93 Counties

Sometimes we all get a little caught up in our day to day lives and we never take time to ourselves.  I feel like when I never take the time to spend by myself then I get too overwhelmed and when I get too overwhelmed then I get stressed. 

Here are a few good things to do when you get stressed:

1. Go for a long drive, if you have some extra money to throw towards some gas, just get in the car on a nice sunny day and just go for a drive.  I much prefer to take a drive down a long highway out in the country in the summertime.

2.  Put together a puzzle, keep it on a seperate table at home and just work on it a little bit at a time every night until the puzzle is complete.  The best thing about a puzzle is that you can still watch your primetime show at the same time while working on the puzzle.

3. If it is sunny outside, then spend some time outside, go for a walk or ride your bike.  I enjoy rollerblading and bikeriding, sometimes just a few miles can go a long way.

4.  Eat Ice Cream!  I believe Ice Cream can solve just about any problem!

These are few things that help me relieve stress and hopefully they will help you as well!

We get a lot of stormy weather in Nebraska especially the months of April, May, June and sometimes end of August and September.  When I was a kid, my parents made my sisters and I hang out in the basement until the storm was over.  I remember some nights we would just sleep in the basement.  Now as an adult,  I like the thrill of being outside and watching the clouds roll in, especially when it is still warm and humid outside.  However, when it starts to rain, that is when I will go inside. 

In high school our area of Nebraska had a huge tornado that everyone calls the Hallam Tornado or the Norris Tornado.  The tornado took out a whole town of about 300 residents and destructed more than half a school district school building called Norris.  I have known several people who have been affected by a tornado and it’s sad to see and hear what everyone has to deal with when they lose everything to mother nature.  Last year my friend Hannah and her family were affected by the Joplin tornado and she made a good point; “It’s just stuff.” 

Around this time of year I begin to think about all the stuff I have and what I would do if I lost everything in a tornado, then I always begin to think about Hannah’s quote.  My stuff would always be replacable and I know I have plenty of loved ones such as friends and family that would help me out if something horrific were to occur.

I challenge everyone to take the time and if you live in or near an area that is affected by a tornado, volunteer your time when you have available time and lend a helping hand.  Whether you can help clean up a town by picking up tree branches, help by donating food and serving food to people who were displaced from their houses, or donate household items that you don’t need anymore.  Anyway you can help make difference, I am sure the people of that community would feel appreciated.  Storm clean ups can take weeks to clean up everything, so even if you don’t have the immediate time, then find the time in the next few days to lend a hand.  I have volunteered my time a few times for storm clean ups and not only will the victims appreciate, but it always makes me feel happy to put joy back into other peoples’ hearts.

A few weeks ago I read a quote: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”  I feel like I have always been the kind of girl to take adventures and try new things.  I am also the kind of person that if I want to go do something or try something new, I will go by myself if no one else wishes to join.  I believe life can be short and you have to live everyday like it is your last.  My word of advice and you probably have heard this alot; never give up an opportunity to do something out of the ordinary, because you never know when you could get another chance to do it again. 

Last night, I went to Uncle Ron’s in Lincoln.  It’s a country bar and last night they had karaoke.  I have never been all for getting up and singing in front of a crowd, but last night I decided that I needed to have some fun.  I know I do not have a singing voice, but it was karaoke, half the people who sing karaoke just do it for fun and not for singing perfectly.  I have to tell you; after I got up and was half way through the song I felt like all my nerves went away.  Others started singing along with me and I got into a dance groove.  Overall, I believe it was a successful night! 

I am learning everyday to not pass up the fun things that I want to do in life.  If I need to step out of my comfort zone in order to do some of those interesting things in life, then in the end I will not be regreting on passing up those opportunities!

Summer is in full-swing here in Nebraska and again this summer I have created a bucklist of things I would like to do and get accomplished:

1. Go fishing at least 5 times.

2.  Save more money and do more things outdoors that do not cost a lot of money or is free.

3. Bike or Rollerblade at least 3 days a week.

4. Save on the amount of gas I use.

5. Toby Keith in North Platte

6. Brad Paisely and Rascal Flatts at RedSky Festival

7. Go the wave pool at Mahoney State Park.

8. Go to Worlds of Fun!