Caitlyn Kleffner

For hours, the cursor stayed frozen in place, while the time for submission crept closer and closer. Blankly, I stared at the screen knowing I needed to fill the page with meaningful words as soon as possible — words that were able to create laughs and motivation, but yet the page remained empty and the cursor remained in place. 

Slowly, I lowered my head as a signal to the vacant page, I was admitting defeat. I needed an absolutely Earth shattering, mountain moving idea I could turn into a masterpiece. Yet, I had absolutely nothing. Eventually, I closed my computer and began to shift my focus somewhere else. Suddenly, I had it! The epiphany I was needing finally happened. 

Quickly, I hopped back onto my vacant document, filling it with the words I had so desperately needed. Within no time, my blog was completed, allowing me to realize something. All of the pressure I put on myself to create an “Earth shattering masterpiece”, had stopped me from creating anything at all. My own pressure had prevented my progress. 

Today, it is extremely difficult for all of us to not put pressure on ourselves. Whether it be to take a test, complete a writing assignment, compete in a sporting event, or perform in a competition, our own pressure can cause us to create obstacles. As we move forward, I encourage all of you to step back, take a break, take a breath, and let the ideas form their own.

The smell of turkey filled the air with its tasteful aroma. Family and friends were scattered all throughout the house having conversations as though they had never been apart. I, myself, was quite ready to end the conversions to begin devouring the food that had been torturing me with its delicious smells.

At this point in time, I was so hungry I could hear my stomach growling louder than a lion and I was confused why no one else was as ready to eat as me. Reluctantly, I made my way over to my grandfather’s side, and I sat there listening to stories about cattle, sports teams and highschool shenanigans. I watched as each of them laughed and enjoyed each other’s company, not worried about what they didn’t have. 

It was then I truly realized how caught up I had gotten in my own wishes, I completely overlooked what I already had. Becoming too focused on my desires, made me completely ignore what amazing things had surrounded me in that moment. On this Thanksgiving, I had put on blinders only to see what I couldn’t acquire instead of recognizing how lucky I was for what I already had. It was then I decided to shift my focus. The blinders were coming off and everything I had around me was going to be fully enjoyed. 

When attracted to something, it becomes very easy to get lost in everything you do not have. As we venture into the future I want to challenge not only myself, but all of you as well to focus on what you have. Be thankful for the now.

Freezing wind blew against my thick barricade of coats as I ventured out looking for a missing heifer. With snow up to the middle of my shins, it was hard to walk. Frustration stormed inside of me as I slowly moved through a thicket of cedar saplings. After a long week of frigid temperatures and losing calves, I was more than ready to quit. Finally, I laid eyes on my missing heifer. 

At her side, she has a determined newborn trying to stand and nurse for the first time. For a while I stood and watched the new calf fall down only to get back up and try it all again, reluctant to get the warm milk that was waiting for it. No matter how many times the calf fell, it continued trying to get up, until eventually it was successful. As I stood there, I realized I needed to be more like that resilient newborn. 

After a long, hard year filled with challenges and inconveniences, I was ready to call it quits and give up. However, I learned I just needed to continue my attempts at standing and reaching for achievements waiting for me. Instead of focusing on what was dragging me down, I needed to look for what was there when I stood. I decided I wasn’t going to let the negatives drag me down anymore, I was going to stand. 

When we are faced with challenges, it makes it easy to forget what we are working toward. As we embrace our future, it’s important we become like that newborn calf. No matter what obstacles are weighing you down, don’t forget to keep trying to stand and stay focused on what lies ahead and you are working toward.