Even though it’s been about 7 years now, I can still remember being in my high school gym and having two-a-day practices for volleyball like it was just yesterday. Even though I had never even touched a volleyball before I tried out for the team, with the constant support and motivation from my coach, I was able to pick the game up pretty quickly. And even though I also played basketball and softball, and was much better at softball than the rest, my fondest memories are from the months I spent playing volleyball. And I have Coach Balla to thank for that.

Coach Balla is a one of a kind coach. She put 110% into our team, always. She spent countless hours watching tape, strategizing how we needed to prepare for our next opponent. She put everything in her life on hold for us girls. Coach Balla is one of those coaches that is there for you not only as a coach, but as a friend. All throughout high school, and even till now she has always been a constant support system for me, as well as several other of her players.

This past year Coach Balla retired from coaching, to carry out her lifelong dream: to be a mother. I know that retiring from the team was one of the hardest, most difficult decisions for her to make, but like everything she does in life, she wanted to give 110% of her life to her new little baby boy, Matthias Creed.

I had the pleasure and honor to photograph her with Matthias for his six-month photo shoot. And I have to admit, photographing newborn to 6-month babies is not the easiest thing to do, but when you have an absolute loving mother, the pictures just fall into place. It was pretty obvious during the shoot, and even after looking at the pictures, that Coach Balla and Matthias are a dynamic duo.

I can’t wait to keep witnessing this little guy grow up and maybe even learn to play the game his mom loved to coach.

Here are a few of my favorites!

I know not much is supposed to be read into the fortune inside the cookie you get from Chinese restaurants, mainly because 1) they’re really not fortunes and 2) it kind of loses its meaning when the person you’re eating with gets the same exact one.

However, they are pretty good reminders, at least for me. The other day I came across this one,

“Getting together with old friends brings new adventures.”

It came at a perfect time, as I’ve literally just relocated back home to Richmond last week. It’s been quite some time since I’ve hung out, or even spoken to a lot of the people who meant a lot to me as I was growing up (I know, shame on me. It’s not an easy thing to admit, nonetheless write on a blog). Fortunately I’ve learned my lesson and have kept in (better) touch with those from college, but that still doesn’t make up for everyone else before then.

So needless to say, I’m really looking forward to hopefully getting a second chance to reconnect with some awesome people, and seeing what new adventures they will bring!

At my roommate’s wedding shower a few weeks ago, I got to talking with one of our friends about the Appalachian trail. He had hiked the trail a few years back, and couldn’t stop talking about how great of an experience it was for him. I asked him what it was like hiking for several months by yourself, and he started talking about the types of people you meet on the trail. “You meet the most interesting people out there on the trail,” he went on saying, “but the craziest thing about it is that I’m closer with these people than I am with people I’ve known all my life.”

It’s hard to believe this is actually possible. That you can form such strong relationships with people you’ve only known for such a short period of time. But it is when you’re stripped away from the outside world, and put in an environment together that this sort of thing happens. You share a common experience that only those who go through it can truly understand.

I haven’t hiked the app trail, nor do I ever plan to, but I have experienced something that has bonded me with certain people that I’m sure I will be friends with forever.

It’s hard to explain really, but that’s what makes it so special.

These past few weeks I’ve had several encounters with people that really surprised me. Surprised me in a good way, that is. Simply because of how nice they were. And it’s not like their acts of kindness were over the top or anything… They were just… surprising.

Example 1:
After a few hours of shopping in Richmond, I got into my car only to find a folded up piece of scratch paper on my windshield. It was an apology letter from a lady who accidentally hit me car when pulling in next to me. Yea, a car accident isn’t fun to deal with, adds yet another thing to your agenda, and down right sucks… But hey, at least she left a note. And her phone number. In one of the busiest places in the Richmond area, she could have easily reversed out of the parking spot and acted like it never happened. Or she could have been in such a rush she didn’t want to take the time to find some paper and leave a note. But she didn’t, and even though she did wreck my car, her kind gesture of leaving a note made everything seem OK.

Example 2:
At work this past week, one of my fellow staff members went downstairs to our local deli to get some tea, only to come back and surprise me with a Diet Coke. I didn’t ask for it, I didn’t hint at it (or at least I don’t think I did), but she got it anyways. Because she knew I love me some DC, because she probably thought I needed a good caffeine boost, and because she’s just a downright thoughtful person who wanted to do something nice for someone else. A $2 purchase went a long way in my book. (Shout out to Tory!)

Example 3:
Today I finally got my car back from the body shop. Going into it, I just thought they were going to repair my bumper, repaint it, and give me the keys back. Not only did they do all of this, but they also washed it, waxed it, and vacuumed the inside. They could have easily just stuck to the mechanics and what was written on the estimate. Instead, they went the extra mile to make an inconvenient and stressful experience as enjoyable as they could. Thank you Bruce’s Body Shop!

I’m not saying these acts of kindness were surprising because the world is filled with mean, inconsiderate people. I am more touching on the fact that every now and then, a simple act of kindness can really stand out. Through the hustle and bustle of today’s society, we sometimes get tunnel vision or stuck in a routine and don’t make doing favors, or going the extra mile an everyday goal.

And I have to admit, sometimes doing something nice for someone else requires you to go out of your way. But when you do find the time, it makes a difference. A simple gesture can seriously make someone’s day, or better yet, their week!

Make it a goal to do something nice for someone today. The result is worth it.

As most know, North Carolina was hit with over 20 tornados this past weekend. The storm knocked down hundreds of trees, flattened several houses and buildings, and worst of all, injured and even killed a few of our fellow residents. Needless to say, our state was blind-sided by a storm that changed a lot of people’s lives, all in a matter of seconds.

No one was prepared for this kind of storm. We’re used to ignoring the standard tornado warnings we occasionally hear on the TV or radio. It wasn’t really until about 3pm when people started seeing the black clouds, feeling the strong winds, and seeing trees starting to bend, that they started to take this thing seriously.

Luckily I was in Richmond this past weekend so I was able to avoid the storm, unlike several of my friends. Listening to their stories of where they were, what they were doing up until minutes before, and how some just barely escaped the twister’s path was pretty eery and chilling to hear.

It was most interesting to hear how everyone delt with the situation. Some people immediately thought to call their parents or loved ones hoping it wouldn’t be their last. Some people stayed calm in order to help and direct others to safety. And a few brave soles disregarded the dangers of the storm and instead chose to get as close as possible in order to document the experience for everyone else.

But let’s face it, you never know how you’re really going to act when faced with danger until you’re actually faced with it. Obviously I’ve never been in that situation since when I first heard of the storm, I immediately thought of the safety of my computer.

As I immaturely thought of a materialistic item, others were reaching for their loved ones and taking drastic measures to save their own lives. I can guarantee you that those who were in NC that weekend weren’t too concerned about their computer, or even their brand new car in the driveway. They were concerned with the well-being of those that mattered most: their family, their friends, and their community.

A disaster like this makes you reevaluate what’s important in your life. It makes you realize what matters, and what doesn’t. Sure it sucks to be the person with a tree flattening their brand new car, or the students at Shaw University who can’t finish out their school year because of the damage. And yes it’s absolutely terrible to think of those families that no longer have a roof over their heads, and have lost pretty much everything they own. But when you see these people on TV, all they really care about is that they’re alive. “It’s a miracle,” they all keep repeating.

In the areas where the tornados touched down, there isn’t a lot that still remains. But one thing that does still remain is our hope. Our hope that together, our community can overcome this disaster and restore our city. The way that our community has already come together to help those in need has been remarkable to witness, and it’s because of this comrodery that with just a few more weeks, we’ll be able get back to the way things were like just a few days ago.

The other day I was watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The family had just lost their dad to metastasis melanoma, and their house was falling apart. As the mother showed Ty the house, they came across a quote that their dad always repeated to his family:

“Lots of things to think about, nothing to worry about.”

But with the stress of losing his job, being diagnosed with a terminal disease, and having his house fall apart, how could he not worry about anything?

It was the way he viewed the situation. To him, his family had a lot of things they needed to think about. A lot of things they needed to keep on their mind, and figure out how to either fix them, or how to just get by. But it was nothing they had to worry about, because they had each other. At that moment, they had each other’s love, and that’s all that mattered.

It’s hard not to worry about things, no matter how big or small it may be. But by “worrying,” we lose sight of the bigger picture. We lose sight of all the positives in our life, all the people we’ve come in contact with along the way, and all the great opportunities we’re faced with daily. We lose sight of all the accomplishments we’ve made, and all the good times we’ve had.

To me, the quote is yet another reminder. To change the way I view obstacles, and to always look beyond what’s in front of me. It’s a new perspective…a new take on life…and I think it’s definitely worth trying out.

And it’s also just one more reason why I love watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition, gets me every time!

Pretty much every time I hang up the phone with my friend Ben, we end it like this..

“Alright just call me later”
“Yea I’ll KIT”
“Yea…just KIT”
(click)

K.I.T. or Keep In Touch, is a term I throw around lightly with friends. But, as simple as it is to say, it’s not as easy to put into practice. When we graduate from school, when we move to different cities, when we change jobs, we sometimes lose touch with some of our friends. We don’t mean to, it just kind of happens. We don’t want to, but the longer we’re a part, the harder it gets to keep in touch.

It takes effort, that’s for sure. From both sides, too. But it’s worth it.

I try to keep in touch with everyone, but I have to admit, I’m not the best at it. And I think what holds me back sometimes, is the fact that when it gets to be several months, or even years since I’ve last spoken to someone, I feel weird about reaching out to them. It’s like I feel if they were to see my name pop up on their Caller ID, that they would immediately think, “Wow, Shannon’s calling…that’s weird.” Call me crazy, but that thought has definitely ran through my head several times.

Facebook has made it easier most of the time, but I don’t think it’s enough of an effort. It’s more convenient, but it’s less personal. It’s a cop out, if you ask me. But still, I’m guilty of resorting to it at times. So this post is not a rant about the impersonality of Facebook, but more of me coming to a realization that no matter how awkward or uncomfortable I may feel about keeping in touch with an old friend, I should still make the call.

Not because someone’s telling me I need to do so, and not because I feel obligated to do so, but because I want to. Because the friendship I’m wanting to rekindle, is so worth it.