Why I love Twitter (no..really.)

My beginning with twitter is a sad start to what now has become something so much more! I had heard of twitter but had no interest in being a part of something that seemed so utterly pointless. Then my friend Lisa was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night in March 2010 and suddenly twitter had a meaningful purpose in my life. It was used to give real-time updates about her progress and health. Eventually those updates slowed and I almost quit my twitter account because its purpose was fading. But for some odd reason, I kept it and began looking at who else was using this weird Facebook status update-esque online tool.

I honestly can't remember what I did on twitter before I started following certain people. I think to myself, what the hell did I spend my time doing on twitter? I honestly don't think I spent more than a couple of seconds on it before closing the tab on my browser. But there were people who were interesting or who provided a reason to keep my account active. Those people are @Switchfoot , @msleamichele, and of course @DarrenCriss. Each of these have brought other fans, celebrities, and groups of people into my life that have helped to shape me and help my introverted, loner self into a more social person (internet social anyways).

[Side Note:] I understand this is a silly post. I realize there are things outside of twitter and the internet in my life..oh trust me, I know that all too well. This is just to explain my love of twitter and the positive thing it can be if used wisely. 

As many of you know, my job has it's "slow" times throughout the day. Twitter has been a form of mainly entertainment during those times. Celebrities post funny pictures or links to videos they like (or just want to share with people). It's interesting. Twitter has become not only a way to connect with (and stay updated about) a celebrity but also a way to connect to other fans of said celebrity, movement, band, movie, whatever. If someone I follow posts a link about a band they like, I'm MUCH more inclined to listen and see if I like them as well. I can't even tell you how many bands/people I've come to love because of who I follow on twitter!

The biggest "accomplishment" I've done through twitter is meeting up with people while I was in NYC. I still can't really get over the fact that I have people in my life who I met on twitter and we legitimately talk and connect. I'm going to Disneyland with a couple of girls I met on twitter in a couple weeks AND touring the Paramount Lot (where Glee films)! Some of the BEST times in New York were spent in a pizzeria talking with two friends I was finally meeting in person after talking online for months. Maybe to some I sound insane because I'm meeting up with people I met online. Maybe to others I sound completely dorky because...well...I'm meeting up with people I met online and completely gushing about an online social media tool. But I can't help it. I get SO excited thinking about how awesome it is that a silly thing like twitter can connect people, create friendships, start movements, and bring people together.

This post would be epically long if I listed all the new connections, destinations, and adventures twitter has given me. So I will just say that twitter has given me new friends and a new way of approaching the world around me. Here are just some pictures to help illustrate.

I first met Dan & Kath at a Paley Center event for the show "Pushing Daisies" and we've been online friends ever since! I even got to meet up with them in New York (we were ALL there to see Darren!).

Kath & Dan 2007

Dan & Kath 2011

Without Twitter, I would have NEVER met Juls, my friend and peer mentor that I now meet with every couple of weeks to talk about God, entertainment, purpose, and life goals we both have. This is also why I spent my 25th birthday in Chicago (meeting her in person)!

I follow a cool lady on Twitter (@MiaVonGlitz) and she connected me with Morgan Karr (@MorganKarr) through some mutual twitter followers and I got the chance to see him perform his music live and chat with him after his show! Such a great musician from NY and I'm glad to have his stuff on my iPhone now :)

These are just a few examples of the exciting things meeting and connecting with Twitter has brought me. I don't know exactly why, but I felt like gushing about it today.



May you also find that thing(s) in your life that connect you with others and the greater world around you.

When Inspiration Strikes.

I recently  read THIS post from a really cool new site from Dianna Agron (Quinn, from Glee) called "You, Me, & Charlie". I really enjoyed the questions she asked and wanted to use some creative juices this morning :)

YM&C: What day is it?
Friday 2/17 around 11:20am.


YM&C: Where are you responding to this email?
Honestly, I'm sitting at my desk at work. It's a slow work day...


YM&C: If you could go somewhere, right now, for 24 hours, where would it be?
New York. Easy. I'm pretty sure my answer will always be NYC until I live there and I'll have to pick another place. 


YM&C: What makes you the happiest?
Laughing and singing are my favorite things to do in the world. They both make me feel things nothing else does. 


YM&C: What makes you feel inspired?
Seeing people overcome obstacles in life and leaving with a positive outlook. To see someone who could have just "given up" choose to fight, push through, and overcome against all odds...gives me chills every time. THAT's what I want in life. I want to overcome my own struggles and come out stronger for it. 


YM&C: What’s your favorite song to sing?
"On My Own" from Les Miserables. I'm hoping to work on this song with my singing coach soon. Here's a video of what I want to sound like. (I really admire Lea Michele and want to model my voice after hers.) 

YM&C: What’s your power anthem?
Right now it's "We Are Young" by fun. I love the concept of being young and capable to accomplish anything! 




YM&C: What is one thing that you think people don’t expect from you?
I really love cuss words. The F-word makes me laugh more than anything. haha! That's embarrassing. 


YM&C: What would you say to your younger self?
Don't let anyone make you feel invisible. You are seen and you are worth the attention of your family and friends. Also, don't give up on things. It may be hard but push through. Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is how often I've quit or given up on something because it was a challenge. I've always wanted everything to be easy, but when it wasn't, I thought that meant I wasn't meant to do it. Don't do that! You can do it if you work hard enough and believe in yourself. I might sound like a broken record, but it's definitely the most important lesson I wish I knew when I was little. 


YM&C: A picture and a thought?

This is the sneaky picture I took of the Broadway stage for "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying". It means so much more than just a great memory or a great musical. It represents an accomplishment  in my personal life of being more adventurous and going after the things I want. And God doesn't just give us those things but instead goes above and BEYOND by providing so much financial assistance to allow my family to actually afford the trip. God showed His love for me through my entire NYC trip. This picture reminds me: 
1) Dreams can come true
2) They won't always look how you thought your dreams would.
3) They will be better than you imagined
4) Life is good when you take chances and trust God.
5) Lastly, Darren will always be my favorite performer (yep, I said it). haha. 




Thanks for letting me pretend I was being interviewed for something :) 

Slowly start to build... A Beautiful City.

The musical Godspell is currently performing with a revival cast in New York City. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the show while I was in NYC, but I had so many people recommend the music to me that I had to listen for myself and see what the buzz was about. I'm not familiar with the plot or how accurate it is to Jesus' life, but that's not what this post is about. I've listened to the soundtrack on Spotify over and over again, and one song truly stands out. The song, "Beautiful City" is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. Here is his performance of the song on YouTube: Beautiful City by Hunter Parrish

Some lyrics that are particularly meaningful to me today: 

"Out of the ruins and rubble, can we see a ray of hope?" 

 "When your trust is all but shattered. When your faith is all but killed. You can give up, bitter and battered. Or you can slowly start to build..." 

I hope that this video finds you in those moments when you feel hopeless, anxious, tired, or lonely. God definitely brought this song to mind today to remind me that rebuilding is possible, hope still exists, and to put all my trust in Him. God really knows that speaking to me through music is a direct line to my heart and soul. Thank you God for knowing me so...