Why Eminem's Lyrics Perfectly Describe My Blood Donation Experience

This past Saturday I made a decision, one that I've been thinking about for years. I was going to donate blood. The past several times I tried, I was turned down. I had been to Europe back to back years in high school and then Belize - which meant I had to wait a few years until I was eligible. Then it slipped my mind for a few years until my mom underwent a massive surgery - again, I wasn't able to. About a month or so ago a blood drive came to my office, I thought I would finally be able to go for it! But, I had been sick that week on antibiotics and was turned away.

This past week my mom opened the paper and read that there was a national blood shortage and the blood drive was in need of donors. She made the suggestion that I was healthy, I hadn't left the country and now would be a good time - so we drove to the Mundelein Fire Department, hesitant to roll up my sleeve, but I FINALLY did it!

And in case you read about my interview in the paper.... let me give you a better quote than the one I gave the journalist. 

I wanted to help in a way that was different than the 2 mission trips I've been on, the countless community service projects I've helped plan or the times that I've spent volunteering with multiple organizations. I wanted to help save lives the best way I knew how, similar to how someone saved one of my own family member's life.

I was scared. I hate needles. And blood. When all three of those things are in the mix, let's just say, I'm not the most articulate. So, as the reporter was taking photos of me with a needle in my arm, I was less than my photogenic self (aka no leaning here).

When she asked, "what advice would you give a first time blood donor?" All I could utter was, "bring your mom." Right as the words left my mouth, I knew I could have taken that moment, used the platform given to me, to potentially make someone else change their mind about donating. But, I didn't. I didn't seize the moment, the opportunity or even Eminem's advice in Lose Yourself when he sings, 

"Look, if you had one shot [ I literally had one shot], or one opportunity

To seize everything you ever wanted [to share why donating blood is important]. one moment

Would you capture it or just let it slip?

YO

His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy ...

He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready"

I totally let it slip, sorry EM. 

In February of 2014 I attended a business expo in Jacksonville, Illinois. This photo is what I was told my blood type is: 

According to the American Red Cross, O+ donors' red cells could potentially be transfused to anyone who has a positive blood type (that's 85 percent of the population).

This information, the need for donors and my own family member who needed a blood transfusion, were all factors calling me to action.

As I was giving blood, a former high school teacher was there as well, the Mundelein Fire Chief and community members I never met were all cheering for me. It was feeling I can't explain, but giving back in a way that can save a life is one everyone should experience. 

Check out this link to find out where you can find the next blood drive. 

All in all, the bruise will fade and I'm so glad I was finally able to participate! 

Oh how my life plans have changed

As I'm sitting here at 11:30 at night I can only think of a few things, none of which were on my mind six months ago, let alone nine months ago when I graduated from college. As a wide-eyed soon to be college graduate I was more than excited to finish my senior year with a bang and move onto bigger and better things. I always knew that moment would come when my name would be called and I would walk across that stage, accept my college diploma and get a "big kid job" (after all that IS why I went to college, right?!) It wasn't that simple and it still isn't. I can remember it like it was yesterday, I was sitting in the hallway of my dorm a few weeks before graduation talking to my roommate - then all of a sudden it hit me like a brick from the ceiling.. I was about to graduate college and had NO idea of what I was going to do next. I started freaking out. It happened slowly, I started to panic, the walls started closing in and I felt like I couldn't breathe. For a second,I laughed about it, but then I started crying. And I don't mean crying like I did when I realized the Golden Girls ended after season seven, I mean bawling like a child who didn't get an ice cream cone in Disney World on the hottest day in August. My roommate tried to calm me down, but then it got worse. My neighbors all of a sudden started appearing from no where and before I knew it, I was surrounded by some of my dearest friends. They all sat down with me and poured their support, expressing that I was going to be alright and that everything would play out as it should. Looking back on this moment I'm incredibly grateful, but I also find it funny. It's funny how I was so scared of the future, finding a job and thinking about where I would end up after I graduated. It's funny how at that moment, the walls were closing in, the ceiling was falling and my life seemed like it was over before I even knew it started. My goals were to simply graduate and just take a lot of photos. Now, it's been nine months and not much has changed besides my goals (and maybe the fact that I'm living with my parents).

Here is a small run down of how things have changed:

1. I want less than 50 emails in all four email accounts I use
       I'm down to 7,510 emails from over 10,000 in one account.. I have a LONG ways to go

2. I want to wake up not being tired
       I used to be able to stay up until 2 AM every night, wake up at 9 AM and be ready to take over
       the world. Now, I can barely stay up until 11 (tonight is unusual)

3. I was always game for any social function, party, get-together or outing (alcohol or not) - now        I'm just interest in if there will be snacks

4.  Golden Girls & I Love Lucy were on a constant repeat - Now, I brush my teeth, put on make             up and get dressed to watching CNN

5. I used to think my parents were incredibly boring. They went to work, came home, made dinner then watched the news - and now, I'm not much better...

6. A filter was not really something I had - now I bite my tongue more than I actually speak

As I write this, my boyfriend asked, "what is the next step in your life, where do you want to go from here?" This question made me stop in my tracks and really think of how to answer. Where do I want to be? Where am I going? And to be completely honest, I'm no where near the end. I have a better idea of where I'm going than I did the night I was crying in the middle of my dorm hallway. There's a better grasp on what I want, but I'm not there yet. When I think about it, it would be unfair to say exactly what I want or where I'm going, because that road hasn't been discovered. I'm not sure where I'm going, but I'm excited for the ride ahead and I promise to tweet about it.

xoxo