moved from one town to the other to be closer to the attractions) sipped mediocre coffee in the morning, and practically wore ourselves out by the end of each day. There was very few opportunities to sun-tan, but there was no humidity or pesky misquitoes to constantly slap. The air pressure was something new and it took a bit to adjust, but it was worth it when getting to take in the incredible views that nature had to offer.
But like other getaways that I've taken in the past, it didn't come without a lesson or two. On the last day we were there, I was climbing a rock formation at the Garden of the Gods (a nature center that can almost be mistaken for Sedona) with an intent on taking pictures at the top. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of looking down and thought to myself "Dear Lord, please do not let me fall!" while gripping the rocks to the point where my knuckles turned white. Actually, this was the case for almost everything we did; I had to be holding onto something or someone that could keep me in a position to where I wouldn't lose my balance and fall. It was always the mantra of take plenty of pictures and get down promptly. The one thing I regret was not taking a whole lot of time to marvel and take in the amazing creations before me.
And too often this has related to many situations in my life; since my early teen years, I've fought long and hard battles with my personal self-esteem. Confidence does not come easy, and there were periods that I didn't have any. Now that I'm getting older, I constantly question my abilities in regards to certain physical tasks. The thing is, I know that I'm capable of making my own meals (and I mean actually cooking) and taking care of myself. My biggest issue is actually believing I am. This is especially difficult when I make mistakes and screw up; as much as I hate to say this, there are moments when I think that I am more of a burden then a blessing to my loved ones. This is especially true when I have to hear my own brother remark about how I am not going to survive a semester at college, or when my mother gives me a lecture about whatever the heck I did wrong for the umpteenth time. Deep down, I realize that I am not; but it most definitely feels that way at times.
And though I am probably contradicting what I said above, I once again came to the conclusion that life really isn't all that complicated; or at the very least, it doesn't have to be. I hear so many people (especially girls) bitch and moan about the so-called drama in their lives. In all honesty, I believe that when one constantly refers to a bad situation that they're in, they're the ones making it worse. Stop dwelling on things that are ultimately out of your control.
As for me personally, I know that I worry and stress more then I need to. I can either look at what's happening in the world and get discouraged, or I can use it as a motivation to actually make a change. I can wholeheartedly believe society's stereotypes, or I can defy them and make a life for myself. I can muddle in our financial struggles and fear about not having enough money or my bank account, or I can budget wisely and know that whatever happens, God will give me all that I need.
Life may be a climb, but it's something that should be enjoyed, not feared.
July 07, 2009
Family Matters
My family (Mom's side) and I spent this past weekend up at my Aunt and Uncle's lake house for the 4th of July. Aside from the little bit of rain we got and the chilly water, it was perfect. I spent alot of time tubing with my cousin and sister, and we were all treated to my Uncle's anual fireworks display saturday night.
Last night I took my sister and her friend to see My Sister's Keeper. I can't really say I enjoyed it all that much compared to the book, although that happens in most cases when I watch movies that are based on novels. I won't give away the ending, but it was definately a tear-jerker. I gave my sister a big, long hug after it was over.
My mom made a comment last night about how proud she was of me and my siblings. Not just because of our academic and activity-related accomplishments, but because of how we are when it comes to family-related things. Although I can't speak for how the two of them feel, but I myself really don't mind going to get-togethers or outings. I think its awesome that my Grandparents take us out to movies and/or lunch whenever they can, and that I can see my family as often as I do. I've learned to really appreciate all of it because I know various people that don't have what I have. Plus, I know that there will come a time where I won't have it as much.
Last night I took my sister and her friend to see My Sister's Keeper. I can't really say I enjoyed it all that much compared to the book, although that happens in most cases when I watch movies that are based on novels. I won't give away the ending, but it was definately a tear-jerker. I gave my sister a big, long hug after it was over.
My mom made a comment last night about how proud she was of me and my siblings. Not just because of our academic and activity-related accomplishments, but because of how we are when it comes to family-related things. Although I can't speak for how the two of them feel, but I myself really don't mind going to get-togethers or outings. I think its awesome that my Grandparents take us out to movies and/or lunch whenever they can, and that I can see my family as often as I do. I've learned to really appreciate all of it because I know various people that don't have what I have. Plus, I know that there will come a time where I won't have it as much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)