Thrills with Frills

 Whenever I hear an ambulance passing or the sound of a fire truck, I panic. Could it be a family member? A friend? Are they heading in the direction of my house? Do I recognize the wrecked car? Tragedy is scary and it’s even scarier when it comes close to the ones you love.

And then there’s tragedy that happens to complete strangers. It’s a sadness for humanity, for another’s struggle, for that helpless feeling in the pit of your stomach. Why would a man open fire at a local movie theatre? Why would someone my age go into an elementary school and shamelessly murder children? And why would someone bomb a father running for his disabled son, a daughter running for her mother with breast cancer, or even just a person running in the world’s oldest annual marathon?

But then you have to ask why evil exists. Why are there bad people? The child inside me is scared. The adult in me is angry. Aren’t we beyond these acts of violence and hate? Do we as human beings not understand the value of a life and the difference between right and wrong?

Obviously not, and there will always be “bad guys” who find their way to the front page. It’s part of the flaw in humanity and our struggles as human beings in sin. But for every bad guy, we can feel confident that there are thousands of more good guys, helping hands, and a united front.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” Fred Rogers

Watching the recorded film of the bomb in Boston, one is overwhelmed with a hope. There is a uniform going into the line of danger. Strangers running to help, to cry with, and to fight for another. No matter what tragedy comes, there will always be more goodness, more people doing the right thing, and a hope that we can never lose or overlook.

So as much as I want to be angry, the best response we can have is to grieve in this hope and to know that evil never wins. 

Black coffee with a dash of skim milk and Splenda. Two years ago this coffee order was ingrained in my brain as I interned at Conan O’Brien’s TBS late night comedy show on the Warner Brothers Lot in Los Angeles. Everyday around 4:00pm I would travel into the “Central Perk” of the WB lot and get the “Boss” his coffee. But I took away so much more than Conan O’Brien’s coffee order

 As a general production intern my duties ranged from these coffee runs, organizing fan mail, and even helping with rehearsals and remote shoots. Basically, anything and everything. While the work can come across as typical Hollywood “grunt” work, it never really felt like it. The environment, the people, and the show itself acted as a motivation and compensated for the sometimes trivial tasks. I was part of Team Coco.

Last week, I had the opportunity to once again work on the show as Conan remotely filmed in Atlanta, Georgia for four days. With the filming just two hours from Greenville, I couldn’t resist signing on to help. Throughout the week the tasks were similar to before with errands running me throughout Atlanta, food orders, and assisting in rehearsal. Ah rehearsal—the favorite part of everyone’s day that works at Conan. As Conan rehearses his monologue and comedy sketches with the writers, the interns sit, stare, and absorb—so many personalities, so many quirks, and so much knowledge. And that’s when I’m reminded why I love being on the show, love being with those people, and love being able to take part in a unique culture. The work environment at Conan isn’t your Devil Wears Prada experience. It’s filled with people who are genuinely great. They work hard, love what they do, and are taking chances to pursue their dream careers.

 As my days dwindle as a college undergraduate and the real world begins to filter in, I am overcome with respect for these people. People that are willing to pursue goals and dreams once thought impossible. Barriers overcome, comfort zones eliminated, and pride swallowed. I continue to see these people all around me today- our Fitness Rebellion community, the DriVen Class, and even my friends here at BOF that work incredibly hard and passionately. And although I’m still working on the ever changing “life plan”, I can follow the cliché but true words of Thoreau’s Walden, “I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” 

In effort to actually keep up a series on my blog, I introduce THAT Tuesday! Inspired by my friends at Brains on Fire and their THAT Greenville campaign, I want to take time to highlight new brands, products, and events that people should know about. Oftentimes I’m introducing my friends to these new developments just because of my pop culture obsession so why not share with my dear world wide web?

For my inaugural THAT Tuesday I’ve chosen a start-up near and dear to my heart and skin—Birchbox. Yeah, THAT Birchbox. I’m still amazed at the amount of people who don’t know about Birchbox and the amazing company that it’s grown to be. 

Started by two Harvard MBA grads in 2010, Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp took the dream of having a beauty editor best friend to reality. Subscribers would receive a monthly box of samples ranging from make-up, skin care, hair, or even a piece of chocolate. Haven’t you ever wanted to try a new product, but didn’t want to pay for it if you ended up not liking it? Birchbox gives you the trends of the beauty realm for $10 a month and then you can buy the full size product from their online store if you find yourself in love. There are even Birchbox Rewards Points where you can rack up credit from just signing up and referring your friends.

Birchbox has grown immensely since it began in 2010 and launched its Men’s line this past September, looking to make over seven million in revenue this year. With a female power duo, a growing market, and a product that you wish that you had thought up yourself, Birchbox isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

And once a month I find myself anxiously awaiting a little pink and cardboard box.