Courtship

Recently I've been thinking a lot about relationships. I'm surrounded by them. I know a lot of girls who are dating or are engaged. As I mentioned previously, my roommate recently started dating this guy. Since it's her first relationship, I've been trying to help her, and talking to her has brought up some really tough questions. Especially about boundaries.

A few days ago I finished reading this book called, "Boy Meets Girl Say Hello to Courtship" by Joshua Harris. You might be a little freaked out by the word 'courtship.' It might seem old fashioned or you might think of it as the weird dating thing the Duggars do where the parents go on all of the dates with their kids. But that isn't the idea of courtship in "Boy Meets Girl." It's a kind of radically different approach to dating or relationships or whatever you want to call it. What it boils down to is being intentional, protective, and guarding your hearts as you pursue a relationship with someone else. Maybe like me, you've heard of being intentional and guarding your hearts. And maybe like me, you weren't quite sure what that meant. After reading this book, I think being intentional just means approaching the relationship honestly and with the intention of answering the question, "should I marry this person?" That is what dating is about after all, finding a husband or a wife; a partner for life. Guarding your hearts (as I understood it) is about being honest with the person you are in a relationship with about where you see the relationship going, not sharing too much of yourself too soon (emotionally or physically).

Courtship is this radically different approach to dating that I think we desperately need today. People treat sex as nonchalant. But really if you have sex with someone without commitment and trust, you are hurting yourself. Sex cannot be casual because it involves all of you. But you can't just draw the line at sex. There are so many other things that require boundaries, and I think Joshua Harris does a good job addressing that in his book. He recognizes that what worked for him might not be right for everyone else, but he does point out that lust always wants more. It may start with an innocent kiss...but eventually that will not be enough anymore (for lust). You have to set boundaries before you get into those situations. So where do you draw the line in the sand? That really is up to you and I can't answer that question, but I'd highly recommend reading the chapter in the book titled "True Love Doesn't Just Wait." And let me tell you, I don't think there's anything wrong with kissing before marriage, but Joshua does have me rethinking that a little bit after reading that chapter. He explains boundaries way better than I ever could, so I urge you to go pick up a copy of his book.

Courtship is also about community. It is so important to get to know someone as a part of a community: around their friends, family, church, and so on. It is important to ask people that you trust to keep you accountable to your boundaries. It is important to allow the people around you to have a voice in your relationship: they may see something you don't see. They really do just want what is best for you. So don't ignore your friends or family if they tell you something that you don't want to hear. That is the most important time to listen to them.

To me, I think that before entering a time of courtship, it would be ideal to already have a foundation as friends. There is certainly a place for growing a friendship inside of courtship, but I honestly can't even imagine entering a courtship without knowing the guy as a friend first.

The last thing I want to say is that this book brought some things up inside of me. I realized that I want a relationship too much. Which is bad for me and unfair to anyone that I would date or even marry. I would have unrealistic expectations for the guy which would be frustrating for him; he would never be able to measure up because I would rely on him too much. So that is something that I will definitely have to work on. I have to pursue the Lord first, and any guy can come second. Even though I know this, I need to actively work on it. The other thing is that I have trouble accepting God's forgiveness for my past mistakes; I know that I have turned away from them, but I still feel the guilt from them, so I really need to try and look at myself through the Lord's eyes instead of my own.

I really hope you'll go out and read "Boy Meets Girl Say Hello to Courtship" by Joshua Harris, it might just change your mind about how to pursue a relationship.

Happy Courting!

Sharon 

A few weeks ago at Texas State University, we had an alleged gun threat.

The University Police dealt with it in an efficient manner.

But my twitter feed blew up with posts about being scared and not feeling safe.

And that really annoyed me.

Yes, gun violence at schools has increased a ton. Yes, that is alarming. But, I believe that I am just as safe today as I was yesterday, and the day before that, the week before that, and even before 9/11/2001.

People point at events like this and say that we need more stringent gun laws. People from the other side retort that we need more people armed so that they can defend themselves and other innocent bystanders.

I don't want every Tom, Dick, and Sally armed, because frankly that is a very scary idea.

I do think we need more stringent gun laws. Psychological screenings. Intensive trainings. Some guns should be really, really, really difficult to get.

I don't want guns outlawed either. I don't have a good reason for that. I just don't.

More stringent gun laws are only the tip of the iceberg though.

Clearly, these events are indicators that something is very wrong with our society. People are broken. They are hurting. They are lashing out in very scary ways. We need to address these underlying psychological issues. We need to help them. We need to help everyone. We need to stop arguing and work together to fix what's obviously broken.

Stay safe,

Sharon

Don't Be THAT Friend

So my roommate got a boyfriend. And I know I should be happy for her.

But the truth is, I'm not. Partially because I don't like him for her and partially because I'm jealous.

But I think the thing that bothers me the most is that it seems like she's gone all the time now. The day they decided they were dating she was gone for 5 hours. She randomly left for an hour when she had gotten someone to cover for her because she needed to work on something for her at school. She's been gone for about 4 hours as I'm writing this.

I know it's exciting and fun when you first start dating someone. But it is so important to retain your friends. Things may not work out, but your friends will be there for you. Or, maybe they won't if you completely alienate them to spend time with your boyfriend all the time. You need to be careful to not invest in a guy too much even if you are married to him. You need other relationships. And, if as soon as you start dating, you're a ghost, well that's a problem.

I've been there. I've been that girl. I had basically no friends because I spent all my time with my boyfriend or waiting for my boyfriend or whatever. A lot of girls do this. But what happened when he broke up with me? I was alone. I was devastated. I had no one to help me through it. I became depressed. It happens. Believe me.

So don't become a ghost just because you got a boyfriend. Make time for your friends. Make plans to go do stuff with them. And don't spend too much time with him. Retain your old interests. And don't feel like you need to involve him in all aspects of your life. You don't have to talk to him 24/7. You don't have to see him every day. You don't have to go on a date every week. It's okay to take it slow and not get too involved too fast.

But hey, what do I know? It's your life.

I'm just a little lonely.

And I don't wanna take care of her dog.

Stick around,

Sharon 

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Football Game

So as I was walking to the football game on my lonesome Thursday night, an odd thing happened. I was approaching the tailgate zone and this guy stopped me, "Excuse me," he said, "I'm not trying to be weird, but I really just wanted to tell you that you are beautiful." 

"That is kind of weird, but thanks," I said.
"I don't mean to be weird, I just really felt in my heart that I needed to tell you that you are beautiful. And it's true. You're truly beautiful. Have a good night."
"Thanks," I said, "you too."

The guy seemed completely normal (as in, not altered in any way), but it was odd to say the least. He was a complete stranger and yet he felt compelled to stop me and tell me that I am beautiful, and beyond that, he actually stopped and told me. I can't say that I would. I posted the story on my Facebook and a ton of people liked it and my sister commented that obviously God was trying to send me a message. And maybe He was. The guy did say that he felt in his heart that he needed to tell me. I think this is even more amazing to me because I've never really felt like I actually heard God before. I've felt Him, I've seen Him in things, but I've never heard Him. And there he was as I was going to a football game, a completely normal thing, telling me that I, his creation, his daughter, am beautiful. I just can't even. And honestly, I haven't been feeling very beautiful lately. I've been feeling exhausted, stressed, frazzled, sad, used, drained, disastrous, but certainly not beautiful. Heck, I've even felt somewhat like a bad person recently. And to think, God knew how I was feeling and he put it in this random stranger's heart to tell me that despite everything, I am beautiful. Inside and out. That is pretty darn awesome. We do have an awesome God.

And if this somehow gets back to that random guy, thank you. That was exactly what I needed to hear. You are awesome. I love you (I'm not trying to be weird).

I am just dumbfounded that he felt in his heart that he should tell me that and he did it. I have felt that I should say something to people before. And I didn't do it. Yet, this guy has an obedient heart. How much better would the world be if we all listened to our hearts and did what was laid on them?

I hope that in the future, I can be more obedient to the Lord, because you never know why He is telling you to do something.

Stay beautiful, be obedient, and listen,

Sharon

Failure

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because I'm struggling this semester. For the first time ever in my life, I am failing a class. It has me stressed out, confused, questioning my choices, depressed, terrified, and anxious. I've never failed a class before. NEVER.

I am a senior in college, wanting to graduate in May....FAILING a class required for my major.

A class REQUIRED to graduate.

How can this be?

I am struggling. I am being pulled under by a wave of emotions and confusion. I am overcome by a flood of thoughts.

I wish I had an easier major...

Maybe I should change my major....

Am I going to graduate....

What am I going to do...

I'm a failure...

I'm scared....

Why are these classes so hard....

What am I doing wrong....

Why can't I catch a break....

This isn't what I want to do with my life...

I'm not motivated....

It's a vicious cycle. I don't want to fail. But my lack of motivation this semester is what put me here. Then when I see a bad grade, the lack of motivation kicks in and makes me even less motivated. It's a negative feedback loop.

And frankly, nothing anyone is saying is helping.

I don't want to be told that I can do it.

I don't want to be told to go talk to the professor.

I don't want to be told that it's totally normal and everyone fails sometimes.

I don't want to be told that I have a plan should the worst happen (which it will, I've reached the point of no return, I am going to receive an F and I'm going to have to retake the class).

I want to be affirmed. Because I feel really lousy. I feel like a failure. I feel like failing defines me. I feel that I am a failure.

So if you are struggling, if you are failing at a job, a relationship, an assignment, a test, a class, or anything else, I am going to tell you what I wish someone would tell me.

Failing does not define you. Don't let failure bring you down and hurt you. Don't beat yourself up.

In the grand scheme of things, this failure DOES NOT MATTER.

You are inherently worthwhile. You are worth so much, and this struggle, this failure does not change that. You are beautiful. You are loved. You are worthy. You are intelligent. You are important.

I am proud of you.

I AM PROUD OF YOU.

Nothing will change that.

So don't let this failure define you. I am sorry that you are struggling, I am sorry that you are having a hard time, but everything will be okay. Just keep going no matter what struggles come your way.

And if you need to take a break, if you need to sit and cry and question life, I will sit with you. I will put my arm around your shoulder and sit with you silently in the pouring rain until you are ready to get up and get going again.

I don't have the answers. But I do know that the world is bigger than this. You are bigger than this.

It'll be okay,

Sharon

You're So Pretty, You Could Date Any Guy You Wanted To

Or, a Brief History of My "Romantic Interests."

First of all let me apologize if my last post was a bit heavy; but it was something that needs to be talked about.

Second of all let me preface this post by saying I'm really not sure where I'm going with it. And let me apologize because this post is a bit long.

What I want to talk about is the fact that throughout my entire life I've been told in some way or another "you're so pretty, you could date any guy you wanted to." Let me start by saying that is simply not true.

When I was little I remember men telling my father that my sisters and I were so pretty that he would have to beat boys away. When I was in the 5th grade, my brother's girlfriend (they were seniors in high school) told me that I was so pretty that I would have lots of guys asking me out in high school, my ex's (now ex) girlfriend told me that I was so pretty I could have any guy I wanted. I'm sure if I thought longer I could come up with more examples, but for now I'll just stick with these three.

I'm tired of being told this because, like I said, it simply isn't true.

In 22 years of life I have had 5 "romantic interests" (if you will). I am defining "romantic interest" as a guy who was interested in me, I was interested in him to some degree, and he asked me on a date or asked me to be his girlfriend. FIVE. You can count them on one hand or one foot, if you'd prefer. They are:

Guy A: Asked me to be his girlfriend, never went on an actual date during the time we were "dating", only talked on the phone, said I was too clingy, cut off the circulation in my fingers the one time we held hands, was only dating me because I was smart and he could use me for "help" on homework. Broke up with me in less than a month.

Guy B: Asked me to be his girlfriend after knowing me for a very brief period of time, was super clingy and didn't let me eat lunch (because he had his arms wrapped around me), talked on the phone, never went on an actual date. Broke up with me in a month or two. Went to his PROM together (he was a senior, I was a sophomore) as friends (it was awkward and he mostly danced with other girls). Still not sure why he dated me.

Guy C: Flirted with me at school. Tried to kiss me. Tricked me into kissing him at my friend's birthday party. Asked me to be his girlfriend. Broke up with me the next morning via text. He was using me to make a girl jealous (it worked, they are still dating).

Guy D: Flirted with me at school. Asked me out after a couple of months. Took me on a lot of dates. Bought me candy, hot chocolate, and food. Lent me his iPod. Started going to church with me. Kissed me (not a trick or forced, I actually wanted to). Dated for 2 years. Thought things were going well. Broke up with me. Started dating someone about a month later (they are no longer dating though). Still can't figure that one out.

Guy E: Worked at the same place. Gave me his number. Got to know each other better through texting. Asked me out through texting. Told me it wouldn't work over Facebook. This was over a period of about a month.

Guys A-C were all during my sophomore year of high school. I started dating Guy D my senior year of high school. And Guy E was this year (my senior year of college).

Maybe that seems like a lot of guys to you....but it doesn't to me. Especially when you consider that two of them were just using me. So as far as I'm concerned, guys have been few and far between. I certainly cannot date any guy that I want to.

So assuming that it's true that I'm as pretty as people think (I'm not so sure...really), guys base who they ask out on more than appearance and I am doing something wrong. First of all, kudos to guys for not being as shallow as y'all are portrayed in popular culture. Second of all, I really wish I knew what they based it on. I know that there is something to initial physical attraction, but beyond that I have no idea why guys ever ask anyone out. If any guy happens to be reading this, please oh please let me know! For the sake of myself and girls everywhere. We just don't get what we are doing wrong.

I don't know what it is, but I do know that a) you are beautiful whether guys ask you out or not, b) you are worth a ton whether guys ask you out or not, c) there is so much more to life than relationships, and d) please don't let relationships define you.

I'm not complaining that people (mostly girls) think I'm pretty, but those comments did give me some false expectations, and I'm not gonna lie, I have been a bit disappointed that I don't feel more desirable....but there are so many more important things!

Love,

Sharon

Mental Self Harm

I wanna talk about something a little bit serious for a minute.

I'm a broken person. Sometimes I hurt and sometimes I do things to make myself hurt. I don't mean physically.

I mean emotionally. I mean mentally.

Let me explain, sometimes I mentally berate myself, tear myself down, tell myself all of the things that are wrong with me, and just otherwise beat myself up. I can be pretty brutal to myself. I don't treat others this way; I reserve it just for myself.

Other times I look at things that I know are going to hurt me. Like my ex's facebook, his new girlfriend's facebook. I don't do it in a stalker-ish way...I do it because I know it will hurt me. I don't know why I do this. It certainly doesn't make me feel good.

Some people might say that I have low self-esteem (which is sometimes true), other people might say it's an example of negative self-talk (which is probably true). I think it's a type of self harm. I know self harm is typically physical, but this makes me hurt too. And I know it's a bad thing. I think it's probably a symptom or an indicator of a larger problem, although mostly I feel fine...I can't explain it. I even tell myself I shouldn't do it...and then I do...I'm sure that it's unhealthy and it doesn't accomplish anything. I really don't understand it at all.

But I wish people would talk about this more. Maybe do some research on it. Acknowledge that we can mentally self harm and try to help those of us who do this.

What do you think? Is it a kind of self harm? Do you do this? Why do you do it? How can we stop? Let me know.

Sharon

Feelin' 22 - Age is Really Just a Number

Today is my 22nd birthday! And I'm really, super excited about it!

Which is weird, because I've basically been freaking out about my birthday every year since the year that I turned 18.

And let me just tell you how silly that it is. Every year older is another year we are blessed with on this earth. Age isn't something to fear, it really is something to be celebrated. So please, don't worry about how old you are turning on your birthday.

Age really is just a number.

What really matters is how you feel.

And that's kind of what Taylor Swift's song, 22 is all about!

Look at Betty White. She is 92 years old, but I bet she doesn't feel that old.

And don't feel like you have to complete certain things by a certain age. I've been having a lot of trouble with this lately. I'm at the point in my life where a lot of my friends are getting engaged, planning weddings, and some of them will be getting married soon. And I don't even have a boyfriend. So yeah, I feel some pressure.

But the fact of the matter is that everything happens in it's own time. Just because I'm not dating the guy who I'll end up marrying doesn't mean that I should panic. It doesn't mean that I should put pressure on relationships. It doesn't mean that I should act super excited when a guy FINALLY asks me out. I'm just putting too much pressure on it and trying to rush it too much.

Age is just a number; things will happen when they are supposed to happen.

And yes, I am playing 22 by Taylor Swift on repeat.

xoxo

Sharon

You're Great, But....

You're great, but....

We've all heard those words. And it really sucks, because what it boils down to is a guy or girl who you really thought you had a chance with is telling you why it just won't work. And it's so hard to hear, but it's really important that we don't just shut down and not listen. Any relationship or potential relationship is a learning experience. If the other person is being honest with you, what ever follows those three words is the lesson. What you can do better in the future...or maybe not.

Let's talk about that first, the "you're great, buts" that are beyond our control.

"You're great, but your family sucks." I've basically been told that. He didn't technically say they sucked, but he said he didn't like them and he couldn't put up with them. My family is important to me. I love them. They are the second gift that God ever gave to me (the first being the gift of my salvation). They are precious to me. They aren't going away. They are part of the deal. So for me, that relationship can and will never work out. I'm not choosing a man over my family, unless he IS my family (as in my husband), but my future husband would never make me leave my family. He might ask me to physically move away from them for a job, but he would never say "Listen, it's me or them." Do you get what I'm saying here? I hope so, because I'm having trouble explaining it.

"You're great, but there's someone else." That sucks, and if you've ever been told that, I am sorry. But the thing is, he obviously wasn't committed to you and where there is no commitment, there can be no real relationship.

I'm sure there are plenty of others, but I can't think of them. But the point is, when someone gives you the "You're great, but" talk, you need to ask yourself, "Is this beyond my control?" If the answer is yes, then there's nothing for you to do. The relationship is over. Go binge watch your favorite tv show, cry to friends, eat tons of ice cream, go for a drive, call out to God. Let the healing begin.

What I really want to talk about is when you ask yourself, "Is this beyond my control?" and the answer is, "No, actually, it's not beyond my control." That's when there's a lesson to be learned.

First let me say that I am not writing this for you to think if you fix whatever it is, he will see that and you can get back together and live happily ever after. I am writing this to help you learn from your (and my) mistakes so that you cannot make the same mistakes in future, new relationships. While it is possible that you could make a change and end up getting back together with this person, it is extremely unlikely.

Just yesterday I was told: "You're great, but when it comes to relationships you seem too clingy and eager."

And you know what?

He was absolutely, 100% right. I AM too clingy. I AM too eager.

The frustrating thing for me was this is a relationship that ended before it even started. I thought there could be something good there, but because I am too clingy and because I am too eager, the relationship came to a screeching halt before it even left the station. And maybe that's for the best. I really don't know. But my point here is that for the girls out there who like me are too clingy and too eager, it turns men around. They want to chase you and they don't want you to be too interested. I know it's frustrating and difficult, but it's true. So what can we clingy/eager girls do?

Well here's what I did. I looked inward. I said to myself, where does the clinginess and the eagerness come from? I looked inside. At first I thought it came from the part of me that gets excited easily. And I do think that's true. But I think that it's a deeper problem than that. There is nothing wrong with being excited, but there is something wrong with being clingy and with being too eager. So the easily excited thing, was not the root of the problem, I had to look deeper. So I dug a little deeper and I looked at my soul and I realized that my clinginess and eagerness for relationships with guys here on earth is kind of a sin, for me at least. And when the Holy Spirit laid that on me, I got a little scared. I wanted to slam the door shut on my soul and take off running, because being clingy and too eager is something I have always struggled with so if it's a sin, how am I supposed to deal with that?

First let me explain, WHY I see clinging and being eager toward guys here on earth as a sin. To me, a sin is anything that separates me from God. I have definitely let relationships get between me and God before, and this is where that comes from. If I am clinging to a guy, if I am really eager toward a guy, then how am I supposed to maintain my relationship with God?

I can't. I am putting the guy in the way. Which is only going to set both of us up for failure. I'll have really high expectations for the guy, that he will never meet. And then I will be upset and disappointed and eventually the relationship will end.

So the clinginess and eagerness, for me at least, is a real problem. It is definitely something I have to work on.

So what can I do?

That's a bit harder. The answer is easy, but putting it into action will be difficult. The answer is this: I have to be eager for God, I have to cling to God, I have to seek God above and beyond everything else.

So I do think that God is giving me the gift of singleness right now. And it's not at all the gift that I want, but it definitely is the gift I need. I have to be able to cling to God through everything and not get distracted by something shiny (or muscle-y). I have to work toward Him in everything I do, and one day, I might find God blessing me with the gift of not-singleness (usually referred to as the gift of marriage) and then me and my guy will continue to pursue God first, before each other, before our relationship. I hope I get that gift one day, but for now I need to be happy with the gifts God has already given me.

I realize that I already have the most important relationship of my life: my relationship with God. I need to start treating it that way. Anything else is only secondary.

Seek God First,

Sharon

Don't Put The Cart Before The Horse

This will be a very short post, because I don't have a whole lot to say and this is a very straightforward issue. But I think it is an important reminder, nonetheless.

Don't put the cart before the horse. Don't count your chickens before they've hatched. Don't get too carried away with your hopes and wants. Because, when you do, sometimes you will be disappointed and then the disappointment will be much, much worse.

You see, I was very excited to go on a first date with this guy and I was letting my imagination run away with me. It was running to a galaxy far, far away. And then, as things sometimes do, the date fell through. And then I was very,very very disappointed. Even more so than if I had remained calm and not put my cart miles ahead of my horse. I know its hard not to get carried away, but try to control yourself at least a little bit. I should note that we are trying to reschedule the date, so we'll see what happens.

I'm not saying not to hope. But I would encourage you to place your hopes in God and not worldly things, because God will not disappoint you. He is faithful beyond belief. I know these things and yet I have trouble actually doing them. But we all are just works in progress.

Don't get carried away,

Sharon

Wisdom Teeth Removal

On Friday, August 29th, I had my bottom wisdom teeth and upper 2nd molars removed. I was really, really scared. But so far, my experience has been quite good.

On Thursday evening, I asked my sorority for prayers because I was scared and multiple girls told me about their experiences with having their wisdom teeth removed.

I'm going to tell you about my experience so that if you have to go through the same thing you will know what to expect and maybe you won't be as scared.

When I got to the oral surgeon Friday morning, they had me read, initial, and sign information about the procedure. My driver also had to fill out a form.

When they called me back, the first thing they had me do was rinse my mouth out with a very strong mouthwash. One of the nurses offered me a blanket which I accepted because I was a little bit cold. They had me on a lot of equipment to monitor my vitals. I had an automatic blood pressure cuff. They also put three electrodes on me to monitor my heart rate: two were beneath my collarbones and the other was near my hip. They put an oxygen monitor on my right index finger. They put me on some oxygen via a little tube thing that sat gently in my nose. Since I have asthma they had me take two puffs of a rescue inhaler just to be sure that my lungs were clear. They also took my temperature using an ear thermometer. The nurse asked who was here with me (my mom and my sister), my mom's name, and when I had eaten last (about 7 the night before; you aren't supposed to eat six hours before surgery).

The anesthesiologist asked me my height and most recent weight so that she could determine the correct amount of anesthesia to give me.

I think I was most nervous about the IV because I don't like shots. My anesthesiologist tied a piece of fabric around my arm to make my vein pop. She had me make a strong fist and then she put the needle in. I looked away while she did it. She said that I would feel a small pinch and to me, it was only a little bit worse than that. Then I said "Was that it?" and she said it was. She told me that the needle was out and that there was a flexible catheter in my arm so I could move my arm to be whatever was most comfortable for me.

The oral surgeon came in and the anesthesiologist briefed him. She told him that I was here with my mom, that I had eaten last night, that I have asthma, and which teeth we were removing. He looked in my mouth and then stepped out of the room.

The other nurse told me that when the anesthesiologist came back in and put the sedative in my IV, she would put a bite block in my mouth to keep my mouth open.

Shortly after that, the anesthesiologist came in and put the sedative into my IV with a syringe and the other nurse put a bite block in my mouth. I must have gone out quickly because I definitely don't remember much after that.

I do think that I might have sort of woken up during surgery, but I didn't feel any pain. I think I heard them talking and I felt a little bit of tugging but I didn't hurt at all. I don't actually know if I woke up or not.

When I did come to, I think the anesthesiologist said that I went under giggling and came to giggling and that was fine with her, but the whole time after the surgery was pretty hazy, so I'm not sure that she actually said that. I think that once I was awake, they removed the IV and all of the other equipment, but I don't actually remember that. I do remember them telling me that they were going to get my mom. They brought her in and told her that I had done well. They also said that I had three spots with stitches: two on the bottom and one on top. My mom asked if there would be a follow up and they said that a follow up wasn't necessary, but to call them if we had any questions or any problems. They asked me if I wanted chocolate or vanilla and I answered chocolate. Later I found out why.

My sister went outside and brought the car around. A nurse helped me into a wheelchair and then wheeled me to the front and helped me into the car and we went home.

They gave me a kit with things for my care. In the kit was extra gauze for my mouth, a cup of chocolate pudding, an irrigator (which I will use next week), a flosser, and a cold pack to ice my face. Not everyone gives you a little kit like this but I really appreciate it and think it is a great idea.

I was prescribed an antibiotic rinse, 800mg of ibuprofen, and hydrocodone.

In general, my pain hasn't been bad and I've had a great experience even though I was very scared. Plus I'm actually not that swollen!

Well Wishes,

Sharon

Sorority Stereotype

I've noticed all of my life that there are a lot of stereotypes surrounding sororities. It didn't really bother me until recently.

When people find out that I am a member of a sorority they often say: "You joined a sorority? You don't seem like the type."

Recently a friend of mine from high school posted on facebook saying "this applies everywhere - sororities and fraternities are idiotic, elitist, and downright meaningless." I commented on this post saying that this wasn't true of ALL sororities/fraternities and he deleted it, which is annoying but completely within his rights. But it's also within my rights to stand up for my sorority which is not idiotic, elitist, or "downright meaningless."

1. We are not idiotic. A sorority is just another kind of club. The main thing that unifies a sorority is that the members are all female. In my sorority, we are all female and we are also all believers in Christ.

We don't do hazing. I'm not saying it doesn't happen in other sororities or fraternities, because it does. I have heard horrible instances of hazing, I'm just lucky that I didn't have to go through that. And if someone had tried to haze me, I would have said no and reported them to the university and the authorities. If you were hazed, I am very, very, very sorry. If that did not stop you from staying in the sorority/frat, I beg you: DO NOT HAZE NEW MEMBERS. It is not okay. Break the chain. Hazing is abuse. It is disgusting and wrong. DO NOT LET YOUR BROTHERS OR SISTERS HAZE NEW MEMBERS. It just shouldn't happen. It needs to stop now. It reflects badly on all sororities and fraternities, JUST DON'T DO IT.

2. We are not elitist. I am assuming that he was referring to the normal process of joining. Typically, you go to a bunch of events and meet the members of the various sororities and you visit the houses and eventually bid day comes around and you find out which sorority/fraternity wants you. I admit, I have not been through this process. My sorority is not Pan-Hellenic. We do not do this process. We have events for prospective new members, but it is up to the new member: they decide whether they want to join or not. We do not turn ANYONE down. We do not pick you, YOU PICK US. For this reason, my sorority attracts girls from all walks of life. We are a very diverse group of girls who share a belief in Christ.

3. We are not "downright meaningless." My sorority is a huge group of supportive women. We support each other through tough times, we study together, we pray together, we worship together, we serve together, we give together.

All sororities and fraternities have philanthropies that they raise money for. SOME do bad things like hazing, but please don't lump us together.

Another thing I heard when I joined a sorority was that I was paying for friends. This person was referring to paying dues. All clubs need money to operate during the year. Dues are one way of collecting money for the operating costs of an organization. If I was paying for friends, I would be offering people money to hang out with me and that's not the same thing at all. My sorority hosts events and we go on retreats, these things cost money and our dues help to pay for them.

I hope you'll consider going greek this year.

Until Next Time,

Sharon

Evolution and Christianity - Through My Eyes

A little preface to this post:

This summer at the state park, I was talking to one of the park hosts and I mentioned that I had reconciled evolution and Christianity, although for me it was never too much of a problem. She said that I should write down how I reconciled the two, because it might help someone else. So I did. The result was about two pages, but it really is the result of my entire life in church and at least a year and a half of biology courses (I have taken even more since I reconciled my belief in God and evolution and they often provide additional support for my understanding). After I wrote this, I had planned to share it here, but I didn't plan to share it so soon.

Before my internship started, my parents and I stopped in Sonora, Tx at the little Methodist church there. The pastor talked to me beforehand and during the children's sermon, she asked if she could pray for me. One of the things she prayed  for was that God would help me to share my faith while at my internship, and I remember thinking "how am I going to share my faith as an intern at a state park out in the middle of West Texas?"

Well Saturday, I was speaking with the wife of one of the men who lives and works at the park and she mentioned that one of the campers had given her a Bible because they were talking about religion, and she is an athiest. She told me that she wants to believe because it seems to provide a lot of comfort to some people, but she just can't.

I've been thinking about how I can share this with her since then. My heart was moved and I really want to reach out to her. So this is my first step. I'm sharing it here, and then I am going to write her a letter and leave it in the Bible the camper gave her. It might be cowardly, but that is what I plan to do.

God conspires (I love that word) in strange ways.

If you are scientific and you are questioning Christianity in light of evolution, I hope this helps you. And if you are Christian and wondering how to speak to people who accept evolution as true, I hope this helps you as well. And for everyone, I hope you'll find this interesting and thought-provoking and I hope you'll learn something. 

As a biology student and a Christian, I realized early on that I needed to reconcile those two things. So I did some thinking and discussing with those around me. The evidence for evolution was strong. But the conviction in my heart that God IS real and that God created ME (and all of the beautiful things around me that made me want to study biology in the first place) was equally strong. The definition of evolution (change in allele frequencies in a population over time) was logical. But if the changes occurred to a great enough extreme, it would follow that a group of new, different, possibly reproductively isolated (the Biological-Species concept) individuals (yes, a species) could potentially arise. And this process could occur often enough to create the chain of organisms that scientists recognize. But, if this were the case, shouldn’t there be some sort of record of ALL of those intermediate forms (this would be Gradualism, of which, Darwin was a proponent)? Perhaps, the forms were indistinguishable from one another until the new species emerged? That explanation isn’t very satisfying; perhaps something else was going on?

Cue, Punctuated Equilibrium. If you don’t know, this is the idea that there were long periods of no change followed by shorter periods of rapid change. If the changes were rapid, then it would make sense that there would be few of the intermediate forms, and lots of the forms from the periods of stagnation. Makes sense to me.

Now let’s say we go all the way back to the very beginning of the chain of life on earth. We are taught in biology that life began with some sort of unicellular organism which could exist in an anaerobic atmosphere. Some sort of cyanobacteria came onto the scene, producing oxygen and maybe some bubbles of oxygen gas rose up from under water supplying oxygen to our atmosphere. Once there was oxygen in the atmosphere, further evolution could occur.

But we haven’t gone back far enough yet. What caused the planet to exist with an anaerobic atmosphere and that unicellular protist which eventually gave rise to all life? Depending on your school of thought, your answer may vary. Perhaps you’ll say the Big Bang. Or perhaps, you’ll say God. Let’s consider the former.

The Big Bang tells us that all matter was this huge ball of energy and one day it just exploded randomly forming the universe (which may be expanding or collapsing, go see a physicist for more, my understanding of the Big Bang is, admittedly, hazy) including our galaxy, including our solar system, including our planet.

So let’s go back even further. What caused the Big Bang?

…….

…….

……..

No, I’m serious, tell me, what caused the Big Bang?

Imagine a series of dominoes falling. The last domino has just fallen. What caused it to fall? The domino before it. And what caused that domino to fall? The domino before it…And eventually, what caused the very first domino to fall? Someone or something pushed the first domino which caused a chain reaction which ultimately caused the very last domino to fall. So what pushed the first domino? Let’s just say it was a finger.

The first domino is the Big Bang, by the way.

God is the finger.

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.

On the third day, God created seed-bearing plants and fruited plants.

On the fifth day, God created fish and birds.

On the sixth day, God created the animals of the land.

Evolution says that plants were one of the first lineages to arise. Followed, eventually, by fish. Which in turn were followed by amphibians, then reptiles, then birds, and mammals. Sound familiar? It is essentially the same order.

But the Bible says that creation took a total of seven days, while evolution says these same events occurred over millions of years. There is this funny thing about the Bible, it wasn’t originally written in English. It was written in a variety of ancient languages, including Hebrew. In Hebrew the word "yom" which means “day” has at least three meanings: the first is the 12-hour period from sun up to sun down, the second is the 24 hour period from sun down to sun down, and the third is an indiscriminate amount of time (it could be a very, very long time). So maybe, the “day” mentioned in Genesis is really hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of years.

So maybe Genesis should actually say:

In the first thousands of years, God created the heavens and the earth.

In the third thousands of years, God created  seed-bearing plants and fruited plants.

And so on.

Now, I know some of you are challenging me. Maybe that’s all good and well to you, but you think you have the nail that will seal the case against me: what if we keep going back, if God caused the Big Bang, who or what caused God?

Dear friends, I remember as a little kid, I sat and asked myself that very question, I thought and I thought and I thought. Perhaps, God has a mom, I thought. But then, God’s mom would have a grandma, and she would have her own mother and so on and so forth. Friends, I gave myself a headache. Eventually, I accepted that God just was and is and ever shall be. I know from a scientific stand-point, that’s not very satisfying. But, from a religious stand-point, it is. I don’t have to understand God to believe in Him. I don’t have to know what chemical reaction has to occur to change cookie dough into cookies, I just know it works. And for me, God works. It might not be satisfying, it might not be testable. But I, you, we are too complex to have occurred through some long, convoluted process that occurred simply by chance. God was there, God made it happen. God is the finger that pushed the first domino.

Depression

In light of recent events, I felt it was the right time to write this post. I am referring to the apparent suicide of Robin Williams on August 11, 2014. I had planned to write a post on Mental Health and, more specifically, Depression during May, Mental Health Awareness Month.

Depression is an important issue to me because in the Spring of 2012, I was struggling with depression. In fact, depression seems to run in the women of my family: my grandma, mother, both of my sisters and I have struggled with depression at some point during our lives. Depression is actually common, if you are depressed, you are NOT alone. There are many who are struggling or who have struggled with depression who you can talk to. Additionally, there are many places that you can go to get help. If you are depressed, please, please, please go get help. Talk to someone.

The two things that helped me the most through my depression were my counselor and my belief in God. I started going to counseling at my school. I went and spoke with my counselor once every two weeks. She gave me "homework" and we discussed the things that were bothering me. She was a sweet lady, easy to talk to, didn't mind if I cried, and really cared about me. If you think that people don't care about you, they do. 

Depression is common among women. Depression is common among freshmen and sophomores in college. This is because college students are under a lot of stress and they are experiencing an extreme change. The good thing about college is that most have free counseling centers for students. My school does. There is nothing wrong with going to counseling. Talking to someone is very important. Please get help. 

It is difficult for me to explain exactly how my faith helped me, except that it was very much like the "Footprints in the Sand" poem. I believe that the Lord was carrying me and holding my hand the whole way through my depression. There were days where I wanted to drop out of school and run away. I just wanted to give up. But I never did and I can't really explain why. I believe that God kept me going.

If you were depressed, and you have overcome it, please share your story with others. It helps to know that other people have been there. You can help to encourage other people. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Use your experience to help others. I shared with my sorority that I had been depressed and that I had gone to get help, when I shared this other girls shared that they had struggled in similar ways. One girl prayed for me thanking God that I had come out of "that black hole" and asking Him to help me to not be depressed again. Other girls told me that I could come to them if I ever started to feel that way again. And one girl hugged me for sharing. The reaction to me sharing that I had been depressed and that I had gone to counseling was completely positive and encouraging. Share your story with others, you never know who you might help.

If you are reading this and you are depressed and you feel that you have no one to reach out to: Please reach out to me. I care about you and I want to help you. I started this blog to help YOU in any way I can.

As for Robin Williams, his death is tragic and will be felt for years to come. He has made me laugh all my life and imagining the man who voiced and ad-libbed Genie not being in the world makes me very sad. To me, Robin Williams always seemed like a wonderful, happy man, but sometimes it is easy to hide things under the surface. I dedicate this post to Robin Williams, a man who made the world laugh. I never met him, but I will never forget him. We love you, Robin.

You Are Loved,

Sharon

Volunteering, Internships, and Jobs

One of the biggest things that I can tell you is that experience is in high demand and hard to get. One of the best things you can do to prepare yourself for life after college is to find an internship each summer. Each internship will provide different experiences and insight into different careers; they will open different opportunities for you. You will meet new people and learn so much about yourself and about the career you may go into one day.

But internships can be extremely competitive. How do you even get your foot in the door in the first place? Internships will often look at grades, but having good grades will not set you apart on paper. It is a good idea to volunteer in a similar capacity to an internship or job that you might want. For example, if you want an animal care internship at a zoo, it might be a good idea to first get some experience by volunteering at a local Wildlife Rescue.

A lot of students need jobs while in college. Since it is important to focus on school (like I said before, that's why you're in college in the first place), getting an on-campus job is often the best thing you can do for yourself. On campus jobs are typically more understanding that you are a student first and an employee second. They are usually more flexible with your work schedule, often building it around your class schedule. Not all campus jobs are created equally, I have a friend who worked in a campus job where she was not allowed to study even if she had finished all of her assigned tasks. Some campus jobs are okay with students studying if they've gotten all of their work done or are waiting for a customer to show up. Plus if you work on campus, you won't have to commute to your job - you'll already be there. Finally, some schools have limitations on how many hours a student can work during the week and that is a very good thing. For instance, at Texas State student employees are NOT allowed to work more than 25 hours each week.

If you can't find an internship during the summer, try to find some sort of job. You never know what kind of opportunities will be available to you just because you had a summer job. I worked over a year in a customer service centered workplace, and currently I am at an internship at a state park. I believe that one of the things that helped me to get the internship was my customer service experience because, in state parks, you have to know how to work with people, no matter what you are doing. Customer service is applicable to almost all careers. I have loved my internship and I am sad that it is going to be over soon. I have gained so much experience, had tons of cool opportunities, worked in a variety of capacities, and met many interesting people. My internship has opened my eyes to things that I never even considered would be a part of working for state parks. I have done so much this summer that I would never have done had I not gotten this internship.

Plus, internships are offered in almost any place and in pretty much in any field. I think I really needed a change of scenery and I was able to get it this summer through my internship. I am used to living in the humid, mostly flat but somewhat hilly (when you get into the hill country) part of central Texas. But this summer, I have spent my time in the mountains. You can see all sorts of stars out here. It gets cold at night. I'm approximately a mile up. The wildlife and the landscape was completely different and I think the change of scenery has been extremely restorative for me. Sometimes, you just need to get away and an internship can be a great way to do it!

Do yourself a favor, get an internship every summer that you can. You won't regret it.

Apartment Agreement

Have you ever watched the tv show, The Big Bang Theory? Do you know that Sheldon made Leonard sign “The Roommate Agreement?” Let’s look at some of the aspects of that contract:

·         If Sheldon becomes a zombie, Leonard cannot shoot him.

·         The Skynet Clause states the Leonard must help Sheldon destroy an Artificial Intelligence that Sheldon created that is taking over the earth.

·         Removal or addition of furniture must be approved by Sheldon

·         Sheldon must ask Leonard how he is once each day

·         The thermostat must always be set to 72 degrees

·         Roommates must give 12 hours notification if they want to have a guest

·         All ties will be broken by Sheldon

·         And many, many other items (seriously, this is a great show and you should watch it!)

Now with those delightful tid-bits in mind, what I’m about to say might sound ridiculous, but I suggested to my roommate that before we even moved into our apartment, we should come up with a roommate agreement. Now you may think I’m a crazy, tightly wound, control freak (like Sheldon), but the idea is a good one (and if you do a little google search, you’ll find it’s actually fairly common). And I think I know why, if you lay out reasonable expectations for a new roommate prior to actually living together, you are bound to avoid some disagreements and misunderstandings. Furthermore, it is not a unilateral decision, it is an open dialogue between two (or more) roommates, and usually a lack of communication causes failure of all types of relationships. If communication is open from the beginning, and expectations are understood, there will probably be far fewer problems in the future.

Here’s how creating the roommate agreement worked for us:

1.       I suggested we create a roommate agreement.

2.       She agreed.

3.       She emailed me a list of ideas for the roommate agreement.

4.       I looked over her list and got a little nervous about some of the things on it.

5.       I considered how I could change the things that bothered me, for example:

a.       She said: If one of us wants to have friends or family over, we have to ask the other roommate first.

b.      I didn’t like the idea of having to ask every time I wanted to have someone over so I countered with: We have “visiting hours” from 8AM – 10PM; if we will have someone over outside of those hours or overnight, we have to inform the other roommate.

6.       Then I added a few other things and sent the list back to her.

7.       She said she thought it looked good.

8.       Once we are both moved into the apartment, we will look it over again, do any final tweaking, print it out (possibly on pretty paper), and post it (probably on the fridge).

Things we are including in our roommate agreement:

·         How bills and rent are split

·         Visitors

·         Cleaning

·         “Open/Closed Door Policy: If the door is closed to their room, expect that the roommate is studying or needs privacy”

·         Be respectful- basically try not to disturb the other roommate if they are studying

·         Use of Roommate’s Things – basically don’t without asking

·         Groceries

·         Pets

·         Apartment temperature

·         Minimize electric and water use

·         Flexibility clause – it’s a “living document,” like the constitution!

·         Argument clause aka what to do in case of an argument

·         Keep the front door locked

·         Monthly check-ins (got this idea from another blog – Click here for the blog post where Lauren Conrad mentions this idea!

Admittedly, our Roommate Agreement is a little long (its 4 pages doubke spaced), and it’s still a work in progress, but I do think it’s a good idea. Hopefully, it will help keep me accountable with doing my part to keep the common areas of the apartment clean (I can be a bit disorganized). And hopefully, it will help to keep us happy and friendly with each other (we are friends after all). I think this is a good idea for anyone who is living together, whether in an apartment or a dorm. I’ll let you know how it goes!

I’m not sure what to say here,

Sharon

Too Skinny

I’m not sure if a lot of people can relate to this issue, but I’m sure there’s at least a few people out there who can. It’s sort of a “hot button” issue right now. Recently, there has been a movement toward accepting “all body types,” but I would argue that this doesn’t actually embrace ALL body types. In Dove’s Real Women campaign, they feature mostly full-figured women, there is all kinds of stuff on the internet saying “real women have curves.” I’m all for accepting all body types and acknowledging that all women (and men) are beautiful no matter what their body type happens to be, but there seems to be an idea that thin is not beautiful; some people say it is “unhealthy.” But, we women should love, accept, and acknowledge the beauty of women of ALL body types: thin, average, muscular, curvy.

Currently, I am about 5’5” and my weight fluctuates but typically stays under 120 lbs. All my life I’ve been told that I was “too skinny.”  All through junior high and high school, people asked me if I was bulimic or anorexic. Once I was even compared to Gumby. I’ve been told by people of all ages that I need to eat more. I eat a lot. That I need to gain weight. That I’m “too skinny.” Once, I made the mistake of trying to relate to a group of beautiful, curvy, college girls who were complaining that when they went home, their mothers griped at them that they needed to lose weight. I said something along the lines of “I know what you mean, my mom is always telling me that I need to gain weight.” I guess I can see how they wouldn’t see this as sympathetic, but I really was trying to relate to them in the only way that I could, and I guess that was a mistake. They all looked me up and down and said, “You do need to gain weight.” I walked away from that exchange feeling rejected, hurt, misunderstood, put down, and ugly.

Girls and women should not be made to feel like their body type is unhealthy, unlovable, and ugly whether they are curvy or “stick-straight.” I am just as beautiful as the next woman, even if I am small. I am just as worthy of being loved. I do not starve myself or purge myself to be slender, and even if I did, that wouldn’t make me any less beautiful.

We all have enough body image issues as it is. We don’t need to be adding anymore to each other. If you don’t want someone pointing at you and saying that you weigh too much, then you had better not turn around and point at someone and say that they weigh too little.

So, ladies, step off the scales, drop the measuring tape and look around at all your fellow women and see that they ARE beautiful, no matter the body type.

Stay Beautiful!

Sharon

Advice to College Freshmen from a Senior

So since its August, I’m gonna start with a post for all those nervous freshmen out there.

I remember my freshman year of college, even though I liked school and was commuting from home, I was really scared because I’m shy and I didn’t know anyone who I would be going to school with (admittedly, living at home probably only made this worse – living in the dorms is a blessing because it throws you in the middle of campus and basically forces you to make friends). Anyway, the guy I was dating at the time let me wear his cross necklace the first weeks or so of school to help me feel secure. He reasoned that it would be like he was with me. It helped me adjust, and even though I didn’t make many friends that first year, I felt comfortable at college.

That brief story leads into my first bit of advice:

1. If you’re really nervous about school, wear some of your most favorite, comfortable clothes the first few days, it’ll help you to feel, well, comfortable.

2. Find your classes before the first day of class. Don't be afraid to ask other people for directions to wherever you are going, most people are more than happy to help!

3. Go to class (do not skip - only miss if you seriously must), sit toward the front of the class (whether it’s a huge lecture or a tiny lab), take notes, study, and actually read the book. I know you want to have fun and you feel all free and independent, but the ultimate reason you are in college is to learn something. So please follow this piece of advice.

4. Be respectful. Of your professors, guest lecturers, your peers.

5. Get involved. Get involved. Get involved. Get involved in at least one thing, this will help you to meet people and make friends. If you are invited to the Honors Society for whatever you are studying, join it! It helps to beef up the ol’ resume, plus it will be a good place to learn about opportunities related to your major. If you believe a certain religion, get plugged into that group on campus, trust me, it’ll be good for you. I waited til my junior year of college to get involved with anything, and that was a big mistake! So try out some different student organizations and find one or more place that feels right for you and stick it out through the rest of your college career. Personally, I am (now) involved with Tri-Beta Biological Honors Society, Chi Alpha (a Christian Fellowship), the Wildlife Society, and Sigma Phi Lambda (a Christian sorority).

5a. Don’t just go around joining stuff, actually participate in the various events/volunteering/etc. that your organization(s) do throughout the year.

6. If you are having trouble in class: go to your professor’s office hours and ask for help (throughout the semester), take advantage of on-campus tutoring, go to Supplemental Instruction if it is available, ask a friend who is doing well in the class for help.

7. Go to some of the free, fun events for students, even if you have to go by yourself, just try it!

8. Know when to say no. If someone invites you out late the night before a test, say no. If someone tries to get you to do something you aren’t comfortable with, say no. If you already have way too much on your plate and someone asks you to do something for them, say no.

9. Don’t pull all-nighters, they won’t help you on the test, instead study all semester, make practice tests, go over your notes, and get a good night’s sleep before a test.

10. Remember to call your mom. She misses you and she will be sooo happy to hear from you.

I know you’ve probably heard some or all of that advice before, but I really believe it will help! If you need any specific advice, feel free to ask in the comments! I’ll help if I can.

Wishing you the best this year,

Sharon

Hello There!

Hello there! I see you’ve stumbled onto my blog! Please stay awhile and come back often.

First, allow me to introduce myself: my name is Sharon and I am a senior in college (AHHHHHH!!!!). I am studying Wildlife Biology at Texas State University. Don’t ask me what I want to do after I graduate, because I don’t know. I am 21, going on 22 and I know that my life is relatively short compared to many people, but I still think I have ideas/thoughts/etc. worth sharing (I know, I know, who doesn’t?). But please, give me a chance and if, after a few blog posts, what I have to say doesn’t interest you, you may go elsewhere.

Now I thought I’d let you in on my ideas for this blog:

• ·         Adventures in cooking – I love to cook and, especially, bake so I thought I’d compile a list of things I’d like to learn to make and tackle that overtime and share it here.
• ·         Adventures in apartment dwelling – Toward the middle/end of this August, I will be moving into my second ever apartment so I plan to share how I decorate it from room to room and out onto the balcony, plus other advice and things you need to know/do when living in an apartment.
• ·         Adventures in having a roommate – I lived in my first apartment alone (it was great!) but financially and socially (although I am an introvert) it seemed like a good idea to live with a roommate, so I plan to share what my roommate and I have done to prepare for a smooth living environment and how it works out. I am the youngest of four, but young adults living together is different than siblings living with parents. This is my first roommate, although she’s had a few before. This will also affect the prior category.
• ·         Adventures in college – this will probably mostly be advice based on my experiences and the experiences of those around me. My college experience probably wouldn’t be what others call “exciting.” But I LOOOOOVE talking to people about college, so hopefully that will come through here.
• ·         And just life in general. Which all of the above is really, but I’m using this as a catchall term for anything I might have forgotten.
• ·         Finally, I attempt to participate in NaPoWriMo offline every April (I usually get behind toward the middle of the month), and this coming April, I will attempt to participate online! Maybe having to post my poems online will keep me accountable and I’ll actually finish the whole month! Or not, but we’ll give it a go!

Well that’s it for my first blog post. I hope I did alright. Please provide feedback throughout my posts. I hope we’ll get to know each other. And on that note, if there is ever anyone who needs advice, or if there is anything I can do to make my blog more interesting to you, or if you are curious about anything about me, please, comment (now or in the future)! It might help me to write a blog post. If you don’t, I’ll try to write anyway, so you might as well help me cater my blog to you. To get the ball rolling, comment with suggestions on what my next blog should be!

Signing off,

Sharon