Adulting Is a Challenge Sometimes (Always)

I haven't written for a while and there's been a lot going on.

One thing I'm more sure of than ever before is that being an adult is the most challenging thing I've ever done. I love certain aspects and am trying to have as much fun as possible to balance out all the stress I've been under, but it's been a bit overwhelming lately.

So this post is just about how challenging it can be to be an adult. You're expected to know what's going on. I rarely do. Even with new things, like my new job that started just last week, you're not treated like you're new or a kid - which on one hand is great, but on the other hand, uhhh terrifying! One word: bills. Decisions are more difficult to make because, guess what, they're bigger and scarier.

I'm rambling now, but I guess the point is just that I'm going through a lot right now. I'm doing my best to manage and will hopefully turn back to this to share some of those thoughts and write out more and more.

"...adjust your focus."

As a photographer and a quote lover I found this one and really latched onto it.

Also, as someone who is still trying to figure out this whole 'adult' thing I found that this message resonated within me strongly.

There are so many times in life when we find ourselves feeling out of whack. Unclear where to go next, unsure of how to process recent events, and just altogether 'blurry.' I've been going through a pretty rough patch of that lately and wasn't really sure how to shake it.

I'm not sure what I want my long term career to be, I'm not sure where I want to live geographically, and I'm not sure what steps to take to get somewhere I can't identify. Never before in my life have I lacked a goal to work towards. Whether it be what soccer team I wanted to be good enough to play for, getting good enough grades and test scores to get into any college I wanted, graduating with a degree, progressing to leadership roles, etc. etc. - I've always had a goal. With a goal you can make a plan, with a plan you can take action, and with those actions you can provide clarity in your own life.

I was seriously lacking that and struggling because of it. I've always been goal oriented and someone who needs to tangibly track progress and achievement and I just had no grounds on which to do so.

Then I went out of town to coach this past weekend. I had an amazing time (you can read about it here if you missed my post) and realized that I could use that experience to adjust my focus a bit and get out of this blurry space I've been in.

I realigned myself with what I enjoy, big picture what I want out of life, and then went back to the basics of what makes me happy. It took me a bit longer than I would have preferred to adjust my focus, but once I did it worked a miracle on my mentality. Now that I have some clarity and focus, just as in a photo, I can steer myself to the right place to get the story across and get to where I want to go.



So, always remember - "When life gets blurry, adjust your focus."

Thoughts of the Day - July 13th

Thought #1: Everything is happening all at once and I think my head may explode! Good and bad and all over the place, the next few weeks are going to be intense.

Thought #2: On said note, with all I have to do, all I want to do is veg out and watch Netflix. I've been constantly moving for the last three weeks at least and I just want a day or at least a full evening where all I do is chill. Read or Netflix or nap or whatever, just chill. Hopefully I'll steal away at least one weeknight this week to do so, but we'll see.

Thought #3: Our culture over complicates life so much. We are taught to worry about so much and yada yada when sometimes all you want to do is get on a plane and go find something to do that you love yet you worry about all these other pieces parts. It should be simple enough for us to say 'if you want something go get it/do it,' but it just really isn't in most cases. It is, but it takes a lot more concern than it should.

Thought #4: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (nap time) (I wish)

When Monday comes too soon...

You know those weekends that make it difficult to return to reality Monday morning?

Whether it was relaxing and you just enjoyed the fact that you didn't have to be at work or running from appointment to appointment, or you had a really great time with fun people that you wish could keep going, or it was just productive in a way that brought a lot of satisfaction (or anything in between or otherwise) sometimes heading to bed Sunday night signals the end to something great and the start of something you'd rather put off.

I had a weekend of that sort, but I'm recognizing that it transcended deeper than just having a good time - I had a great time doing something I love and need to work to build into my life more.


This weekend I had the opportunity to be an assistant coach for two teams at the Region II Regional Showcase in Rockford, IL. We left early Thursday morning, drove out and checked into the dorms we were staying in at Rockford University, then each team had a game that late afternoon/evening. Friday each team had a game and a training session, Saturday each a game and a Coaches Panel to attend, then yesterday each had their final game of the tournament. We had some rough patches but overall the tournament went well and I think both groups enjoyed themselves.

Two of the guys I coached got selected to stay over for the hold-over camp where the Regional Coaches look to pull the best from the entire tournament into a Regional Pool to work with and develop more and to choose to move on to higher levels. I was excited for both of the boys that got to stay and am hoping that they enjoy the rest of the week while there.

I learned a lot this weekend – about coaching, about myself as a coach, and how to better guide the players I’m working with. One of the major things I am taking away though is personal – I did not want to come back yesterday. I wanted to stay and continue to coach and work to help the players and show them the game and stay in that environment. I’ve always played and loved soccer and was never sure that I’d enjoy coaching but I did and I’m realizing as I get more and more experience with it that I truly do enjoy it. My takeaway is that, and through that a decision for what I want to do next – continue my education in a sports-psychology related degree and work up in more and more coaching jobs. I think I can see myself thoroughly enjoying a career of coaching – I would love to find myself with a program of my own at the college level in the future when I have gained the knowledge and experience to effectively run one well.

It was another weekend where Monday was a wakeup call, but this time I’m trying to take away a lesson from that wakeup call and mold my life to be made up of what made this weekend so great and not have to worry about waking up Monday morning to go back to the ‘real world,’ because my real world is what I want and makes me happy.

If there’s anything I’ve learned for sure about adulthood so far it’s that nothing ever goes exactly as planned, so I’m sure there will be bumps in the road that I can’t even imagine yet, but I’m hoping once I get moving on this path I’m able to find my way and never stop moving, no matter the forks I hit and the changes in direction it takes.

World Cup Champs!

Didn't get a chance to blog last night, but the USA Women's National Soccer Team won the World Cup!

It was a great game and the first 20 minutes was honestly the best soccer I've seen that team play in the past couple years. They connected and looked so inspired, it was beautiful.

Some of these players have been such role models for me and I'm so happy for them to bring home this title. They earned every bit of it.

Thoughts of the Day - July 2nd

Thought #1: Got my first speeding ticket this morning. Not exactly the best way to start off my day.

Thought #2: Ready for this long weekend. I'm hoping to have a decent mix of being productive and relaxing. I could really use some down time with Netflix but also know that I'll feel better if I knock some things off of my To Do list. Would also LOVE to get together with a few of my friends who I haven't seen as often as I wish, been a bit crazy lately.

Thought #3: There are penguins at the Cleveland Zoo for a limited time and I really want to go see them! Penguins are my favorite animals by far and I would love to go see them. Maybe I'll try to go see them this weekend too :)

Thought #4: Listening to stand up on Pandora again to try to keep me going today. One of my favorites, Robin Williams, came up on my station and it made me smile. I love his stuff so much, but then I got sad thinking about his story. Such a great person who has brought so much joy to people, but was fighting demons that no one could understand and overcame him. Really drives home though - you never know what people are going through. They can be all smiles, make others laugh, seem to be in great shape from what you see but be overwhelmed by other things in their life you never imagine or see. Be kind to others. Help others. Try to be understanding, but recognize that you can never truly understand.

Welcome to July!

I can't believe that it's July already! This year has gone by very quickly and it's all been such a blur.

I know July is going to be a big month for me, but I'm not quite sure how ready I am for it.

First thing to tackle is this holiday weekend. I am house and pet sitting for a friend's/my second family. The US Women also play in the World Cup Final on Sunday, can't wait for that!

Then next weekend I am headed to Illinois to coach the Ohio North State Team at Regional Camp. I've had a great time with the team and the coaches the past couple weeks at our training sessions and are looking forward to returning to Regional Camp where I played for many years and seeing how this group does.

The week after that will be my last full time week at my current job. The following week I will start my new position full time and will be working to figure out the transition into part time and staying in sync with my current job. That will be a lot going on all at once.

That's the week I will also be house and pet sitting again, different house but same number of pets.

And I'm back on the apartment hunt! Still coordinating with my friend and cousin for timing, location, and such, but I'm really looking for this to happen in the next month or so, so we'll see how that goes...

So July's going to go quick and have a lot going on!

I'm already starting it out a bit rough, got into a rough collision during my soccer game Monday and think I may have pulled some muscles in my chest... it hurts to breath, not fun.


Welcome to July, and hold on tight!