Tackling Hidden Stress in College: A Dive into Innovation and Relief for Non-Traditional Students

Have you ever wondered if it's possible to turn stress into something manageable, or even enjoyable? That's exactly what my collaborator, Nicole, and I set out to do in a project for my Creative Concepting course at Boise State University.

As a duo comprised of a dedicated mom returning to college and an over 30 first-time on-campus student navigating the pressures of adult education, we embarked on a mission to develop concepts that would alleviate the hidden stress and anxiety plaguing students, particularly non-traditional ones like us. The aim was not just to brainstorm but to innovate, creating practical solutions to enhance student life and mental well-being.

The Process: A Blend of Creativity and Analytical Thinking

The core of our project involved identifying the root causes of what's known in the academic sphere as "duck syndrome"—the phenomenon where students appear calm on the surface but are frantically paddling underneath. Among the myriad pressures faced by students are societal expectations, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and a stark lack of support. We were tasked with an ambitious goal to generate at least 51 potential solutions addressing these issues.

To say this task stretched our creative and analytical skills would be an understatement. We employed a detailed mind-mapping technique to not only brainstorm but also categorize and prioritize the root causes of student stress. This method proved invaluable, allowing us to visualize connections and overlaps between various stressors and potential interventions.

The Outcome: From Outrageous to Practical

Our project led us to a diverse array of ideas, ranging from the wildly innovative to the straightforwardly practical. Among the standout concepts was adapting Journee Trip’s surprise destination concept to offer surprise outings tailored for non-traditional students. These monthly events are designed to sprinkle elements of adventure and spontaneity into students' routines, offering refreshing breaks and novel experiences without the stress of choice. Details such as dress code, whether the setting is indoors or outdoors, activity levels, and venue ratings are revealed two weeks in advance, with the exact destination announced on the day of the event.

Another concept that captured our imaginations was inspired by the energy of Jennifer Hudson’s Spirit Tunnel. We envisioned a pop-up event where students receive encouragement through cheers as they walk through the tunnel. Participants could select from various chants, celebrating everything from academic achievements like acing a test ("You got an A on your test because you're the best!") to personal milestones such as birthdays, or simply enjoy the uplift of a generic victory run through the tunnel.

On the more practical side, we proposed the creation of a Student Association for Non-Traditional Students (NTS). Drawing inspiration from successful models like the one at the University of Oregon, this association would serve as a crucial support network, offering resources, events, and community-building activities tailored to the unique needs and schedules of NTS.

Key Takeaways and Skills Applied

This project was not only a test of our ability to ideate but also a real-world application of several key skills:

• Root Cause Analysis: We delved deep into each contributing factor of stress, ensuring that our solutions were targeted and effective.

• Creative Problem Solving: Generating over 50 ideas required out-of-the-box thinking and the ability to see beyond conventional solutions.

• Adaptability and Resilience: With my collaborator falling ill, I had to adapt quickly, relying on our preliminary discussions and my own insights to push the project forward.

The feedback from our peers and instructors was overwhelmingly positive, affirming the practicality and creativity of our solutions. This project not only enhanced our understanding of the challenges faced by non-traditional students but also reinforced our capabilities in tackling complex problems with innovative solutions.

Looking Ahead: Bridging Concepts and Brand Development

As I continue to navigate my career in brand development, graphic design, and marketing, the skills honed during this project will be invaluable. The ability to analyze deeply, think creatively, and execute strategically are cornerstones in developing brands that resonate and inspire.

I'm excited to carry forward these competencies, and applying them to real-world challenges and opportunities in brand development. Whether it's crafting compelling narratives or designing innovative services, the journey from concept to implementation is where my passion lies.

Stay tuned as I explore more intersections of creativity and practicality, driving innovation that makes a difference. Let's make the invisible visible and the unbearable bearable, one concept at a time!

How I Used AI To Create my 2025 Vision Board

“So listen, I want you to help me plan out my future.”

I talk to ChatGPT like it’s my friend. It helps that I use the voice feature, so we can literally just chat. But this New Year, I took to AI to help me bridge the gap between my current life and my dream life. Together, we mapped out goals, broke them into actionable steps, and created a plan to help me get where I want to be.

First of all, let me just say that I am a big proponent of AI, and ChatGPT has become my go-to collaborator. It’s the assistant I didn’t know I needed so turning to that channel for help felt almost natural to me. “ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a powerful natural language processing (NLP) AI chatbot that uses advanced language models and machine learning techniques to understand natural language queries and generate responses.” says EnterpriseDNA. I figure, if it’s designed o analyze language, I can just spew all my hopes and reams out and it can pick out the patterns, themes, and insights into what goals I might want to set. It does need a little bit more guidance than that. So I recommend the following prompt:

I’m going to tell you some hopes and dreams I have for my life. Please pick out the areas of focus and identify specific goals I can set to make this a reality.

How to Create a Google Review QR Code

by Ryley Kennard

Like it or not, the world relies on reviews to make a purchase. When searching for a product or business online, consumers are more likely to choose a product or company with not only a higher ranking but also a larger number of reviews over a product or company with a lower rating and fewer reviews. Having a good online reputation drives business by allowing potential customers to make informed decisions. So let’s make it easy for people to leave reviews.

Creating a QR code for Google Reviews is a fairly easy task however, it can be a lengthy process. I promise, even if you are computer illiterate, you can do this. There is some setup involved that can be time-consuming, but I’m going to walk you through the process as if you’re starting from ground zero. In this article, I’m going to walk you through creating a Google account, getting access to your business’s Google Business Profile, and creating a QR code using Canva.

Step 1: Google Account

You will need an account with Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) access. Google Workspace includes Gmail, Google Drive, and other cloud-based products for business. If you work for a company that operates using Google Workspace, then you can just use your work email, otherwise, any Google email address will work. If your company does not operate using the platform formerly known as G Suite, I would recommend creating a Google Account for your business instead of using a personal Google account, i.e., create a username like corsoapts@gmail.com versus a username like omgbecky@gmail.com. This is will come in handy for the next step.

To create a Google Account:

• Open a new Google Page

• Click ‘Sign In’

• From the sign-in page, click ‘Create Account’ unless you already have Google Account showing, then click ‘Use Another Account’

• Select ‘For my personal use’ to keep things simple

• Continue with the steps to creating your account

Now that you’re set up with a Google account, it’s time to work on getting access to your business’s Google Business Profile.

Step 2: Gain access to your Google Business Profile

In order to manage the back end of what Google shows about your business, you’ll need to take ownership of your business’s Google Business Profile. This will allow you access to keep information—like office hours—up-to-date, you’ll be able to respond to reviews, and most importantly for the purpose of this article, you’ll be able to get a direct link for customers to leave a Google review.

Since I’m assuming you don’t already have access this your business’s Google Business Profile, you’ll need to request access. This process can take several days or weeks to verify that you have a rightful claim on the business and should be granted access. This is where having the business name in your email address will come in handy because it will legitimize your claim to that business.

To gain access to your Google Business Profile:

• Search your business on Google

• Click ‘Own this business?’

• Click ‘Request Access’

• Fill out the form and hit ‘Submit’

• Wait patiently

STEP 3: CREATE YOUR QR CODE

QR codes open an entire world to you of accessing information. If you’ve never used a QR code before, you just open your phone’s camera and hover over this digital-looking image and it will just take you right to the information you need. QR codes are great in advertising because you can have someone scan a QR code and go right to your website, to a landing page for a promo item, or to an application or menu. It brings elevated accessibility to your customer and builds their confidence in you and your ability to easily meet their needs.

A quick Google search of ‘QR code generators’ will give you many free ways to create QR codes, but my favorite is Canva. If you don’t already have a Canva account, go ahead and set one up now. You can even create one that links with that new Google account you just made to keep everything easy and connected.

To create your QR code using Canva:

• Create a new design (either from scratch or from a template)

• From the far left vertical menu select the bottom option, ‘Apps’

• Scroll down to find ‘QR Code’

• Click ‘Use’

• From here you’ll need to go to your Google Business Profile to get the link you’ll use for your QR code

• Under the ‘Your business on Google’ section click the drop-down arrow on the right side of the second row of icons

• Click the very last icon called ‘Ask for Reviews’

• Copy the ‘Review link’ by either clicking the two box icon or highlighting all the text and pressing CRTL+C on your keyboard

• Go back to Canva and paste the link in the textbox that reads ‘Enter URL’ by pressing CRTL+V on your keyboard

• For added brand cohesiveness, you can change the colors of the QR from plain black and white to match the design you’re putting this on or use your business’s brand colors

• Click ‘Generate QR Code’

• Incorporate into your design as needed

Congratulations, you’re now an expert in making Google Review QR codes! Just a friendly reminder to use your powers for good.

TRY.LEY > NEEDS

I got hit hard with the anxiety stick yesterday. I needed to calm my mind enough the take a nap so I repeated these affirmations until I fell asleep.

I first learned the power of affirmations from @heytiffanyroe, a licensed therapist and CEO of Mindful Counseling. It took some work to find what thoughts would stick. I played around with a few variations of these ideas until I found the one that pierced. It felt scary and I maybe got a little defensive about it.

I didn't sleep well Thursday night. I actually went to work a few hours late so I could get some more rest. The whole day S-U-C-K-E-D and by the end of work I knew I needed more sleep. My drive home gave me too much time to think and tears started flowing.

You see, I recently ended an unhealthy relationship. It was really my first official relationship and my first official breakup and it's been so hard. I was fine with it at first because I knew it needed to end. I was not getting what I needed physically, mentally, or emotionally, I felt like I was begging for the smallest amount of love and affection and the majority of the time, it wouldn't be delivered. It was often met with complaints or if I did get it, it was a minimum effort. It was exhausting to have to beg all the time. It wasn't always like that. I had moved my life from Charleston to Tulsa for this guy because he was sweet and kind and I felt like there could be a future. Once I got to Tulsa, things were different and I felt so alone. I was honestly relieved to have ended it. But since then, I have felt guilty for hurting him. I have felt inadequate for not being able to have earned his love and affection. I have felt anger that my heart and the love I possess was taken advantage of. And lately I have had to do something really hard and admit that I was hurt by someone I really loved.

Somewhere along the way in my life I have engrained these thoughts of what I do and don't deserve. I'm slowly discovering them and I'm TR-YYY-ING to work though them. The pain I felt yesterday came from thoughts like, I didn't deserve to grieve and mourn an unhealthy relationship. I'd stayed in it. I'd allowed the behavior. It also crept up on me that I don't deserve or I am not worth being taken care of. I had always put my relationship and my man first. He deals with some hefty challenges in life; he needed support and I gave it. I thought I was being selfless in my kindness and supportiveness but I think maybe on some level it also served as an excuse for me to not take care of myself. To not do the mental work that I'm now having to do to convince myself that I deserve to have my needs met. That I'm not unreasonable for needing love and undivided attention from people in my life. It's okay for me to need validation and to feel secure in my relationships. And here's a big one, that those needs are worth defending.

I feel so alone and beside myself in fighting for these needs. I'm still living in Tulsa (for one more week!) And I don't have the support system here to turn to for help. I feel limited and honestly overbearing in asking for help from people who aren't involved in my daily life (haha, so everyone) and it feels like a daunting task that I have to show up for myself and to take care of myself. I don't feel strong enough. I feel too needy, even for myself.

As I went home and laid down to get some more rest yesterday, I was scrolling through Netflix to find something to fall asleep to. I don't totally know why I do that, I know I hardly get sleep with a show on. I caught myself doing it and I thought, “that is not what I need. I need sleep and I am going to create an environment which I can actually rest.” The anxiety of not being enough and not being worthy of having my needs met had my mind reeling and I had to calm that down. I put a shirt over my eyes to block the light and I repeated those affirmations over and over again. I think even once I was asleep the thoughts kept replaying.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of my anxiety yesterday but here are a few things that actually helped me calm down:

• Putting some essential oils in my diffuser

• Turning on some soft piano music (click here for my playlist)

• Letting myself explore and express thoughts that we're upsetting me

• Reaching out to my mom, telling her what I was feeling and what I needed

• Yoga

• Doing something creative

I'm not an expert here. I'm figuring it out. I am moving back to Charleston next week and I know that these challenges and struggles aren't just going to go away. Charleston has been a place of healing for me before and I'm h-o-p-i-n-g it can be that again now. These last few months in Tulsa have been lonely and draining and scary. It was easier for me to be a missionary than it was to walk this path. It been a really hard way for me to learn: I'm worth it. I am worth loving and I am worth taking care of. I needed to know that. I've been so FRUSTRATED by feeling like other people didn't know it or they haven't seen it, but it's me. I didn't know that. And now that I do, I can better advocate for myself and my needs. I'm terrified. But I'm going to try.

TRY.LEY > 59 Ways I Add Value To My Life

Originally posted May 25, 2018

If you just want the list, keep scrolling.

So, I love to slackline. It’s basically tightrope-walking. But cooler I think. I’d heard about it in 2009 and thought it sounded cool and in 2010, I passed some guys I kinda knew doing it and I asked to try. I was instantly hooked and have been very casually doing it since then. It’s something that’s always empowered me because I felt like it was the first thing I really went out of my comfort zone to try and doing it played on one of my biggest insecurities, my weight. When I stepped on the line for the first time, I felt every inch of fat on my body wiggling and jiggling. I was immediately aware of my body and it’s size and it’s flaws. But for some reason I decided not to let that stop me from doing this thing.

One day, back in the spring of 2016, as I was go through the 3 ring shit show of my life, I decided I wanted to slackline. The weather had been nice that week and it was starting to feel like spring which always energizes me and gives me hope for change. Up until this point, my days looked like this: I would go to work and deal with the bitches I worked with, come home exhausted from not only outperforming them, but emotionally coping with petty office politics, get in bed and watch TV and play on my phone until someone invited me to do something, and if they didn’t I stayed in bed. I was fat and lazy and sad and frustrated and making no effort to change so when the weather had been nice, I felt like I finally had a reason to do something. So I woke up that day pumped to get on my slackline and I looked outside aaaand: overcast. And drizzling a bit. I was bummed for a minute but I decided to go anyways.

It was *FRREEEEEZING* cold. I slackline barefoot so my feet went numb pretty early on from the frozen ground but my goal was to just walk the line once before I packed it up. The wind was super strong and I would get on the line and I would fall right back off. I waited for the wind to die down but I was only able to take a few steps before a gust of wind would push me off again. I was getting so. frustrated.

While I was waiting for a break in the wind, I said a little prayer asking God to let up on the weather for just a little bit so I could just walk the line and go home. I told him how frustrating my life had been and I just wanted this time to do something that I knew I could do and feel like I could tackle these other challenges in my life. I felt like my heart/desire was pure and righteous and I honestly believe in an all-powerful God who can command the elements. So I said my prayer and got back on my line, hopeful that God would fill my request.

The wind didn’t stop. In fact, it started snowing a little but I kept going, telling myself that I had faith. I had asked, I was working for what I wanted, God was going to deliver. After several more failed attempts, I fell to my knees in frustration and demanded answers from God. “Why aren’t you answering me?! I asked for the thing. Why aren’t you giving it to me? Why are you doing this to me? Why aren’t you helping me? Did I not ask with real intent? Were my motives not pure enough? Do you not understand what’s going on in my life and how much I need this right now?”

I finished yelling at God because the ground was frozen and I got back on the line. Then this moment of clarity–which had been pretty rare during the last year–came. “What good what that even do?” I was reminded that I knew how to slackline. I’d been doing it for like 6 years at this point. I knew I knew how to do it on nice spring days, so how would I improve if conditions were perfect? I got back on my line and simply said, “Just kidding, don’t stop the wind, just help me learn how to walk the line anyways.” That day was a game-changer.

Life doesn’t always have ideal conditions. We make mistakes. Other people make mistakes and sometimes that effects us. We have limited resources or understanding or abilities. The challenge of life is to learn to be successful while dealing with these challenges, not to avoid them.

I tell this story because a lot of times when I’m struggling to get through something, I feel so alone and like the only person having trouble being successful in life. And then I validate that thought by comparing my life that’s riddled with problems to people I know who are traveling the world and graduating college and getting married and having babies or whatever else. But, and I wish I could find the meme, but people don’t post the pictures of them struggling in life on Instagram. And it’s so unfair of me to compare the pains of my life to the positive experiences of someone else’s. This is unhealthy and destructive and only serves to validate inaccurate and insecure thoughts. I have spent a lot of time finding proof for why I suck. This day started me on a path to healing, but it’s really only been the last few months that I’ve been trying to really fill my time with things that add value to my life rather than confirm my insecurities.

FACT: YOU ARE DIVINE. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD AND HIS DIVINITY IS IN EACH ONE OF HIS CHILDREN.

So this is going to look different for everyone, but here are some ways that I add value to my individual worth:

• Learn a new skill

• Macrame

• Get better at skills you already have

• Slacklining

  1. Guitar

  2. Photography

  3. Yoga

• Spend time with people who encourage you

• Avoid listening to sad songs or reading sad memes and saying “That’s me” but instead saying, “yeah, I’ve felt that before”

• Do something nice for another human

• Bake cookies

  1. Write little notes to people when you feel like you need to express appreciation or admiration for them

  2. Help someone with something on their plate

  3. Tag someone in memes

• Do something that scares you

• Swim in the ocean

  1. Kayak in gator water

  2. Post vulnerable things on the interwebs

• Go outside

• Hold babies

• Pamper yourself

• Style your hair

  1. Put on a real outfit

  2. Shave

• Allow yourself to FEEL THE EMOTIONS YOU’RE FEELING

• Let other people vent to you

• Feed yourself good food because your body is not a garbage can

• Don’t let people call you an idiot/dumb/stupid/anything that challenges your intelligence

• Tell people what you need from them

• A hug

  1. A joke

  2. Stroke your hair

  3. Validation

  4. Prayers

  5. An apology

  6. Time/Attention

  7. Patience

  8. Forgiveness

• Set boundaries in your relationships

• End unhealthy relationships

• With people who are taking more than their giving

  1. With people who do not respect your boundaries

  2. With people who do not appreciate/encourage/uplift you

• Do things by yourself

• Go to the movies

  1. Go to the beach

  2. Go to a sit-down restaurant

  3. Go for a drive

• Make eye contact/acknowledge the people you pass on the street

• Clean your room

• Clean your car

• Drink water

There is no shortage of things to add to this list but it’s definitely a starting point. The general idea is, validate your positive thoughts and qualities rather than negative thoughts and insecurities.

K cool. Go kill it this week 

—TRYLEY

TRY.LEY > Goals, Habits and Routines

Originally posted March 11, 2018

I want to briefly share a few thoughts I’ve had about setting goals and changing habits.

I think it’s important to note is that there are 2 kinds of goals: one is to accomplish something and has an end date and the other is to develop a habit and is ongoing.

With both, it’s important to not only set the goal, but figure out what steps need to be taken to accomplish it and then look at your schedule and actually set a time to do it. If your goals are more of the long term/developing habit variety, the key is sustainability. You want to set goals that you will be able to sustain long term. So for example, I’ve set my physical goal to lose 60 lbs. by my birthday. That has an end date. But because I don’t want that to be just a one and done thing, I’ve also set some goals that will help me maintain a more active lifestyle. I know I can’t commit to an hour in the gym everyday, but I can get up and run for 20 minutes first thing in the morning. That may change as I progress but right now I know I can sustain a 20 minute run.

It was pretty easy for me figure out what I wanted my physical goals to be but I’ve been unsettled about what I want my spiritual goals to be. There’s not one big thing I’m really working towards. The next step in my spiritual progression is marriage and I can’t really put a date on that since I’m so incredibly single*. So my spiritual goals are more of the developing habits type deal.

In November, some of the leaders in the LDS church, Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Elder M. Russell Ballard hosted a Face to Face event for young single adults where they answered questions from YSAs around the world. Something that really stuck out to me from the event was the concept of holy habits and righteous routines that Elder Oaks shared from a stake president who had converted to the church. Here’s what Elder Oaks said:

“[The stake president] explained that holy habits are the things every member of the church should have: personal prayers, scripture study, keep the commandments, attend church. Everybody should have holy habits to go ahead and mature in the church. He said, “but you’re probably wondering what I mean by righteous routines. A new convert also needs righteous routines but I cannot say what they will be for you because they are personal according to the needs of a convert and their background.” He said, “for instance, when I joined the church I was in college and I was drinking beer every Saturday night with my buddies.” And he said, “the smell of beer just really turned me on.” The smell of beer has always turned me off. But to him, it didn’t stink. It drew him in to social routines and temptations that he could not afford to have if he was going to keep the Word of Wisdom. So he said to the new converts, “you need to analyze what temptations you need to go out of your way to avoid. For me,” he said, “it was to walk home a different way and not pass the bar where the guys were gathering.” A righteous routine for him is not what it would be for you. But analyze your own circumstances and alongside the holy habits, put the righteous routines crafted to help you with what you need to mature in the gospel.”

I feel like these concepts apply to every person who is changing habits in their lives. You need to have a solid foundation and then make adjustments in your routine that make it easier to keep the habits you are developing. I think that the adjustment in your routine is where you will find sustainability. In order for me to do my run in the mornings, I’ve had to adjust my schedule so I have time to do that. If didn’t make the conscious effort to wake up earlier, I never would’ve fit it into my day and it wouldn’t have become a habit I could sustain.

So I want to readjust my spiritual goals. I want to: develop and maintain holy habits.

• Praying daily

• Studying scriptures daily

• Regular temple attendance

I’m a perfectionist and I feel like the habits I want to have aren’t incredibly hard and I should be able to do it all. I’m really trying to remind myself that habits aren’t developed overnight, it’s a process and I’m trying to be forgiving of myself when I fall short of my own expectations. My mom shared a blog post with me once that has become a treasure in my life and I want to share it with all of you. It’s called Drops of Awesome and it’s the idea of celebrating your victories instead of beating yourself up for your shortcomings. As I’ve spent the last few years being tortured by seemingly unfair circumstances, it’s been INCREDIBLY hard for me to feel like anything I was doing was improving my situation. Even the biggest victories felt insignificant and my mindset was more along the lines of, “that’s cool but I still have so far to go.” Drops of Awesome has taken on new life for me as I’ve started this process of trying to improve.

Well, that’s all I really have to say. I hope that helps you feel more capable of sticking to your goals.

—TRYLEY

*I’m only low-key complaining because it is mostly an intentional choice not to date. I don’t feel like I need to justify myself/my decision but I do want to be clear on this: I believe relationships should be selfless and right now I’m choosing to be selfish with my time in order to heal and learn and grow.

TRY.LEY > Intro

Originally Published March 5, 2018

I want to start off this story with some background information and goals.

Basics:

My name is Ryley. I’m 26 years old. I love corgis and 90s music. And I’m a Mormon.

Background:

I graduated high school in 2009. I moved in with some friends and was on top of my social game. I was absolutely living in an ignorance is bliss mindset because I bounced from job to job so that I could have playing money while relying on my parents to pay my living expenses. I finally decided to go to school but failed out and spent all my loan money on clothes and toys.

In 2012, I decided to serve a mission for my church because I felt so much regret for how I’d been living my life and I thought dedicating myself to living a strict schedule/lifestyle would help me learn how to successfully manage adult life.* My mission was an incredible experience that taught me how to love and serve others, how to plan and work for the things you want to happen in life, and I developed better communications skills.

I came home from my mission in 2014 ready to attack adulting again and thing got pretty ugly. The door to school got shut in my face. A relationship I had high hopes for ended. I ended up moving to a ward** where I was completely ignored and no matter how hard I tried, I could not make friends. I ended up in a job I loved and finally felt like my skills were being recognized by my team and by my employers only to find out that I was working with a bunch of two-faced bitches who were actually harassing me and causing psychological damage. And to top it all off, I had several debt collectors calling me daily trying to get money that I just did not have since I was completely supporting myself at this point.

In December of 2016, I decided to go to counseling because I felt emotionally depleted and I knew I didn’t have the tools I needed to handle everything on my plate. I was living with incredibly supportive friends and I was in a decent job that was paying me enough to pay all my bills, but nothing more. Though my needs were being met, every decision or action I made was in direct response to a problem I was facing. I was not living, I was surviving. I wasn’t happy, I was exhausted. I was putting in 110% at work in the hopes of a raise that was denied. I was going to church with the hope that I would make friends but I felt constantly overlooked and inadequate. I was the fattest I’ve ever been IN MY LIFE. I felt absolutely stuck. The course of life I was on was the only option and there was no hope for things changing any time soon.

One day, I had to leave work early because the reality of my situation had set in and I had what I assume was an anxiety attack brought on by a mixture of my suffocating financial problems and PTSD from the harassment I’d faced at my last job. I prayed to God harder than before to help me. I told Him about everything I’d done to try to solve my problems but that I felt incapacitated and I needed something to change. Days later, after going to court to deal with some traffic tickets I’d put off, I felt strongly that I needed to quit my job. I was on my way back to work I had this clarity that if I put in my 2 weeks notice, that would give me time and drive to find another job or else I would need to move home with my parents who were living in South Carolina. Things didn’t end up working out for me to stay in Utah and in October I moved to Charleston. I was originally planning on only being here until the end of the year but I got here and immediately felt peace, and love, and important and I am not ready to give that up.

I’ve seen a lot of healing in the few months I’ve been out here but there are some things I definitely need to work on and it’s time to start focusing on that since I feel like I can actually breathe again. My ward here is starting an initiative called More Fit, focusing on Physical, Spiritual, and Life goals. I’ve been asked to be the Goal Guru and to help others met their goals. So here we are. I’m going to be posting my progress on Instagram as well as posting some more in-depth insights here. I would love to have anyone follow me as I try to improve.

Goals:

Physical: Lose 60 lbs. by my birthday (October 16th). That’s less than 2 lbs. a week.

Plan:

• Run for at least 20 minutes every morning

• Weight Watchers

Spiritual: Fulfill my calling

Plan:

• Study scriptures 1 hr everyday

• Temple once a quarter

• Pray for missionary opportunities

Life: Get out of debt*** by April 20th

Plan:

• Create a budget and stick to it

• Pay tithing and bills first

So there you have it folks. Hopefully that helps you understand where I’m coming from and where I’m hoping to go. As I’ve thought about this process, the word transparency has really stuck out to me. I want to be really open about what I’m going through because the other option is to hide behind shame and embarrassment and that is the biggest reason I haven’t made changes in the past. I can’t imagine I’m the only human dealing with the struggles of losing weight, or making friends/connecting with other, or balancing a relationship with God. So I want to share those struggles so that I can get help but so that others know that they’re not alone in their struggles and that fighting back is an option. All I ask for is your kindness and respect.

Thanks for being a part of this!

—TRYLEY

*There were definitely other reasons I decided to serve a mission too but that was a big one.

**Mormon lingo for a church congregation. In my life, my wards have been the basis of my social group.

***Except for my school loans.