A Prayer, The Thank You Kind

College. College is hard. It turns out that change is more constant than routine, giving our lives a rather fluid consistency. Friends that I have just met this year are coming in and out, grades are… well, out the window, but “good” can serve its purpose when asked, and home is just a few miles too far away. Like I said, it’s hard. The one constant that always remains? He has been there for me when other people have not (or when mom just doesn’t have enough time to squeeze a road trip into her Tuesday lunch). God — good old God.

God,

Thank you for my people. I love them. I love them a lot!

Thank you for the people that have not stayed in my life. They taught me things about myself, and I needed to meet them.

Thank you for keeping me grounded in college.

Thank you for letting me make mistakes. I’m learning that learning curves are my best curves.

Thank you for the days when you know I need a Netflix episode in bed so my teachers relax on homework (which could come more often if You were wondering.)

Thank you for my heart, that I try to give to everyone, but keep for myself when I know I should.

Thank you for my planner. I’m fully aware that it is irrelevant because You have a mind of Your own, but it looks pretty and makes me think I have it all together.

Thank you for leading me through life with a plan. A plan that I would love to know every detail of and write it in my pretty calendar for next year, but cannot. It simply does not work that way, and I will eventually come to terms with it (But for now, I’m going to just let You keep ruining them- apparently it’s more fun that way).

Thank you for motivation and determination.

Thank you for FaceTime and texting.

Thank you for children.

Thank you for wise (old) people to teach us all they know.

Thank you for dogs. Puppies in particular, but they are all pretty cute.

Thank you for hot showers on rainy days.

Thank you for my smile, her smile, his smile, and all of their smiles. (Some of Your best work, in my opinion).

Thank you for the power to further knowledge every single day. Just when I think I’m getting super smart, I go and learn something new.

Thank you for ALL the coffee to get me through the paper I waited last minute to write.

Thank you for a good grade on the previously mentioned, extremely procrastinated, paper.

Thank you for keeping me safe.

Thank you for chocolate. And ice cream — don’t forget the ice cream.

Thank you for my role models to guide me through life.

Thank you for my health.

Thank you for books and stories to captivate our thoughts.

Thank you for the beauty within the earth, itself.

Thank you for the sunshine, the clouds, the rain, and the thunderstorms that remind us that You are indeed still up there.

Thank you for the bed that lets me dream my dreams and stay up past midnight thinking my thinks.

Thank you for opportunities — ALL of them.

Thank you for french fries — the crinkly ones.

Thank you for the beach that gives me all the feels.

Thank you for my memories. I love them.

Thank you for blessing me in so many ways.

God, most importantly, thank you, thank you, thank you for listening.

The most sincere thank you’s do not have to be the deepest. It is true that many people think a prayer must be the rosary on your knees. Well, I am here to tell you that I talk to God probably 101 times a day, and trust me, I’m not on my knees!! It’s kind of like shooting your high school BFF that “Happy Wednesday!! I miss you!” text. Every person’s prayer is different, but it’s the actual prayer that counts. How the message gets to God does not matter. Clouds are my trigger. A sky full of beautiful clouds instantly sends a little thank you card up to The Big Guy from me.

I’m grateful. And oh boy, I’m so, so thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Sunday Thoughts

It’s Sunday. Sunday, February 12th. Today my Sunday is straight from the heart and all in all, the truth. What’s the point if I’m not completely honest, right?

I absolutely love Sundays. They are the perfect day to regroup for a fresh week of routine and focus. This morning, my wonderful Sunday started off with class at Barre3 with my favorite person (mom) followed by breakfast with the whole family. After breakfast, my mom and I grocery store hopped to purchase all of our best finds for our day of cooking.

Now, you may be wondering why I am home, and honestly I’m wondering the same thing. I should 100% still be at school, but I have been missing home way too much. Sometimes you just need extra hugs to fill the heart. I wish that I could say I am crazy happy at school with a fabulous group of friends, but honestly I am not. My heart has been quite empty lately, as I am having a hard time this semester. A whole month home over Christmas break reminded me just how much I love {and MISS} my people and my place.

It is so hard to be studying at school while they are home and living life. The life I have lived at home has always been so independent, so I was not dying for the freedom or liberating feeling that college comes with. For me, I am much more intrigued by the life after college without frat parties and stupid nonsense. Trust me, I get it. It’s fun, but fun for like uhhh 3 quick minutes.

Right now, my prayers to God are for happiness within myself. I’m confident that after I feel good, I will be able to find a fun friend group that loves me for, well, me. The constant state of worry has overcome me for this perfect life that I am not living right now. This picture I had in my head of what everything would be like meeting the not-pictured reality is hard to accept. How do I be the best possible me? How can I show others that I truly do put them first? Am I actually giving back to God enough? Where is He taking me?

This life is the most fabulous gift we could honestly ever ask for, and I am forever grateful. There are one million and two things to be thankful for and just not enough time in the day to name each and every one of them. I understand this beautiful side of life, but at this very moment, I’m trying to find that silver lining. Of course it is there, but it is my job to go find it.

Amazing people are always put into your life at just the perfect times. Reflecting on previous experiences, these are the parts of life that God pulls through the most! My lifelong friends were hand placed in front of me all at different stages of life, but with impeccable timing. I’m trusting that these cycles that have led me here will only repeat itself for the rest of my life.

Through prayers and a positive attitude, my smile is shining bright. Today is Sunday. Sunday, February 12th. It sounds to me like the perfect day to end the weekend at home with an overflowing heart and one too many cookies at dessert.  I know that school is calling my name, and I’m ready to return with a focused attitude and acceptance that this is just life right now. But even when life is hard, there’s a way to make it fabulous.

R x3

Well hi there 2017, my name is Lindsey, and I am ecstatic to meet you. Each New Year brings me the greatest gifts I could ever ask for- my 3 favorite R’s: Relaxation, Resolutions, and Routine! I thrive on routine and after October, everyone seems to throw this necessary way of living out the window in search of mantle Santas and the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. 

There are not many complaints for this past year. Another extremely enjoyable twelve months doing the things I love with my favorite people. Honestly, what more could you ask for? Yep, nothing! 


2017 is coming in hot with lots on the agenda. As a fitness enthusiast, a lot of my goals have to do with introducing new workouts and healthy recipes, but my favorites are the goals to try and make mine and others lives better. To be a well rounded person with a fabulous year, you must be fit socially, mentally and physically. 

My 17 in 2017: 

  1. Stay Positive #ChooseHappy
  2. Drink more water 
  3. Spend more time with friends
  4. Cut back on the sugar sugar sugar 
  5. Run another Half Marathon 
  6.  Listen 
  7. Go to sleep at a reasonable hour. {2AM makes life rough}
  8. Take more naps- hey, changing the sleep schedule will be hard
  9. Study x2
  10. Text less- call more 
  11. Stay organized
  12. Make time for others
  13. Don’t overthink/ quit the worry 
  14. Read more
  15. Yoga & relax 
  16. Make Mass a priority 
  17. Smile and then smile again

My motivation and determination comes from the goals I set at the beginning of the year. This upcoming year has all the potential in the world to become everything you want it to. Stick with your goals and make them happen. Choose the happiness you want in your life and spread it to others. Cheers to a fabulous 2017.