My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Confession: I was kind of hoping nobody would nominate me for the ALS ice bucket challenge. Not because I am a girly girl that doesn’t want a bucket of ice on me, but because I felt very ignorant to what ALS even was and how it impacts people. And then I would be pressured into donating.

Then I was nominated.

I felt conflicted in different ways. When I was nominated, it felt as though people were posting the videos because everyone else was doing it. It was the “cool” thing. Or people did it as a way to look good. Some even were doing it because they had the notion if you did it, it would mean you didn’t have to donate. My friend explained, that’s not the point. You should donate anyway. I also wondered what people would think if I never did post a video. Would people think I was a bad person? Would anyone even notice? It’s crazy how self-conscious people can when it comes to a subject as this.

So I decided to open my eyes and ears and learn. I have read people’s opinions of the movement, watched videos of others, and I wanted to learn what in the world this ALS even is. To my knowledge, I haven’t had a close family member or friend suffer from it. I didn’t have a personal connection. I finally stumbled upon a video that enlightened me. The one made by a man who was recently diagnosed with it and has a mother who has it as well. I finally felt emotionally invested. I also learned that a favorite teacher and mentor of mine at Emporia State had a husband who passed away from it.

Something Emporia State taught me outside of the classroom was the value of giving back. More and more I see the importance of it. As I have been trying to raise money for my journey to Miss Kansas USA, I have become more aware of myself and find myself trying to find ways to give back in ways I can here and there. I have been one lucky girl that have received many opportunities and help especially in my college career. So I want to do the same for others. 

So here I am.

This is my ice bucket challenge. I am going to donate to the Kenna Reeves team to support the Emporia Area Walk to Defeat ALS. I challenge my communication family to consider doing the same! You can access it here: http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/KeithWorthington?team_id=278554&pg=team&fr_id=10159

I may not have just poured ice over my head, but I felt like a cold person as I had made the confession in the first paragraph. I also wanted to do something different and in a way I am passionate. I wanted to write. 

I will be submitting my donation online tomorrow when I get paid. J

Sparkle&Shine.

Rachel 

Kenna Reeves and I 

The Darkness

The Darkness

The darkness with all the lights off

won’t cover me up and the words

I want to say to you.

Even if I’m inches from your lips,

the air I breathe into you won’t tell you either.

I can hear the silence rooting for me to do it.

My chest is sitting on my heart.

The words, so big, they can barely make it

through the lungs catching my breath.

Your kisses are coaxing my words to come out.

To let you know I like you.
They tell you, I like you.

...

Sparkle&Shine.

Rachel

Rachel Nicole Marshall

Hi, my name is Rachel Nicole Marshall and I got a picture with Rachel Nicole Marshall. I am not typing about a selfie either.

Confused?

In March 2007, I was 15 and received a messaged randomly on Facebook by Rachel Marshall. She told me that we have the “same government name.” Even down to our middle name. Spelled the same too. She was 18 at the time.

Over time, we have had fun telling each other “happy birthday” on Facebook, getting confused when we like each other’s stuff, letting others think we like our own things, and completely getting people mixed up when we start commenting on each other’s posts back and forth. It doesn’t help that we resemble each other, both sporting brunette hair and gracing brown eyes. Not to mention about the same body shape too. She is from Michigan and we have gone all these years as “Facebook friends.” We finally met this week for the first time 7 years later and I guess you can say we are actually friends without Facebook tacked before it. She was in town for a business trip and asked me if I would be willing to finally meet. Both of us, I think deep down wondered if we were actually who we say we are online. Because, you know, that is a thing.

I would have to say it was an amazing experience to see her in person for the first time and not in a picture online. We sat at Chicago’s bar, had a drink, and just chatted. And it didn’t feel weird. We even tried to have fun and show people our I.D.’s because we thought it was cool. And who would have thought that we also share an addiction and love for nail polish? She organizes hers too!

As we sat there chatting, we had to marvel at the world and how fascinating social media can be and how it can bring two strangers like us together. And even more; two girls who share such a big part of our identities, our full names.

I am glad I was able to finally meet Rachel Marshall. I feel like we are connected in a way. Kind of like sisters somehow; awkwardly. And I am confident we will keep up on each other’s lives through Facebook just as we have done all these years. :)

Never a dull moment.

Sparkle & Shine,

Rachel Nicole Marshall

Mean

It feels as though I escaped middle school and high school with mild bullying, mean girls, and drama. There were some and it probably felt big at the time, but mostly, I feel pretty lucky that it wasn’t worse then. It was the last couple years of college that I actually felt like I had a target on me and I had a hard time coping with it at first. I was living the single life, experiencing some success, and I felt pretty exposed in all sorts of ways. My life was now out there and free to judge. People made negative comments about certain blog posts I had written and others had made jabs at me personally in organizations. I overheard insults and I had friends flat out tell me specific people didn’t like me. An article I had written for my opinion column caused a pretty big stir too. I had actually stood up for myself and others like me. But not everyone liked it. The biggest common denominators though have been the fact that they are usually girls and they don't know me personally. Some never even had a conversation with me. Which is crazy to think you could evoke strong emotions from someone without saying a word.

I have let it hurt my feelings. I cried. I’ve even sometimes looked at my success as a negative thing. I remember moping around my apartment one Sunday afternoon. And I remember talking to my sister about it and her telling me, well you know, you should expect it when you put yourself out there like that. It was something I pretty much knew, but had more weight hearing her say it. It was something I needed to learn. If I wanted to keep up with my passion of writing and let people have access to my mind and personal life, I needed to get used to the critics. That’s just something that comes with writing, social media, and putting yourself out there in general. Most of the time, you draw on your personal experiences. It’s the positive feedback that beats out the negative for me though. Receiving messages from others that they appreciate my writing, inspire or motivate them, is a huge part of why I even write at all. A lot of us go through the same things, have the same problems, questions, and wonder. I just put it into words for people. But I also know I am not the voice of everybody.

Online comment from a stranger in response to my GDI article. Was told to remember who I am and not to advocate for others. Also, first time I've had the "people like you" phrase used against me. Article can be accessed here: GDI Article 

As for the mean people, they don’t go away. They are around at age 15, 22, 34, 58, and so on. I accepted the fact that not everyone is going to be a fan of Rachel Marshall. That’s okay. And I also have to remind myself, that I shouldn’t harp so much on the people that don’t like me and spend more time appreciating, laughing with, and having fun with the ones that do. I eventually sat down and removed anybody on social media that I felt put negativity in my life. I didn’t want reminders of them and I didn’t want them to have access to my life anymore. And it feels good.

I like the notion that maybe a reason people don’t like you is the fact that you are doing something and sometimes maybe it’s exactly right. I hate that I actually had moments of resentment of my success when I felt so exposed. I should never apologize for doing good things, achieving goals, and chasing my dreams. We shouldn't let them take the 'power' out of our empowerment. I'm still wondering why girls don't cheer on other girls more than tearing them down. Let's be thankful for the ones that do. 

If you are ever having a rough day, jamming out to “Mean” by Taylor Swift might help just a little bit! :) 

And for the poetic people, here are a couple poems I worked on in response to the tough times I had with negative people.

Drunken Insults

You made yourself look bad

when trying to make me look worse.

I’m surrounded by a circle

you can’t break through.

Add to the scars,

try to reach my heart.

I won’t let you touch it.

Your shots will be blocked,

your words won’t be forgotten.

Say what you want;

but I know better.

Light the match and start the fire.

I’ll warm my hands in your cold world.

I’m cozy.

Not going anywhere.

My friends brought blankets.

So we’ll keep drinking.

…

Endless Possibilities

I’ll walk away from the crowded

arena of people. The ones that are fake

and talk about me. The jealous girls

and the mean fashion. The boys

that made me feel something, but meant

nothing. The ones that left my heart confused

and my feelings feeling hurt.

I’m walking away burned.

Not looking down at the bruises.

Letting go of the ties wrapped around me.

They fell to the ground. The same one

I used to kiss. It was all lust, wasn’t it?

I’m walking towards something better.

I’m no longer confined. Not blind to the games

played in the arena. I’ve rubbed off

the stigma and dropped the bricks to my walls.

The arena can keep them. They can build

their dreams on fictitious foundation.

I’ll walk away. All the way until I’m natural again.

Wipe my slate until it’s clean.

Let me flaws shine free.

Even if it’s just my heart and me,

I’ll tell her all about the endless possibilities.

One of the many reasons why I write & put myself out there. I'll keep exploring and I will write on. Thank you :) 

Sparkle & Shine.
Rachel