August 4, 2021 - Hiking Mt Bonnell

I hiked Mt Bonnell this evening with some friends and my dog. I use the term "hiked" loosely. That's what everyone says "Let's go hike Mt. Bonnell," but honestly it's like 30 steps straight up to a pretty viewing area overlooking the "lake" (Lake Austin is actually a river - these people have weird ways of naming things) and then a very small rocky path/trail thing you can go down. I wore athletic clothes, most of the people I met were in cute outfits for pictures and a number of people just chilling by the overlook were in nice-ish clothes as there were several couples on casual dates. Obviously I was prepared for a far more intensive hike than anyone else. That isn't to say it wasn't enjoyable, just the company was enjoyable, the hike was, well, not a hike. Those stairs are STEEP though! The view from partway down the path past the overlook. I wish I had gotten a picture of the sun before it set - it looked like something out of Star Wars, glowing red with some light clouds in front of it. Before we went tonight, I popped into the pet store down the road to grab a new harness for Faith - she hasn't had one since she was a puppy because she out grew hers and I didn't replace it. I checked the weight recommendations and the breed recommendations and got her a large harness. I loosened every single buckle I could on that thing and it still doesn't fit, so that will be returned tomorrow. I've been on a "return everything I have purchased that doesn't work for me" kick lately, which is making me feel very adulty. Side note - you should always return things that don't work for you as long as you are still in the return time and the item is still returnable. It is funny the things that are making me feel extra adulty lately. I had to call the dentist to discuss an extraneous charge which made me feel super adulty but I've been training loads of people at work lately and that just feels normal and less adulty. Returning things and negotiating payments makes me feel adulty but budgeting and paying rent doesn't. Those differences are just kinda interesting to me. Anyways, those are my musings for today. Y'all have a great evening.

30 Day Challenge - Day 30

This post is 4 days late for a couple reasons. First, I've actually had a kinda busy weekend. Second, the spare time I had, I spent napping. And third, I wasn't 100% sure how I wanted to end this challenge. On Thursday, which was technically Day 30, we were going to go climbing and then we had a tornado watch that shut campus down after 5 pm so that didn't happen. I wound up going to Target, getting cookie dough, and then making chocolate chip cookie waffles. Highly recommend cookie waffles especially with ice cream on top. Yum. It was so good. Anyways, that was my Thursday night - watching the How To Train Your Dragon Netflix TV show while eating ice cream on cookie waffles during a tornado watch. It was fantastically relaxing. So I guess that, at the end of my 30 Day Challenge, I should reflect. Honestly, what I have learned the most is that doing something you enjoy on a regular basis isn't as difficult as it sounds. For some reason, I think we have it in our brains that making our life something different, something we enjoy is impossible if we don't take giant steps. Let me just tell you, I have more fun now than I did in January. Not because I have made a dramatic life change but because I have made one single conscious choice, every single day for a month, to do something I enjoy or that relaxes me or that is new to me. I've heard it said before that your life is not one big moment it is just a bunch of little moments that culminate as your whole life. If that is even remotely true, why don't we take small moments and enjoy them more often? As humans living in the 21st century, we make thousands upon thousands of choices a day. It sounds crazy to think that one choice each day can change your life but it can. A month ago, I really thought I was going to get a week into my challenge and fail. And, if I remember correctly, I did fail. I had a day where all I did was work and the stuff I had to do because I was too busy to do anything else. But I then made a point to do something I like the next day and the next day. Y'all I'm not saying that every day will be a success, I'm not saying every day will be hunky-dory, happy-go-lucky. I am saying that when you make the choice to be happy, your day goes a lot better. When you make the choice to like what you do, life becomes a bit more enjoyable. I promise, I'm not trying to preach to you or be some sort of fancy person that gives life advice because they know everything. Trust me, I'm not fancy and I do not know anything close to everything. What I do know is what I have done, what I have tried. And I know what my response would be to reading this. "Right. Well, that seems to work great for you but it would never work for me. I am too busy/tired/occupied/lazy to do that right now. And it just seems like a lot of work anyhow. Stop telling me what will make my life better. You don't know me. My situation is different." Maybe that isn't your response. Maybe you are 100% considering making choices in your life that make you happy. But maybe that is your response. Or maybe your response is a bit different but still is honestly along the same lines. Maybe you didn't have a response at all. I don't care. I am talking to you. You are amazing as you are right now. But we are not created to stop growing. We are created to flourish. And being in a place where you are too busy and tired to do anything that makes you happy isn't flourishing. I know. I've been there. And I am telling you, as someone who decided to never go back to being in a situation where I can't choose happiness, one choice a day, even a small choice, can change everything. So what did I learn from my challenge? I validated something I have been learning over the past few years - one choice a day really does change your world. I hope you have enjoyed following my 30 day challenge. I invite you to stick around as I figure out what I am going to do with my blog from here on out. If you click here, you can subscribe to my blog and get an email every time I create a new post, that way you stay updated. TBH, the reality of me posting more than once a day or so is very slim so you won't be spammed with emails. I'll see y'all around again shortly!

30 Day Challenge - Day 29

One day left of my challenge. That is so exciting! I am so proud of myself for getting this far. So yesterday was, as every Wednesday has been for me for the past while, chapter for my sorority. But, unlike normal, we had our event for graduating seniors. It was super sweet, my adorable twin gave me a sweet gift and I cried when people kept telling me how much they loved me and will miss me. [caption width="4032" align="aligncenter"] Look at my pretty little badge and the tiny alumni pin I got tonight!![/caption] If we are being 100% honest, I almost didn't join Sigma Kappa. And after I did, I almost dropped like 5 times. But, I decided to stick it out and somehow, at some point, made an impact on people - some of which I think I have spoken to a grand total of 3 times all year. I just want you (I am assuming people are still reading at this point, but who knows? Maybe someone is still reading my corner of the internet. Maybe everyone got bored and ditched me after day 2. Wow, that is a sad thought. Moving on...), I want you to know that what you do, what you say, the smile you wear, the tears you share, has an impact on the people around you. You might not feel it, you might not see it, and you may never know who but people watch you and know you and love you and suport you from the sidelines. I don't say this to make you self-consious, I don't say this to make you question everything in your life (graduation does that all on it's own and doesn't need my help 😊), I say this because it is true. When I graduated high school, when I left my last 3 jobs, and now as I leave Sigma Kappa at UA, I am reminded that we are not islands meant to live life alone. We are called to live as examples of who Christ is and how He has changed us. People notice. Not because you do something flashy. Not because you do something big. Simply because you love. Sorry for getting all sappy on you. Apparently graduation approaching has me feeling all the feels (as the cool kids say). Anyways, I want you to take today and tell someone that has had am impact on you - preferably a peer or someone younger than you - that they have had an effect on your life. Seriously, go love on someone today just because you can. I'll see you tomorrow to end my challenge!!

30 Day Challenge - Day 28

My challenge is coming to an end and is getting harder to complete this week. I have meetings for quite a bit of the day for the rest of the week because senior projects are all due either this week or next. We were going to go to the gym yesterday but both rec centers were closed for Staff Appreciation Night so that didn't happen. We are going to try again on Thursday. Last night, I was given a super sweet senior gift from Sigma Kappa with tons of stuff INCLUDING A MINI WAFFLE IRON! How cute is that?!?! I'm so excited to get to use it! Sorry for the late night post again but I forgot to post earlier this morning. I hope your Wednesday has been fabulous and that your Thursday starts off well too!!

30 Day Challenge - Day 27

I have 18 days left until I graduate undergrad. That is crazy. It feels like junior year just started. Freshman year feels like it was four years ago but the last two seem to have flow by. Yesterday, the university put on their annual Senior SendOff where seniors get to go on the field at Bryant-Denny and take photos. Georgia and I went, ran into several friends while there, and took a few pictures. And by a few, I mean I have 387 pictures on my phone and Georgia has about 20 more on her phone. Man, am I glad to have digital cameras and not film cameras anymore. It was so bright outside that it was hard to see the screen a lot of times which resulted in me just hitting the button about 15 times trying to get a photo that looked right. Also, I would like it to be noted that the 3 years of yearbook in high school taught me how to take a half-way decent photo of people and I am kinda proud of that. Anyways, wanna see some photos? I hope your answer was yes because you are getting photos regardless :) (But not too many photos because Georgia doesn't want me posting all her photos before she does). This was the face I made anytime someone walked behind us and messed up the background of our photos. "Oh, but what if you fly?" 18 days till I have 0 commitments. That is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I can do whatever I want with the world at my finger tips but at the same time, I can do basically anything which makes narrowing that search down a bit difficult. If you have any clue how to narrow that search down, help would be much appreciated. Y'all have a great Tuesday!

30 Day Challenge – Loving Life with Lyss

30 Day Challenge

August 4, 2021 – Hiking Mt Bonnell

August 4, 2021

I hiked Mt Bonnell this evening with some friends and my dog. I use the term “hiked” loosely. That’s what everyone says “Let’s go hike Mt. Bonnell,” but honestly it’s like 30 steps straight up to a pretty viewing area overlooking the “lake” (Lake Austin is actually a river – these people have weird ways of naming things) and then…

Read More

Lyss
30 Day Challenge

30 Day Challenge – Day 30

April 22, 2019

So that was my Thursday night - watching the How To Train Your Dragon Netflix TV show while eating ice cream on cookie waffles during a tornado watch. It was fantastically relaxing.

Read More

Lyss
30 Day Challenge

30 Day Challenge – Day 29

April 18, 2019

One day left of my challenge. That is so exciting! I am so proud of myself for getting this far.

Read More

Lyss
30 Day Challenge

30 Day Challenge – Day 28

April 17, 2019

My challenge is coming to an end and is getting harder to complete this week. I have meetings for quite a bit of the day for the rest of the week because senior projects are all due either this week or next. We were going to go to the gym yesterday but both rec centers were closed for Staff Appreciation…

Read More

Lyss
30 Day Challenge

30 Day Challenge – Day 27

April 16, 2019

I have 18 days left until I graduate undergrad. That is crazy. It feels like junior year just started. Freshman year feels like it was four years ago but the last two seem to have flow by.

Read More

Lyss