Mary Stevens

This is my shout out to my owl pal! She is the best person you will ever meet. Never a dull moment, yet a definite serious side as well. I'm inspired by what she shared with me. 

<3 <3 <3

Mary is fun. The second you meet her you want to be her best friend. She could talk to anyone and make friends with them too. She always is looking for something fun to do, and something worth doing. She cares about you, is very inclusive, and most importantly is an amazing friend. I don't know the details about her relationship with Tessa, but I know that she is a person who will always be there for you no matter what. I've only known her for a few months, but even I can trust her with my thoughts, feelings and secrets, and I am blessed to have met her. 

"No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers; has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath... We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? It might be time for you to go, time for you to leave. Time for you to change, and time to try something new. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry, Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

-Through a Painted Desert By Donald Miller

10 Things MVS Knows:

1) Everyone has a story worth hearing.

2) It doesn't matter how old you are, life is coming to a close quickly.

3) There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.

4) NEVER STRESS.

5) Life is about relationships.

6) You determine your life, and thoughts become things-- Stay positive.

7) Nothing in life in constant.

8) Time will sharpen or dull your senses by the way you move through life and its experiences, don't fall into repetition. 

9) Look out for the underdog.

10) LIVE IN THE PRESENT. 

"I've learned one thing. And that's to quit worrying about the stupid things. You have four years to be irresponsible, relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember the class time, but you'll remember the time you spent hanging out with friends. So stay out late. Go out with your friends on a Tuesday when you have a paper due on wednesday morning. Spend money you don't have. Don't be scared. Stop swallowing your words, and say what you think. Wear what you want. Say what you want. Listen to the music you want, and play it as loud as you want. Then dance to it. laugh til it hurts. Go out for a drive at midnight just because you want to. Forget you have school the next day, and stop waiting for Friday. Do it now. Take risks and tell your deepest secrets. This life is yours so never miss an opportunity to have fun. There are a lot of things we don't have to do in life, but its these things that make all the difference. Have fun. Do what you want to do when you want to do it. Don't worry about your past or your future, because life is the moment you are living right now. Because the work never ends, but college does."

-Mary Stevens, November 3rd, 2011