Forever Curious

"Don't only practice your art, 

But force your way into its secrets, 

For it and knowledge

Can raise men to the divine."

-Ludwig Van Beethoven

This is a quote that I can across recently and has really stuck with me. As most good quotes do, this one got me thinking about myself. For many years I have not considered myself to have “an art” or anything that I have obtained mastery over. I felt like everything I ever did was mediocre. School. Piano. Lacrosse. Hunting. Reading. Blogging. Fashion. Cooking. You name it, I can probably do it half-way. While it is nice that I am a well-rounded person, it is discouraging to not have one task that I can truly feel ownership of.

This has all been changing this year as I have been realizing the possibility that for the first time in my life I do have an art. Call it old-fashioned or something that grandmothers are supposed to do but I love knitting! I have been knitting since I was 12 years old and have tried to push my skills a little bit further with each project I have made. Knitting is my art. It makes me feel alive, creative, and purposeful. When applied to knitting, this quote spurs me on to constantly learn new things and push my self out of my comfort zone. Without this philosophy, I never would have learned many of the techniques I know today.

As much as I feel this quote applies to arts such as knitting, drawing, painting, and sculpting I believe its definition of art can be taken a step further. What if we use this quote as a catalyst to never be content with our role in the world and humanity? If we were to apply this to our jobs, academics, leadership roles, and other community interactions I believe that it could take us a thousand miles. For example, I don’t ever want to be content with the way I am serving my community. I always want to be seeking out rising needs and holes that need to be filled. Just because I have found my “niche” to serve does not mean that I should view the community service vacancy in my life as fulfilled.

I want to encourage you all to constantly be looking for new ways to force yourself into the secrets of life. If you are forever willing to be curious and constantly learn then your life will become richer than ever imaginable.

-Kenz 

Bold

Today started out just like any other day. I went to community event with my roommate to get a nice breakfast and was planning on spending the rest of the day preparing for exams. Shortly after I arrived back to my dorm room, I started hearing unwelcome sounds out my window and receiving text messages from Virginia Tech and my friends on campus. A day that I had planned out went horribly astray from what it should have been. One minute, it was just another day on campus, and the next minute it turned into a day that many Hokies will never forget. December 8th, 2011.

This concept of everything suddenly changing shouldn't be anything new to us. Sadly, it happens quite frequently. National tragedies, natural disasters, loved ones passing away, unexplainable deaths, and changes in plans. They are all unforeseeable events that have a tendency to change everything in our lives. The thing is that we can't usually see these things coming and they come at us like a punch in the face. 

Through the course of events yesterday, I felt a community pull together. There were no gaps, but instead we were a united community. It is powerful when you are receiving so many texts messages that your phone doesn't even have a chance to send another one. It is powerful when people who you seldom speak to sincerely ask if you are okay and tell you they care. It is powerful when you finally hear from those that you have been trying to check up on to make sure that they are okay. 

I realized how much I value the relationships I have with people in my life. I feel like it is impossible to return the amount of love i was given from everyone yesterday, but I want to try. I want to show people that I care about them too. I want to be there for them in their moment of weakness, sadness, strength, and joy. I want to be proactive is showing people that I care about them.

We shouldn't let things in our life cause us to live in fear. Instead, they should encourage us to be bold. We should be bold with our loved ones and tell them how much they mean to us. We should be bold with those who are strangers because you never know how bad of a day they might be having. Our world needs more people who aren't afraid to stand up for what they know is right, even if it comes at a price. I want to try to be one of those people and I invite you to join me.

I couldn't help but think of Beautiful Things by Gungor. Below are some of the lyrics:

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

The County With Only One Traffic Light

 

I went to the town of Floyd this past weekend for their Friday night Jamboree with my roommate and my good friend and had a wonderful experience! When we first arrived at the General Store, we walked up to the sales counter and each paid our $5.00 charge to enjoy the music. The woman who took our money was very kind and gave us each a sticker to know that we had paid. The three of us walked around the store looking at the inventory on the shelves and on the tables. There were a lot of practical items for cooking and other household uses. There were also huge barrels full of classic candy such as the delicious Goetze’s caramel candies.

After observing almost everything the general store was selling, we walked over to the seats for watching the band. At first, we did not see enough open seats for us so we stood along the side near a room full of work gear such as gloves and Carhartt products. We were invited to join in on the dancing but nervously declined. We stood there for a few songs and soaked in this environment that was different than any of us were used to. We were in awe of the upbeat enthusiasm of the event. I don’t think that any of us could stop from smiling the whole night. Once we decided that we loved the event and we definitely weren’t going to turn around and run out of the store, we decided to take a seat.

The back half of the store was packed tight with simple folding chairs but each of the chairs had a handmade cushion on it. Having the cushions on each of the chairs made it seem even more welcoming. It gave them impression that they were glad that each of us was there and they wanted us to feel welcome. The cushions made it seem as if someone was saying that they wish that it was their home that we were invited to but knew that there was no way that that would be feasible. We sank into our folding chairs and absorbed even more of the event as we sat in silence, talked, and laughed.

One thing that really caught my eye at this point of the night was one of the ladies on the dance floor. She was probably in her mid-twenties and was dancing with her whole heart. Her face was glowing and she looked like she was completely in her element, as if she had started dancing at the Jamboree every weekend as a young girl, just like some of the other young girls on the dance floor. It looked so natural for her and she was incredible confident about her situation, and honestly, I think I was a little bit jealous of her for having grown up in the amazing small town environment that I’ve always wanted. 

After watching this lady and everyone else on the dance floor having so much fun, we decided to give it a try. We walked into the crowd of people on the dance floor and joined in. None of us had really danced like that before, but after a little while, we got the hang of it and realized how fun it was! I honestly could not stop smiling; it was such a blast and it was way different from the dancing I had learned to use at homecomings, proms, and college dances. It was carefree and easy enough that anyone could do it but had plenty of room for expertise.

As we were dancing, an older gentleman named Leo danced his way over to us and asked if we would like to dance with him. Leo is a Floyd local who was missing a few teeth and was wearing a hat that was decorated with bird feathers. We accepted his offer and he took my hand above my head and spun me around in circles until I began to get dizzy. He did this for each of us, and then very kindly thanked us for dancing with him as he shook each of our hands.

While the three of us were dancing, many of the people around us would leave or come onto the dance floor in between songs. It came time when we had to go, and we headed off of the dance floor, grabbed our coats, and left the Floyd General Store. I was reluctant to leave because I felt as if I had found a new community to belong to, but I was able to leave having thoroughly enjoyed my evening there and wanting to return again soon.

       
    I really enjoyed being in Floyd for the evening and partially wish that it wasn’t so far away so that I could spend much more of my time there. I’m sure that I will be going back again in the future and getting to know the town a little bit better.  

*pictures are not my own and came from floydcountrystore.com

Promises Fullfilled

So, I promised ya'll that I would write more about the quote that I listed at the bottom of my last blog.

     "Community: it is the opposite of thinking that wherever I am, I would be better off somewhere else."

Well, I actually wrote a blog post about it! However, it's not on this blog but on the blog for the SERVE program at Tech.  "How in the world am I going to find this random blog?", you may ask. 

Here it is: http://serveatvt.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/community-is-here-and-now/ 

But please, don't just read mine and then close the page. There are many other really good posts on this site that were written by my friends in the program. 

Check it out! It will be worth it, I promise. 

-Kenz

This crazy thing we call time

A few days ago I was reading my cousin's blog and there was something that she wrote that really spoke true to me. The concept of time is something that continues to baffle me. I wish I could control it but I know I never can. I could go on and on talking about it but her words sum it up perfectly so here they are: 

Time seems to be rushing by me. Like I’m floating down a river, taking in the beauty of the surrounding countryside and unexpectedly the scenery begins to change and the river’s current picks up. The new scenery is beautiful too, but I didn’t realize I was coming to this new section so quickly. I’m suddenly wishing that I could swim back up stream to catch a glimpse of the all the beauty I’d been taking for granted (did I really think it would go on forever?), but the currents too strong; I can‘t fight it. -CJ

Random thoughts on my current life:

• I went out for Sushi downtown last night with a couple friends and now I'm very inspired to try as many local restaurants as possible. I think we all are actually. The problem with this inspiration is that it completely conflicts with my budget so I'm going to have to work out a compromise with myself somehow.

• It's been raining nonstop here for the past couple days and there isn't any bright sun in the forecast. Most people don't like this weather but I am rather enjoying it. The only problem I had with it today was that I wanted to curl up with a fuzzy blanket, a hot beverage, and some knitting needles or a book. Unfortunately class tends to get in the way of that fantasy. 

• I am very excited for this weekend and trying to be diligent with getting things done in preparation for being out of town but other wonderful things, such as writing this blog, are perpetually getting in the way. Why is it that after 1am I cannot possibly get any school work accomplished but as soon as I begin doing things on facebook, blogging, or anything else unacademic I am extremely productive. This is a phenomenon that I don't really care to investigate or change. 

• I am not a fan of doing laundry in a campus dorm. Mainly because of the whole having to pay for each load problem. This is especially problematic when you only have $.36 left on your Hokie Passport after paying for three wash loads and have to scrounge around for quarters before it's time to move everything into the dryer. 

• Having conversations with people is quite possibly my favorite thing ever. Especially when it involves making ridiculous lists, asking random passerbys to give their opinions on them, and when it's all over not having any idea that over two hours have passed. 

• When I start to get overwhelmed by everything that I am involved in right now, I just remember how blessed I am to have all of the opportunities I've been given. This is the life I've been given and it would be repulsive for me to take it all for granted, which I do everyday. I am incredibly blessed. 

Here's a quote that I recently found and really like. I will most likely write more about it in the future but for now it's just food for thought: 

"Community is the opposite of thinking that wherever I am, I would be better off somewhere else." 

-Peter Block in Community

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