What Doesn't Kill You...

Oh Kelly...how I heart you! I love your new album. I also think we might know the same guys. lol

What Are Words....

How do you define Love? I define Love as the following...it's an action not a feeling...it's a commitment not vacant words...it's an overwhelming desire to selflessly give yourself to someone and hope beyond hope they do the same in return. You see falling in Love isn't about what you can get out of someone, it's about what you can give to them. A few people who know me might think I'm cynical when it comes to Love, but they couldn't be further from the truth. I'm not cynical! I just know what true Love looks like and what it doesn't...and honestly most relationships I see are selfish emotional vapors of deep infatuation desperately wishing it was something more. But that's impossible when you're dealing with one or two selfish individuals. Which is why I absolutely adore the below video.

If anyone watches American Idol you might already know the story of Chris Medina. Chris had a beautiful fiancee who sadly was badly injured in a car crash in 2009. She survived but had a horrible brain injury. Chris didn't leave her like most men probably would and honestly we wouldn't of blamed him if he did. No, Chris stayed and became her caregiver. He went on American Idol are her request and told his Love story. Below is the song he wrote for her. You want to know how I define Love...it's below. Love isn't a feeling...it's an ACTION...it's a selfless commitment to someone else. THAT'S the kind of Love we all should strive to give and pray someday receive!! Love is just another word, but it's what that word represents that can mean everything...

Paradise...

Imagine a world of peace, love, acceptance, and joy. A world free of judgement, sorrow, hate and pain. I think we all dream of Paradise. It's those dreams you accidentally wake up from in the middle of the night and so desperately try to fall back asleep to get back to. A happy joyful place that you wish so desperately was your reality. Sadly, worlds like that don't exist in this mortal life, but someday when my Lord calls me Home I'll understand truly what Paradise really is as I run and skip around Heaven.

Great New Song from one of my favorite bands 'Paradise' by Coldplay.

'When she was just a girl, She expected the world, But it flew away from her reach so, she ran away in her sleep, and dreamed of PARADISE...'

My happy place...

As a little girl, I was always in a world of my own. I liked going back to my room and playing with my toys all by myself. My imaginary world was whatever I wanted it to be. A bright colorful place where anything and everything was possible. I always thought at some point I would grow out of my daydreams, but I never did. I may not daydream as much as I did as a child, but I still get caught up in my imagination everyday. When I'm becoming overwhelmed by life I just grab my ipod and go to my happy place. I have two different happy places I go depending on the mood, both involve a whole lot of music.

I put my ear buds in and the first place I imagine comes into view..I'm driving in a classic red convertible along the California coastline blaring a daydreaming medley like the one below. I really think Adam Young (aka Owl City) could be my daydreaming soul mate. He has an amazing way of describing my imaginations perfectly.


I put my ear buds in again and my second place is coming into view. I'm sitting on the beach as the sunsets, listening to the waves and slowing watching the stars come out one by one. Its in those moments I realize how much God truly loves me. He gave us such a beautiful world to enjoy. Its like with the sound of every wave I hear...'Now, do you realize how much I love you?'. But unlike my joyride, this time I'm not alone. I'm sitting next to someone who's faceless but I know who loves me, arms leaked in complete silence we listen to the waves while gazing at the stars. As I lean against him, arms entwined I suddenly hear in the background the below song...hey, it's my happy place so random music can start playing if I want. After all, it wouldn't be my place happy without it. :-)

WHAT? Did you think it was going to be a cheesy romantic song? No, remember this is my peaceful calm happy place. There is nothing more comforting then sitting with someone in complete silence and it not be awkward. Those kind of peaceful moments are priceless.....so I hope I never grow out of daydreaming. Its a way to get outside of your head and regroup for the realities of life. The real world can be a harsh place to deal with, but imagination coupled with amazing music can make it bearable. Reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't want to live there. :-)

All About Us....

After the last blog post I wanted to post something a little more light hearted. So…what’s more light hearted then falling in love? Love scares me. Actually, it terrifies me. Letting someone close takes a lot of trust and that’s something I have struggled with pretty much my whole life. Trusting someone to take care of me, protect me, love me….in my mind that’s a fairytale. Fairytales don’t exist, or do they?! Now…I know most girls are victims of their own romantic ideals, but what’s wrong with hoping for the fairytale?! What’s wrong with wanting the butterflies? I’m a realistic girl, but I dream of butterflies and secret smiles. I dream of meeting someone who doesn’t sound the normal ‘tool’ alarms, but proves all my prejudice about men wrong. I dream of meeting someone who makes me feel like the below song ‘All about Us’ could happen to me and if that makes me a silly romantic girl then so be it. My fairytale dream might not exist, but it could someday and I think that’s worth waiting for…

Why Do People Hate...

Tomorrow is 9/11, a day I will forever hate. You can't turn on the TV without seeing something about that day. Those terrible hours where our nation had a front row seat to the hate in this world. Evil men commissioned to do an evil thing to an oblivious people. Before 9/11, terrorist attacks were something we saw in movies or on the news in Israel. I remember going to Israel in January 1999 and noticing all the crazy security they had everywhere. I asked our tour guide why so many people carried guns, as an American I found it unnerving. He said our homes are constantly under attack by evil men, so we make it clear we'll fight back to protect our home. After he said that, I felt strangely safer. As I returned to America I remember thanking God for protecting us from such desperate measures. Israel doesn't know a life without terror, I didn't know a life with terror...that is until 9/11. Everyone has a story of that day, this is mine.

At the age of 21, my eyes were sadly opened to terror on my home soil and I grew up. It was a beautiful day, I woke up early for my 9:15am science class. It was my senior year at Liberty University and I couldn't wait to be done. It was a big class of about 45 kids, all half asleep ready to get it over with. I got to class a few minutes early and noticed my friend Jon.
Now, my crazy friend Jon would always say the wackiest things, so as soon as he saw me he yelled across the room..'Mel, did you hear, one of the towers was hit'? Everyone always knew the towers meant NYC. My reply was something along the lines of...'Whatever, Jon'. The kid behind Jon said 'No, he's telling the truth..one of the towers was hit by a plane.' I heard then that it was a big commercial plane and my heart broke. Immediately, I thought of those terrified people on the plane and in the building. OH MY GOSH!! The people in the building...did they see it coming?! As my head was spinning a kid in our class ran in and said the other tower had been hit..it's a terrorist attack. I couldn't breath..I was in shock! I sat quietly in my chair as the kids around me talked about it, fighting back tears, the knot in my throat was almost unbearable. Repeating to myself...Breathe Melinda...Breathe...Hold it together. I never felt so helpless, so I silently prayed.
Class finally began...my professor a retired military man calmed the class with prayer for our country. He tried to begin class when a woman walked into the back of the room. She pulled the professor aside and spoke quietly into his ear. You could hear a pen drop in that big room. I don't think anyone took a breath. My tough military professor turned around and walked slowly to the front of the class, leaning on a table for support he said through choked words, "The Pentagon has been hit". With that statement 4 students got up and ran out of the room, their parents worked at the Pentagon. I sat in my seat quietly wiping the stray tear away from my cheek. How could someone hate us this much? I couldn't understand and I needed to understand why this happened. My professor dismissed us and I RAN to my next class early...it was a computer lab. As I sat beside an almost giddy from the excitement 'valley' girl, I rolled my eyes (per usual) and got onto CNN's live feed of the attack. As soon as I got on...one of the towers came down! With my mouth gaping open the tears quietly ran down my face in utter shock at what I just witnessed. It was nothing like the movies, my heart felt like it was going to pop out of my chest. Now, anyone who knows me knows I'm not an overly emotional girl. I keep my emotional side tightly in check. I have this overwhelming need to be strong at all time...a rock others can lean on. At that moment, my heart was broken for my neighbors. The 'valley' girl next to me still giddy noticed my tears and said, 'Oh..did you know someone who worked there?' I looked at her like she was the dumbest girl in the world cause at that moment she was and said, 'No! I didn't! We just saw 3,000 Americans die right in front of our eyes, so it kinda makes me a little sad.' Maybe I shouldn't of been so hard on her, but at that moment I needed her to understand the tragedy history was bestowing upon us. This wasn't a movie, this was the loss of our sense of security. Classes were dismissed for the rest of the day and I drove home to watch the endless coverage with my closest friends. After the shock wore off, anger set in. Like most, my Christian sensibilities were lost at the moment and I wanted blood. I wanted countries blown up...I wanted men tortured...I wanted all of them to burn in Hell. I hated them!


Now, I'm watching CNN 10 years later and they're talking about 9/11. The videos are back in repeat..the stories are retold...and I'm stuck with an old feeling I thought long ago gone....but something is different. I don't hate them anymore. I hate what they did, I hate the pain they caused, but personally I pity them. I pity people who live their lives to destroy others. What makes America so great is our ability to live peacefully with our neighbors who have opposing world views. We might scream and yell at each other from time to time, but we learn to work together in this great nation. For better or worse our differences make us stronger and wiser. I want so desperately to be a woman of wisdom. A woman not so overcome with a negative emotion she can't inspire what this world needs the most...LOVE. Love will destroy hate in every battle, every war and every conflict. I'm not suggesting we all hold hands with flowers in our hair singing Kumbaya, but I'm suggesting we don't let our differences keep us from loving each other. Love can change the hearts of nations. Love can transform the evilest of humanity. Love can forgive the unforgivable. So, as old emotional hurts are bought back to the surface this sad day let us remember..Love will always be our most powerful weapon against hate. So...in honor of the lost...let us Love each other this 9/11, and embrace the differences that make me so very proud to be an American. :-)

Prove You Wrong...

As a girl who has always had a lot of guy friends I’m use to hearing all their stories. I’m the shoulder they cry on, the sensitive ear they rely on, and their fiercest comrade if called on. I love all my guy friends. They’re all so different yet continue to teach me something every day. One thing I have learned is how sensitive they really are. They hide it well…well some do…but when it comes to being hurt by someone it stays with them. The older they get the higher their emotional walls go…the more hopeless they feel about Love. Now, I also have to say..most men have HORRIBLE taste in women which is why they get hurt so often when ‘trying’ to walk down the plank of love. They’re easily distracted by a pretty face, so distracted they can’t see a woman with poor character who cares far more about herself then the well being of the person she’s dating. So..what happens? Let me tell you…the girl dumps the boy in usually a very cold insensitive way and I’m in my car on my way to his house trying to think of ways to make him laugh or at least smile on an otherwise horrible day. I don’t understand girls like that. The damage they cause to these amazing guys is so hard to repair for the next girl. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, I think because I’m the Next Girl.

I’m the girl who’s constantly trying to prove to my guy friends that not ALL girls are superficial, selfish, and heartless. There are amazing women out there in the world who will love them fiercely and loyally if only given the chance. I love the song below ‘Prove You Wrong’…because it’s all about letting go of someone not worth holding onto, so you can find someone who is. So girls…be kind to the Good Ones (you know who they are) and guys…attraction is important, but character needs to be your non-negotiable in dating. I promise a woman of character is far more valuable than a selfish trophy. ;-)

Mine Again...

There are certain songs that make you ache. Some make you ache for love lost and some make you ache for a love you've never had. Have you ever missed someone you've never met? I have...I miss someone I don't know everyday. Anyone who is single understands that...they understand how you can miss someone you've never met. A longing to be with someone who understands you, even the deepest parts of you and still loves you. So..the song below makes me ache for that person who I haven't met...but it also gives me hope. Hope that he's out there, just waiting to be Mine Again.

YES...it was WORTH IT...

OH….Here comes a story…it’s LONG! To start this very entertaining story I have to take you back to November 2010. I was on a cruise with a bunch of friends and my old friend Jamar decided to bring a few of his Denver buddies along. I was very excited because I tend to love all of Jamar’s Denver friends. One of his friends was a cutie named Chris…now if you know me, as soon as I meet someone I like to ask random questions. You can blame the HR in me, but I like to bypass the BS and start asking questions I’m curious about. I will NEVER forget Chris’ face when I asked, ‘So, who is your favorite band?’ Mind you…I judge people by their choice in music. You can tell a lot about someone by the music they listen to. Anywho…Chris didn’t even have to think, he said ‘Mumford & Sons’. I had no idea who he was talking about. I never heard of that group and was beyond annoyed by it. Well…as the week went on I hung out with Chris and the boy wouldn’t shut up about Mumford & Sons. I promised I would listen to them as soon as I got back to DC and I did. They were good…I mean really really good. I automatically had more respect for Chris for liking them and couldn’t understand how I didn’t already know about them. I became obsessed with listening to their music and passed that obsession onto my sister. So, when I saw that Mumford and Sons were coming to DC I got tickets. I only got 2 and they were lawn seats……man, if I only knew. So…all that to say, I blame Chris for the following story. Because I'm a visual person, there is a pic of Chris above. I have to note he's not half as toolish as he might look. LOL..love ya Chris!! :-)


WHY do all the good concerts have to take place during the work week?! Don’t they know traffic is horrible in DC and going anywhere is beyond painful. I got off a few hours early from work to meet Joel (the lucky winner to my second concert ticket) at my apartment. I planned for everything…the blanket, the sandwiches, the waters, the sunglasses, the bug spray, etc…. I wanted to be as prepared as possible. Joel probably thought I was crazy because I was so hyper and frazzled when he got to my apartment. After a slow start due to my over prepared self forgetting her wallet and having to go back to get it. We started towards Merriweather (concert venue) and got stuck in major traffic. Luckily, Joel is very easy going and so much fun to hang out with. So, we get to the venue half starved and running to the bathrooms when strange looking clouds started to roll in. We’re sitting on our blanket eating our ‘Lost Dog’ subs when Joel says, ‘Look (point to clouds), you think it’s going to rain.’ Honestly, in my head I thought CRAP…I DIDN’T CHECK THE WEATHER! How could I prepare for everything and not check the weather? My reply of course was a little calmer, ‘I don’t think so, but if it does I don’t mind the rain.’ Not long after….it starts raining a little. Joel being the amazing guy he is said, ‘Do you want me to run to the car for your umbrella (which I forgot in the trunk)?’ My stupid reply, ‘Nooooo…I don’t mind a little rain. If you want it go ahead but please don’t go back to the car on my account. I’m fine’. Meanwhile…lightening starts coming down and the rain is getting A LOT harder. Now…I’m all about looking at the bright side in bad circumstances so as I look over at poor wet Joel and said…’Well, at least it’s not hailing.’ THAT was the wrong thing to say. The wind picked up and so did the rain. By this point the opening acts for Mumford and Sons are playing but we can’t hear them through the screaming lawn people and at this point our own laughter from being completely drenched. The flood waters were descending upon us and we were stuck on a wet blanket looking like someone just dragged us out of a pool fully clothed. Mind you…I’m really trying to stick it out…then the hail came. WHAT THE…..it’s HAILING..at this point I think Joel thought…'I’m done…I’m leaving with or without this chick'. LOL. Lucky for him..I was all about leaving too. I didn't want to seem like a silly girl, but that hail HURT and lightening was BEYOND too close for comfort. We ran to cover under this small tent…but so were a couple hundred others. Joel and I were at the very edge, especially poor Joel so every time the wind blew a gush of water went right over his head. At that point….Joel became my knight in shiny wet head…because he said ‘want to wait out the rain in your car’. YES..YES …I DO! Mumford and Sons wasn’t going on until 9:30 and it was only 8pm…so we had time. Joel and I made a run for it…but I was BLIND...I couldn’t see my contacts were falling out and the wind and rain were blinding me. I was literally doing my best not to lose Joel…because everybody had the same idea to run for their cars.

We finally made it back to the parking garage…pretty much laughing the whole way. I just couldn't believe our luck..what a crazy experience. I opened my bag and everything was floating in water including my camera. My camera sadly went to camera heaven but I was able to save the disk which produced the funny video above and these few pictures. Joel and I tried to dry off as much as possible…and luckily the rain stopped just in time for us to make Mumford and Sons…which was an AMAZING concert. I’ve never seen a more crowded lawn for an outdoor concert before. Towards the end of the concert I remember turning around and smiling at Joel thinking….yeah, they were totally worth it. So…thank you Chris for telling me about Mumford and Sons….and thank you Joel for being my very wet handsome partner in crime! I now never want to go to an outdoor concert without you by my side. Below…is my new favorite Mumford song called ‘Lover of the Light’ which I heard that crazy weathered night. Enjoy...and maybe I'll see you at the next Mumford & Sons concert in the DC area.

If I Die Young....

So…this past weekend I was visiting my parents at a resort in southern Virginia and for some strange reason I was talking to my parents about what I wanted my funeral to be like if I died young. I said I didn’t want to be buried under ground, but have my ashes taken around the world and released and if someone insisted on having a headstone somewhere..I wanted it to say something funny…like ‘She died how she lived..on her back’ lol…well, that would be very inaccurate for me..but something funny like that. I don’t want everybody to be sad..but happy that I lived. So…after this slightly creepy conversation with my parents I heard the below song driving back to DC. I thought this song is exactly how I would want it to be. Lol The scariest thing about dying young for me, is missing out on all the things I want to do. It’s for that reason alone…I'm so passionate about my bucket list. A list of things I want to experience before I die….because I want to tell some really awesome stories in Heaven one day. But if I never complete my bucket list….’Gather up your tears, keep’em in your pocket, save them for a time when you’re really gonna need them.’ So…here’s to living a happy life of celebration.

Someone Like You...

Music is such a gift from God. It has a way to move, empower, and motivate someone out of the darkest places in their lives. In my life there have been certain artists who have been able to catch the exact feelings I didn't have the strength to put into words, but by listening to their music I was able not to feel so alone. Knowing that someone had made it through the same thing, just in a different time and place always encouraged me to stay strong. I am the daughter of Eve, a being who could easily fall into an emotional pit when my heart is broken. An emotional pit of who...what...whys....but I refuse to. I let my music do that for me. A song can take me back to a place in time, but after that 3 minute song is over I'm over it until the next time I listen. Some might think it's weird but it's very therapeutic for me. The album I have on constant repeat right now is Adele. Her new album was written in response to her boyfriend breaking up with her and it's now number 1 all over the world. I love that. I love that she took something so painful and that continues to be painful for her and turned it into an anthem of the once broken hearted. The song below starts as a sad I miss you love song, but the chorus shouts out 'Nevermind...I'll find someone like you..'. Love whether good or bad can have many side effects that will affect who we are, but smart people like Adele and hopefully myself understand that we're always the better for it. Wisdom comes from learning from your mistakes, others mistakes, and applying that to your life. Adele learned not all men that say I love you mean what they say, but I learned someday the one I'll need will...

Good Life....

Life can suck! Life can be hard and recently I’ve had more than a few friends come to me about how hard it is to deal with past mistakes or current circumstances. When we’re going through those valley’s it’s so easy to dwell on the negative, become self-absorbed and seem hopeless. It’s so easy to allow the enemy to rob us of our joy and insert doubt in our minds. The doubt that it never gets better, that life will continue to suck and your pain will always be this sharp and unrelenting. The doubt that God could care less about you. Of course, that is a complete lie. Every moment you fight to move on it gets better. Life is too short to dwell on things you can’t change, whether it be past mistakes or current circumstances. Living a life with Hope is about walking forward, pushing through, finding joy in everything and never allowing yourself to look back. Lot’s wife looked back and it destroyed her. What a great reminder for us all to suck it up, and stop dwelling on circumstances we can’t change! Fight to be content in pain, Fight to find Joy in sorrow, and Fight to never let your Faith be robbed by the one who glorifies in your misery. Life is such an amazing gift, so FIGHT to make it the happiest life EVER! The Song below is called ‘Good Life’…I love it because it’s so true….you are loved…what is there to complain about?!? This is going to be a Good Life….

Holy Crap Another Year Older....

Since my last post I have become an aunt for the third time, a year older, and an accomplished Justin Bieber parody song writer. As you can see my life is full of excitement and unlimited adventures (even if they're in my head). It's amazing how fast a year can go, it seems like just yesterday I was in Ireland celebrating my 30th birthday. This past year has been challenging and wonderful all at the same time. I'm disappointed it went so fast, but I feel like I'm finally growing up. I still don't feel (or look) my age, but I love where my life is.

I think it's really easy for people to concentrate on things they don't have, instead of being grateful for what they do. I know I'm suppose to want marriage and kids...etc..etc...but honestly I don't really think about it. The only time I do think about it, is when I realize I'm not thinking about it and if I should. I focus on the things I do have and love. I think about my amazing family, my adorable dog (aka my best friend), the friends I couldn't live without, my small little apartment I love coming home to, the places I plan to go, and the places I've already been. I love that I still have so much ahead of me. Life is good! Life is Great, actually! I feel blessed and can't wait to see what the next 10 years will hold. The day my life is predictable is the day I'll die of boredom. I love not knowing what's next, though I'm consistently thinking what's next. Oh well.....I can't complain. Life is a wonderful gift that keeps on giving. :-)

Walk Away...

I LOVE THE SCRIPT...amazing band. Hands down my favorite band since I discovered Coldplay in college. Walk Away...is off of their new LP Faith & Science. I'm in love with every song on that album....but Walk Away is my favorite. The song is about a girl who loses herself in a bad relationship. That's what I love about this group...they tell a story with each and every song...that's how they got their name, The Script. Checkin' out!!

When did I grow up...

I remember being so confused when I left college. I had to make all these big decisions that would affect the rest of my life. So much pressure...I almost cracked a few times. Over the last 8 years since I said goodbye to higher learner my life has been one huge eye opening experience. I work in Human Resources at the BEST PR Firm in the world, but if you asked me in college if HR was my bag I would have laughed. I didn't think it was exciting enough for the life I wanted, but slowing God has opened up doors and showed me the light. In all fairness to the Big Guy He tried to tell me the last week of college the direction He wanted me to go.

I was working in the Career Center at Liberty University when the Director of the center pulled me into her office and told me I had a talent for interviewing. She said I had a way of making people feel comfortable, and she saw me going into the HR/Career development field. At the time, I was not open to the suggestion. I wanted to work in the music industry developing artists. THAT'S A STORY..

In the years after college I went from the Service industry, to Non-profit, to Finance, to insurance, to medical...but finally found my place in Human Resources at Ketchum. Since being at Ketchum I have grown and developed in ways I never knew I wanted...but I love my job and the people I work with. I love helping people find jobs. I love being part of a process that develops and trains our people. I love being challenged everyday. I don't know when but I became passionate about my career and the career of others. I desire to set up everyone I touch for success...whether it be current staff or future staff.

Because college was such a confusing time for me I LOVE going to Career Fairs for my company and speaking with the students. I love passing on bits of knowledge that will help prepare these kids for success. At the end of a Career Fair, I'm always on a high. My voice might be gone from talking to hundreds of kids and I might be hungry from skipping lunch so every student can speak with me...but I'm still on a high. In those moments I know what I'm meant to do...I'm meant to work in Human Resources.

This past fall I had the opportunity to attend the PRSSA Annual Conference in DC for my company. I was very lucky to have Ron Culp our Chicago Director join me at the booth. Today, Ron sent me the article he wrote to the PRSSA Forum where he quoted a few of my tips I passed onto the students http://www.culpwrit.com/.

This totally made my day and I thought...when did I grow up? :-)