Listening to my heart...

This might be the most random blog post ever. Typically, I have to work up to it. I have to plan my writing session into my day's schedule, allowing plenty of time to sit and let my thoughts brew a little. However, tonight I've decided to take a new approach; no plan. So here I am, it's a Thursday night, and I have a minor headache in the works. Nothing I can't handle (thank you Excedrin). Heat is pouring out of the vent like a rushing waterfall, but I swear my fingers are still numb from being outside nearly 5 hours ago. Yeah, it's cold. And tomorrow it will be even colder, which means it will be a perfect day to stay inside and cram as much homework in as I can. My trek home earlier was a little quicker than usual because of the extreme cold and it's possible that I started to jog a few times along the way. "Don't worry people, I'm from the UP. I've got this." This is what I thought to myself as I passed other fools that were out walking. As if they were silently giving me pity or thinking I couldn't handle the temp. Oh, trust me. I can handle the temp. And if I can't handle it, I'll still keep my mouth shut. I'm not a complainer. 


Which leads me to my topic of choice for this post: how much I appreciate my small town. Actually, that was the worst transition ever. But anyway, it's amazing how much you appreciate what you've left behind when you venture out to do "bigger" and "better" things with your life.  For instance: country music used to make my blood boil. Yes, I hated it with a passion and actually most songs still make me question the person that came up with the ridiculously poor grammar ridden lyrics. But I will admit, there are a few select songs that I choose to listen to simply because they keep me connected to the place I call home home. I am no longer surrounded by pickup trucks, gravel roads, and corn fields. Instead I'm being swallowed whole by a world of overly confident, overly money-driven, and usually over dressed individuals who don't have a clue what manners are. Sure, I'm all about being successful. But I have a feeling my definition of success is slightly different than most. I do give credit to those that live for their career, awesome for you. And perhaps there are people out there that can do it all. But I've come to the conclusion that I'm not one of those people. I honestly don't need much, although I do appreciate what I have. I have no desire to surround myself with professionals in my industry, or any industry for that matter. I have no desire to climb any corporate ladder. And I have no desire to waste my time networking with people who couldn't care less about me. In fact, it all makes me sick. Money does not impress me, I don't care what labels you're wearing, and I certainly don't need anyone to tell me these things are important in life. They are not, nor will they ever be, important in my life.


What's important to me is simple. The values I left that small town with are stuck to me like glue and I'm afraid there's no way of stripping me of them, no matter how hard this city may try. I'm here for my education and I'm here for the experience. Although I have no idea where I want to go or what I want to do, I do know that I will not be influenced by my surroundings. I won't let anyone tell me what's best for me, or what I should do with this one life I have to live. I'm listening to my heart...end of story. 

Since my post was so random, I figured I would top it off with an old random picture!