guest post: noble soul {a tattoo story}

written by: dylan mullen

a few minutes after

almost three years ago, i came up with an idea for a tattoo.  i was in Rome, sitting in my school’s library, & it just came into my mind.  

noble soul

my mom (& her family’s) last name is Noble & it is incredibly fitting.  they are good people. kind, selfless, funny, unpretentious, creative, imperfect, trustworthy, good people.  they are noble & completely exemplify the name they bear.

5 quick minutes and it was done!

i was holding my breath the entire time

if you know me well, you know what role my mom plays in my life.  she is my saving grace; my hero. the person i turn to first when i need help or comfort; the person i turn to for fashion advice, cooking recipes & inspiring quotes.  but more than that, i’ve learned through her example how to be a good person in this world.  she does everything for others & expects little in return; she is a quiet soul that communicates most through her daily actions for other people.  she is the bravest, most beautiful person i know & above all else & like her family, she is noble.  my mom goes by her middle name, patricia, & when i looked up the meaning of her name recently, i was stunned- it means noble. i just couldn’t believe how perfect (& freaky) that was.

simply, i strive to be a noble person.  i want to be like my mom & our Noble family: loving, honest, trustworthy, & true.

i might be a Mullen, but my soul is Noble.

sooo happy with it

so this is for them.  to my Noble fam- you are the best. i love you so much & consider it a privilege to be a part of this family.  there is nothing else i would rather have permanently inked to my body than our family’s name.

***

to be completely transparent, although i did this for them, i think my parents & grandparents (maybe even Liv) wish i hadn’t.  they knew i wanted to get a tattoo, but i think they would have preferred me not to, & are a little surprised i actually went through with it after talking about it for three years.  i rarely rebel or do something out of line- i guess that’s the “goodie-two-shoes in me”- which to be honest, i’m not all that ashamed of.  but in the last few years, something has stirred in me to be more adventurous & brave.  i don’t want to be afraid to do something unexpected in this one life we’re given.

in almost every aspect of my life, i care A LOT about what people think of me.  i never want to hurt anyone’s feelings & i would never want someone to think less of me for a decision i made.  it’s something i struggle with & need to get better at, as i can’t always strive to make everyone happy- especially when it comes to my own happiness.  99% of the time if my parents or siblings ask me not to do something or think i’m about to make the wrong choice, i listen to them.  this was one of the first permanent choices i made that pretty much goes against what they think.  it’s an uncomfortable feeling which makes me sad, but in the end, this is a tribute to them.  i love my tattoo & i have no regrets, & i think they like it too, but are still coming around to the idea.  i believe tattoos are a very personal choice since it’s your (personal) body, & i think they can be really beautiful if you do them right.    

taken by my mom while she exclaimed, "wow! i actually really, really love it." makes me so happy.

so for those of you that want a tattoo: think about it & take your time!  it’s so much classier (& cool) to have it mean something significant. i weighed the pros & cons for three years before doing this - but stick to your own timeline, not mine.  find a clean, respected parlor & check it out first.  i went to a custom shop called Eight of Swords in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) & i LOVED them.  they made me feel comfortable & put me at ease which was super important to me since this was my first time.  on top of that, they were incredibly talented & were able to trace my exact handwriting on my body. so neat!  i also suggest bringing one or two people to keep you calm.  i brought my step-sister & good friend shanon to give advice on size, placement, and moral support. thanks girls!

oh & one more thing…

it didn’t hurt.

-dylan

{guest post: 49:17}

I’ve never been a runner.  Sure I’d run a mile or two on the treadmill a few times a week, but I would be running at 5 mph, maybe walking a little, not completely breaking a sweat.

When my bff suggested we run the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8k I hesitated but said yes.  Some of you may be thinking it’s only 5 miles.  & I hear ya, I hear ya. 

Training totally kicked my butt into shape.  I began working out hard 7 days a week, mixing up runs of 2-4 miles & intense weight workouts.  I slowly started to see my results paying off as I began losing some weight & looking more toned.

{late night training}

But more than that I started feeling better about myself.  My confidence was up, I starting wearing clothes & trying styles that I typically wouldn't have worn before.  & I actually felt pretty damn good in a bikini a couple of weeks ago. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. EVER.....EVER.

I wish this weekend could have been filmed as a reality show.  I have to publicly apologize to my friend Greta for acting like the biggest baby.  I was so nervous!  I had thoughts of dropping out, & I even made a joke about how funny it would be if it looked like I started the race but actually took a cab to the finish line. Haha. I’m not kidding.

I was nervous because I didn’t want it to be a struggle. I had worked so hard the last few months & I was scared the 5 miles would still be difficult.  Thanks to Chicago’s weather I had to train indoors so the first time I would be running outside was the day of the race!

I set three goals for myself, & I recommend you do the same if you ever run a race.

1. Finish the race (not a joke)

2. Run it in 50 min. (10 min miles…not that crazy)

3. Run the whole time (WAIT…WHAT?!?!)

That’s where the number above comes in.  Not only did I finish the race & never walk, but also I beat my time.  Even though 49:17 is a mere 43 seconds faster, I was still so happy.  I can’t even describe the feeling of running through the finish line, legs feeling like jello, exhausted but relieved that it was over. 

Some people may think I’m being dramatic & exaggerating the race & what it means to me.  Fitness is a huge part of my life as it keeps me healthy & sane (it’s the truth!).  Although you may think the physical part of fitness would be the hardest, for me it’s the mental.  I've wanted to do a half-marathon for YEARS but talk myself out of it because I don’t think I’ll be fast enough, or I think how on earth could I run for 3 or 4 hours straight?!?  Finishing the 8k was a BFD* for me.  & I’m proud of it!

{trying on a short dress...what?!?!}
{ps. sorry for the weirdly cropped photo}

So yes, I am that person who cried a little when I crossed the finish line.  & I’m also that person who jumped on a train & headed to the best ice cream shop in Chicago! (ps: it was closed when I got there & barely being able to stand, I almost started sobbing.  pps. It eventually opened and all was right in the world again)

In the end, I’m so glad I signed up (thanks G!)  My family and friends were so supportive during the whole training process, & have even vowed to run the next race with me!  My advice?  Sign up for a race!  It can be as small as a 5k or as big as a marathon.  With determination, positivity & in my case, Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors”, you’ll cross the finish line in no time!

*BFD=big fucking deal

{Greta & I after the race!} 

{guest post: bring joy}

"bring joy" by dylan mullen

July 2011 to July 2012 was the best and worst year of my life.  I learned more about myself than ever before, and more importantly I realized what kind of person I want to be.

I lost a family member during those 12 months that I haven't gotten back.  They didn't die, but they are no longer apart of my life and it has changed the family I've always knew.  Their absence is partly by my choice…. but mostly theirs.

I think the most important thing I learned last year, and that I hope to teach others around me, is that you have a choice in life.

You have the choice to surround yourself with people who lift you higher and bring you joy. Or you can surround yourself with people who bring you down.

You have a choice.

The best part of my life last year was studying abroad.  I met the most incredible people.   Last Friday night I had some friends over my apartment for a get-together and a new friend from class stopped by.  He asked who everyone was, and as I looked around the room I started to smile. "Actually, everyone here I met abroad…. (with the exception of one) I met them all a year ago and now they're my best friends."

I have chosen to keep them in my life because of what they bring me.  They bring laughter, friendship, honesty, compassion…the list goes on and on. 

I have kept them in my life because they bring me joy and lift me higher. 

The hardest choice I have had to make is eliminating from my life those who bring me down.  It is rough.  It is sad.  It is scary.

It has made me stronger.  

It was very difficult for me to accept someone not wanting me in their life.  People don't leave my life very often, so when they do it definitely hurts.  I also felt very self-conscious and obsessed over what I did wrong.  My mom gave it to me straight one day.  It was probably as hard  for her to tell me as it was for me it hear.  She said, "____ for some reason or another doesn't want anything to do with you. I know it hurts and it makes you sad, but you need to do what's best for you.  You can't sit around waiting for them to come back.  Focus on the good."

By no means am I saying unfriend anyone who insults you or makes you angry.  I'm talking people who have chosen to not want you in THEIR life.  This is what happened to me.  The person I lost has made it very clear they do not want me in their life.  And after months of tears, and asking what did I do wrong? What could I have done differently?  I've let go.

Although this person once brought me joy and lifted me higher, they now just bring me down.

The family and friends I have in my life right now are amazing.  Deepening these relationships are my priority…I want to be a deliberate, intentional person.  I want to make sure I am a daughter, sister, friend, niece, granddaughter, etc, that loves immensely.

I want to bring joy and lift people higher.

Over this Thanksgiving holiday, think about this choice.  Who are you thankful for in life?  Surround yourself with these people.

I encourage you to bring joy and lift people higher, but most importantly, recognize you're worth having the same.

.

.

.

Thanks Dylan!

I love guest posts. If you're interested in writing one, please contact me & we can chat.

{guest post! my sister dylan on "mountains & what they've done to me"}

lets go deep today.

I had the opportunity to study abroad my junior year of college...Rome in the fall, London in the spring. Throughout these two semesters I traveled all over Europe, from Budapest to Stockholm, Vienna to Bruges. Being away from home was definitely hard at times, but the year was unforgettable and extraordinary.

When I came home in December for two weeks between semesters, Liv says I was a different person. And she's right. Looking back I don't even remember the first two days at home because 1) I was deliriously jet-lagged & 2) I just left a semester that imprinted on my soul. It was very depressing.

Living abroad is an amazing learning experience. You really have to go big or go home. I said "yes" to things I would normally say "no" to, tried foods before knowing what it was, & most importantly, dove head first into embracing culture.


moment of clarity

I traveled to Geneva, Switzerland with three close friends the first weekend of November. I had been to Switzerland before but never this city, so I was very excited to experience new territory. The Swissland is a gorgeous country where two of my favorite languages are spoken: French & Italian. French is spoken in Geneva, so my friend Greta & I were able to break out our French {although mine was pretty bad} that we hadn't spoken in quite a while.

We decided to cross the border of Switzerland into France & ride a cable car up to the top of a French "Pre-Alp" {that means it's basically connected to the Swiss Alps, but it's in France not Switzerland}. When we arrived at the top of the cable car, we were about 75% up an alp called La Salève, which is 4,600 ft. high. One of my friends & I decided to hike to the top of the mountain, where we were greeted with a 360 degree view of Geneva & the Swiss Alps.  Did you ever have a dream of hiking to the top of a mountain and finding yourself in a pasture of sheep with a breathtaking view?  I lived it!  It was insane.

It's become a trend of mine to have epiphanies at the tops of mountain.  The first time was in 2007 at the top of Mount Yale in Colorado.  I hiked for 12 hours & 9,000 ft. later, found my way at the top of a Colorado Rocky Mountain.  Seeing nothing but white-capped mountain peaks {in July, mind you}, surrounded by new friends that have seen you at your lowest, {around 6,000 ft. up & dying}, & your highest, {managing to make it up the whole way}, is an indescribable feeling.

And here I was experiencing yet another moment of clarity, realization, or whatever you want to call it.  I was sucked into it.  "It" meaning wanderlust & wanting to continue to go for the unknown, take chances, and live life {mostly} unrestrained.  I stood at the top of La Salève in silence for about 25 minutes--staring down at Lake Geneva & the surrounding city, & looking up at a mountain I'd only read about in watch advertisements {Mont Blanc}.  My friend & I only had to look at each other to know what each other was feeling...no words could even begin to do the moment justice.

the lesson

You'll know when you've taken a risk or pushed yourself when you feel a deep burning in your chest screaming exhilaration.  Once you have it, you'll keep going back for more.  I have something planned in about two weeks that some may deem very "unlike me", but to me it's very "like me".  It is definitely a risk, but I already know what it feels like to jump into the unknown & come out an even stronger person.  Olivia has promised me another guest post to talk about it...so keep reading! 

Below are some pictures from that trip...

mont blanc 

 sheep pasture and swiss alps

my geneva gang