Starfleet Academy... Here I come

I treated myself to a great movie yesterday.

Now all I can think about is going "where no man has gone before" and commanding my very own Starfleet ship.

Live Long and Prosper,

Kaitlyn

I Want to Heal the World

My mother once told me, "Kaitlyn, you have the gift of crying."

Whoa, wait. Who said it was a gift?

It's true. I cry a lot. I mean a lot. Daily. Obviously, I cry when I'm sad. I cry when I'm angry. I cry when I'm happy. I cry when I'm hungry. I cry when I'm nervous. I cry when I'm excited. I cry during every movie, I can even cry while I read. And often, I cry just because. It's just who I am, and for me there is no better way to lift the weight and stress of my world from my shoulders than by releasing it through my tears.

But a gift? I've never thought of this trait as a gift.

It should come as no surprise that tonight, I cried.

I read an article in the Salt Lake Tribune that devastated me. So I cried. And then, I cried some more.

I cried for the children, and women, and men in Darfur.

I cried for the estimated 25,000 children that die each day due to poverty.

I cried for the displaced people in Sri Lanka who are being terrorized and killed.

I cried because of genocide happening all over the world.

I cried for the millions of people around the world living with and dying from AIDS and HIV.

I cried for my own country, and the selfish choices we make without realizing all that we already have.

I cried because of the drug wars happening in Mexico and the countless number of victims that have been claimed.

I cried for the shameful wars happening in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel.

I cried for the sweet underprivileged children that my mom teaches, many of whom wake up daily to seemingly hopeless futures.

I cried because I feel overwhelmed and hopeless over the conflicts, wars, and hate our world faces.

I cried and cried. And cried some more. Now I'm crying again.

So, crying is supposed to be a gift, huh?

Along with every other reason that I cry, I undoubtedly cry when I feel passionately about something. No matter what it is.

I guess it could be a gift. A gift of expression.

So, although I'm heading to bed with a tear streaked face and a discouraged heart, I'm grateful tonight for all that I'm blessed with. I truly am blessed. I hope that the path of my life leads me in a direction that will bless me with opportunities to help ease the burdens of the many people in the world who have little to hope for.

And that, I feel very passionately about.

Kindly,
Kait

Rockin' and Runnin'

I'd be lying if I told you that running is an enjoyable experience right from the moment my Nike's hit the pavement. It's not. The first 10-20 minutes are usually miserable and I literally have to envision myself running towards my very own imaginary medical marijuana card just to force myself to keep going. In my attempts to make those first few moments a bit more bearable, I've been experimenting with different playlists on my ipod, searching for one that will aid in "getting my mind right" during that first part of my long runs. I've tried everyone from Michael Buble to Lil Wayne, but it hasn't been until recently that I've found the winner and my partner on the pavement. It's no surprise that the best "pick me up" playlist, the one that really gets my heart going and my legs cruising, happens to be my cousin Curtis' band, Vayden.





So, Vayden, thanks for keeping me on my feet and pumping me up. As long as you're pulsating through my headphones, I may have a chance at making it through this marathon... alive. Oh, and if you ever find yourself doing a show up this way, you can be assured that my Nike's and I will be there.




Kindly,
Kait


You can listen to more of Vayden here, you can join them here, and you can learn about them here. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Sister!

"Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there."

My Lyndsey is growing up.

Too fast, if you ask me.

I thought she'd always be mine, but now "Naughty Conradi" has come along and plans to steal her for "eternity".

Let's be honest...

Losing my sister to a wedding ring is slightly heartbreaking,

but I'm dealing.

Anyway, on this day, twenty years ago, my first little sister came into my world. Since then and forever more, she'll always be my "almost best friend"...

even after "Naughty Conradi" whisks her away.

So, to my sister,

Although today is your birthday, it's a special day for me as well and a day that marks one of the most precious moments in my life. There is no better friend than a sister, and there is no better sister than you (and Shelby, wink wink)

Happy Birthday Lynds!

Kindly,
Kait

Life is Good because of...

• my mama
• winter days with sunny blue skies
• running masks
• healing hearts
• music, duh
• individuality
• bikinis
• tax returns
• to-do lists
• checking things off of to-do lists
• green cleaning supplies
• bic lighters as opposed to the dollar store ones
• hidden valley ranch dressing
• true friends
• spandex
• grape swishers
• bail bondsmen
• hippies
• nail polish remover
• waterproof eyeliner
• endorphins
• washer and dryers
• high heels
• alarm clocks
• coconut sheesha
• swamp coolers
• hdtv
• eye makeup remover
• norml.org
• multi-vitamins
• at least 20% tippers
• sour patch kids
• airborne
• vegetables
• my cellmate
• steinway
• new zealand
• text messaging
• peanut butter m&ms
• perfect vision
• independence
• facebook
• my health
• my family
• integrity
• tide wipes
• hand sanitizer
• childhood friends
• bedtimes
• education
• boys that are friends
• public transportation
• sweetie pie

Dear Mama,

I don't show you or tell you often enough, but I hold you on a pedestal that is too high for me to express in words. You are the most amazing woman I know and ever will know. Your love for me is unconditional, and I know that is true without any doubt. You have never failed me. Please know that you are so precious to me. I’m ashamed of ways I’ve treated you in the past and am consciously trying to honor you the way you deserve to be honored which is with all of the respect and love that I possess. I love you more than I’ll ever be able to verbally express. I am unsure of what I did to deserve the privilege of being your daughter, but for that, I am forever grateful.


♥
Kaitlyn

My Life List Pt. 2

My Life List Pt. 1

1. Learn to drive a stick shift
2. Go on a run along the Great Wall of China
3. See the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
4. Learn to play the ukelele
5. Become scuba diving certified
6. Ride an elephant
7. Feel more in control of my life
8. Pay for the car behind me at a toll booth
9. Be completely debt free
10. Own my own dog
11. Visit a rainforest
12. Spend a New Years Eve in New York City
13. Really learn how to surf
14. Go on a spiritual retreat
15. Swim naked in the Mediterranean
16. Learn how to meditate
17. Form a great habit of waking up early
18. Visit a live volcano and see flowing lava
19. Climb the Statue of Liberty
20. Spend a Mardi Gras in New Orleans
21. Journal every day
22. Finish a crossword with no help
23. Hug more often
24. Be the best sister I can be
25. Speak less, listen more
26. Write a love letter to myself
27. Make a gingerbread house
28. Learn how to bake bread from scratch
29. Explore Amish Country in Pennsylvania
30. Learn to make chocolate truffles
31. Take a bartending class
32. Learn more about wine
33. Attend Carnival in Rio de Janiero
34. Spend time on every Hawaiian Island
35. Take a martial arts class
36. Go skydiving
37. See marijuana legalized
38. Snowshoe in Canada
39. Ride on top of a double decker bus in England
40. Drink sake in Tokyo
41. Find a four leaf clover
42. Visit Machu Picchu in Peru
43. Attend Oktoberfest in Germany
44. Go on a cheese tasting tour in Europe
45. Pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
46. Write an article for a magazine
47. Take a ceramics class
48. Sing karaoke
49. Host Thanksgiving dinner
50. Grow a garden