The Leaves are Still Falling

It's fall. The leaves are changing from green to yellow. Sometimes they fall.

I have been going through a mid-semester slump. My classes are getting harder, decisions are to be made, and it's cold. This blog is for those of us who have been going and going and going. This is the time to take a moment, to look at our lives and the things we've been doing. The time to change our routines and attitudes. The "you can do it when things get tuff." This blog is for me and it is for you. Below are a few things I am doing to get out of my slump.

Plan a trip. It gives you something to look forward to. Traveling is what it is, a book.

Share your passion with the world. I am attracted to people who are passionate about something. Why? Because they are happy about the little things and they love others to know what makes them happy. Do what makes you smile. "Life is short, share your passions!" Show the world how excited you are about something.

Say what you feel. Say it! For one day, say everything you would say if you weren't afraid. Sometimes in life, things could be simpler if people would share how they really feel.

Follow your dreams. If you don't feel like what you are doing is what you want to be doing, or it is not leading you to your dream then stop doing it. Part of creation comes from getting out of your head.

Last but not least, meditate. Every morning take 5-minutes to be still. To move your energy to your heart. "Energy is everything and everything is energy."-- Jay Olsen

Love Love Love,

Krystal Dey

P.S. Get out of your head and live!

Tag, Who Was I?

I've been thinking about the past and how I have changed. It's interesting to think back to who I was and the things I liked. I was awkward and silly. I made funny videos and liked Aaron Carter. I didn't text and I had no idea what Facebook was.

My friend recently posted a blog called "20 Things, Tag You're it" While answering the questions I thought about how I would have answered them eight years ago. This is a short list of what I like now.

1. Favorite TV show? Friday Night Lights "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!"

2. Song I can't stop listening to is... "And Then You" by Greg Laswell

3. Red or nude lips? Nude

4. Facebook or Twitter? Twitter, it is more fascinating

5. Gold or silver? Silver, my horseshoe necklace is gold, it's growing on me

6. Favorite fashion designer? (or clothing line) Anthropology

7. Any recent travels? I have been back from Namibia Africa for about 2 months. Maine is calling my name.

8. Makeup you can't live without? Lip gloss

9. Favorite childhood TV show? Growing Pains and Arthur

10. Straight, curly or wavy hair? Wavy

11. What were you doing a year ago from now? I was going to school and I was a student coordinator for the service council. I was learning how to break out of comfort zone. I think I did.

12. If you could live in any era, what would it be? The early 1900's. I love the idea that they wore hats! I just want to know what it would be like to kill a chicken with my hands and wear long dresses while baking bread or riding a bike.

13. Where are you from? Redmond, Utah (population 788)

14. Favorite food? Oatmeal, Swedish meatballs, grilled cheese, pancakes, and salsa

15. Makeup or fashion? Makeup, this whole fashion thing is growing on me.

16. Movie you saw most recently? Hocus Pocus

17. Nickname? DD (my middle name is Dey, pronounced Dee)

18. I'm secretly terrified of... Monkey's

19. Heels or flats? Flats

20. Favorite Website? Foodgawker What can I say, I love pretty pictures of food.

Love Love Love,

Krystal Dey

Passionate About Passionate People

I am drawn to people who have passion. Whether it's something they believe or whether it's something they like to do. I just love people who are passionate about something. Last year I met one of the most incredible human beings in the entire world and I feel like she deserves a blog post today because her passions have changed the lives around her.

At first, we were those awkward friends. We would both ask each other about our majors and siblings, you know, the small talk stuff. Today we are those best friends who stay up talking until the morning hours dreaming about the future, we talk about our fears, and we give each other advice.

Today, that very person told me she was leaving for two months to follow one of her passions. I started crying because of the fact that I won't see her for two months makes me really sad, but I cried because I am happy for her, and most of all I am proud of her.

She is one of those friends that changes your life forever! She is so passionate about life and she always stands up for what she believes in. Most of all, she goes after the things she wants in life. She is also one of those friends that hates being bragged about, so I'll wrap this up! But to that girl, you know who you are, I hope you are reading this. I will miss you dearly, please know that I have become a better person because of our friendship. I am proud of you and I love you!

Love Love Love,

Krystal Dey

P.S. Do all things with love!

P.S.S. Thank you!

C47

Today a heap of objects were placed before me. I was told told to pick up the item that best described my summer. Without hesitation, I picked up a C47. I had the most memorable summer of my life and I owe it all to the month I spent in Windhoek, Namibia.

In the film industry we call clothespins (C47's). You may think this is the perfect symbol for my study abroad summer because it was filled with digital media restoration that contained working on a documentary shoot of the 5-year program. However, the C47 reminds me of the clothesline.

One and a half weeks into the trip, on a Sunday afternoon, I shoved a pile of my clothes into the tiny washer in our kitchen. Hours later, I removed my somewhat clean clothes and hung up piece by piece with plastic C47's on the clothesline. I listened to protestors outside of the Polytech shouting their cometojesus beliefs. Before walking back inside the house, I looked up to the sky, it was cloudless and blue. At that moment, it hit me. I was in Africa.

The day before we left I did one last wash. The sky was still blue, the protestors still believed in Jesus, and I knew it was time to leave. I had done everything I wanted to do. Today I sit on my couch in Orem, my dryer is running in the background, the sky is filled with clouds. It just hit me, I am in Utah.

Desert Love and Cameras

I have no idea what to expect. This is the moment I have been waiting for since my first week at UVU. It was welcome week and I walked around the courtyard following around my sister, TeAnna. Having the traveling bug, she walked to the Study Abroad Booth. I followed. After giving information to my sister the man turned to me and asked me what my major was. I laughed as I told him Digital Media followed by an excuse of "you wouldn't have anything for that." He replied by handing me a piece of paper with the words "Namibia Africa" scribbled across the top. I gasped.

You see, it wasn't the first time I had thought about going to Africa. Years earlier I joked around with my sisters about the craziest places we could travel to that would give my parents anxiety. The only destinations I actually remember are my dad traveling to space and as for me, I would go to Africa. My mom hated the idea of my dad going to space much more than the idea of me going to Africa.

Since that moment I made it my goal to travel to Africa. I had no idea what my purpose in going to this continent would be, I just knew I wanted to go. Call it fate, or the stars had aligned just right, call it whatever you want, but when I took the paper from the man at the booth, the universe was telling me it had listened, and now it was up to me to make it happen.

Flash forward 8 years...At this very moment I am making a new playlist called, "Desert Love and Cameras" for a 15-hour flight. Because tomorrow I fly to Africa.

I have no idea what to expect and I am in love with the idea of the unknown. I know I am going with a purpose. The best part is I get to use my passion for storytelling by filming, documenting stories, and by teaching. Although, I have a feeling my purpose is much much more than storytelling.

Love Love Love,

Krystal Dey

P.S. I will keep you updated along the way and thank you for taking this journey with me.

P.S.S. I love you

P.S.S.S What are you shouting out to the universe?

Like Me

The nightmare-- they walk like me, talk like me, listen to the music I listen to, wear what I wear. It stemmed from my youth when all the "cool" kids were wearing Hollister and American Eagle. I couldn't even step inside the stores because I had a fear of being like every other person in my little town.

In the end I have realized that I am indeed like everyone else.That is society for you. But I am an individual. I have my life and I live it the way I want to. I like what I like not because other people like it, but because I like it.

I am coming into my own. I am growing up. I am Krystal.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

P.S. Impressionism

Grape Popsicles

I have a fear of moving forward and losing who I used to be. I'm afraid of love because I'm afraid of loss.

I use the word "friend" loosely because I like connecting with people.

I am attracted to music and people who are genuine.

I like to memorize popular rap songs, but prefer boy meets guitar. Girl listens on the grass.

The other day I introduced my old life to my new life and it wasn't scary.

I am a better version of who I used to be.

Beyonce just told CNN to "continue to work hard and not give up on my dreams....with hard work and a goal, love and positivity we'll be fine." There ya have it. Thank you B!

LOVE LOVE LOVE,

Krystal Dey

P.S.