project 365: day oo2.

oo2: connor.

so today i woke up at 9 am wondering how i was going to meet someone new. then i went back to sleep. i woke up at 12 pm had the same thought...then went back to sleep. i woke up at 3 pm had the same thought, yep....and took a shower. i sat in the house all day thinking about (and partially avoiding) my commitment. saturdays are gonna be tough. but as saturday nights usually go i went out with some friends. i think i met like five new people today. but one in particular that i got to have a conversation with (since thats what the plan is). i met a guy named connor who grew up in my same city and even went to the same high school.

it got me thinking about how people can grow up in the same house their whole life and not know their neighbor down the street...or even right next door. with this i kind of realized how there is now no way i could not possibly meet a new person everyday. im not sure how to approach my neighbors without sounding like a door-to-door salesperson (or crazy person) but im sure it'll come to that one day. and what an awkward day it will be!

project 365: day oo1.

oo1: mary lou.

So today i woke up thinking "oh great...here we go." all i had planned today was christmas decorating with my family. and i thought again "where am i going to meet a new person?"

well i got up threw on some sweats and went out the house makeup-free thinking i would find someone later tonight. well when i get in my car i realize the gas light's on (not that thats unusual but its been like that for three days). so i go to the gas station and as im pumping gas i see an older lady with another woman walking around looking for bottles in the trash cans. i remember i had a few bottles in my car and i think "ok maybe this is my chance" so i grab the bottles and walk up to the lady and hand them to her. she says thank you and i say have a nice day.

that was a conversation right?

thats what i tried to tell God, thinking i could convince him that i had met my person for the day. well knowing that wasn't good enough, i look in my trunk and find another bottle and an extra bag. so i walk up to the lady again and i hand her the bag and bottle. and ill tell you...that lady was so thankful for the extra bag and bottle she started telling me how she lived by herself and had three children and that the girl with her was her disabled daughter who she has to drive to a care facility cause shes 74 and cant take care of her on her own and how her other children didnt even wish her a happy thanksgiving and how shes collecting bottles to pay to fix her car.

i stood there just listening to her story and let her tell me anything and everything she wanted to. and im realizing how much the hand of God was working in that moment. i asked for her name and she said Mary Lou. as i stuck out my hand to introduce myself she grabbed me and pulled me in for a hug and kiss on the cheek. this lady who i talked to for maybe 3 minutes filled me with so much gratefulness and love. she was so thankful for me giving her 3 bottles and a plastic bag and here i am thinking just how thankful i was to have met her.

this morning i woke up thinking "shit, i posted that stupid blog last night telling people about this project...maybe no one read it." but God never ceases to show me he's present in my life and can provide strength beyond measure.

365 project.

"Nope. No way. Nah-uh. Sorry God. That’s not me."

This is the conversation I had driving today. After realizing a hopefully fleeting idea was actually the voice of God.

One person. Everyday. For one year.

Meet a stranger and have a conversation everyday for 365 days. That seemed like a cool idea…for someone else. As quickly as the idea entered my head, God slapped me across the face with reality. So hard in fact I could only cry out of fear. So there I sat, crying with the task at hand. Saying, “No not me, that was just an idea.” But an idea became a calling that is now a responsibility. But more than a responsibility, an opportunity. A chance to meet real people. A chance to stretch myself and my limits. A chance for others to stretch their limits.

You see at first this was all about me. “God where am I going to meet a new person everyday? Some days I sit inside and eat peanut butter straight from the jar. What if they don’t want to talk to me? What if I don’t know what to say?”

Then I stopped myself and realized my needs were at the center of each question. Or at least I thought I knew what my needs were. But when I put that aside and turned the focus to others, I knew any need of mine would be met through God’s strength and plan for my life.

So. Here I am. Writing this now. Asking for strength. I am taking this opportunity and meeting someone new everyday for the next year. I expect some funny, sketchy, heartbreaking, life changing but nonetheless interesting stories to come from this plan of action. I am committed to meet a new person and have a conversation with them everyday. Now, I’m not sure what that looks like yet and I’m sure it won’t get off to a smooth start but I’ll learn along the way. And I’m committed to writing about each person I meet and our conversation everyday as well.

I’m not gonna lie…I’m scared shitless right now. But I can only take each day as it comes and pray to God I don’t die.

-Ericka Ashley

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

new song.

uhhh...i wrote this? ya

enjoy!

5 things your boyfriend isn't telling you.

“You’ve gained 15 pounds since we started dating.”
Now we all know we get comfortable when we’ve been dating someone for awhile but there’s no need to completely let yourself go. Yes, I love eating too and you do it twice as much when there’s two of you, but honestly, hit the gym. I know he says he likes you a little thick but there comes a point when it becomes too much work getting the milkshake through the straw. Lose a few el bees and give him something to look at and chances are he’s gonna wanna look good for you too cause a few years from now you don’t want your friday night to consist of editing your audition tape for The Biggest Loser: Couples Edition.

“sweat pants aren’t sexy pants.”
I know you love your PINK collection baggy sweats and Uggs but DO NOT step out of the house with them on or spend every day in them no matter how many two-toned pairs you own. They are for lounging and doing homework only. So if you’re doing any of those things excessively with your boyfriend well….im sorry.

“if I see another Jennifer Aniston or Katherine Heigl movie I am going to shoot myself.”
Ladies. Now I might be a little bias with this one because personally I don’t think Jennifer Aniston and/or Katherine Heigl movies should make it into production, but by some act of God they keep getting made and you girls keep watching them. But your guy does NOT want to see those types of films. The only movies he wants to see that cast women in leading roles (beside Angelina Jolie) he’s already got on his computer. See those movies with your girlfriends and if you really wanna surprise him take him to see the new Jason Statham movie. (ok this one is totally bias)

“I want you to get your hands dirty.”
Take off your hello kitty studded acrylics and toughen up. I know they cost you $50 every two weeks but save that money one week, buy a campsite, go for a hike and get down and dirty (on all levels). I’m not saying you gotta go all butch and spit lugees on each other (which i don’t recommend in any circumstance) but show him you’re adventurous and can handle some dirt under your nails…don’t worry happy nail will always be there waiting for you.

“please shut up.”
Believe me, this probably comes up in his head more often than you think. Now im all for openness and honesty and being there for each other…but when the games on, NO. he doesn’t want to hear about what Tiffany was wearing to work or what James and Lauren did last weekend. That’s what girls’ ears were made for, anatomically speaking they can hold more volume and words than their male counterparts. So bottle that noise up and call up your girlfriend.

4 things i hate about school.

(cause i couldnt think of 5)

When your professor pronounces “library”, “li-BARY”. Go to the fucking “libary” and check out a dictionary or I will have to go to the Dean and petition to have your illiterate ass fired.

When people wear pajamas. It’s not 5^th grade spirit week, so go back in your closet and dress like an adult. And while im on it, its not crazy hair day either…run a brush through that thing.

When people don’t know how to take roll. Your name is Jessica Z. and it has been since the first day of kindergarten. You know you are always called last for roll and your number was always 32. So why the HELL are you answering for Jessica B. two seconds into roll call?! Now everyone is confused on which Jessica is which and all your classmates hate you.

When people ride Razors. Nuff said.

How To Be a Hipster.

So you wanna be a hipster? Well here are some start-up tips that should have you being effortlessly cool in no time.

-Throw out everything you own, go to the thrift store and buy all new stuff.

-Lose 10 pounds immediately.

-Wear excessive amounts of plaid & mixed patterns. So different.

-You have 20/20 vision? Get glasses that are too big for your face. And remember the thicker the frame the more hipster you are. Kind of like a chef’s hat.

-Cut all your shorts above your knees and all your pants above your ankles.

-Never spend less than $40 for a scarf. Lets be real.

-Always be real. Don’t try. And never smile in photos. Frowns are the new black.

-Only listen to music that no one listens to and claim it as your own. Then once you’ve heard someone else talking about it, immediately disown it.

-Only drink PBR in tall cans.

-Grow a mustache. Even if youre a girl.

-Try art. If youre not good at it, call it art.

-Only buy Tom’s for the cause.

-Know your 80s & 90s pop culture and exclude others who don’t.

-Try veganism. So hot right now.

-Start smoking. Health is not an issue.

-Have the same independent thoughts as your friends.