Present v. Future

So as of late plans for the future have been the number one thing on my mind. Numerous people are settling down, getting married, engaged, and planning for the next chapter of their education, and I am no exception.

With two years of undergrad done, it is almost time to start graduate school entrance exams and applying to school. It's crazy to think that all of that is just around the corner, when I feel like I just finished that whole process.

With all of this planning I feel myself getting extremely excited for what the future holds and all that will come after graduate school. A wedding, a family, a new home. That's a lot of changes, but it's a lot of excitement too. For the first time I can actually begin to picture my life past school. I can actually see myself in the wedding dress. Women always say that they've been planning their wedding and all the details since they were kids. They had envisioned that dress and knew exactly which dress was right when they tried it on. Previously I could never envision the white dress or me walking down the aisle. I always thought maybe that was a sign that I wasn't going to get married or find the one. But that seems to be changing and I'm glad I no longer feel doomed to be a single old lady.

Now onto the real dilemma. Present versus future. With all the excitement and tentative planning I feel the need to draw myself back to reality. There are a lot of what-ifs still up in the air and curve balls that could be thrown my way. People live by a lot of different mottos. Some believe that you should live each day as it comes because tomorrow isn't guaranteed. In fact, the entire day isn't even guaranteed. However, if one lives each day as it comes, how can you be prepared for what lies ahead. I find its a struggle to find the balance between living each day as it comes and in the moment, but while also making decisions that are best for what you currently want to achieve in your life. Things will change and nothing is guaranteed, but I feel that planning is the best way to navigate the future. A well planned out trip allows you to live each day and moment to its fullest and to enjoy the journey. But at what time do you transition from your planning and live?

I may never know the answer. Or perhaps when I do, I'll be well settled into my wrinkles with grandchildren. Here's to finding the balance in planning and living, to being excited about future possibilities, and to enjoying the present.

War on religion?? More like return pre-1776

I HONESTLY do not understand how people believe that Obama's health care policies for women is an attack on religion. These people must not understand that it is not requiring women to take birth control but requiring the option be available.

These people that claim this attack on religion are largely Christian conservatives. They don't want to have to provide care, in the form of birth control, because it goes against their religious beliefs. They are entitled to their beliefs. However, we live in a country known for it's freedom.

We fought hard for that freedom and drew up a declaration of independence. One main reason for this desire for independence is religious freedom. In this country we have freedom to practice a religion of our choosing and we have a separation of church and state in place.

Separation of church and state. I think those conservatives forgot that part. Their desire to prohibit providing care to a woman based on their religious beliefs imposes their beliefs onto another person. This goes hand in hand with wanting to prohibit abortions or the use of birth control all together. Government officials should not create legislation based on their religion and impose it on the masses.

No matter what your religious beliefs, or your medical beliefs for that matter, you cannot deny that those actions go against the ideals this country was founded on. This isn't a war on religion, this is a war on women.