iAndrea

I need to EAT, PRAY LOVE, find some GLEE, and a little SEX AND THE CITY 2

2010-03-28T14:42:00.005-04:00

It's been entirely too long since I've blogged, so I figured it was time to rock a new design and domain and get to writing. I want to share some things that are coming up in the next few months that I'm uber excited about:

EAT, PRAY, LOVE

Every once in a while you read something that radically changes your perspective and the way you think. I relish the rare occasions in where this happens. I've heard about how amazing the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert's for years. But it wasn't until recently that I actually picked up the book and pretty much devoured it. I'm not going to offer a book review, or give you every single detail about the Gilbert's amazing story. I simply don't think I could do it justice, and really, it's such a brilliantly written book. It's raw, honest, and explores every gamut of human emotion. It challenges you to examine your joys and the things you dread, all the while encouraging you find peace by acknowledging your fears, disappointments and rage and genuinely letting them go. You're truly missing out if you haven't read it. Best part. There's a movie adaptation that looks phenomenal coming out August 13! How awesome does that trailer look!?!

GLEE

In case you haven't heard of Glee, it's a brilliant show that tells the story of a high school glee club. The premise may seem a bit mundane, and almost inmature, but the writing is incredibly compelling. Coupled with phenomenal actors, who are breathing new life into classic and contemporary songs. Glee is simply a must watch. I dare you to watch and not feel a little glee! Cannot wait for it to return Tuesday, April 13! Here's a sneak preview!

SEX AND THE CITY

Sex and the City is my all time favorite show. The New York backdrop, the friendships, the humor, the heartbreak, the romance. SATC has it all. I couldn't be happier to see another movie! Check out the trailer for Sex and the City 2: Carrie on! Can't wait for May 27!

I hope you've enjoyed some of the shows and movies I'm excited about. What are you excited about coming up in the next few months? Leave it in the comments

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T17:04:00.008-05:00

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes
How do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.

RENT is absolutely my favorite play EVER! Because of music, the story, and the countless of memories that are attached to the play and movie, which I will remember remember for a lifetime. In the spirit of the New Year and the past 525,600 minutes which just transpired ... I feel like taking a second to measure the year.

Personally and professionally 2009 has been one of the toughest years for me. While I could sit here and type about all trials and tribulations that last year held, that's not really my style. What I want to do is focus on the lessons learned in the past year, in the growth that I have seen in myself. So in no particular order here's a few of the highlights of 2009.

I did a lot of traveling to some really amazing places. Nothing like exploring different countries and cultures to enhance your world view.
I'm not quite there yet, but I have made some serious advances in slowing down my workaholic ways.
I have learned to let go much more, and grown smarter about picking my battles.
I have discovered patience I didn't know I had.
I had an incredible time podcasting. It's been an amazing year that's allowed me to interview people who I respect, admire, and whom inspire me, like: Liana Lehua, Veronica Belmont, and Natali Del Conte, all the while raising funds and awareness for the Susan G Komen Foundation.
Perhaps one of the biggest things I've taken with from the past year is the reminder that there isn't anything that can't be resolved with a little restraint, understanding and communication.
I think I would be a bit remiss if I wasn't a little introspective today. While this new year is beginning with lots of changes, lots of things that still need to be taken care of, I'm looking forward to what's to come in 2010. I think one of the most incredible things New Years day can offer is the fact that it grants us a perfect opportunity to start anew. To have a little hope in what we'll use to measure the next 525,600 minutes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What are some of the highlights or valuable lessons you learned the past year? Tell me how you're measuring last year in the comments!

I leave you with my year through pictures:

Happy New Year from Andrea Zuniga on Vimeo.

Happy Festivus!

2009-12-22T14:48:00.026-05:00

I'm an equal opportunity celebrant and since today's December 23, the day we celebrate Festivus, I thought it would only be fair to use my blog to do the traditional airing of grievances. So allow me to channel my inner grumpy old man, you know, the kind that yells "Get off my lawn!!" Here's my list of 2009 grievances:

The fact that TweetDeck has great functionality, but a god-aweful user interface and is such a memory hog.
The fact that LOST took and OMG-Long hiatus!
I was highly peeved that I lost my Visual VM for almost two weeks, then there was also that epic outage. So yeah, AT&T, I got some grievances with you!
People who practice poor online etiquette, like leaving an IM conversation without saying something or don't respond to emails.
People who ignore problems, and avoid necessary conversations.
The fact that people online so easily support things without knowing all the nuances.
People who use pretty words to appease and placate, but who don't back up those words with changes or improvement.
People who are insecure and feel the need to like or comment on every single update by their significant other.
People who automate and use their twitter accounts to advertise. It's called social media, be social!
While we're on automation, people who have set up auto-DMs upon you following them on twitter.
Farmville, Mafia wars and all that type of stuff on facebook. Oh, I also don't need a garden or an aquarium. It's my facebook, not my house!
While we're on the subject of Facebook ... the fact that now every single activity you do is now broadcast on your profile. EPIC FAIL!!!! I want that privacy setting back. Kthxbai
The Crimson Tide players who showed so little respect at the SEC championship game.
Gator Haters, specially people who dislike Tim Tebow.
The fact that the Florida Panthers came so close to making the playoffs but couldn't clinch a spot.
When Nick Lachey says "Nota" :::Cringe::: If you watched the Sing-off, I think you understand!
Kinda random, but the fact that Lauryn Hill spent another year without releasing an album.
I think perhaps my biggest grievance is how some people don't pick up on subtlety, or worse yet, when things are blatantly obvious. Second only to my intense dislike and qualms with geography. Too many people I love live too stinking far away!

In the words of my buddy Edith: "Shine up your aluminum poles. Practice your airing of grievances and your feats of strength." What are some of your grievances? Leave it in the comments ;)

I'm thankful for ...

2009-11-26T13:12:00.001-05:00

The fourth Thursday in November means Thanksgiving in the continental US. While it’s cliche, for me it’s always a great opportunity to be thankful. While personally, Thanksgiving’s not only serves as the marker for the beginning of the holiday season, for me it’s also an opportunity to revisit everything that I’m thankful for in the last year. I try for the most part to be appreciative, and specially of the little things. That’s what I want to do today. I want to share some of the things I’m thankful for ...

I’M THANKFUL FOR:

My mom
My friends
My sorority sisters
My puppy
Facebook, Twitter, and Plurk
Podcasts
My Macbook
My iPhone
Sushi
Publix subs
Coffee and ice tea
Late night conversations
Lotions and body splashes
Music
Movies
Grey’s Anatomy, Fringe, Flash Forward, Glee, and Cougar Town
Road trips to Gainesville
Gator Football and Timmy Tebow
Hockey
New York City
Patience
High heels and stilettos
Quotes
Traveling adventures
Humor and smiles
Life lessons
Growing as a person

There are just so many things to be thankful for. But these are just a few.

What are YOU thankful for? Leave it in the comments ...

NaBloPoMo 6: Gamma Eta Sorority

2009-11-16T23:16:00.013-05:00

"People ask why I am in a sorority and I try to explain all the things a sorority is that they cannot see. A sorority is more than letters on a shirt, I say. More than traditions, a gold pin, rituals, and obligation, or a way of life. A sorority is learning about people, a sorority is giving without expecting a return. A sorority is earning respect from others, as well as for yourself. A sorority will not solve all your problems. But I have made good friends and found confidence there to help me take life one step at a time." - Anonymous

I’m often asked why I joined a sorority, what I have gotten out of, and I think this quote is a great start to explaining just that. Exactly nine years ago today I became Gamma Eta. I can’t believe so much time has passed already. When I first stepped into UF’s campus I too held the same stereotypical view of sororities and the women that joined them. Back then I naively believed greek life was superficial and just a constant party. That is until my high school friend and pledge sister Kathy convinced me to go to a meeting to learn more about Gamma Eta because she didn’t want to go alone.

I was floored by the values these women upheld, by the bonds and friendships that were evident. What appealed to me most also was the size of the chapter. It wasn’t 100+ girls in a sorority house, but twenty or so women who really knew each other. Long story short, after that night I was sold. I pledged and became a sister nine years ago today. To be honest, I can’t imagine college or my life now without Gamma Eta.

Diversity, Unity, Leadership, Sisterhood, Strength, Scholarship, Sisterhood are the pillars of excellence for Gamma Eta and they have infiltrated my life to this day. While they are incredibly important to me. There are some that stand out personally for me. Gamma Eta has made me a better leader, Gamma Eta has offered strength when I’ve needed it the most, and most of all it’s offered me sisterhood. I’m so thankful that Gamma Eta has placed amazing women in my life whom I adore. Women who are a constant source of encouragement, support, and lots of great memories and fun times.

So, today, on my Gamma Eta Anniversary I wanna say thank you to Gamma Eta and all my sisters for being such a wonderful part of my world.

My Gamma Eta Family

NaBloPoMo 5: Inspirations

2009-11-16T23:14:00.011-05:00

In my last blog I mentioned why I podcast, and I share a little bit if my passion about the medium. I want to share some of the podcasters and content producers that are inspirations for me today to become a better podcaster and who often spark my creativity.

LEO LAPORTE

Leo Laporte is undoubtedly one of the most successful people in the world of podcasting. He broadcasts live from his studio all the time. He has a network of shows called the TWIT Network. It’s a solid lineup of fantastic shows and guest. What I love most about Leo is his professionalism. Not only in the quality of his sound/video, but the integrity with which he shares his opinions about a topic or gadget, but also in the way that he seamlessly transitions from one topic to another, while making sure there’s a balance of opinion and air time for all his guests. Something I attempt to emulate whenever I have guests on my shows.

NATALI DELCONTE

Natali DelConte is by far one of my favorite women in new media for so many reasons. I have a great respect for women that are smart, and who garner their success using their brains. Natali is a perfect example of this. I originally connected with Natali because it was incredibly cool for me to see successful woman in the world of Podcasting, moreover, a hispanic woman! There are so many things that I could list about what I would want to emulate from Natali’s content: Her wit, her solid reporting, her ease behind a mic, but I have to say that all changed when I had the honor to interview her my Podcastathon raising funds for Susan G Komen. She was so incredibly candid, and I realized that above all those other things, one of the most important things I have learned from Natali is to remain authentic and to share who you really are with your audience. This rings true whether you’re watching her on Loaded, on CBS News, or if you’re reading her tweets and facebook updates. Hopefully something my listeners find true for me as well.

CC CHAPMAN

CC Chapman is one of the most recognized experts on Social Media. Social Media Maven is a badge he should wear with honor. While there is no disputing that CC knows his stuff, one of the coolest things for me is that he exudes passion. Whether you’re listening to a podcast or he’s standing in front of you, you feel it. CC is all about the human experience. I for one appreciate that he’s all about taking the time to take a picture, chat, as well as offer to hug a close friend on your behalf at a conference.

VERONICA BELMONT

Veronica Belmont went from off-air to on-air talent and forged herself a place in a male dominated world. She’s truly the epitome of tenacity, perseverance and confidence in one’s own talent. I had the privilege to chat with Veronica during this years Podcastathon and I can attest that she’s the real deal. She’s fun, witty, and knows her tech. It is her worth ethic and her love and passion for tech I hope to emulate.

LIANA LEHUA

What can I say about Liana that hasn’t already been said in the interwebs. She’s got to be one of the most down to earth people that I have meet through podcasting and twitter. Liana exudes a happiness that’s contagious. A zest for life that’s just disarming.

Liana has fun with podcasting, and most of all, she engages her audience, and genuinely takes an interest in those who want to share their lives with her. I love this about her and I’m glad to say I consider Liana a friend.

AMBER MAC

Amber MacArthur or Amber Mac as she’s affectionately known is another wonderful example of a successful woman in the world of podcasting and social media. Amber’s smart and knows her craft. Her journalistic background makes her shows stand a cut above the rest. Amber’s always got a new and exciting project or some cool new gadget, software, or website to share. I greatly respect her work ethic and her integrity in reporting.

CALI LEWIS

I love gadgets and tech, so It’s no surprise that I was drawn to the video podcast Geek Brief. But what I love the most is Cali’s demeanor. She really embodies her tag line: “Shiny, Happy Tech News.” Wether filming in her studio, or some fun location, Cali always brings the happy and I have to say I enjoy her excitement over the shiny of a cool new gadget. If you know me, you can picture me and a new geeky purchase :)

I choose mostly women to highlight, because as a female, behind the mic, wondering how to find her place in this medium it is incredibly refreshing to find women who have found success through podcasting and social media, particularly as it’s such a male dominated world. They not only inspire me to produce content, but also a better steward of this world with my own listeners.

I’m curious to see which podcasters or content producers inspire you, whether to produce content or to be a better person. Leave it in the comments!

NaBloPoMo 4 - Yes Ma'am. Yes, Sir.

2009-11-15T09:37:00.010-05:00

I was flipping through the channels last week and I came across a show on MTV called The strict parents. I don't know why, but I ended up watching it as I did some chores around the house. It was for the most part silly reality television, lots of exaggeration and a high dose of drama. The basic premise of the show is a set of "strict" parents host teens who aren't well behaved. What caught my attention was that after a quick tour of the home, the "Strict parents" sat down with their new kids and laid down the rules. Among them, always respond or acknowledge by saying "Yes, Ma'am." or "Yes, Sir" respectively. The teens seemed baffled by this request. Exclaiming that "[This] wasn't the military!" At one point complaining that it wasn't what normal families did. This struck a chord for me because "Yes, ma'am," "Yes, sir" were the responses expected of me growing up. It's a sign of respect. To me, there's love in respect. I am twenty eight years old and I still answer my parents the same way. Maybe I'm old fashioned. Maybe my own parents were strict. Yet, I appreciate the way the raised me to show respect to those around me. To be thankful for the little things. I strongly believe that discipline is key at any stage of your life, whether the discipline our parents dish out as we grow up, or the self discipline that we need to succeed in life. In my humble opinion, it is that respect and discipline that is lacking in today's society.

What's your take? Do you say "Yes, ma'am" or "Yes, sir?" Is it a little too much? Leave it in the comments.

NaBloPoMo 3: Why I podcast ...

2009-11-12T01:07:00.003-05:00

Podcasting is an amazing creative outlet. I love the fact that it gives so many a voice and the ability to share their passion, and if done right, a bit of their life. My podcasting story began almost 3 years ago. In one of those random conversations that often happen at work, my buddy Dani and I got to talking about some of our favorite shows on tv. Dani had recently fallen in love with LOST and I had recently fallen in love with Grey's Anatomy. We swapped DVD collections and next thing we knew, we both had fallen in love with each others shows. It made for great convos once new episodes aired.

I tend to be very curious. One night, I was syncing my ipod and and noticed the Podcast tab. I did a quick google and figured out they were basically online talk/tv shows. I did a quick search for different shows that would pique my interest and came across a network of podcasts that had shows for both Grey's and LOST. One thing led to another and I became an avid listener of podcasts. Today I'm subscribed to over 40 shows. Quite insane really. One of my favorite things about the medium is the ability to bring people together over a common interest. To really build communities of people that perhaps you wouldn't have otherwise met. I'd like to say that I've always had a world view of things, but I have to admit that podcasting complemented by new media have the incredible power to shrink the world.

I am often asked why I podcast, and what's the motivation behind my shows. So that's what I'd like to talk about today.

Why do I podcast?

Being so involved in the communities built around some of the shows I was listening to, I began toying with idea of coming up with a show of my own. The next big step was integrating my ideas and moving past a bit of doubt about wether people would even want to listen to me in the first place. I pride myself in being creative and conquering a new medium turned out to be a challenging, but absolutely rewarding experience. Hosting my own shows just seemed like the next logical step. I have to say that after close to two years of hosting my own shows I still find podcasting a fabulous outlet to share my life, passions, and creativity. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that the podcasts I enjoyed the most had a fusion of fun and a zeal for whatever it was the host(s) were talking about. I podcast because I want to share all those things, and hopefully offer value and assistance whenever I can.

What's the motivation behind my shows?

I'm passionate about tech and social media but I think people are often afraid of the unknowns in both. I by no means claim to have all the answers, and even though Social Media consulting and Web Strategy is what I do for a living, I refuse to use the term “expert.” For one I'm uncomfortable with making myself sound all knowing. Particularly when speaking about social media. It is ever-changing and so very nimble and that's half the fun. Adapting and taking advantage of the changes and seeing how they can make our experiences more rich. As a result of my constant observations about tech and new media in general, as well as wanting to share my geeky side, Geek Is Chic was born. I really cannot believe this January will mark two years of me recording the show. Geek is Chic has also allowed me to share and benefit something I'm extremely passionate about: Breast Cancer awareness. For the second year in a row I've raised funds for the Susan G Komen Foundation by hosting the Geek is Chic Podcastathon.

I love music, movies, and television. Besides being entertainment, what they have in common for me is that some of the most moving examples of these art forms come with some fantastic quotes. I believe quotes are inspirational, motivational, and they can put things in perspective. A quote can get you out of a funk. A line from a movie or song can find the words you never could to express what was in your heart. I believe that a good quote needs to be shared, and after a few months of having produced Geek is Chic, I decided to dive right in to a daily show, and thus, Daily Quote Podcast came to be. The goal is to share cool quotes, and hopefully a little positivity.

The raison d'être of my podcasts might have originally been to offer me a place to share my love for tech, social media and quotes ... but I can honestly say it's become much much more. I've met people through podcasting that have, and continue to enrich my life every single day. They've allowed me the opportunity to interview and get to know some people in the medium who I incredibly respect. Also, I have people in my life who support and encourage me almost blindly. It's in my humble opinion that it's the digital version of unconditional love. I simply hope that my podcasts have given people one tenth of the value of that I've gotten from fellow podcasters and the listeners to my shows.

Don't forget to leave some feedback ;) Leave it in the comments!

NaBloPoMo 2: Moccha makes me smile

2009-11-09T12:06:00.004-05:00

I know, I know. I've been slacking on getting a blog post everyday. But you know, sometimes life happens and it just doesn't work out. BUT I hope you'll bear with me as I play catch up and post a couple of post a day until we're back on track to get 30 blog posts this month. :)

I've been thinking about exactly what I want to focus and what I want to share throughout the month. I figured I would start with something light, today I'm gonna share one of my favorite YouTube videos. No matter what mood I'm in, this cute little guy going to town on broccoli always makes me smile!

Isn't he the cutest? Did you see his little feet? Gaaah!

I hope he made you smile

Podcasting and blogging for a month?

2009-11-04T23:13:00.004-05:00

You may have heard of National Novel Writing Month or Nanowrimo as it's affectionally called. The website describes it best: "[Nanowrimo] is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30."

I was in awe last year of so many friends who participated in the fun, and many who have done for several years. Serious hat-tip to any and everyone doing NaNoWriMo. Unfortunately I know I simply don't have the time or the discipline to crank out 50,000 words in 30 days. BUT, I can attempt to participate in the fun of national ... months in two ways that I think will be a lot of fun for me, and I hope you'll come in the ride with me. I decided to sign up for National Podcast Posting Month (NaPodPoMo) I have a daily show (Daily Quote Podcast) so I thought to myself, "Ok, yeah, I can handle that." But I wanted to up the ante so to speak. I also signed up for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) It's the Fourth and this is technically my first post for it but I figure I can play catch up for those three other entries I'm missing. So I hope you'll listen to my podcasts and that you keep checking the blog for new entries throughout the month as I attempt to produce content on both.

I'd love to hear if any of you are participating in the National Months. Leave links in the comments! Also if you have a suggestion for a blog post or podcast leave those those as well. ;)

Why do we have the proclivity focus on the negatives.

2009-09-16T17:14:00.023-04:00

In life, we all have our ups and downs. But why is it that we all tend to focus on the negative? Why are the media and the news obsessed with the negative and scandalous?

One of my favorite Sex and the City quotes is

Why is it that we only seem to believe the negative things people say about us, no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary? A neighbor, a face, an ex-boyfriend can cancel out everything we thought was once true. Odd, but when it comes to life and love, why do we believe our worst reviews?

Like a lot of people this weekend, I watched the MTV movie awards. Even though I am a huge fan of Kanye West's music, I was appalled by how rudely he interrupted the young Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech.

I have seen so many people make Kanye jokes left and right, and it was definitely the talk of the town on the social networks. I am by no means condoning West's behavior. However I can't help but notice how all the updates I saw focused on Kanye's terrible faux pas. Yes, it was noteworthy, but what I don't understand why not many mentioned Beyonce's incredible gesture. Do you? When Beyonce won the video of the year award, she ceded her time, and invited Taylor Swift to have her moment.

Even though it was Kanye who disrupted Taylor's speech by saying Beyonce's " was one of the best videos of all time," it was Beyonce who took responsibility for something that was not her fault at all. In doing so making it a better night for Taylor. She did the right thing. Yet, her beautiful gesture is not the one we hear about. We just hear about Kanye stealing the mic, and consequently apologizing on his blog and the talk show circuit. I can't say that I have an answer as to why, as human beings, we have the proclivity to focus on the negatives. What I can say is that I'm choosing to focus on the positives, looking for that silver lining, and fluffing things when they may need it.

What are YOU going to focus on?

Leave it in the comments!

What I learned from Hurricane Andrew

2009-08-24T18:09:00.010-04:00

Seventeen years ago Hurricane Andrew made an unexpected turn and with brutal force pummeled Homestead Florida. Where our home was. If you know me, you know this is why a bad thunderstorm still makes me a bit uneasy, why I am not a fan of ominous gray skies. August 24, 1992 is a night that will forever be etched in my brain. I will never forget the howling sound of the powerful gusts of wind, how scared I was as we moved from corner to corner as the roof of the house was being torn to pieces by the storm, In turn setting off the ear-piecing alarm of our home security system. I remember my stepdad taking off his belt, tying it to the door knob, and pulling with all his might, in an effort to stop more wind from going into our living room, which would launch the furniture towards the bedroom we were in. My mom and I hid in the closet. She hugged me, and I returned the embrace, all the while getting more and more scared, because all the while I saw fear clearly present on my mom’s face. Something I had never really seen before. I was utterly terrified at the wrath of mother nature, yet oddly comforted by my parents. I knew that when it was all said and done, it would all be okay. I think that’s the power of the innocence of an eleven year old. Loosing your home, and pretty much every possession is devastating, but It just reinforced what my mom had always taught me: that material things come and go, but the important thing is the people we love. We were all okay. At that time, insurance companies had better coverage and response, and genuinely took care of things. They put us up in a hotel, and with was payed for everything that was lost, my parents bought the home they live in today.

The anniversary of Andrew always makes me slow down and be thankful to be alive, appreciative of every year that’s passed since then. I am certainly not that innocent eleven year old kid anymore, but I feel that the lessons and experiences of that night still resonate with me today. I find myself in a transitional period in my life, both professionally and personally I find it more important than ever to appreciate relationships. While filled with change, ambiguity, and perhaps even some unpleasant experiences, I believe that these transitional periods are huge catalysts for personal growth. We learn how to handle whatever arduous situations we may be facing, we learn patience, and perhaps one of the most poignant lessons of all, you learn who’s really there for you.

This year however, something was different. The importance of relationships and patience just seemed heightened. I pride myself in being loyal, forgiving and for the most part an easy going person. There is little I wouldn’t do for my friends, because I love them. It’s easy for me. I don’t call many people my friends. Not because I don’t believe in friendship, quite the opposite, because I believe in it so strongly. So many people loosely call others “friends,” then wonder why they don’t really have someone who they can call in the middle of night if they’re upset, someone who will bail them out of trouble, No questions asked. I think one of the worst things you can do is attach such a special label to someone who hasn’t proven worthy of it. That’s almost as bad in my book as saying you love someone, when clearly, there’s no way you could possibly feel that, or worse yet, to say it when you don’t mean it.

What’s on my mind tonight, thanks to Hurricane Andrew is that the influence of life altering experiences such loosing everything and surviving a hurricane can’t be denied. However, it shouldn’t take such a traumatic experience to remind us to appreciate those around us, to tell those close to us that we love them. I may not be that eleven year old anymore, but there is something powerful about childhood experiences. On a soc nets note, I’m also glad that over the weekend, Facebook brought back into my life two of my favorite people from childhood. Yet another reason to remember the value and friendships. l don’t say this enough, but don’t take those who are important to you for granted. To my friends: I LOVE YOU!!! Thanks for always being so amazing.

What are some of your childhood lessons? Leave it in the comments!

ABC's of ME

2009-07-24T21:39:00.006-04:00

Every once in a while, I get tagged in a note on Facebook that's part of a new meme. I usually feel obliged to play along. So I wanted to thank my buddy Melissa for tagging me and inspiring this blog post.

So Here are the ABC's of me!

A - Age: 28

B - Bed size: King

C - Chore you hate: Laundry. Not so much doing it, as the washer and dryer do the heavy lifting, but you know, putting away, ironing ... Meeh!

D - Don't eat: Red Meat, Peanut Butter, Avocados

E - Essential start your day item: Coffee, strong coffee. If I don’t, I get a mean headache.

F - Favorite board game: Taboo and Catchphrase

G - Gold or Silver: silver or white gold

H - Height: 5 Feet

I - Instruments you play(ed): None :( I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar.

J - Job title: Web Strategist.

K - Kid(s): None yet.

L - Living arrangements: A house.

M - Married or single: Single

N - Nicknames: Drea, Dr. Drea, iAndrea

O- Outdoor activity you enjoy the most: Rollerblading

P - Pet Peeve: Tardiness, Apathy, Selfishness, and people who do not follow the golden rule.

Q - Famous Movie Quote: "Forget Regret, or life is your to miss. No other road, No other way, No day but TODAY!"

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Sibling(s): Sister and brother.

T - Time you wake up: Weekdays at 6:45. If my body clock doesn’t hate me 9 or 10 on weekends.

U- United States favorite place to visit: Gainesville, Florida,

V - Vegetable favorite: Asparagus.

W - Ways you run late: Traffic, hitting snooze too many times.

X - X-rays you've had: wrist and chest.

Y - Yummy food you make: I’ve been told people enjoy my rice and special black beans.

Z - Zoo favorite: Giraffes. Soooooo cool! Got to feed and pet one once. :)

Geek Is Chic Podcastathon!

2009-07-22T20:23:00.001-04:00

As some of you may recall, last October I stayed up for 24 hours in the hopes of raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. The podcastathon was a great success. We had some wonderful cohosts including Melissa Thiessen of Girls Gone Geek, Dan Patterson of ABC News, Whitney Hoffman of the LD Podcast and of Podcamp, as well as the music and company of Matthew Ebel. You can find some of the highlights here.

I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be doing it again this year. Starting October 3 at noon EST , and concluding October 4 at noon EST, Geek is Chic Podcast will be broadcasting live for 24 hours to increase breast cancer awareness, and raise funds for the Susan G Komen foundation.

Geek is Chic is a podcast, where technology is fashionable and practical. Nothing could fulfill this creed better than using the technology available in New Media and in web 2.0 to benefit such a worthy cause. We will be live and interactive throughout the entire 24 hours. You can listen to the broadcast, call in, and even chat on Talkshoe.com. We’ll also be showing live video footage during portions of the podcastathon using Ustream.tv. You can find directions of how to join us right here on our website.

I hope you will join us from October 3rd to the 4th. We will have different podcasters stop by, some great live music, some great trivia, and all and all a good time raising funds for a great cause. You can help us reach our goal, “Imagine life without breast cancer.” - Susan G Komen Foundation.

Bring on the coffee!!! Let’s make this year a bigger success than last year!
Your crazy friend,
Andrea :)

FYI : If you're a podcaster, and you're interested in being a co-host, don't hesitate to contact me and let me. I'm excited to have you guys join in the fun.

Sex and the City Wisdom ...

2009-06-26T23:50:00.006-04:00

Since Sex and the City ended, It's become a tradition that every summer I dust of my pink collectors edition series set. It often starts with watching some of my favorite episodes, but quickly turns into having a full out marathon of the series. I think Sex and the City is my favorite show of all time because of how brilliantly it is written. Throughout my adult life, I have found a deep connection with the characters and story lines. The best part of these marathons is that I get to rediscover the show and find new wisdom, as I have grown and changed along the years.

So tonight, I wanted to share of the Sex and the City Quotes that are speaking to me as I make my way through the series again ....

That night I started to think about belief. Maybe it's not even advisable to be an optimist after the age of 30. Maybe pessimism is something we have to start applying daily, like moisturizer. Otherwise, how do you bounce back when reality batters your belief system and love does not, as promised, conquer all? Is hope a drug we need to go off of? Or is it keeping us alive? What's the harm in believing?

Why is it that we only seem to believe the negative things people say about us, no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary? A neighbor, a face, an ex-boyfriend can cancel out everything we thought was once true. Odd, but when it comes to life and love, why do we believe our worst reviews?

Can you really forgive if you can't forget?

After all, computers crash, people die, relationships fall apart. The best we can do is breath and reboot.

Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want, and just see what happens.

Sometimes second chances work out even better than the first because you learn from your mistakes.

The most important thing in life is your family. There are days you love them, and others you don't. But, in the end, they're the people you always come home to. Sometimes it's the family you're born into and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself.

What does this really mean? The ball is in my court or something? I don't wanna play games. This is not the grand gesture. This is the vague gesture. Which is truly worse than no gesture at all.

... Hope you Enjoyed

Nice guys?

2009-06-07T15:22:00.004-04:00

People often tell me that I'm too nice and warn me that people will attempt to take advantage of my of my good nature & kindness. My first thought: Is there such a thing as being too nice? I live my life following the golden rule, I treat others as I want to be treated. This includes offering the benefit of the doubt, respect, and love. I have a hard time accepting that I should compromise who I am because others might have ill intentions. Don't get wrong, I'm not naive, I don't fall for things easily, and I often see people for exactly for who they are. What am I saying is this, I don't want to give someone the satisfaction of taking away my joy and my goodhearted nature.

I've been thinking about this a lot as of late. Funny how when we feel frustrated, and like we're alone in our train of thought, we discover things that parallel in others. As I was catching up on my RSS reading, I came across the drama that happened between Leo Laporte of Twit.tv and Mike Arrington of TechCrunch.

I have held Leo Laporte in high esteem for years now. I have found him to be one of the nicest guys on the internet. His coverage seems fair, honest, his advice is always candid and right on. I have heard nothing but positive things about how gracious he is with fans when he meets them. He also hosts syndicated radio tech show. I don't know how he has the patience to deal with some of the crazy tech help requests he gets. At any rate, Leo's always had my respect, I wouldn't say he earned more of it because of this, but there was something powerful about seeing someone that is mild tempered like I am, stand up for himself defending his journalistic integrity. I guess what they say is true, beware of the fury of a patient man.

A confession

2009-05-11T19:46:00.006-04:00

Well, it's no secret that I love the interwebs. I love the amalgamation of information, of connections and friendships that are readily available, everything at our fingertips. If you're my friend on Facebook, or follow me on twitter and plurk, perhaps you've noticed I have been a little absent as of late. Also, last week, I made the very tough decision to put both my podcasts on hiatus. I needed a break. A break from social media. I have always felt if you're going to be commited, you should do so fully. It was becoming really hard for me to put the quality of podcast I felt listeners deserved. I have said countless times, that you should join in the social networks and do so with authenticity and an open mind. In sharing your life, geniunely opening up to others. I am ok with sharing, I have been on these sites for years. While I have never been a "wear my heart on my sleeve" kind of a gal, I have admittedly been way more reticent than usual as of late. I'm at a point in my life were I am assessing what my priorities are, trying to figure out what activities to partake in, what relationships to carry with me to the next chapter of my life. What I have realized during this introspective period is that one thing remains true, I am a geek. That's my confession. It may take a little bit for me to get my groove back, for me to go back to the @iandrea you're used to, but I still do love new media. I had to share this video. Because geekadvancement.com is just a plain cool concept.

Seeing this video today was a nice reminder of just how big a part of my identity the internet is. Don't forget ... Geek Is Chic :)

The struggles of Relationships 2.0

2009-04-15T12:06:00.006-04:00

There’s something that’s been on my mind for a while now. I’ve been struggling with the emotions and trying to piece together the words that accurately express my thoughts. What I want to talk about about is relationships 2.0, and how they can go wrong. The reason I’ve been apprehensive about sharing is because for one, it’s something that isn’t talked about often. However, there are always two sides to every coin, so I think it’s only fair the address the untoward aspects of relationships that are formed via social networks.

At some point last week, I read a brilliant post by Brian Solis. It put together my thoughts so eloquently. It touched on two aspects which in my opinion, are the biggest setbacks in social media. For one, that “unknowingly, we're grooming a new generation of status-fueled socialites.” Solis also shares a fantastic quote by Deb Schultz "Technology changes, people don't."

Technology changes everyday. There is always a new gadget or service to try out. Tech is ever evolving, but I fear human nature is persistent, and transcends and shines through in our online life as well. Great people will be just that, no matter where you connect. There will always be gems that stand out in the stream. The same is true of those who possess character traits that are not so appealing. Jealousy can be seen online, insecurities become evident, as do narcissistic tendencies.

The anonymity of the internet allows people to let their worst come out. You can find too many people who have agendas and just want to evangelize. Too many podcast network and community leaders who rarely spend anytime in those communities. Then there’s the gurus, advertisers and spammers. In short there are all sorts of people who behave in ways they never so blatantly exhibit offline.

It is a lot easier to hide behind a computer screen and not realize the power of your words. How there are people on the other side of that screen, made of flesh and bone, with palpable feelings. It is almost effortless for some to attempt to vilify someone without really knowing all the facts. The more deeply we care about something, the more we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, the more susceptible we are to being betrayed or hurt by these types of behavior.

I am a believer in new media. Not only for my clients, but myself. It has brought so many wonderful people into my life. Thanks to twitter, plurk and others I have formed lifelong friendships> Bona fide connections that have profoundly enriched my life. As time elapses and I interact more intensely in these networks ,a lot of the same situations faced with in my offline life found their way online.

Friendship is giving, honestly and earnestly. Friendship is respecting one another. The most beautiful thing is to discover little nuggets of a friend’s character. Learning their likes, dislikes, discovering their expressions and mannerism, what makes them tick. It is with those little gifts like that we can create a friendship, New media allows us to share in 140 characters who we are. If you look at someone’s twitter timeline or plurk profile, it’s a glimpse into who they are, and what’s going on in their life. Quickly replying to facebook status messages also allows us foster those relationships further.

We can have all these different services notify our phones, even have desktop clients. We are constantly connected, and at times the data stream can be overwhelming. That’s were the perfect world of web 2.o begins to crumble. We can update every single service, in essence sharing who we are. If you’re doing it well, you’re responding to those who are seeking to connect with you. But I pose a question ... are we just getting lazy and taking building relationships for granted?

I’m not naive, I don’t have the expectation that every @ reply is going to result in finding your new best friend. Yet it is undeniable that relationships of any kind require work. If someone tweets about a favorite band, a tv show, or favorite meal, that common interest might pique your attention, and it certainly is a wonderful start to a potential connection. But if you don’t get a chance to talk about the back stories behind those statements, they become trivial information you probably won’t recall further down the line anyway. What do you have then besides a nice acquaintance?

If we don’t push forward and and delve deeper by making a more private connection through a Direct Message, Private Plurk or any other medium we are limiting ourselves to superficial interaction. There are some people in your timelines that stand out, those who you wanna learn more about. When we connect with people, it is only human nature to want to learn more. We seek the company of those who enrich our lives. The natural progression I have seen is getting off the websites and interacting via im, later on progressing to voice chats and further down the line exchanging phone numbers and ideally getting to spend time together in person.

Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and all the other social networks are fantastic ways to keep the banter going, to keep in touch, and to develop friendships ... but a friendship cannot live exclusive on these services. Nothing can compete with phone calls that last hours, with hanging out, with listening to those favorite tunes, watching tv with, or sharing your favorite meal with a friend. Making memories together is something that just can’t be shrunk into 140 characters. Lord knows we try when sharing :)

I want to reiterate, I’m not saying you need to seek out every person on your follower list. I’m not suggesting you should only interact privately, nor am I saying that you should share your phone number or screen names indiscriminately. That’s would be irresponsible, and counterproductive. What I hope you guys get out of this is that you shouldn’t take people for granted. Don’t neglect doing the heavy lifting that it takes to have a relationship. Don’t let yourself be limited by 140 characters. Direct Message, Private Plurk ... IM each other ... chat on the phone ... and if geography isn’t against you ... MEET.

What’s the point of being in social networks if it isn’t to be sociable and to make connections?

What do YOU think?? Leave it in the comments. I’d love to hear some of your adventures in relationships 2.0.

Gratitude!

2009-03-10T00:38:00.011-04:00

I'm often inspired to write by things I see in the soc nets. Today was no exception. However, the inspiration came from somewhere completely unexpected: my college friend Serg. He has one of the best senses of humor, and lord knows he can work and inspire a room better than just about anybody I know. I have always been a huge fan of Serg's Status updates, they're guaranteed to make you think or literally bust out laughing at work. (Don't judge, you know you check Facebook at lunch too!) I recently connected with my Serg on twitter after seeing his status saying he wanted some twitter friends. It's been great to be more interactive with him there! Then, last night he tweeted a link to a new VLOG he'd recorded.

Serg was right. Even in these tough economic times, even during the hardest of personal trials, there is always something to look to with a little bit of positivity. So I wanted to answer Serg's questions. Here's my attempt:

What are you grateful for?

For my mom. She's simply the most amazing woman I know, truly one of my best friends.
The fantastic friends I have. I couldn't make it through with out their encouragement, support, and all the joy they bring to my life.
The fact that I have a job that allows me to do something I love everyday. A job that affords me the opportunity to travel, and meet some incredible people.
For coffee. It's instant Andrea in the morning ;)
For the internet. It makes life so much easier, it helps us learn explore, and shrink the world ... all while connecting with new friends and rediscovering old friendships.
For contact lenses and sunglasses.
For iPhone Applications.
For hair clips.
For office supplies.
For lifelong memories.
For pools, lakes, and oceans.
Finding inspiration in the least likely of places.

What brings you joy?

Making someone smile.
Feeling a genuine connection with people.
Growing into a better woman every day.

Do you snort when you laugh?
Honestly ... From time to time, I have been known to let out a snort or two, but we all know I'm notorious for my giggling.

So, now I ask YOU:
What are you grateful for?
What brings you joy?
Do you snort when you laugh?

Leave it in the comments!

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Let me tag YOU in a note, and let's share 25 random things

2009-02-07T14:47:00.028-05:00

One of the interesting things in social media is when the popularity of something becomes viral. I have seen this happen from time to time with YouTube videos, new podcasts, and even different software or web services. However, in the over four years that I have been on Facebook, I have seldom seen anything like the phenomenon of the "25 random things" note that has been running rampant the past couple of weeks.

I'm very active in most social media networks. Particularly on Twitter, Plurk, an of course Facebook. However, I have different parameters for whom I interact with, and who I'll add. I have all my accounts set to private, not necessarily because I have something to hide, but because as a woman, I have to be careful online. I'm very open to add people on Twitter, a bit more selective on Plurk. Although I have the largest amount of connections on Facebook, I have the most stringent policy of who I'll add there. I'll only add people with whom I've had some significant interaction with.

Parameters aside, once I make a connection, I'm in it for the long haul. I believe that once you join a network, you should be an active participant. You don't have to be on every network, but BE THERE in the ones you are. I use ping.fm to quickly update all my soc nets, but part of being a good steward of community, and building relationships is checking the responses you are getting, and having communication with those who are making an effort to interact with you. Different people communicate in varying ways, so why not be open to it? At the end of the day, isn't it about building relationships one person at a time? To me, the Facebook note "25 random things" is a perfect way to share a little more about yourself and to get to know more about your friends.

The concept is pretty simple. Write 25 random things about you, and tag 25 friends. At quick glance, it seems a bit like a chain letter, but the only similarity is the mass dissemination. It doesn't mandate you do it, or sentence you to bad luck for not doing so. It's merely a creative way to open ourselves up. You tag 25 people who you are now telling "Hey, I want to know 25 random things about you!"

Some have very vocally cried foul! Claiming that it's an "inappropriate use of tagging" some even dubbing it "bad internet etiquette." I couldn't possibly disagree more. The first qualm they have is that the note "doesn't talk about them." The fact that I selected YOU among the 25 people I tagged means I want to share these random things about me with YOU, and in turn, I want YOU to share 25 random things about YOU. Clearly, the note is about YOU!

Perhaps the most dissaponting complaint is that of "an inbox filled with notifications." I've had my share of notifications, and have been tagged in the note several times. But you don't hear me belly aching. On the contrary. I have 25 random things about myself, and have made a concerted effort to comment on those who have choosen to share with me. Oh, and with that, I've also had to "put up" with more notifications as others responded after me. At the end of the day, it's a small price to pay to get to know someone on a deeper level.

The Internet is an amazing new medium to not only share our lives, but to maintain old connections and create brand new friendships. That is something I believe to the core of my being. I think this note is a prime example of it. To earnestly share about yourself, and if you allow yourself to be open, if you believe in community, and in those relationships you've build online, to learn more about those that are opening themselves to you.

I think a lot of people have some evaluating to do. They need to assess why they joined social media networks, why they make connections on those networks, and what their words and actions say to those who genuinely want to make a connection with them.

Thanks everyone who's read my 25 random things note, but above all, Thank You to every single one of you who wanted to share 25 random about yourselves with me. It has sparked some wonderful conversations. I have learned at least one new thing about all of you.

So I’ve been podcasting for a year … and what have I learned?

2009-02-01T12:18:00.006-05:00

Friday, January 30 marked the one year Podiversary of my first podcast, Geek Is Chic. I’d be remiss not to talk about the journey and what I’ve learned along the way. By nature, I am a very curious person. So one night, playing with iTunes, I was intrigued by this whole podcast category. I had recently gotten into LOST. Doing a quick search I hit on a gold mine. The amazing world of LOST Podcasts. I had no idea just how much this would literally change my life. I became an avid podcast listener. (Let’s not get into how many I’m subscribed to, ‘cause really, it’s a little out of control.) Going to live shows became part of my routine, and before I knew it, and against my better judgement, I joined twitter.

Now, if you know anything about me, you know that relationships are paramount in my life. I love to meet new people, and every once in a while, I even let some in. What I found completely disarming was that I began to see bona fide communities built around podcasts. Meeting people at live shows was great, and often turned into following one another on twitter. Human nature is interesting, and when we enjoy someone’s company, we tend to want more interaction with them. So, here I was, building relationships online, and taking it to that next level and sharing my im client screen names, and even my cell phone with a few of these wonderful people. I’ve talked about it before, and how amazing it’s been to connect with these new friends and get to spend time with them. But where I’m going with this, is that I realized that if done right, a podcast can not only enrich your life with its content, but with the community of people who listen to the show.

The idea of doing a podcast was very alluring. However, I didn’t just want to do a show for the sake of doing it. I wanted it to be about something I was passionate about. I wanted to genuinely share a little of piece of me, and hopefully offer some compelling content along the way. I also felt I needed to pay it comforward, and try to be a good steward of munity online. So after much thinking I decided I wanted to do a show about Tech and Web 2.0. I have always been the techie friend of the group, the one that solves all the technical problems and what not. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more comfortable in my own skin, and rock the label of “Geek” proudly. I have always thought Geek was Chic, and with the new modern tech, people are coming on board.

Thus, Geek is Chic was born. I still cannot believe it’s already been a year. I want to thank everyone who came out to the Anniversary show with special guest Liana Lehua. I also want to thank each and every one of you who have sent in amazing emails and voice mails. Time has flown by, and man, have I learned a lot! I never thought podcasting was easy, but I learned just how much goes into producing even a short show. I have overcome technical difficulties, and enjoyed those lightbulb moments when I come up with the topic for the next show. One of the highlights of the year has to be the Podcastathon. I stayed up for 24 hrs and ended up raising over $700 for the Susan G Komen foundation. I have played and tweaked my sound, and I think somewhere along the way I have found my voice and style, and an amazing group people who every day remind me that Geek is Chic. :)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

2008-12-25T11:05:00.011-05:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!!
The holidays are absolutely my favorite time of the year! It's an opportunity to spend time with family, with friends, share traditions, and though corny, it's the time to be merry! I love to see the holidays decorations and everyone getting in the holiday spirit, no matter what holiday they specifically celebrate.

So I will share a holiday fun ....

My special Holiday dance for you guys:

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The best Christmas Tweet Ever:

and my new favorite Christmas song:

I celebrate Christmas, but I wish you all this best during this time a year, no matter what your holiday may be.

My top 5 Moments in 2008

2008-12-23T11:43:00.012-05:00

I love many things about social media, but what I love the most, is that if done right, it not only allows you to share your life with some amazing people, but if you actually look past the superfluousness and geography, you can actually forge a bona fide connection, and some very real friendships are born and fostered. I have shared a little bit of my experiences previously. The beauty is that out of the blue, you can have a tweet, plurk, or facebook status get you out of funk. What is also delightful is that you can also find inspiration from your new found friends. I found it yesterday in my dear friend Alison (Otherwise known as @AlisonL everywhere in the interwebs) Alison never ceases to amaze me in her quest to find beauty in everyday little things, in her ability to find something special in everyone, and how in how she constantly manages to inspire me to think positively. Yesterday was no exception.

She pinged her message, and very shortly after I began to see so many beautiful responses throughout all soc nets. Alison's message and call for reflection had made many be a little introspective in the middle of their hectic afternoons. Myself included. So here I am, about to share my top moments with you thanks to Alison.

Soooo in no particular order, here are my top five moments.

Podcamp NYC I had only been podcasting for a short time, and while I'll admit I was hesitant to attend such a huge event, but I am so glad I took to leap and did. It was a complete rush to share in my geekiness with like minded people. It was amazing to meet so many people who have inspired me to produce content. It was wonderful to make new friends with some honestly brilliant people. To physically meet some of the friends I'd made online, and even people who listen to my shows. Most of all it was fun with amazing people in NYC! It was not only significant for all those reasons, but because it ignited my passion for New York again. It's what made me "want to be part of it" To quit making excuses and finally follow my dreams!
Running away to spend time with friends. In July, as part of my month long celebration, I traveled to the windy city, and got to partake in the amazing weekend that was the Girls Night in Meetup. It was amazing to again meet friends I'd made online. It was a weekend of fun, good times, and most of all, good company. I'd like to think that was one of the biggest building blocks to a relationship that means the world to me now. My friendship with Kim. Funny how on my new years post she commented that she'd like to get know me better this year. And boy, has she! Later, in the fall. I was longing for something to center me as a lot of changes transpired in my life. I made a completely spontaneous decision to get on the interstate and head to Gainesville and spend time with my sisters. I made the 4 hour drive beginning at 5 pm! I was back at my desk at 9 am the next morning. Let me tell you. It was worth all the sleep deprivation. Sometimes we just need to get away.
The Geek is Chic Podcastathon. This was perhaps my biggest undertaking yet in my new media life. What made this memorable was that from the second I announced it, the support and encouragement I recieved was humbling. It was great to have my friends to bounce off ideas off of, get swag from, and most of all help me stay awake. Being up and in front of a camera and mic for 24 hrs is tough. Let me tell you! I was honored that everyone joined in the fun, that they all opened their hearts and wallets to a cause that is so important to me! I think it's fair to say that we brought some awareness and when it was all said and done, we raised over $700 for Susan G. Komen. Which isn't half bad during these tough economic times.
Gator Football. I love love love love my Gators. I am a proud alumna and I completely bleed Orange and Blue! This season has been amazing. Even with our loss to Ole Miss (by one freeeeeeeeaking point!!! Nope, I'm not bitter.) Timmy Tebow managed to rally the troops and deliver on his promise that no one would play harder, and that no team would work harder. The Gators beat out anyone who they faced on the field by over 40 points pretty much the rest of the way through. Beat the number ranked team, manned up in the SEC of all conferences, and are now heading to the big game. They are playing for the National CHOMPionship, in Miami no less. So I say Let's go Gators. If you're not a Gator, you're GATOR BAIT!!!
Getting a job offer in NYC. So NYC has been a life long dream. I mentioned that Podcamp NYC ignited my passion. The opportunity presented itself, and now in a few short weeks, I will be heading to NYC to head up the New Media Department of the new office for the firm I'm working for. I'm beyond myself with excitement, with happiness. I cannot wait for this new chapter in my life. It's gonna be a life changer, and perfect end to the wonderful memories of 2008.

Thanks again Alison! It was truly a beautiful idea. I encourage all you reading to take a second and think about your top 5 moments in 2008.

Getting Perspective

2008-12-13T22:30:00.021-05:00

I'll start of by saying that the end of last week and most of this week were filled with some incredibly challenging experiences. It doesn't happen very often but I was admittedly in a serious funk. I'm normally a very positive person, I love to smile. I am notorious for my giggle fits, and for finding humor in just about everything. I am seriously easily amused! I digress, but I guess the point I'm trying to make is that being down in the dumps is not the perspective with which normally I asses the world.

You might be expecting me to sulk or drag on about what had me in funk. However, I fear I must disappoint you. For one, I refuse to play the role of Eyore! (I'd be Tigger If I had to choose anyways) Also, the why of my blaahs is truly irrelevant to the reason why I am writing this post. I want to hone in on how as a result of my funk, I began to loose my positivity, to loose sight of just how good I really have it. I think it's fair to say to that every so often we all get caught up in stress, in problems, or just let ourselves be overwhelmed by a difficult situation. In short, we loose perspective. During this past week and half that was definately the case for me.

It's funny though how things have a funny way of working out. I was given a reality check twice during those crappy days. It was after a Grey's Anatomy Podcast recording and Cliff of GSPN got me to call, and I did a post show chat with him and Steph. Filling him on my newest adventure, my move to NYC.

Shortly after he released that episode, and I had begun my little funkified state, I randomly got a tweet.
From someone whom I don't interact with on a daily basis. It was a pleasant surprise, and actually, it was what made me actually be a little social on the interwebs that day.

It made me smile, and it actually made me tweet. I responded to Anne. There was no way I could not acknowledge her. She had cheered up me and probably had to idea. She had no idea what I was thinking or feeling, but for some reason or another she felt compelled to be excited for something that means the world to me, my move to New York.

While that fact alone blew me away. I wasn't prepared for her response. There it was. I'm not only a lucky, but a very lucky girl! Anne was right. I have so many great things in my life currently, and so many amazing things to come in my future. Why was I letting negativity get the best of me?? Of course, moving on and recentering is much easier said than done.

Let's fast forward to Wednesday of this week. Some of the other circumstances that had been plaguing me were still lurking, but that afternoon I had to make an easy, yet difficult decision. I was going to be responsible for changes in lives. The consequences of that decision would carry on for years. This was daunting. I hopped on the train heading home. My mind was racing, evaluating every single detail of what had just transpired. I put in my earbuds listening Kanye's new album, trying to clear my head, or at least have the music be louder than my thoughts. Suddenly, the music stopped. I had a call from a friend I hadn't spoken to in a little while. She's a journalist, she writes for the Miami Herald, and there really isn't much she hasn't seen, or much that gets to her. She sounded super excited. She asked me if I was close to downtown. I said yes, and told her where I was. Her immediate response: "Meet me at the Hard Rock Hotel in 15 minutes. I'm gonna sneak you in to a meet and greet/press conference. We're gonna meet Tim Tebow!"

Now, if you know anything about me. You know I am a proud UF Alumna, and a HUGE Gator fan. I have the hugest "crush" on Timmy Tebow. He's an amazing quarterback, and a really nice and humble guy. He was incredibly nice and sweet, even while I was a complete bumbling idiot meeting him! My crappy day had been totally redeemed. I was so giddy and in such a good mood. I pinged that I got to meet him and the responses I got ran the gamut. But by far, the best one was from my old friend Kristy, on Facebook.

There it was again, and so I wouldn't miss it, Kristy hit the all caps. I AM A LUCKY WOMAN! :) There was nothing else to do but to Thank Kristy for reminding me, and for giving me perspective. The perspective I needed at that very moment. Honestly, life is too short. We all go through our ups and downs. That's life. We cannot control the circumstances or the situations we may have to face, but we can control our outlook. That in itself is pretty empowering. I learned a lot these past two weeks. For one, to appreciate even more the serendipity of online interaction, reconnecting with an old friend, and above all, that I AM a lucky girl. A very lucky girl.

Life doesn't have a do-over button.

2008-09-25T19:41:00.008-04:00

I always find Chris Brogan’s commentary to be spot on, to be insightful and always compelling. I was listening to Chris Brogan’s new book Personal Branding in the audio format recorded by Rob Blatt. Although the main focus of his book was personal branding, something he wrote towards the end was what impacted me the most.

“Life doesnʼt have a do-over button, and you learn really quickly who gets mired in the past and whoʼs focused on making the experience of the present and future better”

If you know anything about me, you know I’m a sucker for a good quote. Not only is that a fabulous quote, but it made me take a second to evaluate just how this fits into my life and thinking at this very moment. These past couple of months have been filled with a lot of personal challenges and some great victories. While I do not regret any the decisions that have brought me to these crossroads, I can’t help but take a second to appreciate how being in a transitional period of any kind can serve as a great litmus test for any relationship. You realize who is genuinely there for you, who is there only superficially, and often are surprised to find support, love, and encouragement where you least expect it.

I am in no way perfect. There are things about myself that I am making a conscious effort to change. It is uncanny how Brogan’s quote covers the two most challenging aspects I am seeking to change. I want to focus less on the past. I don’t hold on to the past with resentment, that’s not how I’m built, but I often overanalyze things in the past as some sort of precedent.

I have an uncanny memory, and sometimes I surprise myself with what I recall. What I want to do is to shift my focus, not ignoring the lessons of the past, but remembering that they are behind me. That people change, life itself changes, and that I should enjoy right now for the gift that it is. They don’t call it the present for nothing right? As far as the future, it’s still unwritten, and I have a lot of great ideas and goals that will be my crayons to write all over it! I might even doodle outside the lines!

Besides disappointing others, my biggest fear is to be hurt. To be let down by someone I let in. While I am very outgoing and social, there are very few people whom I share the most intimate details of my life. Even with them, it’s a struggle for me. For one, I don’t like to make things about me. My first instinct is to be there for my friends, not to seek them being there for me. It’s easier for me internalize things, digest them, and once I have an assessment or a handle on the situation, I am more apt to share.

Perhaps this is my way of claiming authority over a situation I have truly have no control over. Its hard for me to verbalize that something is bothering me, or that something is just not right in my little world until I have had some time to process it. My huge problem with this defense mechanism of mine is that often, my friends who know me well enough, can pick on my slight behavior changes and realize something is wrong. I hate that when I get in my deep thought and hermit mode, I am alienating them, when they are seeking me out to be there for me because they love me.

I don’t ever want my friends to feel that I don’t appreciate their concern, or think that I don’t trust them enough to tell them what is going on. I am making a concerted effort to be more open, or at least help my friends fill the puzzle pieces in my head a lot faster. Chris Brogan’s quote reminds me to move on, and to appreciate the amazing people,whom I love dearly, that are here to support me in whatever crisis I may have. Those who with their friendship and affection make my present better, and are the biggest supporters of the extraordinary things my future holds. So there you have it. It’s on the blog, on the interwebs, so my dear friends, I give you full permission to call me out on bs if you see me obsessing or analyzing the past, or going into hermit mode. After all we could all use a little accountability!

I challenge you to right now go appreciate those who make your present better !!