"SANTA!!! I Know Him!"

Well, dear friends, it is Christmas, and it is what we call "the most wonderful time of the year!"

Christmas holds a special place in each and every one of our hearts because it is one of the most fantastic traditions we pass on from generation to generation. As kids, we were in awe of Santa Claus - he was just about the coolest person in the whole world to us. As adults, we are inspired each and every year when we see just how excited these kids get over this jolly red-clad man.

Just about two weeks ago, I had the great honor of helping out Santa himself during an event SLU held for underprivileged kids in the Saint Louis area. We had a Christmas Carnival that ended with Santa Claus comin' to town and giving out toys donated by the SLU community. My job was to dawn my elf hat and Christmas jacket and assume the identity of "The Elf Enforcer". Essentially, I just talked to kids as they waited to see Santa. What at first seemed to be a tiring and mundane task, later turned out to be a real eye-opener. I was amazed that these kids were literally jumping and screaming over the simple thought that I had rode to the event form The North Pole in The Sleigh. The absolute last thing on their minds was the toy they would soon find under the wrapping. Each and every child that came up had a series of questions for me about The North Pole and my job, and each time that I answered one, they all jumped for joy. They asked questions like, "If elves are so small, how can they make such big toys?" or, "Who is Santa's great great great great great grandfather?" or my favorite, "If I was naughty, but I asked for coal... then Santa HAS to give me something else, right?"

What mattered to these kids the most was the idea that there was actually a person out there who, against all odds, cared for them and would always be good to them. They didn't care as much about the physical gifts that Santa would bring them... simply the fact that there is a person who watches over them and rewards them for that which often goes unseen. That, my friends, is the spirit of Christmas.

Many of you today would say, "that's nice and all, but Santa isn't actually real, so those warm thoughts won't do much for me." Well, that may be true, but it depends on how you see Santa. What if Santa exists in a way other than what we normally think of? What if he isn't a jolly man in a red suit, but really, he's our conscience? What if that drive to do good and care for others that we get during this season is Santa? I say to all of you - Santa is as real as it gets. He lives in each of our hearts and reminds us that Christmas is about taking the gift of life that Jesus gave us and sharing it with others. It's not about the gifts we get or the money we spend this year, it's about taking time out of our busy scheduled to let each other know that the greatest gift we have is the gift of being there for each other.

I'm Not Fearless, but Dammit, I Am Wearing Brave Socks Right Now!

It's the middle of finals week for many of us, and there is no doubt a lot of stress in our worlds.  I know that much is true for me - I am freaking out about what grades I'll bring home and all the stuff that I have to complete... and yet, I am amazed by the fact that a whole semester of college has already gone by. The college transition has definitely been hard, but at this point, I must admit that there are people here that I care about. Now, that being said, my single greatest fear is that time will pass faster than my dreams will be able to be accomplished. As I reflect on this semester, at first, I feel like it was time wasted. I didn't do anything worth writing home about, and I surely didn't change the world in any way... or at least, it seemed that way at first.

Fears have this cunning ability to blind us of that which we have accomplished. We need to learn to see past that. While I may not have become a famous speaker, or started a movement to change the world, I made an impact at this school. There are people who know me and believe in me and, respectively, there are people who I now know and believe in too. Look at yourself - maybe you have met a great friend, or maybe you've declared a major, or maybe you've gotten involved with something you never saw coming. What I am saying is - don't let your doubts cloud your vision and prevent you from seeing the small (but good!) steps you are taking.

Fear is just an emotion - an emotion that means you care. If you have a dream - follow it. Anything that makes you uneasy - know that you only feel this way because it's something you care about. Nothing worth getting comes without a fight. Now is the time that we are young, now is the time that you can make mistakes. You are never going to get anywhere worth going without taking a leap of faith. Even if you fail, I guarantee that you will still learn something new. Think about it - in one semester you have been immersed into an entirely new life. You are in charge of every aspect of your life, away from almost everyone you spent everyday with in high school. Despite the massive amounts of new responsibilities, you found the time to make friends and do well in school. That is a lot to say for just one semester! But we don't see that because we let the fear of not fitting in or failing block us from seeing the blessings that are at work right in front of us.

Take each day as an opportunity to chip away the fears you have so you can work to form that life that will one day be the manifestation of your dreams.

Thank God for All I Missed, 'Cause It Lead Me Here to This

It's been said many times that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is not a single statement that I agree with more. There is never a reason for one to cut themselves short because they don't meet someone else's standards. I have already touched on this idea of "those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind", so this time, I'd like to talk more about living your life regardless of your "shortcomings."

Yesterday, a friend of mine at SLU and I were talking, and she said something along the lines of, "You have these insecurities that everyone has... but instead of letting them hold you back, you walk confidently knowing you're a man of God." That was quite possibly the best compliment I'd ever received in my life. I've often been one to accepts complements with a "thanks, but no I'm not _______", but the essence of these words made me realize that I wasn't being fair to myself. If I am going to beat myself up over the parts of me I don't like, then I owe myself to at least accept the parts of me that others like.

God has gifted me with these qualities that are hard for me to accept because those parts give me depth, make me interesting, give me passion! Be proud of the things that others don't have the courage to be proud of, and you will have the courage to overcome the things others cannot overcome.

I may not be as fit as a fiddle, I may not be the next Damian McGinty, and I most certainly may not be a Victoria Secret model... but one day, I may be a speaker, I might meet the girl of my dreams, I'll hopefully get the honor of raising a wonderful family, and I will definitely get to share the greatest moments of my life with my outstanding friends, family, and people I care about. What more reason do I need to walk tall? If, in my life, I can make my parents proud and help my friends accomplish their dreams... then I will have led an amazing life.

God's love for you does not come from how well you dress, how skinny you are, or how talented you are. His love stems from the love we give to others. Have you ever noticed that when we discuss God, we never comment on His looks or His talents? When God does something amazing (i.e. a miracle), he does that by blessing us with his pure and holy love. We are made in His image and He has taught us how to accomplish amazing feats - simply act out of love.

Do yourself a favor, and strive for joy, not perfection. Because, unlike perfection, you can share joy with others!

You Are Amazing... Just the Way You Are

You don't need any excuses to be yourself - remember that.

When you describe someone you know, what do you say about them? Do you say what ethnicity they are? Skin color? Sexual orientation? Things about their external appearance? While it's true that each of these aspects differentiate us from others, none of them make us any better than anyone else. I'm no saint, and there are times when I say things about people that I am downright ashamed of. But I could never imagine the feeling of directly tearing someone down day by day.

What is it that motivates others to take it upon themselves to try to openly harm someone? Are your own insecurities so difficult to handle that you take them out on others? To those who try to hurt others - you are the weakest of them all. To those who take the beating and get back up - your strength can move mountains, and you will one day change the world. 

As you read this, I ask of you one thing: anywhere you go, make it a point to stop others from hurting others. I'm not asking you to be perfect - you might slip up and spread a little gossip, or put someone down without even realizing it. Those things will happen. But please, never allow yourself to attack someone with the intent of harming them. Your words may gratify you now, but the scars you leave on that very individual will stay with them, and will come back to haunt you later. 

As a community, we need to reach out to each other and let each other know how much love we have to give. Bullying is a terrible act that blind kids of the love that is offered to them. It needs to end, and it needs to end now. While there are efforts to snuff out bullying, they appear far too rarely. When someone hurts them self or when tragedy strikes, we react instantly - and yet, on a daily basis, when this occurs all around us... even the best of us simply stand by and watch. 

God loves you more than you could possibly ever come close to knowing. Imagine the absolute deepest love a human can feel... God's love exceeds that love millions of times over. You are a result of His love for the world. In your lowest of moments, always remember that He has a plan for you and He will lead you step by step. Your actions, believe it or not, are changing the world. YOU are making an impact! It's our duty as children of God to shows this limitless love to each other - not to hurt each other. Think long and hard about this love... it gives you meaning and purpose in life, and it's what will drive you for all of your days. To quote one of my biggest inspirations, I say to you, "You've found your purpose, now make your difference!" 

Spread love.

You Raise Me Up... To More Than I Can Be!

Friends. I owe my life and my world to my friends. And while I could easily write a novel about the impact every single one of them have had on my life, I'm not going to talk about anyone in particular. I want to talk, or rather write, about the idea of support.

Support is the single most important part of our lives. I believe that to be a fact. I can confidently say that the times in my life when I am most happy are the times I have my friends by my side. Nothing is easy (at least nothing worth doing is) and often you will fall down, but I promise it is worth it to get back up again. And I guarantee there is someone there to lend you a hand.

Many have heard me say this before, but I'll say it again. I am most thankful for those moments in my life where things were most difficult and when I was at my lowest. Because it is in those moments that I have turned to my friends for help to pick myself up and truly learn something about life. 


It's amazing how much we allow what others say to us affect us. Why do the thoughts of someone who plays no role in our lives torment us the most? In the past, it was the words of others, and the manifestations in my head that came of them, that led me to my most dark and deep places.

I am no stranger to letting what others say get to me. In fact, I spent the better half of my life letting that define me. And no matter what kind and loving words my friends threw in my direction, I refused to accept them as true. I could never expect them to prove to me that their loving words were true without first opening myself to love. Friends, it is too easy for us to think no one loves us, and to think that we are alone in this world. But I say to you: you are more deeply and truly loved than you will ever know. All of you are reading this: I know of at least one person who would go to moon and back for you. Look around... I promise you will find the face of love - the face of God - in your friends and family. Even those who have hurt you, or who you have hurt... reach out to them! Words fade, but relationships last for eternity. You have the ability to reach out, to trust, to LIVE - but you can't do it alone.

It's not possible to be yourself without someone to be yourself with. How can you portray yourself if you have no one to show it to?

I am telling you - take this time to let your friends know that you love them, you need them, and, most importantly, that you are there for them. Life isn't worth living if you don't have people to share it with. I would rather spend all my bad days alone if I knew that I could share my best days with those that I love!

You Wanna Be... A Loser Like Me!

"I'm proud to be different. It's the best thing about me." -- Kurt Hummel

"The only life worth living is one that you're really passionate about." -- Emma Pillsbury

"There's not much of a difference between a stadium full of cheering fans and an angry crowd screaming abuse at you. They're both just making a lot of noise. How you take it is up to you. Convince yourself they're cheering for you. You do that, and some day they will." -- Sue Sylvester

...And With Your Spirit?

Tonight was my first Advent Mass and I really enjoyed it. The words were different, but the core felt the same. I learned a lot today listening... it was as if I was experiencing the message of the mass for the first time again. In the reading and the homily, three key ideas of Christianity were discussed: faith, charity, and hope.

It became clear to me that these are three links that create relationships for us. We use faith to create a relationship with God, charity to create a relationship with others, and hope to create a relationship with our selves. It was amazing to look closer at all of the things that connect us - we are all actually children of God. When God sent His only son down to save us, we all became sons and daughters of the Lord. God's love for us knows no bounds, no matter when we accept the invitation to be one of his children. Just as a parent will love both their biological and adopted children equally, God will love us all the same.

The most interesting point of these three forms of relationship is that no one can exist with out the other. To have faith in God, we must have hope in our selves and in our vocation. To be charitable to others, we must have faith that God made us all in His image and we must respect each other. Finally, to have hope in our selves, we must trust in the love and charity others offer our way.

I beleive faith is something that we can invite each other to - but one needs to make the conscious decision to join in themselves. There is nothing else in the world like it. Can you name a single place that accepts you no matter what you've done, or who you are? I can think of only one, and it is the church!

But if That Light Is Under a Bushel... It's Lost Something Kind of Crucial

My story is a simple one. Like most kids who aren't built like the typical jock, I experienced hardship growing up. I wasn't "normal", and because of this, I was “bullied”. I use this word sparingly, because what I went through was typical "nothing", similar to what happens in today's world. It was never in large ways. Kids called me "fat" and made fun of my voice... nothing you haven’t heard before. While there is no doubt that their words hurt, what hurt worse was the self-image I was creating for myself. I believed everything they said and held it against myself for years.

There are two reasons why I have such strong feelings on this topic: the first being that the pressure people put on me to be "normal" led me to experience the things I now love, and the second being that once I gained that confidence, I used it as a tool to suppress the act of bullying anywhere else in my life. By the time I had reached my junior year in high school, I was sure of myself. I had insecurities, but I wasn't going to let anyone attack me because they couldn't handle their own insecurities. Seeing others and myself in this way allowed me to begin to look at myself in a way I never had before. I realized that I have a gift to offer the world. No matter who judges me or what they judge me for, as long as I stay true to myself, nothing can stop me.

 I am writing this now because I want to spread this message across the world. I want people to know that faith in yourself can offset all harm others send your way. I want to share this so I can inspire other young kids to begin to love themselves. It’s crucial that we teach the new generation that whoever they are is who they are meant to be. We need to teach kids that even though media glorifies beauty and talent... personality, courage and dedication can change the world!

Why does society glorify beauty and talent? While it’s true that both of those things are gifts in and of themselves, they are not what we should use to define the people we hold in high regard. If personality, courage, and dedication are what will change the world, then we need to begin to emphasize that when we evaluate others. We need to teach the world that each and every person has the potential to start something great.

There's a Spark in You...

It's not uncommon for someone to sell themself short. That's a fact of life. And yet, too often are the blessings in our lives overlooked. Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on the feeling that consumes you when you witness something amazing? Just the other day, I saw a video where a child, after being injured in a major accident that left him unable to use his legs, learned to walk again for the first time. I felt warmth overtake my body. The boy in that video expressed the most genuine form of joy after being able to walk again, and I still find time to complain that I've had a cough for a week. Why is it that, as a society, we fail to see the absurdity in that?

If you never see anything in life as a guarantee, I promise it'll be much easier to be thankful for the gifts in your life. It's simple, but I believe the key to happiness is awareness - even in the darkest of times, something in your life is still a light.

A Start of Something

I've made the decision to start a blog. I don't really like the word "blog" as I feel like it has a bad connotation... but hey, what are you going to do? Really the point of this "blog" is for me to express my opinions about life and how one should go about the craziness that it entails. As I said, these are only opinions. I have no place to assume anything that I say has more value than anyone else. That being said, I also hope that whoever reads this really takes into consideration the topics that are to be discussed. The things I say won't be flawless... even as I write, I am teaching myself new things. I simply want to encourage people to reflect on the way they take in each and every moment of this grand journey we call life.

You've been called by name by God to incite a change in the world. My only hope is that you truly plan to do so.