Episode 37 - A Little Braver

Out of over 20 scholarships I had applied for, I received one. Just the one. 

Of course it makes me kind of sad, knowing that there were over 19 rejections, haha. Sometimes, I even stay up for entire hours of the night wondering, "Had I tried harder... had I had more time... maybe I'm not enough." Countless rejection emails over the past few months have helped me brace for that ultimate feeling of "the end of the road". 

Perhaps it's just me, but rejection gets better and less bitter with time and experience. A close friend of mine once told me, "a sign of maturity is when you can handle rejection well and learn from it." 

In today's episode, I want to expand her take on rejection. 

Today, I'm going to attempt at not only readying us to brace rejection but to also embrace it. 

The thing that I've learned about opportunities is that sometimes, they present themselves to you. The other half of the time, it is you making that opportunity happen. Of course, it also depends on what types of opportunities would benefit you in ways that only you could figure out for yourself. 

For everyone, it's unique how opportunities come and go. 

For me, a new opportunity presented itself after a streak of "no's." 

The application of a summer internship came to me through an email. I remember looking at it hopefully but warily. "I might get rejected again, but... that's the worst case scenario isn't it?" 

It is with this mindset that I had applied, unknowingly unlocking a breadth of opportunities that I never knew existed for a post-high-school grad. 

Spoiler alert: I was accepted, haha. :) 

Endless and free amounts of a vast array of healthy snacks in the office's kitchen became my new reality. Just imagine, free Milanos. Free... baked Cheetos. Free bags of Pirate's Booty and coconut toasted Canadian waffles. Free. Not endless but... so many. (Of course, in the face of so many snacks, I've thickened. But alas, don't worry! Episode 36 carefully explains that I'm gonna exercise, guys. haha)

And every day, I am in constant contact with people who are so smart!! So.. knowledgeable in their respective fields from education, health, criminal justice, and to public finance systems. I am constantly humbled and inspired by my fellow co-workers. Every day that I wake up, even if it's hella early, I feel blessed. I feel... so grateful.

So the thing about opportunities, again? Sometimes, you have to ask around yourself. ^_^ Look where... a bit of asking and pestering got me. In less than two weeks, my internship is sending me out to DC to interview men who were recently incarcerated and despite the odds, have worked hard to give back to their communities. THAT is awesome... THAT is awesome and ALL I had to do was, ask, and ask often. I was basically being a pestering bug. I never imagined that I would have a free trip to DC to do something as amazing as this. Never. But do you really have to know what's out there before you apply yourself? Before you ask?

You don't have to know all the answers. I don't have to know all the answers. But sometimes, all it takes is being a little bit braver and more carefree in that moment that can change your life for the better. Be brave and embrace all the "no's" in the world. There's bound to be a "yes." 

In many episodes before this one, I've often talked about opportunity and why it's so important. And you're probably thinking, "er, Ngoc, girlll stahppppp."

No. :P 

You see, I was rejected many times. Each time hurt. like. hell. But the few times that my shot made it? I was amazed at what happened right after. 

The ball will definitely not always make it in, but for every ball that doesn't make it, just throwing the ball is enough. Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes you better. All of those practices are readying you for more successes later on in life. And who knows? Maybe that success can start as soon as today. :) 

So today, I challenge you to knock on all the doors you've been wondering about. 

What's the worst that can happen?

Easy, you can't enter their house. 

Haha, have a good one buddy! 

Let's be a little braver today, okay? 

Your girl,

Ngoc

P.s. woahhhh is Ngoc going to finally have a regular schedule with these episodes now? I dunnooooooooooooo. 

Worst case is a no. :P

Also this episode is NOT perfect, and it bugs me a little, but hey, it's not too shabby. not too shabby. I'm okay with that.:)

Episode 36 - A Different Lifestyle

It has been one month into summer... and it doesn't feel quite real that I will be going out of state in less than two months for college.

At the prospect of college, I tense up. I fear that I won't be able to truly take care of myself. I fear that I would suck at being an adult-in-training. 

So, last week, I felt that it has been enough of sitting around and doing nothing in the evenings. It is enough of going home and scrolling on my phone for hours until I tire myself out. 

Last week, I promised myself that each day, no matter how terrible I feel, I will exercise for at least half an hour. This time, it's not going to be a short-term idea. This time, it's a lifestyle change. This time, I'm changing my life by altering just one piece of it. This time, I'm writing my promise down on paper. With a pen, y'all.

It has been one week of blogilates and whatever else I could catch on. After each workout, I would feel so accomplished. I would feel so happy. 

What I had originally thought would be so grueling turns out to be amazing (and DEFINITELY grueling)... After each workout, I would feel so happy and whole and fulfilled. Of course, that's my endorphins surfacing but really. It's awesome. Imagine beads of sweat rolling off my forehead and chin and a wicked grin spreading across my face. That's me feeling like a boss. It was as if all this time, all I had to do was take care and nourish my body in order to feel this way. 

Beginning a good habit is promising yourself that you are going to change your life. You are going to feel uncomfortable sometimes. You are going to wonder, "Why, why am I doing this to myself?" I'm not just talking about exercising. I'm talking about anything that you can do for yourself consistently to make sure that you are happy and healthy. 

New motto on the blog here: Happy and Healthy. 

And it can be any small thing. You can begin promising yourself that you're going to journal at least once a week about your emotions. You are going to drink 8 cups of water a day. You are going to meditate. You are going to dance. You are going to do something that gives you more balance in your life. I can't tell you what that is. Youuuu are so smart. I trust you. ^-^

For me, that small thing has been exercising. Just this simple act of allotting half an hour a day to taking care of my body has nourished my mind. And it is knowing that I am disciplined enough to continue this promise to myself that gives me hope that "Yes, I can totally rock college. And yes, I can totally adult my way into awesomeness."

My parents will not be there for me when I'm in college, so it is up to me to take care of myself, watch out for myself, and sustain a happy and healthy Ngoc. No other way to put it. 

So, today, I challenge you to think about one small or medium or big thing that you can do to help you reach a happier, healthier version of yourself. 

Remember! 

Consistency is key. 

Writing it down somewhere, anywhere, to make it real is key. 

And celebrating each and every day is key. 

Wishing you the best. :) 

And I'll see you soon!

Love,

Ngoc

P.s. Oh gosh it has been a WHILE. But I am back!! Currently, I'm working at an internship and it's been keeping me on a chair for longggg periods of time. No worries! This girl is going to do as she says; she's going to exercise it out! See you in episode 37!