This past weekend I went to the Caring for the Caregiver hackfest. It was AWESOME!

I had the opportunity to stay in a nice hotel, meet five awesome students from my school, and work with them to develop a product for caregivers in just 24 hours. Schools from all over the state were there and we competed to design the best product; one that was usable, original, and profitable. Most schools created applications and websites, and my team created a website, application, and concrete product.

While I only got 4.5 hours of sleep over the weekend, I absolutely loved the experience, and I learned SO much along the way.

Here's a few of the most important things I learned:

1. Be your own advocate. I like to assess a situation and the people involved before I speak and participate. While working with five other ambitious, strong-willed, and intelligent students, however, I learned that if I wanted to truly be a part of this I had to jump in and think quickly. I had to speak up and communicate my thoughts clearly and effectively.

Assessing or jumping in may be more or less appropriate depending on particular situations, but it was great to have practice jumping in and taking action on what I wanted to work on. Be hungry, eager, and composed.

2. Delivery is critical and this includes diction and tone. When I spoke with confidence-with belief in what I was saying- and supported my opinion with evidence, my group listened to me more.

This was a rather significant realization for me. Many people have told me that I have a comforting voice--that it is a soothing sound, which might serve me well when I work with a patient in distress; however, I realized a soothing voice was not going to get me anywhere during this project, and it might not in the workforce either. I turned up the volume knob and pressed the "be assertive" and "command with confidence" buttons.
As a woman, it is interesting to find the balance between the nurturing/caring for others part of me and the I am advocating for what I believe in/I am a strong aspect, but we are blessed to have more than one side and it's important to develop an ability to flip sides and/or combine them. Men too--sometimes showing strength and an ability to feel is advantageous.

3. Know your strengths and weaknesses and develop both. I told my group that I like working with details, so one of the tasks I worked on was refining the wording and formatting of our presentations. I also planned where each of us would stand during the presentation too. I must say that we had the best presentation thanks to our practice, organization, and clean, professional appearance. You would be surprised how silly it looks when people do not know where to stand, or who speaks before or after them. (Shout out to my ballet training for helping me have the sense to "choreograph" and discuss these matters with my team beforehand). Accentuate your strengths and be willing to learn more to develop your weaknesses.

4. Value others. Everyone has something to offer, and we all have our strengths. Each person knows something that you do not. It was amazing to see my engineering teammates design a webpage and models of products. I was also impressed by some detailed information that my social work teammates knew even though our professions encompass similar topics. Everyone works better when they feel appreciated, so it can be worthwhile to recognize people for their work.

5. Master the art of reading others. This is very helpful when working with people. It was particularly helpful when I sensed one of my teammates was unhappy. He did not want to express it in front of everyone, so I found a moment to ask what was bothering him and delineate a course of action to help address his concerns. I think part of being a team member and leader is trying to ensure that everyone is on board during the ride. The team is stronger if we move forward together.

5. Knowledge and LIFE is out there for you to take advantage of and LIVE! It's a few days later and I am still thinking about this event. I learned so much about myself, other people, group dynamics, creating a product, some technology and business aspects of such an operation, and more. Most importantly, I feel a duty to learn and take advantage of what life has to offer.
I feel so empowered by stepping outside of my comfort zone.
It was so enriching to meet people who have different strengths and areas of knowledge.
It was inspiring to be one of the forty-two students in the state helping to architect the future.

Instead of scanning social media when I have a free moment, I am going to read my Flipboard app in an effort to broaden my knowledge (Flipboard encompasses news on a variety of topics from a variety of major published sources). I am planning to attend a free event tomorrow and listen to a speaker talk about humanity, society, and transformation. I am volunteering to participate in a professor's clinical simulation. I am not telling you this, so you will think I am great. I am sharing this because:

If I have the opportunity to learn, grow, and give, then I have the obligation to do so.


Could you be a better advocate for yourself, refine the delivery of your ideas, spend more time focusing on people's positive qualities rather than their negative ones, or take action to broaden your horizons? If you can then you should. 

Take a second to truly experience this...Feel this in your bones. 

Picture where you would like to be...how you look, what you see, what you smell, how you feel...Make your image tangible. 

When challenging moments arise during your day, take a second to come back to this place. Feel the calmness of being safe with yourself and the peace of being free to live as who you are meant to be.

Honor yourself and others by believing that your dreams are possible, that you deserve to live to your fullest potential, and that the world needs you to keep living and uncovering your purpose. 

When you give your unique contribution to the world you naturally invite others to do the same.

Carry this peace and gentle knowing with you today...

I enjoy a lot of what Brene Brown has to say,  and I love that her research focuses on human dynamics. I recommend checking out some of her TED talks if you have time. Here's one: The Power of Vulnerability. Some of her life lessons are below...this might be something else I will mount on my bedroom wall. :) I hope you enjoy reading it.

Well, hello there! It's been a while! School has been particularly busy lately, but spring break is providing me with a minor reprieve, so here I am. I feel grateful to have a moment to return home with myself through writing, so thank you for reading.

My brother shared this poem with me and although it's old, this was the first time I read it.

Desiderata

by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Strive to be happy.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

I think this poem is so beautiful and it has such pure wisdom. I plan to post it on my bedroom wall because it's amazing how it feels like everything I believe in and everything I need to remember. 

I can't pick a favorite line in this poem because they're all so rich, but the reminder to not compare yourself to others resonates with me strongly right now. I find this difficult because I am competitive, and I want to be the best at everything; I've always had an insatiable appetite for achieving.

In fact, when my mom asked me if I wanted to do ballet at age 5, I (apparently) said, "Only if I'm good at it." 

After every class, I would ask her how I did and if I was the best in the class. 

Even now, I always to want to be the smartest, fittest, most enjoyable to be around, etc. etc. etc. and I need to accept that despite my desire to have it all, be it all, and do it all--I can't. I'm human and so are you.

It's important to let go of any unrealistic expectations you hold on yourself and forgive yourself for not upholding the impossible.

If you feel that your efforts are lacking ask yourself if it's because you can truly do better and are capable of doing so without compromising the balance of your life demands......or if it's because you have an unrealistic idea of what your life is supposed to look like, who you should be, or what you should be doing.

Remind yourself that there is "no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should" and to "be at peace" while holding this gentle trust in your heart.