There’s a country song sang by Kenny Chesney, aptly named “Don’t Blink”. If you’ve heard it, you know it tugs at the heart strings and if you’re going through a serious life change or phase, you might even cry.
Last night I went to the Louisville Palace theatre to watch the annual Greek Sing competition with my “little”. We went together to support our girls performing, my Grand Little and two Great-Grand Littles! It makes me so happy to see our family tree grow. Of course, me being the “old grandma” I had to get a family picture (which one GGLittle has yet to send me).
Four years ago, I was a little freshman in my sorority, who got wrangled into performing. The nostalgia was REAL! Mind you, I don’t sing, and I am the walking definition of “white kid rhythm”, meaning I have NONE. This performance was more or less of a traumatic experience for me. The upperclassman who was in charge of organizing our performance continued to oversee practices and pass out music sheets with STREP THROAT. She even told us this. She said something along the lines of, “I know everyone is stressed out with school and tired, but if I can make it here with strep then so can you!” Excuse me, but what?
I’m normally a pretty healthy induvial. I’m not sure how, as I still avoid vegetables like it’s my job going on 24 years old. Anyway, when I get sick, it is the most random things. Anyhow, I contract strep, unbeknownst to me as I had never had it before. I was sick for months, and after I finished my steroids (which the doctor gave me not knowing what I had) I felt better. Then I developed symptoms of gout and arthritis. I can have a dramatic flair sometimes, but if you were to ask anyone who saw me second semester my freshman year, they would tell you that I was actually hobbling around campus and wouldn’t move unless absolutely necessary. Why am I telling you this?
- There’s always an answer, you just might have to look somewhere else for it. I found my answer at a naturopath in Vancouver, BC. She goes, “Yes, you had the streptococcus infection and it remained in your body, developing inflammation to your joints-which is arthritis.” It was the worst pain ever in my hands, knees and feet!!
- Keep your child (or yourself) home if you have a highly contagious illness! Seriously it is so selfish to infect others just because of a pride thing.
- Why is it that our society makes people feel that they should “tough it out” and work through any and all illnesses unless you have cancer?
I started this piece with the thinking that I was going to reminisce on some great sorority memories. There were a lot of them, and my big and my little are my real “sisters”. I love them like I love my brothers.
I look back on my time in ZTA at UofL, and I wish I did more. I let fear failure override my optimism and gave into the what ifs. I’ve grown exponentially since then, and everyone takes their own time do things. I miss college so much; it was the best 3.5 years of my life. I would tell those girls active in the sorority, “cherish every memory and appreciate your college years. Take every opportunity that’s presented to you that you can, but don’t stretch yourself too thin. Step out of your comfort zone and try something at least once.”
I’m trying to use this mentality post-graduation, as evidenced by a long Europe trip to make up for not studying abroad while still in school. Everyone should approach life like his. Living life to the fullest doesn’t have to mean doing everything but instead just trying something. I want to take dance classes this year and maybe learn this thing called rhythm. What’s something you want to try?