be the change you wish to see in the world.

I am feeling inspired. A few things have inspired me.

First, someone told me that of all the people they knew, they thought I would make the most difference in the world. At first, I was so flattered, then I started getting weekly texts "What did you do this week to change the world?" In anticipation, I would think about the things I did during the week. It was a lot of pressure. At first, it was "um, I tutored some kids? I don't know."

The second thing that inspired me is a book I am reading with my book club. It is called "Half the Sky." It is about women throughout the world. It discusses the how women are treated and what they are doing to change their situation worldwide.

So, here are some things that I have done:

I loaned a woman in El Salvador money to help with her business through a website www.kiva.org You can help men and women throughout the whole world.

I donated blood today. I saved 3 lives!

I crew for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, for the last 4 years and am doing it again this year. I also raise money for the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year, we raised over $5000. Can you imagine what kind of good could be done with that much money?

I signed up to do the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This cause raises money for all kinds of cancers. We are doing it in memory of Jill Holtkamp, my friends, late grandma. I could make a list a mile long of people who I have lost due to cancers of all kinds. This is a great cause (if you want to donate to me you can)!

I am also going to be doing the Miles for Melonoma walk again this year. It is a 5k walk to raise money for Melonoma research. I lost my aunt to this disease. Most people think "Oh, skin cancer, you just get removed and move on." Not always.

We also always do the City of Hope 5k walk. Which raises money for Breast Cancer research, education and treatment for the City of Hope hospital.


I will be looking for other opportunities to make a difference in the world. But really it does not have to be big things. You can make a difference by smiling at someone, by being a friend, or helping a stranger.

I want to challenge everyone to do whatever you can to make a difference in the world. I will continue to post about the things that I do to make a difference.

Will you take the challenge?

Who Am I?

I am Malia. I am 29. I am kind and caring. I am a good friend, I am creative and I liked to make things. I like to plan things and organize, which you wouldn’t know if you saw my bedroom. I am beautiful, I think in a not obvious way. I am a good person. I am a mess. I am not perfect. I am worthy of love, even though I don’t feel that way everyday. I am a good person, who is trying to be a better person. I am going to change the world. I am not sure how though. I am me. I like to laugh. I am looking for love. I am curious and a little naïve. I am a Christian. I struggle. I am ok. I am improving.

Have a Little Faith

I just finished reading another book. It is called "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom. Mitch Albom is a great author. He also wrote "Tuesdays with Morrie," "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," and "For One More Day." I have read every book he has written (except the sports one, since he was originally a sports writer lol!). This book was again amaZing. And I highly recommend it. I recommend any book he has written. I wanted to share two quotes from the book. Mitch was asked to do the eulogy for his Rabbi. Mitch is a man who only goes to Temple on the High Holy Days so he is surprised and decides to get to know the Reb, (The Rabbi). This is one of their conversations: "If the only thing wrong with Moses is that he's not yours; if the only thing wrong with Jesus is htat he's not yours; if the only thing wrong with mosques, Lent, chanting, Mecca, Buddha, confession, or reincarnation is that they're not yours - well maybe the problem is you. One more question? I asked the Reb. He nodded. When someone from another faith says, "God Bless you," what do you say? "I say, 'Thank you and God bless you too.'" Really? "Why shouldn't I?" I went to answer and realized I had no answer. No answer at all." (page162) This is the end of the book: "In the beginning, there was a question. In the end, the question gets answered. God sings, we hum along, and there are many melodies, but it's all one song - one same, wonderful human song. I am in love with hope." (page 249) Me too.

The Rule.

So, last night I watched a few movies with Tisha. We watched "The Ugly Truth" and "He's just not that into you." I enjoyed both movies. I learned from them too. In "He's just not that into you" Gigi goes out on dates and then the guy doesn't call her back and she always thinks well maybe he is out of town or lost her number or some reason like that. She ends up asking another character named Alex for advice and he says no, he just doesn't like you. She finally realizes that she is not the exception to the rule, she is the rule. That really hit me. What I got from it was that I am not the exception every time. I think that someday I might be one person's exception but I can't be everyone's exception. I hope this is making sense to you. I was talking to my friend about this and he said "you have to be your own exception, are you?" That blew my mind. Am I my own exception? I don't know, which means no I am not. Lots of thoughts.

I hope you are your own exception.

Things to do

So, my new therapist occasionally gives me homework. This week I was supposed to write a list of things I want to do and then put them in preference order. Thought I would share:

1. Get a teaching job

2. Get my own place

3. Take a marital arts/self defense class

4. Learn sign language

5. Start a support group

6. Travel throughout the USA

7. Get a Masters in School Counseling

8. Own a business

I guess I kind of took the preference thing as an order thing so I didn't assign a number to:

A. Get married, have a family

B. Travel to Greece, England, France, Italy

In other news, this month has been very busy. I have worked a record number of days. I just recently got home from a trip up north. We went to see our friend Shannon get married. I took a self defense class and I got a new car (Carleigh)!

Today in history: 1859 - Origin of Species is published,1947 - Hollywood 10 cited for contempt of Congress, 1978 - Letterman's first appearance on the Tonight Show, and for my Irish friends 1922 - Robert Erskine Childers was shot and killed.

Update Again

I have not updated in a LONG time, so lets see what has been going on since May in my life? A lot!

My niece, Baylee Nicole Eliason was born!! on August 27th. She is the daughter of my very best friend Cassie.

Also, on the same day, my longtime friend Alicia, had a baby girl, Makayla Jeannette Edquist! It is so crazy that they had babies on the same day!

We had our Sue Phillips Memorial Fundraiser. We raised over $5,000 for the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation. I cannot thank our supporters enough. I know that one day there will be a cure and we will have you to thank.

After the fundraiser, we of course participated in the walk. Meghan, Matthew and I worked Quick Stop (Double) D, our theme was "Saving Second Base." My dad walked and walked and walked for 26 miles. Next year the walk is in Santa Barbara and we look forward to participating in that as well. We are looking forward to meeting the new Crew Coordinator, as our favorite lady from Boston, Kelley, retired! lol ok so she went back to school.

I finished school, which is something I was speaking about in my last post. It is done,

now I am just looking for a job, like everyone else in the world!

Cassie has moved away to Washington. It is has been hard, but I know that it is what is best

for her and her family.

I have been working on me and I have been feeling good. I still have bad days but that

happens to everyone.

Things I am looking forward to: Self Defense Class in 2 weeks, going to Stockton for Shannon's

wedding, visiting Cassie in Washington, getting a job, living life and seeing friends.

I guess that is all. Oh! I had my high school reunion. That was interesting. Not very many people

showed up. But we had fun.

Just an update....

Things are going well. I think we have about 6 weeks of student teaching left. I am excited to be done with it but at the same time I will miss my students alot. I will be done with college in a few weeks, which is also exciting but I will miss my friends <3
We have a graduation banquet this week, so thats exciting. I am so tired and worn out. I get up in the morning and work until I leave then I go to work and teach for four hours then I come home eat lunch and go to work until I go to bed, taking breaks to facebook, eat dinner, tutor and go to class.
Spring break was nice but not long enough! I enjoyed a spa day with Cassie, whose baby is the size of a papaya now!
Well, like usual I am running late, so I am off for now!

have a nice day!