I’ve never been one to make last minute decisions. I love having a plan and there’s little I do without the use of my Google Calendar.
This is something I’ve wanted to work on for years. I want to become someone who does not need a to-do list to know what to do.
The New Phone
Two weeks ago, I made the spontaneous decision of buying a new phone. Let me just say, this was something I have been mulling over for years, but I finally made the purchase on a Friday evening.
For me, it’s a sign of my growing independence. I did not have to ask my parents if I could have a new phone–I just bought it for myself.
I’m finally an iPhone user after a few years of a Samsung and five years of a flip phone. Let me just say, it’s been an adjustment but a needed change!
I wanted this phone to take better photos with. As one of the communications interns for Mt. Irenaeus, I often felt like my previous phone’s camera quality was not good enough to post on the Mountain Instagram.
I wanted to step up my game! I have loved taking more pictures and knowing that I can share them with friends without the warning of “oh, they’re kind of grainy. I wish we would have used your phone instead”.
I haven’t used most of the Apple features yet, like Facetiming a friend or journaling my entire life in my Notes app, but I can see it starting to happen.
The Piercing and Tattoo
Yup, you read that correctly! I FINALLY have my first tattoo!
It all started because Her Campus co-president Claire Fisher asked me if I would like to get a piercing with her at Skin Deep in Olean because they have $20 Tuesdays. I was a little hesitant and wasn’t sure what to get. For a while I have wanted to get a nostril stud to complement my septum ring, but at the last minute, I booked an appointment to get a conch piercing.
Never in a million years would I have thought I would have a conch piercing. I grew up as someone who did not have any piercings except for my first earlobe holes that were pierced after I made my first Communion (technically, they were actually pierced when I graduated kindergarten, but five-year-old Alexis did not put up with having her ears touched after they healed, and consequently, the holes closed).
So far, the conch piercing only hurts when I forget about it and brush my hands through my hair. I can’t wear my right Airpod or sleep on my right side temporarily, but I think it’ll be worth it in the end. I cannot wait to switch my gorgeous stud with gold highlights out for a ring in four months, but until then, I’ll be rocking the stud look.
Now, here comes the more exciting (in my opinion) part of this. I went to Eclectic Tattoo, again in Olean, and as soon as I walked in, the artist took care of me. He assured me and Claire that we would be out of the shop in time for class. Yes, Claire and I did this between classes, and we still made it back in time!
The artist worked to make sure my little rainbow was exactly the size and shape I wanted, and he got to work prepping me for the experience. He was efficient and understood that I was both nervous and so incredibly ecstatic.
I ended up with a three-line black and white rainbow tattoo, inspired by SBU grad Casey Beiter. As soon as I saw her tattoo a few months back, I knew it was the style I wanted.
All of these experiences have shown how independent I have become and how much work I have put into creating the person I love being. I am living in the moment and making the best of my last year as a teen.
I want to have more of an openness to living life without penciling it in to my G-Cal. I can be spontaneous and, frankly, I love having a little bit of spontaneity in every day.