Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The River City & TEDxJacksonville

Jacksonville is a wonderful place to live. The River City offers wonderful beaches, state parks, art and history museums, local theatre, and is home to an organization I have the greatest pleasure of working for, TEDxJacksonville. 

This venture started a few months ago after I assisted in the simulcast of TEDxWomen, an incredibly inspirational event where individuals, the best in their field, met and discussed todays problems and its beauties. 


I am now graduated from college and have more time to devote to TEDxJacksonville- a program of local, self-organized events which brings people together to share "Ideas Worth Spreading." This extra time has provided me with the opportunity to reflect and review past TED Talks which has proven beneficial for me.


Through listening to TED Talks (either on TED.com, YouTube, or Netflix) I have learned to love myself for what I am and approach everything about myself differently. Instead of feeling shame when I make mistakes, I own them and learn from them. I no longer fear myself but try to see the potential for creativity. 

Dong Woo Jang's TED Talk educated me on self-awareness and provided me the confidence to immerse myself in what I love (reading/writing). Dong Woo Jang is a young man under the pressure of a strict education system and to cope with his anxiety he relieves his stress through a creative outlet- making bows from bamboo sticks. This young man discussed the importance of art and the role it plays in your emotional health. For more information on this individual click here. 

In addition to the sharing of ideas, I was sparked to join TEDxJacksonville because of the River City itself. I have loved Jacksonville for all of her beauties. However, I was always aware of an element which was missing- community. Jacksonville is a large city with great diversity. This size and diversity created sections of the city, blockading any sense of oneness. No one is more pleased to say that I feel these barriers slowly breaking down. 

TEDxJacksonville does more than host and plan events, it creates daily dialogue and inspiration.

As a part of TEDxJacksonville, I am surrounded by people who are passionate, creative, and kind.


TEDxJacksonville is a small organization of volunteers with big hopes and I cannot wait to witness the success of this initiative. 




No matter your passion, it must be pursued.


Follow TEDxJacksonville on your social streams
and View our website

Sunday, April 28, 2013

No Longer Lacking


I posted this article on a different blog a few months ago- A conglomerate blog entitled "The Writers March." To my great pleasure It was well received, but some wonderful feedback and self-reflection has inspired to make some edits. Writing is always a work in progress.


Part of humanity is comparing ourselves to the others around us. It keeps us uncomfortably self-aware. We look at a reflection of ourselves and say one of three things, 1) I’m happy where I am 2) I can live with this & 3) Who have I become?!?

There has always been one aspect of my life where I would respond with the latter. I have always felt a little absent in one aspect of life- passion. Passion for one thing that drives me or inspires.

I never felt a consuming love of any one thing- I have no hobby that consumes my energy, thoughts, and time. I look around at friends, family, and historical figures and see people that are filled with both a healthy and unhealthy fascination for one thing. Maybe I am romanticizing this almost obsessive behavior- but it seems incredibly fulfilling.

My brother has spent his life eating, breathing, and sleeping baseball- now he’s a college ball player. I was always so jealous of his commitment to baseball. I was going to t-ball games and now I’m at college games surrounded with boys just like him that worked hard to maintain their grades and bodies in order to fulfill their desires to simply play baseball. These events are absolutely thrilling, but not because I love them, but because they, the players, do. I enjoy baseball, but I'd prefer to read a book. It is the energy which thrills me and not necessarily the activity itself.

In addition to my brother, one of my dearest friends is an artist: she paints, sketches, spins pottery, and is a photographer. She is now graduated with a degree in Art and is a professional photographer. She fulfilled her dream and literally creates art every day.

My choice historical figure who embodies passion and commitment is 1st Lady, Dolly Madison. Mrs. Madison ran back into an enflamed White House in front of quivering soldiers to save treasured paintings, risking her body to conserve pieces of American history.

But back to my own perceived lack of such feelings. I always felt that I would find my passion- so I explored different hobbies. I am not an artistic woman- I can’t sew, knit, crochet, or create anything really. As much as I want to be a writer, I lack the creative imagination (at least for now). I am far from athletic; I can barely walk in a straight line for any length of time.

I was discussing this with a friend and she laughed at me, responding, “You have a hobby! It is just less expressive than others- you read.” She’s right, but I struggled for some time with this realization. I wanted a “better” passion, something that could make itself known to everyone around me, something animated and obvious.


If we truly “can’t choose who we love” I think it’s safe to assert that you can’t choose what you love. At last, I feel like I am no longer missing out on a pivotal aspect of life. I have what I love, and it is one thing, reading. 

Upon further reflection, I see where this dilemma has shown itself before. I return to my struggle with my Major in college- English Literature. Now I have a response to the question, "How did you choose your major?" and I respond with a little laugh, saying, “I didn’t choose my Major, it chose me.” 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Newly Discovered Quote

"A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water." 
-- Eleanor Roosevelt