SKY HIGH (as published in 2012)

 I've flown across the country to California and toured the greatest cities of Europe. I've witnessed the tropical beauty of the West Indies and the terribly cold winds of New England. Each trip has changed my perspective on life, but that change always seems to first take place in the sky.

It’s something about being in the air, window seat and staring out into the clouds that empowers me to be the best me. Being in the sky, away from the world for a few hours, gives me such a clear, optimistic vision of my past and present.  After an hour, my ears remain stuffy and the clouds become thicker, but I become even more confidently connected with what seems to be the unknown journey ahead. Although I can’t physically see my destination, I know that this path is somehow leading me down to another side of the earth. When the clouds become cracked, the city visible and the pilot announces for everyone to turn off all electronic devices, I know that I’m not too far from completing the first half of my journey. This is my entire outlook on life.

From the time that it takes to accomplish my goals, to the turbulence and dense clouds that comes with experience, I am learning to enjoy the ride and the path that life takes me.  As I always say, what fun would life be if it weren’t filled with varied experiences?  What story would I have to share if everything I wanted was handed to me on a platter?

After my many unwanted experiences of waiting in airports for hours because of layovers, I once cringed at the thought of having to do it again. I thought "what a waste of time!" Well, after realizing some things are out of my control, I one day decided to take advantage of my extended stops. Now I take tours of the airport, may try a new bakery, and almost always people watch, admiring the diversity that airports bring. Life should be lived just like this! Forget complaining about the lengthy, once undesired pauses in life that are out of your control, use it to your advantage. My younger cousin didn’t make the basketball team his first year of high school and wondered how he would be able to wait an entire season before the next try-outs. Initially he felt down and even considered giving up basketball completely. However, his love for basketball and dreams of one day playing in college motivated him to use his layover time to practice as much as he could. The next year he tried out and stood out more than any other sophomore who went out. He not only made the team, but he became one of the key players on the squad. His "layover" allowed him time to develop into the star player that he knew he could be. If we all used wisely the layovers that life throws at us, we can approach opportunities even stronger and better prepared than we had envisioned.

If you ask me, an entire travel experience is so symbolic of the way in which we should live our lives.

- Folasade Omogun

*photo courtesy of Google

Road to the Half

This past summer, I put in a lot of miles in my Nike cross-trainers which, I later found out to be the most insane act of violence on my toes nails. I have since learned not to run an average of 21 run miles per week in non-running shoes. I have yet to mentally recover from my actions ( my toe nail is still trying to grow back) BUT I have since purchased a pair of New Balance Stability which, if I stay the course, is sure to see a great deal of mileage in the next several weeks. After building up my runners confidence this summer I thought, "maybe I will start competing in races [again]." So, this week, I've decided that, after speaking about it for several months, it is time to actually "be about that runners life" and train for.... drum roll.... a half-marathon! HA, I'm sure you, the reader, expected me to say something like a marathon, a triathlon, a Tough Mudder?  If that was your expectation, I am truly sorry that you missed the hint in the title, "Road to the Half..."

I did some shopping around and came across a beginners training program on popsugar.com. Though I have about nine weeks to train, given my current fitness level and average weekly mileage, I think this 16- week program is the best fit for me. I decided to use week five as my starting point.

Races dates:
10K Race for Equal Justice, March 19, 2016- Washington, D.C.
Half Marathon sponsored by Covenant Health, April 3, 2016- Knoxville, TN.
Marathon- SIKE (ok, ok....one day)

Stay In The Present

“Basically, if the mind stays in the present, it’s impossible to worry. Upon careful consideration, it becomes clear that human beings are capable of worrying only about an event that has already transpired or one that may take place in the future (although the occurrence might have just happened or may be about to happen in the next instant). The present moment contains no time or space for worry.” ― H.E. Davey

God Isn't Glorified Through Our Suffering (As shared by Joyce Meyer)

Many Christians live under the false idea that God wants them to suffer. This creates a nonstop victim mentality.

Suffering is inevitable, but God is not glorified through our suffering. He is glorified when we have a good attitude during our suffering - and He wants us to be victorious!

So why would we choose to remain bitter, angry and wounded or depressed?

There's one surefire way to overcome suffering with the right attitude: Set your mind, and keep it set, on things above, not on things of the earth. You must be armed with right thinking, or you will give up during hard times.

Set your mind and be fully aware that moving from being a victim to being a victor will not be a quick process. It will take time, but your experience will make you stronger and enable you to help others who are facing similar battles.

Get excited about your future and realize that going through something with God means that you will come out on the other side with a victory that cannot be taken away from you.

*All writing as it appears on this post is the work of Joyce Meyer.*

IT'S SUNDAY... HERE IS YOUR INSPIRATION

Dose of Inspiration

“Your life is bigger than that moment… Failure is just there to point you in a different direction”- Oprah

“I believe when we are born again, there is a spirit of determination that rises within us”- J. Meyer

“Be relentless to stay in faith and receive God's promises”- J. Meyer

"The key is to get still and ask yourself: what is the next right move ... And from that space make the next right move, and the next right move"- Oprah 

Trust that He will help you become all that He has created you to be and from there you will experience true freedom. Be inspired. Be great people.

FAO

MY levels of cupability

After studying for exams 13+  hours a day, I must say that I have nothing to blog about except what's in my outline. For the purposes of this blog, I present to the world my remixed crim law MPC categories of culpability.

I am PURPOSELY not studying right now although I should be as my exam is less than 24hrs away.

I KNOW[INGLY] that if I don't start studying within the next 10 minutes I will leave the library, go home, eat and go to sleep. I am very aware that this will occur. Very aware.

I have RECKLESSLY thrown my outline, syllabus and practice exams to the side. I am consciously disregarding the risk that if I don't continue studying my grade will show.

I was NEGLIGENT[LY] earlier when I drunk three cups of coffee. A reasonable person would know that drinking so much coffee would result in a counterproductive evening. I'm guilty, I am.

I know I am a law student, but at this point I am not too sure just what kind of law student I am. Maybe I am a burned out 1L? Mistake of Fact?

Random 1L Thoughts

11/25/13 at 9:00pm

I am tired! By far the most thinking I've done in my life. One day of law school equates to an entire semester’s worth of work in undergrad. I just want to go to sleep! But sleep as a 1L= a guilty conscience. Finals are right around the corner and there is absolutely no time to waste. Every day, hour and minute counts. Time is just so precious that even taking 30 minutes to wash the dishes feels unproductive. Even writing this entry feels like a waste. However, having gone through this process for four months has taught me very valuable lessons. Furthermore, I am very confident that even at this point I can walk into a firm, governmental agency or non-profit and meet the standards. Back to the Erie Doctrine I go!

Folasade