Looking Back; A Reminder

On October 4th, 2009 at 2:29 PM I began this blog. Today, September 15, 2011 I went back and read nearly every post. 

I had been thinking a lot about some things and needed to go back and reference some dates. Well that mission turned into some homesickness towards my beloved high school marching band, so I read many of those band related posts. This mission resulted in looking back at posts that really show who I was, who I have become and how that all happened.

It is so interesting to dwell on that. How different I was, what I've done, what I've worried about, what I've enjoyed, what I've struggled with, what I've thought. Noticing little changes in my thinking, temperament, and overall life. I have developed in how I view people, how I feel about many topics and my confidence in my beliefs and feelings is so much stronger now.

Some things still remain the same though. My writing style has always been the way it is now. I use lists, metaphors, hypothetical situations and cliches ALWAYS. I guess that gives my writing it's own little personality though. I'm a Music Ed. Major! What does it matter anyway? (That was some of my 'grown up' college sarcasm for ya!).

While many things changed, the things that remained the same and just became stronger and more confident grew even more after reading. Going back and looking at my life is a reminder of who I am and who I have become. I forget and lose myself in the rush of life and whatever my current problem or struggle is. It is the little reminders like this that I need to bring back my confidence in who I am:


1. Sarah Elizabeth Shively
2. Christian
3. Daughter and Sister
4. Friend
5. Musician
6. Student


I am driven, strong, loving, confident, organized, fun-loving, talented, passionate, and now that I remember that, I do no plan on forgetting it and I am going to take on the world... But first I'm going to take on my Music Theory homework....

And in case my plan goes astray and I do forget a bit of myself, that's what this blog is for. Take that for writing motivation!

"Here I go, and there's no turning back, my great adventure has begun!

I may be small, but I've got giant plans, to shine as brightly as the sun.

I will blaze until I find my time and place, I will be fearless! surrendering modesty and grace.

I will not disappear without a trace. 

I'll shout and start a riot, be anything but quiet. Christopher Columbus, I'll be Astonishing.

Astonishing.

ASTONISHING...AT LAST."

- Jo March, Little Women the Musical

(Somehow this Musical has meant so much to me in every situation)

Call Me Emotional But...

There is something about marching in my college band and not with my Tiger Band family that stirs up swelling emotion inside of me.
I sat in the bleachers at our first performance today, thought back on competitions before and looked down at my red uniform. All I could think was that I wished it was the purple and white I'd worn before. Thinking about the love I have for the family that gave me my first 4 years of musical experience, I teared up. Right there in all of the excitement and fun, I just teared up and thought back on the group I love so dearly.
I went to a Tigers game last weekend too. Watching the show was cool, hugging old friends was great, but the rain drove the band inside and I followed. They began to play pep tunes as loud as they could in the cement tunnel rousing up the student section. It was little spontaneous moments and memories like that I miss so much. Once again, amidst excitement, I began to cry.
I don't understand how I can adjust so well to school, and not feel one bit of homesickness, but once I'm in a band rehearsal here, a new form of home sickness happens and I can't help but wish my High School director was up on the tower, and I was amidst a sea of purple, not red.
Now before someone here at school gets upset, I don't have anything against this college band, it just isn't my family, or a replacement for my family. I can say, "maybe one day", but right now that seems impossible. The Tiger Band is my band family; past, present, and future.

Back Again.... I Hope.

This happens so often, I go on a blogging kick and write almost daily, and then I forget about it for a month or two. And here I am back again with the desire to write.
Ironically enough, I want to write about cycles.
 I feel like there are so many cycles in our lives that never change. Some cycles provide good routine and create good habits, but sometimes cycles have a negative hold on us.
Sometimes the mundane and usual cycles in life bore us. Other times we get too comfortable with a cycle and we become too afraid to break free and try new things. The worst scenario is when you are stuck in a cycle that is a constant movement from positive to negative and you have no clue as to how to get out. You know you should and would love to break free of the cycle, but you just don't know how to go about that. I guess it takes a lot of effort, thought, and prayer to find your way out of cycles like that.

Well, we'll see if I can break this cycle of writing-not writing-writing-not writing-...etc. as well as some others.