A Letter to My Younger Self

Amy, Right now you’re lost and unsure of what the world expects of you. Up until now, you’ve done everything according to plan:  Go to college, graduate on time with an above-average GPA, get a job(any job to support yourself and avoid moving back home), pay the rent on time and live life. But it’s the “live life” part that you’re struggling with. You have your own place, friends and enough money to enjoy higher quality beer than college $2 pitcher nights and a few good dinners out. But you’re asking “is this it?” Is this what I spent 23 years aiming towards? And yes, dear friend, it will get a little worse before it gets better. Friends will pair off, get married, have kids and ditch you in favor of play...

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Mini Road Trip to Mount Vernon

Finally, after almost six years of living in DC, I visited Mount Vernon. The timing was ripe, as I am on disc 2 of the HBO mini-series, John Adams and my $7 entry-fee provided by Living Social was expiring the end of March.  So with the windows down in the car, I took in the warmth of the 70 degree spring day and ventured outside my standard 5-mile radius for a “mini” road-trip to General Washington’s country estate: Mount Vernon, VA. The Main House Just found my retirement gig. Founding Father #1 The “Necessity” or “I need indoor plumbing” Riding in comfort 18th-Century style

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National Bucket List Day

I expect we all have a bucket list somewhere written in the depths of our brains that we often think about in between the chores of our everyday and seemingly common life. I’ve found; however, that it  if I write it down, I have a greater chance at actually achieving it, and thus pursing my path to something great.  It’s something about seeing it on paper and physically checking it off makes me feel accomplished. Yes, I’m a sucker for “to-do” list on a sticky note that stares at me all week before I break down and either do it or throw the note away in protest that for that week, I just wasn’t in the mood to be that organized with my life. Sorry, I digress. I believe a bucket list evolves as we do and things come on and off...

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My Risk Journey

I’m continuing on my quest to understand risk, and specifically risk when it comes to dating and relationships. I have no problem risking my life flying 14 hours on Egypt Air or Air China (if you flew these airlines you’d understand the risk),  but when it comes to personal, one-on-one, I think I might like you kind of risk, I fade into obscurity and the shy 4 year-old girl that was too scared to walk alone down the aisle as a flower girl in my uncle’s wedding comes out. I choose to hide behind fear. Right now, I have no answers, I’m just exploring. But I found the following quote helpful in my journey: “To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the...

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