Scheduling through Life

   If you knew me well, you come to know that I schedule like you wouldn't believe. I am a compulsive list maker, ranging from tracking what I eat throughout the day, to things I need to get done within the day, to things I want to get done over break, to credit hours, to imaginary wedding details, to things I need in my dorm room and when I can wisely get them. It all seemed normal until one day I caught myself listing ever pair of socks I owned so they will never get lost in the wash or stolen by my sister. Socks.....I'm listing socks. Red flag.
  Scheduling is healthy. Scheduling for someone like me with so much chaos in their mind is somewhat of a lifeline, but what happens when I've scheduled myself into a machine? What happens when I've listed myself into a corner, and can't escape it for fear of disturbing my handwritten order? While scheduling is healthy- there must be a balance.
  A very dear friend once enlightened me when I was in high school of how valuable every second of every day is. With a life expectancy put on her at a very young age, she took every day as a celebration- as a privilege. For every choice we make to spend our days, we trade a day of our lives for that choice, and if we aren't doing something valuable for ourselves... then we trade our days for a schedule that may not be important at all in a few years. Do something valuable to you, not your schedule, every day. Make these trade-ins count.
  For me, it's taking time to see the sun set. It reminds me that I have enough control over my days to catch my favorite part of living where I do. Every sunset reminds me that while I don't have control over how many days I have- I control what happens within them. If I'm lucky enough, I follow this with listening to fabulous music or do yoga and if I'm REALLY lucky enough, I'll paint. All of these remind me to actually live outside my schedule, and honestly, I think that one of the most beautiful things about that youthful mentality is the brilliant spontaneousity we foster.
  So schedule, but make sure to always be spontaneous. Because in the end- I remember how much fun I had with my friends spontaneously, not what was on my schedule.

One step

   Today marks a very important day that I may never forget. On November 5th 2013, the right to marriage for homosexual couples was voted into legality in the state of Illinois...and I couldn't be more thrilled.
   Today marks a victory held by so many close friends of mine that it feels like a personal victory. Knowing that I will be able to visit my friends' families in a few years and that they will be legally protected as a family entity is unbelievably rewarding. And I cannot help but feel that little light of hope- that the government is listening. We've been fighting amongst ourselves and fighting for equality for so long and now, we've been heard. We've been acknowledged. We have changed the world for the better of equality of all human beings...and it happened right before my eyes in my home state. And even though it's one state, it's something. We may not have changed the nation, but there is a couple out there with tears in their eyes right now because of the promise our state brings. According to the Chicago Tribune, President Obama comments, "Michelle and I are overjoyed for all the committed couples in Illinois whose love will now be as legal as ours — and for their friends and family who have long wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and equally under the law". And on June 1st...it will all be set into place.
   As I celebrate, the comments my peers leave on Twitter do sting. I grew up in an extremely conservative and religious town in which liberal views were present...but easily shut down. I had gay friends, but their struggle to stay closeted to remain an accepted member of the school's community was unreal. And I hope I never have to witness another loved one endure that again. While these nasty comments and tweets do feel like a setback in our fight for equality, a friend of mine made a brilliant point.
   She commented that hatred can only poison the mind that allows it. As you can despise someone who makes you feel the weight of their hate, you have to understand that by letting your anger rise...you are not any better than they are. People can either feel happy or uneasy, but what it all boils down to is that people are as much equal as they are individuals- a balance that has put mankind in a stupor for centuries.
   But here's to equality, and making sure good innocent people can go about life with undeniable rights, whether you agree or disagree. Here's to the people who understand that true love is unbreakable, here's to the lawmakers, here's to the celebration of life we all deserve.