On being alive.

Final tallies of the "Draft" contest:

*Actually Growing Up-2

On Being Alive-3

*Music Changes Everything-2

*History-1

*Once I wanted to be the greatest...-1

Websites I like-1

*Please note that the losing blog titles, and the ones listed in the original post, are free for titles/topics for your own blog posts.

It was a close race, but, "On Being Alive" is the winner. The following bolded statement is the complete text of the original post I wrote 7.26.09 at 12:14 PM:

"It is so good to be alive today!!!"

..................................................................

I enjoy looking back. That's actually what "History" was about-my history as a writer, as a blogger, as a ranter. I enjoy self-analysis/reflection on the past and the progresses I have made, the ways I have changed and the ways I have stayed exactly the same. So, here is a bit of reflection on that day and this today.

On Being Alive 7.26.09

I'm not sure why I didn't publish it, but I do know that about an hour later I decided to post my first ever "Poem of the Week," The Octopus, by Ogden Nash. I also know that I wrote the original, "On Being Alive," the day before I took a major exam (Psych HESI), and two days before I took another major exam (OB HESI). I also know that my dear friends, Alysha and Rachel, came home from Spain on the 28th, so I probably was really excited about that!

July 26th is a very interesting day. I must admit that I looked back at my planner for this post, because I usually write everything down so I can reflect later on each individual day.

Can I talk about academic planners for a second? The past two I have had end somewhere in June and don't start back until August. Considering the fact that I have taken classes every summer since my freshman year of college, this has created some problems because I always have a gap of time where the planner doesn't cover yet I still have assignments. The first two years it wasn't a huge problem because I only took one class each of those summers. However, this summer it was a nightmare. I took two very time-consuming Nursing courses, and for about almost two months I had to use a piece of paper as a planner. Talk about frustrating and disorganized. So, back to July 26th...

My planner begins on July 27th, so the 26th is not in my planner. I know it was a Sunday, but I don't know what I did that day. I know I went to Mass at 5:00 pm, but other than that I am clueless as to what happened that day, and what prompted me to write "On being alive," and why I was indeed so glad to be alive on that particular day.

May I also note, why was a blogging at noon? That is a mystery to me. Still, I rejoiced simply in the life I was living.

On Being Alive 10.28.09

Today, October 28th, a little over three months later, not a whole lot has changed. (I just lied, didn't I?) But, some things have. With the benefit of my planner, and my fresh memory I do know that there is so much to be joyful about life today.

Today is my last day of critical care clinicals at EAMC Intensive Care Unit, which means we're celebrating by eating dinner at Mellow Mushroom tonight, and not going to the hospital at all! That makes me very happy, but what really makes me happy is that I am alive today.

I visited the University of South Carolina this summer to see my sister. Pope John Paul II visited in 1987, and there is a plaque in the famous Horseshoe that commemorates his visit. The plaque says, "It's great to be young...it's great to be young and a student at USC." Indeed, it is so great to be young, and to be students, and we should rejoice in the very opportunities we have to learn and grow. Indeed, what a joy it is! Still our joy extends further than our intellectual opportunities.

A meditation from the COMPASS Bible Study materials (from my Sophomore year) said plainly, "You will die." I think this is a message that escapes a lot of young people today. We think we are invincible, that death is something that happens to old people, that death cannot touch us. In our small group discussion about death my friend Erin said that every morning she thanks God for sustaining her through the night and allowing her to see the next morning. What a beautiful sentiment.

Every moment, every day is a gift from God. Not only does He help me do my schoolwork, perform my duties as a student-nurse, and co-lead a Bible Study on Wednesday nights, but He made me and holds me into existence even now. Running, jumping, doing, all is possible through Him, but just living, just being alive is such a great gift in itself.

Today, I pray- Thank you Lord, for the gift of life.

It is so good to be alive today!!