as greta, she writes

Thrifting is not only a hobby of mine but now an ethical choice. My thrifting journey started in the fourth grade; which seems early considering the modern image of a person who thrifts is just a hipster. Well, for my family, thrifting was a primary means of saving money. I distinctly remember happily arriving at the local Goodwill with my mother to go shopping. Even then, the hunt for a cool new dress or shoes was something that excited me. However, the excitement didn’t last long as I entered middle school the following year. I was a student in one of the richest towns in Oregon: Happy Valley. Surrounding me were the newest Uggs, Juicy Couture and any other brand you could find at Nordstrom. I soon learned that when a friend asked me where I got my top, it was in my best interest to respond with a brand name, and not “Goodwill.” As time went on, I matured and became more secure in myself. I found friends who loved my style, and who would join me at my usual thrift shops. I started to take pride in the unique pieces I collected secondhand. I started to post my outfits on Instagram, some of the pieces I had sewn and altered to be my own. Of course, it's now years later and thrifting is far from embarrassing. I would argue someone who thrifts now are received by others as interesting, and cool. I’m thankful for this change because it promotes individuality, living within one’s means, and shopping sustainably. At the same time that secondhand clothes are trending, so is “fast fashion.” Stores like Forever 21 and online retailers like Shein offer trendy clothes for an extremely affordable price, however, it promotes a culture of waste. This clothing is not made to last more than a few wears, prompting the consumer to throw it out and buy new soon after getting it- shortening the life cycle of clothing substantially. In contrast, new clothing lines like Reformation focus their brand on being sustainable in every way possible. The caveat, of course, is the price. I wish nothing more but to purchase something from Reformation, but it's simply not in my budget. I hope that in the future all brands, from affordable to high-end, make sustainable business practice a priority. I hope even more than I can be a part of it.

I recently stumbled upon an essay I wrote in middle school that was submitted anonymously to our school’s book titled, This I Believe. I read it today proud of the courage it took me to write it at that time and of how far I’ve come since then. Although extremely personal, I’ve decided to share it now, unedited from when I wrote it six years ago. 

Maktub: It is written

From The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, “Don’t forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else. And don’t forget the language of the omens. And, above all, don’t forget to follow your Personal Legend through to its conclusion.”

During my winter break from school this year, I decided to re-read The Alchemist. This time around, I decided to annotate as I went. I don’t often have the attention to revisit a book I’ve already read before, but this story proved to be as exciting as it was upon first discovery. 

The messages within this book couldn’t have been read at a more vital point in my life. I started my break with the dooming conclusion that I need to re-take an accounting course I had slaved over for the past three months. Confidence in my ability to persevere, in my level of intelligence, and what I wanted out of college or a career was at an all-time low; I considered those things to be completely broken within myself. 

After reading about the shepherd boy and his journey to find the treasure that had spoken to him in his dreams, I have gained new perspectives I hope to carry with me. 

As I take the steps to explore the path I’m on and the opportunities of others, I want to listen to the feeling inside myself to guide me. I am tired of explaining away the omens to justify the future I’ve held onto for reasons unknown but largely influenced by outside perspectives other than my own. Instead, I’ll seek to discover the path I believe to be written for me by God.

I don’t expect the answers to appear in front of me as magically as they did for the boy in the book, but maybe if I open up my heart and faith wide enough, they will reveal themselves to me in one way or another.

You can rest now. 

Week 4 of fall term and I need to pause. Life feels as though it hasn’t stopped recently, and there’s one thing that always makes me feel like I can slow time and breathe. I call it my “zen recipe.”

Clean face

Favorite face mask: Lush “Mask of Magnaminty”

Hair up, headband on

Yogi “Bedtime” Tea

Pucker up and slather on Aquaphor 

J.R. Watkins Lavender Body Oil Spray

Rose facial mist (once face mask is removed)

Lush “Sleepy” body lotion

Journal

Thankful of a little place to call my own.

The start of life in a sorority house this week has been something I’ve been looking forward to. So far, adjusting has been surprisingly difficult, but filled with positive interactions to counteract moments of unease. I’m confident that as the school year begins, relationships will only continue to grow and be shaped in ways I can’t predict. There’s something really special when a large group of women, all similar in values yet each differentiated in their personalities, can thrive cohesively. 

My Favorite At-Home Breakfast

As move-in day is approaching, I wanted to utilize this week to do some serious organizing. Starting with my closet, I categorized by seasons, type, and items to be donated. Among those to be donated were my old tees collected from regattas over the years. As much as it hurt my heart to see them go, I’ve been lugging them from place to place with no wear for far too long. I figured taking pictures of my favorites would be just as memorable as keeping them locked away in the back of my closet. 

These shirts reminded me much of what rowing gave me, and how I missed it. Reflecting on this today, I wish there was a way I could still keep it a part of my life without the immense time commitment it calls for. Before rowing, I had never competed in a sport as mentally and physically exhausting - and I’ve tried just about every sport. As much as muscular and cardiovascular endurance plays a role in being a successful rower, so does the mental capability of hitting a stroke rate, maintaining rhythm, and not allowing the body to break before the finish line. 

I find rowing to be so powerful in the way it requires how strong a team has to be together. I never got the sense there is an MVP in this sport. In other words, even though a team mate might have a faster split than me, we were all equally necessary to have in our seat to win. If one person is not pulling their weight (quite literally), the rest of us feel it and have to compensate. If one person looses rhythm, it could set the others off in the boat similar to a domino effect. Each seat has purpose, equally important. The front seats set the pace, middle seats are the powerhouses, and seats to the rear carry the balance. Even the coxswain, could arguably be the most valuable because they have so many details on their plate to manage. Knowing we were all in the “same boat”, all working towards a common direction, only makes this sport more valuable to those playing it. 

There are days where I look for peace, and my mind takes me back to memories of morning practices and perfect races. I can feel the send of the boat under me after each push of my legs, accompanied with a grunt in unison with my crew. I can hear the click of the ores when they hit our abdomens, immediately followed by the silence over the water as we glide to our next position. These moments are so serene, and often helped me overcome whatever internal battle I was fighting that day.

I am not a person who can remember specific moments in my life well. I’m usually the type who can recall a vague time or place only with fuzzy details. But this moment I remember very clearly; I had hit the split time my coach set for me at the beginning of the season, and the fastest time for me yet. Starting out with my power 20′s to set the pace, I didn’t think I could hold onto it for 2,000 meters. Midway, I wanted to stop. I wanted to slow, give my legs and heart a break. My coach, Kenzie noticed. She came over to me and spoke to me for the remainder of the race. She held me accountable and believed I would do it. I watched the meters count down to 0 with my goal split stuck on the screen. I was so overcome with relief and happiness I felt tears start to build up behind my eyes. In that moment I had truly experienced what it meant to work hard for reward.