"my new life"

never underestimate the power,
the power of a simple smile, kiss, hug
take nothing for granted.
tell those you love how you feel,
spend time with family and friends.
laugh until it hurts, smile until you can't smile anymore,
take advantage of rare opportunities.

never let life pass you by.

These are the Nielson's; they were in a near-fatal plane crash about a year ago.
Here is their story, My New Life.



"appreciate the little things..."

music and books

'Lay Me Down' - Dirty Heads
'Comes and Goes' - Greg Laswell
'Lovers Without Love' - Joshua James
'Sweetheart" - Supernatural
'So You Are to Me' - Peter Bradley Adams
'Take it All' - Ethan Goodson
'Nobody Knows Me at All' - The Weepies
'Sweet Ride' - Courtney Jaye

Most of these songs were found by accident on YouTube, others I have been listening to for a while and they never get old.

Since being in D.C., I have learned many things, one specifically being that I need to be more well read, especially when it comes to politics. So today I went to the Williamsburg Regional Library, because I am home this weekend, and asked for some advice. Result? I came home with the following books:

"The Age of Anxiety" by Haynes Johnson
"Nothing to Fear" by Adam Cohen
"Advise and Consent" by Allen Drury
"The Audacity of Hope"  by Barack Obama
"Protect and Defend" by Richard North Patterson

I am starting with "Advise and Consent," which is a mere 600 pages about presidents, politics, and the Senate. Light summer reading, no big deal...
We will see how it goes.

growth

"Growth means change, and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown."

- The Shack

One of my lovely roommates sent this quote to me today with a note that said "This made me think of you," which made my day. 

I have been doing a lot of self-growth so far this summer, and this quote describes exactly what I have been going through lately. I hope everyone takes the time to grow, and therefore change for the better, stepping into a world unknown to them, only to discover more surprises the lie ahead in life.

Fearless.

I am fearless.

This summer has presented me with so many opportunities to show who I really am, and I have done so without holding back. I have never been more confident, willing to put myself out there, independent, unsure, confused, or stable.

Complete independence in a big city, working at a job in the "real world," conquering year-long fears, new experiences, expressing my true, raw emotions, learning what is truly important in life.

This summer is about me, about MY strengths, and about discovering life.
I know who I am. I know what I represent. I know what I want in life.

I am carving my own path.

dad

he is my rock, my idol, my strength.
he holds more knowledge than humanly possible.
he knows just what to say when I am upset.
he came to every soccer game, cheerleading competition, ballet recital, band concert, and swim meet.
he taught me how to mow the grass.
he taught me how to love unconditionally.
he taught me to always make sure you are put together
he knows when I am weak.
he taught me to love and respect our military troops in all that they do.
he taught me how to be a daughter.
he celebrates my victories and condoles my heartaches.
he taught me to be punctual.
he taught me to never be too critical of myself,
never push myself to too harsh of extremes.
I have his sense of humor,
I look like him - face structure,
I have his, what used to be, curly blonde hair,
his blue eyes
he is wise beyond his years
he has seen sights no one can possibly imagine or begin to understand
he grew up in rural south dakota
he taught me how to appreciate small town living
he taught me how to drive a car, slowly but surely
I will always be his little girl, and he will always be my daddy.

I love you, Dad.

Happy Father's Day.

the thrill

Today I rode four roller coasters for a total of seven rides.

This is a HUGE deal. I hate, despise, and am scared to death of roller coasters. The last time I was on one I was 12 and decided it was something that I was never, ever going to experience again.

Well, today that all changed. As I entered King's Dominion with some friends from school, I was, let's just say "strongly persuaded" to go on a roller coaster. I was persistent in my efforts to avoid them, but, somehow my friends got me to go on one of the scariest coasters there. I closed my eyes the entire time and focused on breathing in and out, in and out.

Thankfully I came out fine in the end. I was done, that one ride was enough. My friends next endeavor was a coaster that I was no way, no how, ever going to ride, so I waited that one out. Throughout the day, my fear lessened, I loosened up a bit, and I ended up riding for a total of seven times. I even put my hands in the air, once, for about 15 seconds. It's a start.

Roller coasters are not something I am a huge fan of, although today, after I loosened up a bit, I kind of enjoyed them - but only a little bit.

 

This is "The Dominator." I rode this one FIRST today. Can you say thrill?

 

New experiences.

That is my motto for the summer.

Today was one more exciting thing I can add to my list.

new books equal happy endings

Everything about today was completely amazing:

1. Woke up at 7:30 a.m. out of early-morning-waking-up habit that I have formed. But soon went back to bed.
2. Made banana nut (fiber one!) muffins with Jess
3. Laid outside, tanned, and read a book
4. Finished one book, began another
5. Slept more
6. Went to the local library with Jess, where they were having a book sale! Bought SEVEN books for $13! Success.
7. Went to Noodles & Co. for dinner
8. Went on an adventure to Georgetown
9. Went to Georgetown Cupcake!


I would call that a successful Saturday. Tomorrow I get to go see Rachel! I cannot wait.
Best weekend of the summer thus far.

living the safe life

I have always played it safe. Routines, planning, future goals, understanding of what is coming next. This summer I am changing it up - this is a summer of new opporutnities, new experiences, a new me.

I came in to summer with the following intentions:
-Gain more independence
-Learn more about myself
-Understand what a job in the fast-paced "real world" of D.C. feels like
-Learn to live alone
-Make the most of what I am given
-Forgive and forget
-Seize every available opportunity


I have never felt so alone in my life.

I don't know how I feel about it. I enjoy it for a majority of the time, but other times, I wish I had my friends here with me. I want the comforts of school, the surroundings, the people, the college experience.
I am not ready for the real world yet, and now I know that. I will take even more advantage of my college career, and enjoy every last piece of what it represents.

Tomorrow I am going into the city, most likely by myself, to go exploring. A weekend of adventures, take one.

the opposite of love

I am reading an insightful, amazing book right now called "The Opposite of Love."

This quote makes me think about what I really know about myself.

"Here's what I know: I eat mass quantities of red meat, curse religiously, sing out of tune but with conviction. I cry when it suits me, laugh when it's inopportune, read The New York Times obituaries and wedding announcements, out loud and in that order."

-Julie Buxbaum

Here is what I, Kelsey Heiter, know:

I read or write whenever I have the chance, sing at the top of my lungs when I drive alone, analyze everything and overplan. I admire people's habits and learn from them, as well as apply those observations to my own life; I understand what it takes to be a good friend, as well as accept good friendship; I want to succeed, I have a drive, a need, to succeed; I criticize myself too often. Sometimes I need to just calm down and take a minute to breathe. I cannot wait to start a career, get married, settle down, and have children. I am neither a dog nor cat person, I love both equally. I think my Grandpa is the best thing since sliced bread. I love fresh vegetables from my mom's garden. I could watch "The Holiday" a million times and never get tired of it.

That is what I know. Think about what you know about yourself - it is interesting what you discover.

june 9

I found this today on Six Billion Secrets:

You're beautiful. Everything about you is mesmerizing, you have no imperfections because anything that could be imperfect about you makes you that much more perfect. There's not one thing I would change about you. Ever. I just thought you should know that.

Quote of the day:

"A man who doesn't trust himself can never truly trust anyone else." -Cardinal de Retz

I am enjoying the city, independence, and time to myself more and more everyday.

june 5

Happenings from week one:

-Surrogate family
-Two new pets
-Successfully mastering the Metro in D.C.
-Becoming even more independent than I already am/was
-Understanding what it is like to wake up at 6 a.m., commute, work until 4, commute home
-Explaining scientific research
-Putting together important presentations
-Purchase orders
-Meetings
-High heels and dresses
-Sleeping on the metro
-Cute boys on the metro
-People watching
-Lots of iPod listening
-Becoming more aware of my surroundings
-Walking with a purpose
-Feeling grown-up
-My own desk, chair, computer/half of my own office
-Getting lost in D.C.
-Finding my way in D.C.
-Seeing someone getting arrested
-Reading three books
-Running
-Being even more responsible than I was
-Enjoying time in a big city
-Exploring D.C.
-Surprise adventures around D.C. with my boss
-Frozen yogurt
-Mastering Google Earth and making programs on it
-Understanding what it is like to have a brother and sister
-Much more independence and alone time

"Everything is something you decide to do, and there is nothing you have to do."
             -Denis Waitley


Week two begins on Tuesday.

if she wants to rock, she rocks

"'Cause if she wanna rock, she rocks
If she wanna roll, she rolls
She can roll with the punches
As long as she feels in charge

And if she wanna stay, she stays
If she wanna go, she goes
She doesn't care how she gets there
Long as she gets somewhere she knows"


Independence, maturity, new experiences, adventures, understanding, real-life experiece.

Summer in the city week one is off to a good start.