For Love of the Game

We all have our first loves and for some the first love is the last love. For some it was Brad Pitt when he popped up on the screen in Thelma & Louise, Kurt Cobain from Nirvana, or Jimmy, the next door neighbor. For some the first love happened at the age of ten, others sixteen, or maybe for some not until later in life. For me I had my first love when I was 6 years old and no it wasn't Brad, Kurt, or the next door neighbor. Actually, my first love wasn't a person but rather, a game. Softball.

Freshman Year 2011, Coach Wares 900th win at Cornell.

I played multiple sports growing up and loved everything from soccer, basketball, to tennis but nothing filled me with joy like softball did. I remember the first time I put on my glove and played catch, hearing the snap of the ball into the glove is something I could listen to forever. The first time I gripped a bat and made contact with the ball when I was hitting. Running around the bases at, well, definitely not high speed, probably not above average speed, maybe more like normal speed. We'll just say when I was in school I certainly didn't come in first at the relay races but I didn't come in last either :) I remember the first time I got to play on a team and how much fun it was to be young and playing because you love the game. I think sometimes that is lost. Today's athletes sometimes seem more focused on playing for a scholarship, to impress others, or because their parents want them to. The unfortunate reality is that along the way, the reason they started playing in the first place gets lost and they aren't doing it for the right reasons anymore.

Senior Year 2014

An important mantra that I heard quite often while playing softball, particularly during my college years is to, "Play for Her." This phrase is so pure because it helped me think back to when I was younger and to remember what it felt like to play without a care in the world and to just play for the love and passion of the game. I think as I got older at times, I lost that. I became more concerned with how I was performing, statistics, and who was watching me. It became more of an investment in those things than the game itself.  I was taking from the game but I wasn't giving much back and that was very selfish of me. It wasn't until college that I really understood what it meant to invest fully in something and that getting to play the game is an opportunity that shouldn't be taken for granted.

Sophomore Year 2012, Coach O'Brien's 600th win at home.

I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play softball at Central College. Those four years had a huge impact on me as a person and in my life, they still continue to do so today because of all the great relationships I made. I learned early on that being a part of Central Softball is bigger than any one person and it is bigger than yourself. It is about being invested in achieving a common goal and being invested in each other. Whether you were a starter on the field or someone in the dugout the roles are equally as important. The teammates I played with made me better every day and I was inspired by them daily. Our coaches were always finding ways to make us better, and not just as softball players but as leaders and people. I learned more at times from our coaches life lessons than I did about the game of softball.

Junior year 2013 after winning the Regional Title at home and advancing to the National Tournament.

I wish every day I could go back and put on that Central Softball uniform and step on the field with my teammates. When I finished playing it felt like a piece of my heart wasn't there anymore, and to a certain degree it still feels that way. However, I have come to realize that Central Softball will always be in my heart and I will always return to the field I once played on and support the new generations that come through the program because that is what Central Softball is, a family. It is a family made up of all the teams and players that came before and the current team now. So whether you graduated in 1998, 2005, or 2014, we are all connected through Central Softball and that is what makes it so special, the tradition. Central Softball gave me more than I could probably ever repay it for, but for everyone reading this with a connection to the program I just want you to know, "My heart is always on the field, and my eyes are still on the prize."

Greatest softball field in the country, always feels like home.

When you truly find something you love, hold on to it and never let it go. Whether that is a sport, playing an instrument, or painting, always cherish the opportunity to do what you love. If you find yourself struggling or at a crossroads remember why you fell in love in the first place. Never take it for granted, always respect it, and remember to "Play For Her."

"Somewhere behind the athlete you've become 

and the hours of practice

and the coaches who have pushed you

is a little girl who fell in love with the game

and never looked back....

play for her."

- Mia Hamm

Goodbye 2015

With the year coming to a close I felt it was necessary to write a post saying farewell to 2015. The new year is fast approaching and this time is usually spent looking bak on the past year, remember the good times, bad times, and looking on to what the new year has to offer. I am going to do this, but only for a little bit.

Family :)

I try to be a person that doesn't look back on the past too much. Don't get me wrong, a lot of great things have taken place in my past, moments that I will never forget. For me personally reminiscing or recollecting sound more positive than looking back, which makes me think of looking back on regrets and the bad things that took place. I am sure we can all agree that we learn and grow from the difficult moments in our lives but once they have passed it is important that we look to the future and not dwell on what happened. Easier said than done but it can be accomplished. It just takes strength.

Bette Midler Concert
Visit to Georgia (below)

I would be lying if I said this past year went without any problems, if you have read my earlier posts you can see it wasn't always easy. There were a lot of great moments from this year though, ones that as I remember them, outweigh the bad. I think a big positive that came out of this past year is I found myself and was able to grow as a person. Even through the tough times I had the opportunity to grow and learn what I wanted and didn't want out of life.

I have had some great experiences, met new people, and have built new friendships. I consider myself lucky for all of the opportunities I was presented this past year and am thankful for the life I have to live. Time goes so fast, it seemed liked this year just flew by, and one can only think, did I accomplish everything I wanted? The answer is probably no, but that doesn't mean the year was a waste because I still have plenty of opportunities ahead. It is up to me to get the most out of life and to live it, not just exist. So for all of you, remember the good times, don't dwell on the bad, and look forward to the future because it can be bright if you only let it.

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, 

so as to accept the one that is waiting for us."

- Joseph Campbell

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Hiking! 

Be Thankful, Every Day.

I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. Friends who are amazing and a great support system in times of need. A job or should I say jobs that have given me the opportunity to do what I love. A great place to live and food on the table. I also am incredibly thankful for my family who without them, I would not be the person I am today. They have done so much for me and I know will continue to do so for my whole life and the best way I can think to acknowledge that is to say I love you and I'm thankful for you every day.

I enjoy this time of year, the holidays, because it really does have a way of bringing people together. It is a great opportunity to spend time reminiscing and being with the ones you love, what else could be better. Thanksgiving, or as a lot of people like to call it Turkey Day is this week, a great day to spend with family and friends and remember how truly blessed we are. However, it breaks my heart to know there are millions who will go without shelter or food during the holidays. Thinking about everyone who is not as fortunate as myself really puts it all into perspective and I realize how selfish I can be. I probably complain about something at least once a day, sometimes it is very minimal and other times it happens more often, but what I do know is it is not necessary. What do I have to complain about? I'm not happy, far away from family, work is tiring, blah..blah..blah. I have family and friends, food, a good home, and the financial means to live comfortably, I should be grateful every day.

Aunt Patty and Aunt Chris, who treat
us like their children. We love you so
much!

Can't forget Ollie the Trolley!

My friend Katie :)

I think to a certain degree that is where our society has become a little lost on what being thankful or rather, when being thankful should take place. It should take place every day. It is interesting to me that somehow the month of November has turned into, "I'm going to express everything I am thankful for and then go back to not acknowledging it until next November." I know that sounds a little harsh but it happens every year where we see people posting things or saying it out loud more often. Now I don't want to sound judgmental because I believe everything I read or hear is totally sincere and I'm not trying to say the words don't mean anything, I honestly just wish it would happen on a more consistent basis. I would
like to see posts or words of thankfulness all year, each month, every day.

A great thing about writing this blog is being able to acknowledge my faults and weaknesses, accept them and work to change. If you noticed I started this post with saying what I was thankful for so really I am just like everyone else because I will admit I don't do it enough. Even when I was deciding what to write about for this post immediately I thought, well Thanksgiving is coming up, I should write about what I am thankful for. Really? How generic is that. Since Thanksgiving falls in November it is inevitable that it becomes the month of "expressing what we're thankful for," and I'm sure the same would be true if it happened during March. That's the problem right there, we have fallen into this routine that we need a driving force for us to express emotions that should be shown on a daily basis.

I'm thankful for being a part of
Central Softball and all of my
teammates I call friends.

My friend Alyssa. Thankful that you
love Hairball and 80's rock as much
as I do :)

There was an ongoing theme throughout this post, I used the phrase every day quite often and that is because it is important for us all to be thankful for everything we have going on in our lives on a daily basis. I am sure a lot of you already do that and others it is time to start, I surely need to. This will be the first Thanksgiving I will spend without any of my family, which, is hard but instead of sulking about it I am going to be thankful for the people I will be spending the day with. My family is great and there is nothing like spending time with them but it is nice that I have been able to make some connections here in Pennsylvania. Another important thought is that we should never take anything for granted in our lives. We never know what is going to happen next and so we need to take advantage of the life we have been given to live. Live life one day at a time and don't try to speed it up because you will miss out on all of the important moments. Live every day, love every day, and be thankful every day.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving holiday.

"Take the time to be thankful for everything that you have.

You can always have more, but you could also have less."

- Mohd Uved

Corsets, Fishnets, and Wigs!!

 "It's just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right!

 With your hands on your hips, you bring your knees in tight!

 But it's the pelvic thrust, that really drives you insane,

Let's do the time warp again!"

It's amazing how a movie can bring generations together, but then again I think in some ways, that is the purpose of film making. When film makers are able to create something that, in a way transcends time and reaches different people from year to year, it is something to be proud of. Fun fact, the movie discussed in this week's post actually tanked at the box office and yet it has the longest-running theatrical release in film history, all because its ability to develop new audiences and maintain its cult following. The particular film I am referring to is none other than the cult classic, musical comedy horror, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!

I had the opportunity to work the annual showing of Rocky Horror at the Midtown Cinema for Halloween and I must say it was an experience. For those of you who have not seen what I can only describe as a catastrophic masterpiece (I mean that in a positive way) go watch it right now! Soon enough you will be singing the songs, doing the Time Warp, and hoping there is a showing near you next Halloween. Don't forget your prop bag!

So what is it about this movie that it has been able to cultivate a new audience from year to year while also maintaining it's loyal cult following? I think it is because of the great social experience it has become and how it brings different people together. This movie is for the audience and the people that come put on a show that in ways, is better than the movie itself. It has created this great big family that love coming together to enjoy the film and introduce it to newbies along the way. I think another important factor as to why it is so popular is the movie is pretty far fetched and weird which makes it fun! One can't help but sing along or quote each character's lines. To think that this movie was released in 1975 and after forty years it is still going strong, which, is no surprise that Rolling Stone ranked it #1 on their Best Cult Movies of All Time list.

Midtown Cinema Staff

It was so awesome to see the people that came out to enjoy the show last Saturday and the diverse group we had made the experience even better. We had some who remembered when the movie was first released and how they used to do weekly midnight showings at what is now Capital City Mall, people who have seen it hundreds of times, and finally some who were coming to see it for the first time (it's never too late!). Not to mention the great participation by everyone who dressed up. We had varying depictions and interpretations of all of the different characters and each person made it unique in their own way.

While it would have been fun to go to the movie and watch, being on the other side working and witnessing people having a good time was very gratifying. Not to mention the staff down at Midtown is bomb.com! So while I am sure we were all dead tired the next morning, because we were cleaning up until 1:30am, it really isn't something everyone is lucky enough to experience.

So get a group of friends together and come up the lab, to see what's on the slab, I see you shiver with antici.....pation!!


Thanks for reading!

Annie


Next Week's Blog Preview: Being thankful should be a daily occurrence.

Life is a Climb, But the View is Great

Have you ever really stopped and admired how beautiful the world is around us? Often times we take it for granted. We see nature, not as something to relish but rather, it's just there. The sunrise happens in the morning, the sunset at night, flowers bloom, trees grow, it is all just nature's routine to us. We forget to stop and appreciate all of those things. Really, when you think about it, for the most part nature is one of the purest things in our world, it is always there. Nature is present for us when we need to just take a moment and basque in the beauty, which we should do more often.

Pennsylvania is a beautiful state. Don't get me wrong, it's no Iowa, but it has its perks. One of those perks which I have found to enjoy very much is all of the great hiking trails. Hiking has become a nice hobby of mine as of late. I think one of the aspects that makes it so great is, there are many different paths to follow when hiking. Typically I try to pick out one main trail to follow but as I go along a lot of the trails have multiple paths and really, it becomes my choice on which one to take. I see it as a metaphor for life. Like previously mentioned in my first post, who says we have to follow one path but rather, it is important for us to travel down many to really find out who we are. It can, however, be difficult because there have been times when I have gotten lost due to my choice of path, but I always find my way home. Again, totally relatable to life because the choices we make frame how our lives are going to turn out. The positive is that even if we stumble or make a bad choice we always have the opportunity for redemption and to pick ourselves back up. In my mind no one is ever truly lost, they are just making the hike.

Flat Rock Trail starts in Colonel Denning State Park and leads
to Blue Mountain in Tuscarora State Forest. 

Something else that is very gratifying about hiking is the beautiful nature that surrounds me. I love the smell of the trees, flowers, and fresh air. The sounds of birds, the wind, and leaves rustling is very calming. Now the hikes themselves vary by difficulty, some are steeper than others and it is not always easy making it to the top. Life is an uphill climb. One of my favorite trails I have hiked is called Flat Rock Trail. It is an awesome trip up to the top, it takes about forty five minutes and it is very steep, nothing like an uphill climb to show you how out of shape you are. Let's just say since graduating college my workout routine has dwindled somewhat. Anyway, the hike is well worth it because the view at the top is absolutely amazing. It makes it nice knowing that I am working to reach that point and as difficult as it is to get there, the feeling of looking out over the landscape just takes my breath away. Life is always going to be an uphill climb and when things get difficult it is unfortunately our inclination to stop and stay where we are because it is comfortable instead of treading on into the unknown. I don't know if anyone ever made it anywhere in life by being comfortable all the time, but rather, the uncomfortable is what helps shape us into the people we are today.

Morning view from the top of Blue Mountain.

Hobbies are a great thing because it is a way for us to escape everything else we have going on in our lives. I do at times find that statement contradictory and I wonder if others do too because if our intention is to simply use our respective hobbies as an outlet to escape from our lives, I don't know if that is necessarily a good practice. The term escapism, which means to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, comes to mind. I do think hobbies can help us, but it is all about our intentions. Escaping is not inherently a bad thing but it shouldn't be part of our routine when things get difficult. If my intention when going hiking is to run away from the difficulties of my life, well, they are going to be there when I return. No amount of hiking can make them go away and at some point we all have to face our difficulties, but it is nice to just feel free for a little bit. I need to start looking at my hobbies as a way of shaping who I am, not as a way of escaping and avoiding the difficulties in my life.

It might sound like I am against us having hobbies but that is not my intention at all. We do need to find things that interest us and that we enjoy taking part in but that should be why we do them. Participate in the things you love because you are passionate not because life is hard and it is a way to run away from it. Utilize your hobbies as a form of release but know that life will never stop and it will always be difficult at times, but don't be afraid. The "top" whatever that is for you, may seem unreachable but that is only true if you let fear dictate that. Nothing is unreachable if you keep climbing.

"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more to climb."

- Nelson Mandela

Annie

Picture of the sunrise taken from a morning hike up Flat Rock Trail.

Its You......Me....All of Us.

I recently started working at an independent cinema and I am really enjoying my experience so far. Ever since I went and saw a movie their last October I instantly had this feeling that it was a place I wanted to be. After working there for a little over a month I recently was thinking about the impact it has had on my life so far and how in that short amount of time it has given me the opportunity to really think about some issues we face as individuals in our society. 

The Midtown Cinema is located in Harrisburg and one thing I enjoy about working there (besides getting to see movies for free) is the drive to work and walking when I get the chance. Now, let's just say Harrisburg and the area around the cinema, by word of mouth doesn't have the best reputation, but honestly, it is all about people's perception. There have been some people who have told me, "Be careful down there," and "Don't you know about that area." Now I get it, there have been a handful of bad situations take place but what city doesn't have their fair share of problems. So why do I enjoy the driving and walking? Well, it is a time for me to observe and watch the people. I think most people who aren't familiar with the area would say they see old run down buildings, graffiti markings, trash in the streets, and people getting into trouble. When I drive I see, shop owners standing outside waiting for customers, students talking, friends meeting up, and sadly homeless people asking for help. I look beyond all of the other surroundings and find the aspects that are true. I appreciate all of these different observations because to me they are real and I am watching people experience life. They are working to make a living, having social experiences, and some are just trying to get by, so really, what makes them any different from you and me? The answer is nothing. We are all trying to make a life for ourselves and it is sad when we try and take that away from others simply based on perception.

Today our world is full of people judging others and making assumptions before actually learning or experiencing what people and places are all about. Our society is so focused on the negative things happening that we forget to stop and enjoy the positive side of life. Watching the news these days it just seems like one story after the other is depressing and something bad is always happening. Well, I hate to say it, but we only have ourselves to blame.

"We're blaming "society," yet we are society. 

So to make it a better place, we must first change ourselves."

This quote speaks the truth about our world today. Instead of placing the blame why don't we all step up and take responsibility for our own actions and words. We can say it's the government, a certain culture, or religion, but really, it's all of us. Society is supposed to be built on the foundation of community which we just don't have. We go through periods when we gain huge strides as Americans and in the area of social justice but that doesn't give us the right to opt out when things get difficult. Our membership in society shouldn't just be when things are going well because it is during the hard times wen we all need to step up in different ways. 

I don't want you all to think I am calling out our society without recognizing that I place myself in the "Typical American," category. I make assumptions, pass judgements, and when things get hard I look to blame everything but myself, I am just like everyone else. The one thing that is great about admitting to those aspects of myself is I recognize I have the ability to change, if I am open to it. Life shouldn't be lived in the order of opinion then experience bur rather experience than opinion. Now asking people to do that is somewhat impossible because we can't help but have opinions going into certain situations but I would hope we could all be more open minded at times. I understand that people's opinions can sometimes be the same even after the experience which is fine, but then maybe that is the time for us to step up as individuals and help make a difference. Society does have a very big effect on us as individuals but I don't think people realize that we as individuals can have an even bigger effect on society.

Just the other day when I was driving home from work I noticed a homeless guy asking for help and by that I mean money. Now my outlook on situations like this used to be very close minded and negative towards the individuals. Shame on me. We are most often told don't give them money because they will just spend it on alcohol and drugs. Shame on us. I am happy to say I have completely grown out of that outlook and we all should to. There are so many people struggling more than we can even imagine and for us to hold back from helping simply because our perception that every homeless person is a drunk or into drugs is not how we should approach the situation. We don't know why they are in the situation they are in but one thing that is true, we aren't and probably never will be. A lot of us have the job, financial stability, family, and friends who would be there if we needed the help, not everyone is that lucky.

The situation didn't play out like I wanted. As soon as I caught a glimpse of the him I immediately starting fumbling around in my bag for some cash, I literally was holding up traffic before I finally gave in that I didn't have any. I was really upset as I had to keep driving without being able to offer them anything. I just kept thinking I could have made an impact on that person if only I had money with me and because of this situation I have decided to regularly carry cash with me. I feel like in this day in age people are always using credit cards to pay for things and never have actually physical money with them. Well I ask you all to start keeping some with you. Now I know there might be some hesitancy to just willing give some money to someone but just remember it's only paper and the only thing that makes it valuable, really, is the number on it.

At this moment I am very thankful for the opportunity to work at the cinema because it has opened my eyes to how our society, meaning all of us, need to be better. I knew it before but I know it even more now just from my short experience of working there. So what is my hope for us? My hope is that we can all reach a point where we are actively BEING society and aren't just LIVING in it. I want us to be able to accept the good, the bad, stop placing the blame and start accepting responsibility. For everyone to realize that in our world today, closed mindedness will only hold us back from improving upon where we are today. Will we every really make it? Maybe not, we never really know until we start opening our minds to the possibility of change and take that first step to better ourselves. It starts with you....and me....all of us.

Simple acts of kindness can go a long way and so as an opportunity for us all to help make an impact I ask you all find one thing each week you can do to help. Some of you might already do it which is great, keep it up! My act for the week is making a donation to Downtown Daily Bread. It is a soup kitchen in Harrisburg that provides hot meals for the homeless in the city. With the weather getting colder it is vital we make an effort to help those who don't have the ability to provide for themselves. I ask you to find out about a shelter or soup kitchen close to you and do the same. Remember the hardest part is the first step and willingness to open your mind but the impact you can have......so worth the change.

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. 

For, indeed, that's all who ever have." 

- Margaret Mead

Annie

No regrets in life. Just lessons learned.

People don't tell you how hard it is going to be. Some will be honest and won't sugar coat it, but for the most part we are led to think everything will fall into place. I truly believe that one day it will, but what we sometimes are unprepared for is the journey to get there.

My journey started exactly one year and two months from today. Fresh out of college and into the real world I went. Okay for about two months I didn't really have any real plans, I was just trying to enjoy life and I did. After those two months passed I decided it was time to get serious and I needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life but there was only one problem, I didn't really know. I knew what I enjoyed doing and what I thought would make me happy but do we ever really know until we experience life and take a chance? Well, that is what I decided to do and let me tell you, it hasn't been all sunshine and roses, but it hasn't been all bad either.

I decided to take a job on the East Coast in Pennsylvania, sixteen hours away from my family and friends. Could I really move that far away where I don't know anyone and start a whole new life. Of course I could, why not, the little voice inside my head told me, and I agreed. I still agree to this day but it hasn't come without its struggles. 

So I did it, I moved across the country for my job. The position was what I wanted and it was going to help me get on the right track and figure out my life. Now, part of that is true. I do think a job can assist you in figuring out your life but it shouldn't necessarily determine what the rest of your life is going to be. We should never feel confined to our jobs or feel we have one path to follow which is why we need to take chances and try new things to figure out what is going to make us happy. I enjoy my job and I am learning so much from my experience and yet I still feel like something is missing. Doesn't that sound like the typical person in today's world, always feeling like we have this void to fill instead of living in the moment and taking life one step at a time. We all have this desire to figure out our lives right now and try to rush the process, which is how I approached this last year. I am not going to say I was naive and thought happiness would be instant, but I have been struggling to figure out what will make me happy. I am still working on it but I take comfort in knowing I don't have to know right now but I do need to keep taking chances and living life one moment at a time to figure it out. 

I think something I've always known about myself is I am a people person and I like having my family or a good group of friends, a support system when needed. Part of my struggle this last year was I thought other people could help me be happy and having people around me would fill the void. I learned that is not always true because sometimes the loneliest people are the ones who have a lot of people around them. It is all about surrounding yourself with people who won't make you feel alone but help you feel alive. They will let you be yourself and figure out life for yourself, let you stumble every once in awhile but also being someone to turn to in time of need. I've recently come to the realization that it is sometimes good to be alone, not to be lonely but learn about yourself and what you want out of life. I will always be a people person but it is nice knowing I can be independent of the people around me.

So the questions is, do I regret the decision to take a chance and start this journey I am on? Not one bit. While it may seem like it has been a real struggle, which at times it has, I am learning a lot from it. I don't think we should ever regret any decisions we make in our lives, that is easier to say than actually practice but if we learn from our past struggles that is what is important. We are all on different life journeys and along the way we can learn so much about ourselves if we are open to it. Don't live life in regret because you will miss all the good that life has to offer.

My goal with this blog is to share my life experience and my hope is that readers will find it helpful and maybe find a connection to it. I think as people it is important for us to share what we have gone through because it can let others know they are not struggling alone. I believe on some level we are connected with people we don't even know due to our similar life experiences. I hope you enjoy my posts and feel free to reach out to me with any comments. I am planning on posting every Friday so I look forward to next week.

"I am stronger because I had to be. 
I'm smarter because of my mistakes, 
happier because of the sadness I've known,
and wiser because I learned."


Annie