The Best Day Of My Life

Honestly, it would be extremely difficult to identify the best day of my entire life....

Have you ever heard the phrase,"Do what makes you happy." or "I just want to be happy."

I'm guilty myself on placing limits on my own happiness. If we constantly tell ourselves we need money, a person, an award, an A on a paper, or even  materialistic items to make us happy...

Then aren't we really telling ourselves that we have no control over our own happiness?

If the best part of your day was eating pizza...THEN YOU SHOULD BE LOUD AND PROUD ABOUT THAT PIZZA!


Seriously though, what is HAPPINESS? Can you define what it means to be happy?

You choose your own happiness. Stop placing limits on what YOU WANT to be complete.

What was the best part of your day?

-Laugh so hard you pissed yourself? ( Kidding)

It's about time we start celebrating the little things that make our lives feel complete.

Not everyday is going to be the best day of our lives, but we have the choice to make it one that we'll never forget.

MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Is Someone Getting The Best Of You?

This week for my Grief and Loss class I have a huge assignment due titled the , "When I Die Folder".

One part of the assignment asks me how I wanted to be remembered.

I've been struggling with this question....

How do I wanted to be remembered? Better yet...WHO AM I?

 I hope I'm living a life where my family and friends are getting the best of ME.

It's so EASY to become distracted with work, homework, stress, worries, relationships, and money.

Ask yourself this: Would you rather play it safe or have the chance to have it all?

The BIGGEST risk I believe we could ever take is not letting others have the best of us. Even if it's one person out there in this world, I believe someone needs you in their life.

Don't forget to reach out to an old friend, or even tell someone how important they are to you in your life.

You just might realize you mean the world to someone else.

Have a good night,
Grant

Why I Feel Perfectly Imperfect

Good Evening,

Today I was in a random business office in town, and really had to use the restroom. Inside there was a picture with a quote that said...

"Life doesn't have to be perfect, to be wonderful"

I'm NOT perfect.
Some-day's I lack self-confidence.
I'm not that great of a cook.
I have a very loud laugh.
I'm not happy 100% of the time as some people believe. 
I don't come from a perfect family.
I really would like to lose some weight.
I have so many imperfections...BUT

I LOVE ME...

Do you love you?

I hope so...because you're perfectly imperfect just the way you are.

You're imperfections don't make you a better or worse person. What matters is your ability to view your imperfections as a part of who you are. That's real perfection.

Carpe Diem.
Grant Heydenreich

Why You Should Never Settle

Dear Reader,

In 2009 I made the best decision of my life. I decided I was going to attend Shippensburg University.

I moved 2 hours away from my family, friends, and the place I called HOME.

Fast forward almost seven years and I find myself in the biggest predictment of my life...

I have absolutely no clue where I am going to be or what I am going to do following my expected graduation in May.

Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the expectations we place on ourselves. We're going to make mistakes, we're going to laugh and cry, and we're going to bounce back again.

Just promise yourself one thing....

You always love yourself just as much as you love all the amazing people in your life.

Don't ever settle for what is comfortable, allow yourself to be uncomfortable and take chances in life.

The rest will be history....

Have a great Monday everyone!

Carpe Diem,
Grant

Why It's Okay To Feel Lost

Over the past few months I have been getting asked two main questions:

1.) What are your plans after graduate school?

2.) Why are you single?

Sometimes in my life I struggle with where I am at in my life, and where I expect myself to already be.

In March when I spent time in the Navajo Nation, I realized I am 100% okay with being "LOST".

If I asked you to name EVERYTHING and EVERYONE that you love in your life...

How long would it take you to say that you love yourself?????????

Being LOST doesn't mean that I'm sad, confused, or look down upon my life.

It means that I have accepted who I am, and where I am going (in which I have no clue).

I love when the sun sets because of its beauty, and because it means the day is just about over...BUT

Tomorrow is a new day :).

If you're reading this tonight I hope you can understand that it's okay to fear the unknown. Just be yourself, love yourself, and let go of expectations that are out of your control.

The rest will take care of itself.

-Grant

My Biggest Fear In Life

In 2009 I jumped out of a perfectly good plane without having EVER been on a plane in my life. Call me crazy, but it was one of the best moment of my entire life.

As children growing up we all have hopes and dreams, often denied by the realities of life.

So tonight I was in deep thought and asked myself: "What is my biggest fear in life"

My biggest fear is not failure, death, or taxes.
......My biggest fear is not living life to the fullest, or more specifically taking risks.

In the past year I have been on 2 service learning trips to Jamaica and Arizona. Their cultures and communities have really taught me the importance of loving yourself as much as you love others. It also has taught me to be more present in my life.

Short and simply, if you're reading this I hope you remember to love to the fullest extent, and be adventurous. 

Take chances, be crazy, and don't be afraid to shed a tear once in a while. That's what living is, allowing yourself to be who you are.

As I continue my journey in graduate school (expected last year), I want to remind myself and everyone else.....to keep moving and keep doing what makes you happy.

Carpe Diem,
Grant

Dreams Don't Have An Expiration Date

A few years ago I started to write blogs, particularly anything that was on my mind. Anything that I felt I wanted to express to others. I don't have any real reason on why I stopped, but I want to continue to write again. Enjoy!

When I was a freshman at Shippensburg University (August of 2009) I was sitting in my room on a Friday with no plans so I made a bucket list. To this day I still have the same list in my laptop case.

Within the past three years I have lost a lot, but I have also accomplished some dreams I never would have thought been possible in 2009.

Here are a few of my goals and dreams I have accomplished since 2009.

-In 2009 I jumped out of a plane.....yes I went skydiving!

-I was the first person in my immediate family to graduate college.

-I am the first person to ever attend Graduate school in my immediate family.

-I had the opportunity to go to the beach for the first time in my life this past June (Virgina Beach).

-In January I was the first person in my family to ever travel out of the country as I went on a service learning trip to Jamaica.

This picture is one of the first pictures I took in Jamaica. The country was beautiful, and the people were amazingly special.

You may be asking what is my purpose for writing this blog?

This isn't about me, this is about letting you know that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

It doesn't matter if it takes you 5 years or a week. If you can put your heart into something that you really care about then the possibilites are endless.

One of my favorite quotes someone told me at my internship in 2008 was

Whenever I see the word IMPOSSIBLE, I SEE THE WORDS IM POSSIBLE.

I tried keeping this short and sweet, so if there is anything you get from reading this I hope tomorrow you wake up believing in yourself.

Monday is a new day, a new opportunity, a new beginning. GO GET IT!!

-Grant