Para que sepas...

I am listening to the "Latin Pop Classics" station on Pandora right now and I have an overwhelming desire to share the following. My blog seemed to be the most appropriate outlet:

One of my biggest dreams is to live in a Spanish-speaking country after I get married. Listening to this music is incredible and reminded me of my dream in a big way. So, I just wanted to let my future husband (whoever he is) that this has to be part of the plan.

Thanks for listening.

-Maclaine

Tonight's discovery. love love love

If I were in a movie...

If I were in a movie and lived little snippets of my life to background music, this song would have been playing today as I walked down the hill from campus to my apartment. It has little to do with the lyrics, more to do with its feeling of calmness. Under the afternoon sun and in the crisp (to say the least) winter air, looking up at the gorgeous Provo mountains just a couple of miles away, I felt so happy with life. Yes, school is busy and stressful at times. But, I'm grateful for the miracles I see everyday, to be learning, and grateful for the place I am at right now.

Waiting in Vain - Annie Lennox

P.S. More entries are on their way. The other night as I was fighting insomnia (probably due to the diet coke I had at midnight and the pink conversation hearts I continued to eat unconsciously as I worked on a paper for the next day), I got A LOT of good blog ideas. Actually I think it was more of just a stream of consciousness. Nonetheless, I do feel more inspired to blog now. We'll see.

P.P.S. I apologize for the humongous photo. For the life of me, I couldn't adjust the size.

2011

Coming home from a fabulous New Year's Eve celebration at 3am this morning I thought about what I wanted out of the coming year. The past year has been good, but definitely a difficult one. I'm glad to put this year in the past and start fresh with new goals and aspirations. So, after checking in with my sleeping parents and heading off to bed I decided what I want my motto for this year to be: 2011 - The year to ACT (as opposed as the year to be acted upon). This principle resonated with me as I thought about the upcoming events this year - graduation, my trip to Puerto Rico, starting a career, etc.

Two things inspired me to adopt this idea of being the one who is acting or taking the initiative, instead of someone who sits back and lets life just 'happen' to them. My first inspiration came from seeing the movie The Secretariat. Penny Chenery, the protagonist, was portrayed as one of the most powerful, fearless, and courageous women I've ever seen. Seeing what she did in her life inspired me to realize the what I can do in mine. She never gave up, regardless of failure or opposition. This year I want to develop that kind of courage and drive that she had. I want to be the one acting in my life, not just be acted upon. Penny Chenery is a great example of someone who acts.

My second source of inspiration comes from the ol' BFF, Jamie. Jamie's hopes, dreams, and plans for the upcoming years help me open my eyes to the countless possibilities we have if we just look for them. I want to look for these opportunities and capitalize on them as she does.

I sincerely hope that this year's motto will become not merely a motto, but a reality. My possibilities are endless for the upcoming year. I know that God has great plans for me and I believe that the way I can reach that His potential for me is to act, not be acted upon. Con la ayuda de Dios, todo es posible.