Let me tell you firsthand— and you probably already figured it, but I’m just confirming: Moving. Is. Hard. And when you’re moving across the country by yourself, with everything you have in your backseat, only partially familiar with your new locale, and with a limited amount of money… Chyeah. I feel this is how a lot of country songs start out. I’ll probably throw my own into the mix here soon once I dig out my guitar from the rubble in the back of my stick shift.

It’s not like I didn’t know that heading into an adventure like this would be just that: an adventure. I did. But, I haven’t found a place to live yet. I have been bumming it on my best friend and her boyfriend’s air mattress and don’t know exactly when I’ll be out of their hair (I owe them lots of beer and my first born). So between rambling around Nashville like a Beverly Hillbilly trying to secure a living space, trying to figure out where to get something cheap to eat because it’s 4:30pm and I forgot to eat, and cars honking while I’m trying to figure out where I am via a blue bouncing dot on my dying iPhone, my spirits have gotten a little weary. 

But, nothing good ever came easy, and this situation compared to many others ain’t nuthin’. It’s just new to me. I say: Bring it on.  

Until I find out more specifics to my life from here on out, I’m enjoying Nashville like a boss. I’ve listened to live music in honky tonks and on the street, two-stepped with strangers, saw a couple country stars out in public, and found out my new favorite place to run. Between all that, I’ve reminded myself why I came.

I’m sure I’ll look back on this someday and wish I could fit all my possessions in a small car. I’m sure I’ll look back and wish I had the entire day open to me in a city completely new to do whatever my heart desired. I’m sure I’ll look back and say to myself, “Tay… Why did you worry? That was nothing, and wasn’t it worth it?”

Until then, you can find me in a honky tonk chatting up the next live band. Cheers!

While battling the turbulent post-grad landscape of mediocre entry level jobs, a dating scene that is depressingly just out of reach from the ideal, and the struggle to hold on to that magical dream of life as reality slowly softens it in your grip, it may be simply hard to remain inspired.

Ah yes, inspired. It’s the reason we hit ‘Refresh’ on Pinterest every two minutes (or did for a week or three in April), hoping to find a new quote that will perfectly define a mantra we can’t put into words ourselves. It’s why we try and ‘lose ourselves’ on long bike rides in different neighborhoods while listening to darling indie folk through our iPhones. It’s what we think we’ll find in the bookshelves of the local independent bookstore. We’re looking to be inspired. By anything.

We look for inspiration elsewhere because we find a lack of fulfillment and inspiration within ourselves: The twenty-somethings who standing on the side of the railroad, stretching our necks out to see if our Dream Boxcar containing The Dream Everything is on the right track on which we currently are. But shit! Are we on the wrong railroad and our Dream Boxcar is on the one just two blocks west? Or east? Crap, I don’t even know which direction east is from here. I’m screwed.

What is amazing, and what we forget, is that life has started, but also, it hasn’t. Just like college gave us a chance to reinvent ourselves, find ourselves— all the clichés you’ve heard about college and self transformation to make you want to stop reading this right here, right now— that’s true for us now, too. Only we’re older. We’re a little more poor (probably, and if not, you may treat me to happy hour), and a little down trodden thanks to The Man— all of it. But really, we’re right where we should be.

Look at your favorite artist. Delve into their history a little. Try and correlate their best material and what was going on in their personal life before then. I can’t come up with one singular example, because there are too many; Great things have come out of tough times. Okay, you may not think you’re going through a tough time right now still sneaking into your old frat’s house parties and sleeping through half your weekend with a half-eaten burrito in your hand until it’s Monday and shit you’ve got an 8a.m. meeting to be decent for. Keep it up, mister. But if you’re not that and you’re worried and nervous and just not even sure about everything, good. You’ve got something.

If given the choice, you’d put yourself in the crowded “Uninspired and Twenty-something” box, I’m here to challenge you: Stay off Pinterest, put down your iPhone, and stash your bike for an afternoon, (saying ‘no’ to those frat house parties may be a good route, too).

Get creative. That’s it. I’m not even going to suggest how, because who the hell am I to inspire you?

Experiencing live music is, in my opinion, vital for leading a functional life. Specifically for me, it’s an addiction for which I will never seek a cure.

Here are the shows I have been fortunate enough to enjoy (that I can remember off the top of my head) in the past two years. In most cases I was lucky enough to be getting paid. Ain’t that somethin’? And, were you there?

2012

Atmosphere, Common - Red Rocks

Cornmeal, Hot Buttered Rum - The Ogden

Punch Brothers - The Bluebird

Leftover Salmon - Breckenridge

Chuck Ragan, Tommy Gabel, Nathaniel Rateliff - Summit Music Hall

The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys - 1stBank Center

Trampled by Turtles, Brown Bird - Boulder Theater

Bon Iver, Feist - Red Rocks

Bassnectar - Red Rocks

Michael Franti & Spearhead - Red Rocks

Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Barenaked Ladies - Red Rocks

Avett Brothers (x2) - Red Rocks

Foster the People, Kimbra - Red Rocks

Blues Traveler, Fitz & the Tantrums - Red Rocks

The String Cheese Incident (x2) - Red Rocks

The Beach Boys - Red Rocks

Jack Ingram - The Grizzly Rose

Brandi Carlile, Ingrid Michaelson - Red Rocks

O.A.R., Rebelution - Red Rocks

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie - Red Rocks

James Taylor - Red Rocks

2011

Easton Corbin - The Grizzly Rose

State Radio - The Ogden

Dirty Heads, Pacific Dub - Summit Music Hall

Mumford & Sons - Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Sheridan Opera House (Best concert ever)

Global Dance Festival feat. Skrillex, LMFAO, Big Gigantic, Kid Cudi - Red Rocks

Maroon 5, Train, Gavin DeGraw - Red Rocks

The Civil Wars, Sarah Jarosz - The Boulder Theater

Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry - Comfort Dental Amphitheater

Rascal Flatts, Justin Moore, Sara Evans - Comfort Dental Amphitheater

Taylor Swift, NEEDTOBREATHE - Pepsi Center

Jason Aldean, Chris Young, Thompson Square - Pepsi Center

Keith Urban, Jake Owen - Pepsi Center

Paul Simon - 1STBank Center

Dierks Bentley, Eli Young Band, Jarrod Nieman - 1STBank Center

Tech N9ne - The Fillmore

Kid Rock, Ty Stone - The Fillmore

Beats Antique - The Fillmore

Playing around in the desert around sunrise is a fine thing.

Recommended live or in the headphones: Trampled by Turtles. Give a little listen.

Guys. I ran a half-marathon. And I LOVED IT.

Let me blab:

I’ve called myself a runner since I joined the cross country team in high school nine (yeesh) years ago. I was moreso drawn to the camaraderie, ultra-comfy school-issued sweatpants, skipping class, and team dinners (okay, and probably the boys) than I was the actual putting-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other-fast business. It turns out I wasn’t horribly slow and had a little endurance, and that was good because I’ve never been impressive at sports that use balls.

My fastest 5k (3.1 miles) during my career was 23:30, which I’m still quite proud of but still hope to break.

Before the half-marathon, my last race was in 2006 and nothing to even tell you about. I had shin splints and sore calves that hindered my senior season and yada yada. I kept running through college, albeit less consistently, and it turned into something I thoroughly adore. Running is like my boyfriend. If you’d have told the 15-year-old me that I’d actually look forward to 8 and 9-mile runs, I would’ve given you my signature teenager eye-roll.

Within the last year, I’ve really gotten into running more often and even doing some trail running. I’d never thought about getting back into races, until a good friend told me she had done a half-marathon. The gears started going: I needed a goal.

Having something to work toward does wonders for prioritizing and re-examining your focus. I knew that’s what I needed, bucked up, and registered for the Horsetooth Half Marathon on April 22 in Fort Collins. I’d have over four months to train, and even if I crawled across that finish line, I knew I was gonna make it.

I looked at a couple training plans from Runner’s World and Women’s Health Mag, and crafted my own from there. I totaled an average of 20 to 25 miles a week,  changed my diet, started tapering a couple weeks prior, and then carbo-loaded the day before. Funny: For a cross country meet in high school (3.1 miles) we’d carbo-load like crazy. Now, 3.1 miles is a good warm up.

Thanks to staying at a good friend’s house in Fort Collins, the morning of was stress-free, save for the butterflies in my stomach. I wasn’t nervous, really. I knew I prepared well and I was excited to take it on.

My muscles felt ready, the sun was out, and it was a little crisp in the air- perfect running weather. Let’s DO this.

The first 2.5 miles of the Horsetooth Half are at a 9% and 6% incline, respectively. Although intimidated, we power-hiked along with everyone else (those who tried to run were going about the same speed).

 Despite some soreness in the first three miles, I felt pretty fantastic. The miles started flying by, and all was going so well that I expected to get a cramp around mile 9 or a side-stitch for sure by mile 11.5. But nothing plagued me, and I felt super strong through the finish line. My xc competitiveness kicked in and I sprinted (and beat a guy) to the finish line.

2:10:15 was my official time. My goal time was under 2 hours, 15 minutes. 

I couldn’t believe how great I felt, and I was loving the runner’s high. And it made me think: Why aren’t more people addicted to endorphins? They’re free, actually good for you, and a terrific high. How can you not love that?

This undoubtedly sounds like one huge humble brag, huh? I know, I know. But if anything, it’s a testimony to having a goal, working your ass off to get there, and reveling in your success when you’ve reached it. 

So, what now? Another half marathon in June. I’ve got a new goal for a faster time, but mostly, I just can’t wait to go for another run.

I like to bring this up once in a while to remind myself that my life is pretty awesome, despite periods of near monotony.

I’m gonna brag because it’s my blog and I do what I want. I’m in this with Mumford & Sons, The Punch Brothers, Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Sarah Jarosz, and Cadillac Sky.

What’s the single best memory you can think of that instantly puts the most ridiculously big smile on your face? This is mine. 

I have a new motto. Not that I ever really had an old one. I guess I’ve never thought about adopting a motto because I generally try to avoid clichés like I avoid contact with Huskers and Raiders fans.

I have blatantly taken it from Nike, so I’ll just put that out there right away.

Make it count.

Make it count.

Make it count.

What’s that mean? It’s up to you. For me, it’s the act of doing something awesome every single day so that it stands out from the day before. Or last Tuesday. Or two weeks ago this coming Saturday. Making it count. No half-assing it.

Breakfast? It’s gonna be the best dang breakfast I’ve had all day. I might even put extra Cholula on my omelet while listening to BBC World Radio and learning about their fascination with cricket.

My run? It’s gonna either be longer, more intense, or in a different direction than it was yesterday. If I half-ass half-marathon training, I’ll only be half-successful. 

Going to bed? I’m gonna rock it by reading a kick ass book while drinking green tea. IN BED. Because last night I had chamomile.

See, I have this irrational fear of monotony. When my jobs changed, I was worried about my entertaining, envious life deflating like a balloon. It would be pretty hard for it not to after an experience like Metromix.

I was suddenly worried of getting into a boring routine: Exercise, shower, breakfast, work, exercise, read, bed. Every. Day. Like. Clockwork. I was afraid of endless nights on the couch watching crappy reality shows and melting into lazy.

I’m not that type of lady. I need spontaneity, adventure, a non-routine.

Grey’s Anatomy? I watched two episodes yesterday; better make it a marathon tonight.

Yes, I will have a beer at a coffee shop on a Wednesday night. I’m making it count. (As I write this, I’m at said coffee shop, sans beer. That was last week, and I was planning hiking trips).

My point is: I’m making every day count. If I do, I have no excuse to look back and see a predictable routine. It is my job to wake up every day and find an adventure. If that means walking to work a different way today and writing a blog tomorrow, so be it. I’m making it count, and it’s my adventure.

Adventure is what you make of it. Choose yours. Make it count.

I’ve been slacking, I know. You probably haven’t even noticed, and in that case, nevermind; I don’t know what you’re talking about.

A couple weeks ago I boldly proclaimed how I’d do this one blog each and every week. Boy how ambitious and New-Years-Resolutionary I was. Well, life has gotten busier, or I have just gotten lazier, but either way I haven’t been so consistent. So, I retract my bold statement and will just say, instead, that I will do this when I am inspired. The outcome is always better that way anyhow.

If you weren’t curious like I predicted and clicked on the hyperlink above, I’ll let you in anyway: I like to share good music. Maybe it’s an old song, maybe it’s a random one that came up on Pandora that was forgotten until then. But I think music should be shared and so here is me sharing it. Enjoy.

Laura Marling, Sophia. If you like Joni Mitchell, or female folk singer-songwriter types, guess what? You’re gonna fall in love. She’s from London, my age, and amazing. For more context, she’s very good friends with Mumford & Sons, and Noah & the Whale, Johnny Flynn, and other emerging English folk-rock artists. The song starts off slowly, but builds into something fantastic. I listened to this song on repeat no less than ten times yesterday. That good.

Bhi Bhiman, Guttersnipe. His voice, his voice. It commands your attention and the mellow instrumentation takes a backseat. I like how strong, yet vulnerable it is and the story he tells is a heartbreak. Can’t wait to see where this guy goes.

Paul Simon, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes. I have a very fond memory of dancing to this song, live, with my best friend in perhaps the most awkward place to see a concert because it is very difficult to dance. Aaand, we weren’t 50+ or stoned. If you don’t dance to this song, even a little bit, may God have mercy on your boring soul. (And look who has hair!)

The Head & the Heart, Ever Since. I already loved the Head and the Heart (and I’m thrilled they’re opening for The Shins at Red Rocks!) and knew about every song on their album (The Head & the Heart). I am in love with the vocals. The harmonies are such a hook for me, and I could listen to the guitar forever.

Common, Celebrate. Maybe it’s because I just saw Common at Red Rocks two weeks ago. Yes, in January. It was awesome, and really, really cold. But. This song makes you feel happy. Do I need more of an explanation than that? Okay, I’ll go one further: Common is it.