Live Poor & Dream Big

Hi friends, it's Maria. I've never written a blog before. You can probably tell that Haley does most of the writing because she's super good at it, but I'm going to make an attempt at writing about something that I've been thinking about a lot lately and hopefully it will make sense. Here goes nothing...

I was reading an article for class a couple of weeks ago and stumbled across a quote that really confused me: “Live poor and dream big”. When I first read it I thought it was an oxymoron (that word always makes me LOL because it has moron in it). Anyways, I started thinking to myself, how can someone possibly accomplish big dreams without any money? There is no way I can accomplish what I want to do in life if I don’t have money. And then I literally wanted to punch myself in the face. My mind was so wrapped around the idea of having money that I was missing the point of not only the article, but life in general.

Being a business major I feel as though every single one of my classes has discussed money at some point. I’ve heard my professors say anything from “Just wait until you are the rich CEO one day” to “Money is what drives us to want to be successful” to “Let’s be honest, money DOES matter”. I always nodded my head in agreement with what they were saying, because isn’t that true for most people? We want jobs that will make us the most money so we can buy a nice house, give our friends and family nice things, and spoil ourselves, because that’s what’s going to make us happy, right? We need money to make us happy. If we don’t have a lot money, then our lives must really suck, huh?

Honestly, that’s exactly what I had always thought and being a senior in college, less than three months away from graduating, money is all I’ve been thinking about. Where can I find an entry-level job that will make me a lot of money? How am I going to pay off my (what seems like) 5 million dollars of student loans? Am I going to be a poor college student forever? Am I going to have to live with my parents after graduation (insert terrified face emoji here) if I don’t make a lot of money? All of these questions are centered around one thing: money.

But why does money need to be an important factor in the first place? Obviously having money isn’t a bad thing, but the whole mindset of only being happy if you’re rich is the bigger issue. I used to think that unless I had a North Face jacket, Ugg boots, and a Mac Book in order to fit in with all of the other students at my university, I wouldn’t be happy. But then I continually saw and thought about people I had met who had nothing and were 20 times happier than I was. I’ve been to Honduras twice and the Dominican Republic, all three on mission trips. If you are ever struggling with a materialistic mindset like I had or need a reality check, go to a third world country and see how these people live. I’ve never seen such poverty in my entire life until I visited a Haitian refugee camp in the Dominican Republic, but I’ve also never seen such joy. Kids were so unbelievably happy to be playing soccer in an open field without shoes on because they were doing something that they were passionate about. Those kids could play soccer every single day in those conditions and would continue to be just as happy as they were on the day that I saw them. The little boy in these two pictures is from Honduras. When I met him we started playing a game in which I would chase him, and when I caught him, I picked him up and spun him in the air. Every single time this happened, he shrieked with laughter. Whether it was the first time, the 20th time, or the 100th time, his laughter was the most joyous sound I have ever heard. I'm literally tearing up right now as I think about that because I will never see this boy again, but the impact that he made on my life was unreal. I could barely even talk to him, but his joy is something that I will never forget. He had nothing, but when he got to play with children and be around people, he was ecstatic.

Seriously though, I gave Israel (the little boy) a stuffed animal and painted cat whiskers on his cheeks and you would've thought he had just won the lottery because he was so unbelievably happy.

I think the more important question that we need to ask ourselves when facing a new challenge, experience, job, or big life decision is, Am I willing to live a poor man’s  lifestyle if that means I can accomplish my dreams? The answer should always be YES! Absolutely! Why wouldn’t I be able to give up the luxuries of living in a ginormous house, having a car of my own, eating 50 meals a day (that’s how much I love food), and going out with my friends every weekend? Are those really that important to me that I wouldn’t be able to give any of them up in order to accomplish my dreams?

I think this is where the world has really started to challenge us and one of the biggest downfalls of “Corporate America”. We all want money because it gives us nice things. But, what if I graduate from college, get some super fancy job at a super fancy company with the most luxurious amenities I can imagine….. And I hate it. What happens then? Wouldn’t I rather have a job that I absolutely love, even if I can’t afford to ever eat somewhere nicer than Taco Bell (honestly I would be okay with that because Crunchwrap Supremes are the best)? But seriously. The world has told us time and time again that the only way we are going to survive is if we have a butt load of money. Most of us pay a fortune for an education and are expected to immediately go out into the real world, find a job, pay off all of our student loans, and then having the most perfect life with the most perfect family. I’ve got news for you all…. This isn’t realistic, especially if we want to be happy with our 'super awesome' corporate job that we may secretly hate.

If we are truly passionate human beings, which I believe that we all are and have the potential to be, then we have a chance to make a difference in others’ lives, but also our own... If we all go after what we are passionate about instead of settling for a job that will allow us to have nice things, then imagine how happy every single person would be. Imagine the one thing that you love doing the most. The one thing that you could spend hours doing and never get bored. Isn’t this something you want to do for the rest of your life, even if a small amount of money is involved? I hope your answer is yes.

Today, right now, I vowed to never let myself settle. I don’t want to look back thirty years from now and wish that I had actually pursued my dreams when I had the chance. We have such great opportunities just staring back at us, so why not take advantage of them? Why not live poor, but dream big? Does that actually sound so bad? I honestly don’t think so. When I picture myself owning my own summer camp with my best friend Haley (and Jenna when she visits in the summers while she’s not teaching), hanging out with kids all day, and worshiping our super awesome God, I can’t imagine being any happier. Obviously I know accomplishing my biggest dream is going to take a lot of work. It’s going to be exhausting, I’m probably going to get mad sometimes and I may even say a few inappropriate words. It’s not just going to happen magically and not every day is going to be a good one, but I would rather have a bad day doing something that I love, than spend every single day wishing I had gone after my dreams when I had the chance. 
 
So, I encourage you all to challenge yourselves. Think of your biggest dream, the one thing you are most passionate about. Got it? Now go after it. Don’t let anything stop you, not even the fear of never being a billionaire. It may be something that seems so unbelievably unrealistic, but don’t let that stop you. You can do it. Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable and will encourage you. Here's a perfect example of this...

I texted Haley sometime last semester to tell her about a conversation I had with someone who was quick to discourage something that I was super passionate about. Here's what I said:

 I was pretty bummed because I feel like, as college students, we are constantly being asked what our future goals or dreams are. When I was asked this question and told my honest answer, I was almost scoffed at. Luckily, I have been so unbelievably blessed with the most encouraging friends. Here is what Haley said back to me:

I went from being super bummed and pretty mad to more motivated than I had ever been before. Don't let people bring you down and tell you that your dream is stupid or unrealistic or is going to cost too much money or that you won't be good at it. And if they do, prove them wrong. Those kinds of comments should be what gets your blood boiling and makes you want to accomplish your dream that very second, no matter how 'stupid' or 'unrealistic' or 'expensive' they may be. I didn't include my response in the picture, but it included something like "I'll send her a postcard of us with the 10 million people who want to come to our camp when it happens". And I actually will (maybe not 10 million people... but close). --Maria


Here's to having dreams, going after them, encouraging and motivating ourselves, and of course, living poor and dreaming big.
--HJM

Comment and let us know what your dreams are and what you're doing to accomplish them! Let's hold each other accountable.

Does Each Day Have the Potential to be the Best Day of My Life?

Haley here. It all started two weeks ago as my sister, Claire, and I were driving back to good ole Purdue after Christmas break. Now to be honest, this drive really kind of sucks. We usually have a weird adrenaline rush the first 40 minutes of the journey to campus as the excitement of new beginnings and possibilities of the start of a new semester set in, followed by approximately an hour of each of us trying our very hardest to sing each song on the radio until we develop bronchitis (literally, we think we're really good singers to the point that it’s kind of ridiculously annoying), and ultimately the last portion of the 3 hour drive is full of the realism of starting new classes that have the potential to be stupidly hard and having to be on a schedule again (also, the last 40 minutes usually contains diet soda or teas of our choosing and then complaining about having to pee, but having nowhere to stop).

But on this particular drive, I heard an obnoxious radio host describe a philosophy that I found to be strikingly intriguing. "Today could be the best day of your entire life." My thoughts spiraled as my mind consumed this radical idea. Side-note: I'm literally one of the most dramatic people I have ever witnessed, so when I heard this relatively simple line for the first time in my 20 years of semi-superb existence, I thought I was having some sort of strange Native-American like epiphany. Although up until this point during the day, my life had consisted of glumly saying goodbye to my family, packing 6,000 pounds of my belongings into the back of Claire's car, belting Miley, and looking forward to an Arnold Palmer. I had become enveloped and curious about the possibility of something miraculous happening. I mean for my day to suddenly become the best day of my life, something huge and crazy and wonderful has to occur, right? Like some monumental pinnacle? Although, true story: Recently I was driving and received a phone call that my best friend had found her wedding dress, causing me to stop at a gas station to jump around like a complete freak-spaz in the parking lot for about 7 minutes. After this exhausting celebration, I went inside and purchased a super refreshing Diet Dr. Pepper and as I drove away into the night, Lenny Kravitz’s "Fly Away" came on the radio. I immediately started tearing up and convinced myself that of all the good days in my life, this was the best. It might have been the mixture of gas fumes, artificial sweeteners and my psychotic mannerisms, but it was just supreme. Ok, after putting that down into words, I realize that I'm truly the saddest person of life. Oh well.

Alright, back to the point. After having two weeks to ponder the thought of this overwhelming potential, I have a few thoughts. I feel like in my life I have always yearned so desperately for the nonexistent feeling of being at my prime, of living the best days, of having everything and having the opportunity to do anything. What I have realized is that I'm probably never going to have the best day ever. Honestly, that is not at all me being a pessimist or believing that I cannot attain a moment of pure bliss. It just means that when I look back at my life, I want to be able to admit that I lived, not waiting around, with some days being better than others, and that I pursued things that I was passionate about with no regrets. I want the good days to outweigh the bad and I want to know that I affected people around me with pure, genuine love.

At this moment in time, in my 20 year old wisdom-filled heart (scratch the wisdom, I'm kind of sporadic and spontaneous, maybe not wise. Also I have a hole in my heart, so maybe "defected" would be a better adjective to describe my heart) I can, with confidence, say that:

1. I have the best family. Truly, however dysfunctional and crazy we may be, I could not imagine being surrounded by and raised by any other people. The best, the best, the best. Seriously.

2. My friends… again, the greatest. I literally been so wonderfully blessed in my life when it comes to friends. Whenever people ask me who my best friend is, I list off like 14 people. I choose to surround myself with beautiful people who are weird and strange and total comedic geniuses and I love it, more than anything else.

3. I serve a gracious, merciful God. I really don't think that this needs an explanation. Words are hard to find when it comes to describe my faith and my God. He is too good, too awesome (AWESOME defined: causing feelings of wonder: causing awe), so overwhelmingly full of grace. He has blessed me with everything.

Whoohoo, God is good, family is good, friends are good, food is good. Life…IS GOOD.

So, let's reflect. Reflect on our lives and the people in it. Reflect on the opportunities that lay before us and the mistakes we have made in the past. Let's rejoice in our God and the unbelievable blessings we have been given. Seriously, if each day we wake up and we think of everything that we have to be grateful for, how could we not be living the best day ever, the best days every day? Sounds pretty crazy. And maybe it isn't possible, but at least give each day a chance.

After reading this, I hope that I'm not portrayed as some "hippy freak love child", actually yes, do think of me as that because that's hilarious. Just kidding, but seriously. I am the queen of negativity, especially in the morning. I literally once had a streak going, for at least like 14 months straight, where I would wake up and curse the day. Seriously, like curse. As in use profanities. Like literally wake up and say, "This day is stupid", but replace "stupid" and come up with something slightly more creative. I've changed my ways, somewhat. I use effort, each day. Like sometimes physical effort. I strive to be optimistic when I wake up and continue to stay optimistic when I'm crossing the streets on Purdue's campus and almost get nailed by 4 different vehicles, optimism through my multiple 2.5 hour labs, optimistic when I'm tired and hangry (yes, "hangry", meaning angry because I'm hungry, which is almost 24/7).

These last two weeks have been good. Regardless, getting back into the swing of things at school has been difficult. Persevering through this weeks past tragedy has been difficult. Sometimes days will be difficult. But whenever life gets complex, in the back of my mind I have stored, "Each day has the potential to be the best day of my life. Yes, times might be hard in this exact moment, at this exact time in my life, but it'll all be good, wonderful, legit, the best. Just make it through." And for the days where it's hard to take your own advice, it's not so bad to lean on a friend or a family member, or the homeless man across the street. Coming from Miss Independent herself, without my supporters, who the heck knows where'd I'd be? It's not showing weakness, it's being strong and being able to admit that life is hard.

So here's to making each day the best day of your life. And if not your own, contribute to someone else's. This world can be dark, so let's make it our goal to be the light. To show love, to relish in comedy, to show real emotion and spontaneity. Challenge yourself. Challenge others. YOU CAN DO IT…and if you can't, below is a ridiculous list of tips/steps/advice/funny things to improve your day composed by yours truly, HJM.

1. Laugh at yourself at least once a day. We all do stupid things, and if you’re like any of us, you probably find them either extremely embarrassing or ridiculously funny. You’re allowed to think that you’re funny. So laugh at yourself.

2. Call your mom or dad or sibling or someone who loves to compliment you. Seriously, nothing makes your day better than receiving compliments. And whoever you call or talk to, give them a compliment back. Spread the joy.

3. Take this quiz: http://www.buzzfeed.com/joannaborns/quiz-what-food-matches-your-personality It’s hilarious and it’s about food, so honestly, what could be better?

4. Watch this vine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3oParxDyyY . It’s literally one of the funniest things we’ve ever seen and we laugh SO hard every time we see it. You won’t be disappointed.

5. Draw a mustache on your index finger and hold it up to your face throughout the day. Mustaches make the world go ‘round.  

6. Pump up the jam. Find some good space, blare the best song and go crazy. If your moves can be described as a mixture of smooth and epileptic then you know you are doing something right.

7. Crack open a good book. Harry Potter, Soul Pancake, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and other concerns) just to suggest a few that will allow you to fall into a good story and stimulate that brain. And if reading isn’t your thing, do it anyway. We find that reading a good book is a great trigger to initiate an even better nap.

8. Watch a video from Kid President. He is literally the cutest, wisest, most funny child ever. His spazzy ways will encourage you and give you a good laugh. After viewing, you might even have a few new killer dance moves.

9. Eat ice cream. One time Haley and Maria ate an entire container of mint chocolate chip frozen yogurt in less than 24 hours. It was disgusting, but also so delicious that it didn’t even matter. Sometimes you just need to reward yourself for being awesome.

10. Watch the Office. Seriously, you will not regret it. It is everything you need in life. Not only is it full of the most comical quotes, the greatest love story of our generation, and John Krasinski (seriously try not to fall in love, we dare you), but it teaches us valuable lessons on friendship and life...and how to deal with a ridiculous boss. 

What are your tips for making each day the best day of YOUR life? Comment below… We want to hear your opinions!

And with that, HJM out.