Stephany Writes

Categories: Recurring Series

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind, Part 4

Before I begin Part 4 of this series, I want to talk about an exciting opportunity that has come my way involving CSN Stores! I’ve been given the chance to review a product for them, but can’t tell you much more yet – so keep your eyes peeled! In case you’re wondering what CSN Stores is, they are an online retailer with over 200 stores. (That’s one giant shopping mall if I do say so myself!) Redoing your bedroom? They have everything from nightstands to shoe racks! I would definitely take a peek over there, but beware: it’s a little addicting!

Onto the questions! Check out previous installments here.


16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
Simple – because we are all different. What makes me happy doesn’t make everyone happy. Spending an entire Sunday watching football makes me happy – for others, this is torture. Reading, writing, and playing board games make me happy but for you, it might be golfing, fishing, and going to bars. We all have our own likes and dislikes and the trick is surrounding ourselves with people who have some of the same hobbies as us, but also make us broaden our horizons and find new hobbies through them.
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
I really want to be able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes. I think this is one of my biggest goals right now, especially since it means I would cut 15 minutes off my time. And that would be an incredible feat. I would feel amazing! What’s holding me back? Not having proper running shoes (remedying that this weekend!), not being consistent at exercise, and not believing in myself. When I tell myself it’s too hard, I’m losing the mental game – and we all know running is 90% a mental game. The day I cross the finish line and the clock hasn’t hit 30 minutes will be the best day of my life.
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
I’m holding onto a lot of things I need to let go of. Insecurity, weight, past experiences, doubt. I want to be able to let go of the past and start trusting in myself. I let things my dad has said and done to me affect me and really, pave my path. I believe in the lies he said about me and it causes me to doubt that anyone could ever like me or that I’m meaningful. While I know he’s wrong, it’s hard to let go of it when you hear lies again and again during your formative years from the one man you should be able to trust.
If I could afford it, I would see a therapist because there are issues that I haven’t dealt with, mainly because I don’t want to and because they are ingrained so deeply in my core that it’s going to take some work to get them out. I’m beginning to realize what I’m doing to myself, but it’s definitely a work in progress.
(And wow, didn’t mean to make this so deep and personal. But there it is.)
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
Gosh, I have no idea. I know I wouldn’t like a fast-paced city life like NYC or Chicago. I’m not afraid to say that I like the suburbs and I like the calmness of small-town life! I absolutely adore the city I live in and would gladly live here forever. But if I had to choose somewhere else, I would probably choose Georgia. Mainly, because I could raise my kids there and they would have the cutest Southern accents.
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
I only press it once. Although I’ll usually press it multiple times if the light isn’t lit. But no, it doesn’t make the elevator go faster, just makes you look impatient.
Categories: Recurring Series

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind, Part 3

Check out Part 1 and Part 2.

11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?

Most likely, I would get very quiet and not say anything. I am the quintessential non-confrontational person and I just know I would let these people badmouth my friend without saying anything. I probably wouldn’t enter into the conversation and I think they would know, unless they’re totally clueless, that I don’t feel the same way but I wouldn’t voice my opinion. I really wish I had it in me to be more confrontational and really say what I feel, but it just isn’t a part of my personality.

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

I find this to be an odd question because said newborn wouldn’t have a clue what I was saying, nor any memory of it. But let’s say I write this down for the child to read when they’re older. My best piece of advice is to always follow your heart. Yes, it’s cheesy and quite a cliche, but I also see so many people in jobs they don’t like or relationships that hurt them because they think that’s where they’re supposed to be, or with whom they’re supposed to be with. Trust in what your heart is telling you and I think you can live a happier life.

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?

Tough question. It really depends on the situation. Like, I would never rob a bank or kill someone to save them. (Unless, of course, it’s in self-defense.) There are situations where I might be persuaded into helping someone if their life depended on it. But the fact remains that the thought of jail fills me with the heebie-jeebies so, probably not.

14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

Probably so. I can’t think of any instances at the moment, but I believe so.

15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

Eat, especially when I’m eating with a TV show or football game on. And most definitely when it comes to popcorn at the movie theater. I won’t eat during commercials and won’t even touch the popcorn until the movie is in full swing, not even during the first few minutes when the credits are running. I buy my movie popcorn for the movie, not for the previews. My brother is the exact same way, but probably more anal about it.

Categories: Recurring Series

Friday Odds and Ends

  • I made it through my first week of school and I believe it’s going to be a lot less stressful than last semester. There will be a lot more papers due, but I’m excited! I don’t mean to be such a nerd, but the papers are going to be really interesting (especially my Sports Journalism papers) and I really want to throw myself into seeking out interesting stories, improve on my interviewing skills, and put my entire heart into the writing. I always have this fire in my belly when I begin a semester, but let life take over and don’t really put my heart and soul into my schoolwork. I want to change that. I want to keep that fire in my belly throughout the entire 17 weeks. And I want to turn out some of the best stories I’ve ever written.
  • I have a long break between my classes, Tuesdays – Thursdays, which I planned on just staying at school for. Tuesday, I stayed and holy cow, it was long! I managed to catch up e-mails, blogs, and vlogs but I was bored silly! It’s about a 3-hour break on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a 4-hour break on Wednesdays, so I’m probably going to start coming home during that time. I only live about 15 minutes from school and may start staying there when homework gets heavy, but for now, I’ll be coming home and using that time to decompress before class. (Have I mentioned how happy I am about my schedule this semester?!)
  • I’m taking a class called Social Media this semester, as I mentioned, and it’s probably going to be one of the most interesting classes I’ve ever taken. I really love everything about social media and would love to find a job that incorporates that. For people who use Twitter, what types of social media kings/queens should I be following?! I know some of you are so much more involved with this type of stuff than I am, and I’d love to learn more about them!
  • I’m trying to come to terms with taking a step back from blogging. It tore me up last semester, but I think the best thing for me to do is blog when I can. Lately, I’ve been trying to write my posts on the weekends and schedule them throughout the week. I’m going to try my best to keep up with your blogs (especially the ones in my “Must Reads” folder in Google Reader), but I’m not promising anything. And I’m trying to be OK with that. I’m so consumed with this blog community and making sure all of you know how awesome I think you are, but sometimes life gets in the way.
  • In awesome news, my grandma just finished up her chemotherapy earlier this month and had a PET scan on Tuesday to check to see if her cancer had come back. The good news is that her scan came back mostly clean. The bad news is that they found a tiny spot near her colon that they believe is nothing, but want her to get a colonoscopy just to make sure. I’m happy, though. My grandma has said that if her cancer comes back, she’s not going through chemo again. It really takes everything out of her and makes her so sick and weak. She’ll be 70 in a few years. Her body, her decision. So now I’m just praying her cancer doesn’t come back, because it’s scary to think of a world without my grandma.
  • On the other end of the spectrum, my uncle is in the hospital. He was having chest pains, numbness, weakness, and a high heart rate on Wednesday night and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Throughout the night, they couldn’t get his heart rate down. I’m writing this blog on Thursday night and as of right now, they’re not sure what is causing his high heart rate or chest pains or anything. It’s extremely scary and I’m hoping we can find out what’s going on tomorrow.
  • I have to buy 7 books this semester, and managed to find 3 of them at my library! This has never happened in any semester, so I’m super thrilled, especially considering my Spanish textbooks will be around $150. They do have my Spanish textbook at the library, but it’s checked out. Still, it saved me at least $40-$50 for those three.
  • My mom had another x-ray of her elbow, which showed the fracture is healing. She still can’t use her elbow and can’t go back to her second job until October at the earliest. He also noticed a subtle clicking when she turned her wrist, which could mean her bone had shifted a little and was rubbing against the other bone in her forearm, which in turn means possible surgery down the road. For now, he’s not too worried about it and thinks it could heal on its own. In all her other areas, she’s healing very nicely! Her scar where her stitches were is barely recognizable, although the area is still pretty tender. She’s also dealing with some anxiety/fear so I’m trying my best to give her the support she needs. I just want to fast-forward to November and have this just be totally over!
  • I really have no weekend plans. Get my planner caught up, do some homework, and just relax. I know this is going to be one of my last easy weekends for a while so I’m going to try to enjoy it!
Categories: Recurring Series

Confessions, Part 2

I started this series, oh, 5 months ago? And I haven’t come back to it. Until today. Get ready for some confessions…

1. I am terrible at remembering to bring in my reusable shopping bags when grocery shopping. I probably remember it once in every 5 trips.

2. I have never had my own car. This doesn’t bother me as much as it did when I was in high school.

3. I still don’t like running. But I’m trying really hard!

4. I hate Chinese food.

5. I’m a grammar nerd but have never understood prepositions. And I don’t think I ever will.

6. I have never seen any of the Harry Potter movies, and have only read the first two books.

7. Every time I see a long stretch of grass, I feel this insane urge to do a round-off, back handspring, with a twist. I don’t know why. I’ve never been in gymnastics and can barely do a round-off.

8. My mom and I might have a minor obsession with Ziploc containers. Best invention of this decade? I think so!

9. For about 2 months, I ate a whole-wheat English muffin with just a smidge of peanut butter for breakfast. And now the thought of English muffins makes me want to throw up.

10. I also can’t stand the thought of Cup O’ Noodle soup. I ate one every day after school in middle school and haven’t been able to handle even the smell of them since.

11. Honestly, I think my dog thinks he’s my boyfriend. And he’s a clingy one, at that.

12. I’m not a shoe person. Usually, I buy one pair of $15 Target flip-flops and wear them until they get worn down, and then buy a new pair.

13. I am completely obsessed with Days Of Our Lives. I think it’s pretty amazing how long they can stretch out one teeny plotline.

14. I was 19 the first time I ever dyed my hair.

15. I have never been to a different time zone, other than Eastern. I need to travel more.

Categories: Recurring Series

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind, Part 2


6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

Writing for pleasure, such as writing for this blog, feature pieces for magazines, and fiction. Writing is my number one passion and I couldn’t last a day without it. Writing for this blog fills me with joy and happiness, and being a part of this amazing community does the same.

I think I would also like to take trips around the United States and the world to visit blog friends because some of you are closer to me than my own real-life friends.

7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

Hands down, I’m settling. I’m working at a job that’s not really going to do much to further my career, other than helping me deal with stressful situations and instill a work ethic. And I don’t feel as if I put enough effort into school as I need to. Every semester, I arm myself with notebooks and planners and the determination to make this one the Best One Yet and I never do. I become lazy around the fourth week and start settling for what is comfortable and familiar.

And while I don’t know if I’m doing what I believe in at my internship, I am doing work that fulfills and challenges me. I feel happy each day I arrive and maintain that attitude throughout the day.

8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

First of all, how sad would life be if this were true? I wouldn’t have my mom around or my grandparents or many of my mentors. Also, I would have less than 12 years to live! Eep! While I think I would still be concerned with school and writing, I would also want to live my life more freely. I wouldn’t have to worry about saving for a long period of time or opening any type of investment.

I would be more concerned with settling down, though, and having kids. I would want as much time possible with them before I died.

9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

I think it’s important for me to take responsibility and say I have controlled it a lot. (While yes, I do credit God for steering my ship, as well.) I’m the one who has made some bad decisions and good decisions. I chose education over journalism, prolonging my undergrad experience and putting me in situations I should never have been in. I let my dad walk all over me until I finally had enough. I am the girl who strives to be someone people can count on and talk to.

Who’s to say where the next 22 years will take me? I hope I still have a semblance of control over my life and can make good decisions and embrace the bad ones for the lessons they’ll bring me.

10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

I am definitely more worried about doing the right things. I know everyone has a moral compass hidden deep within their layers and some of us choose to adhere to what it’s telling us, while others do not. Morally and ethically, I know what’s right and I know what I need to do to keep my conscience clean and God proud of me. I know that feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I do something wrong and I hate it.

I just know that I want to be known as a good person and someone who touched lives. I feel like I’m honoring and respecting myself more when I listen to my moral compass and do the right thing.