I Miss You

Dear Heart

Dear Heart,
Thanks for always being there.  Thanks for helping me take chances.  Thanks for supporting me in the tough times.  Thanks for never missing a beat.  We've been through it all and you've always had my back, I'll try harder to keep you happy.
Love,
Austin

I remember

My trials make me.

You see you wouldn’t ask why the rose that grew from the concrete 

Had damaged petals.

On the contrary, we would all celebrate its tenacity.

We would all love it’s will to reach the sun

Well, I am the rose, and these are my damaged petals.

Don’t ask me why, ask me how.

Shoes

Where have my shoes been? My shoes are generic plain old black and white Nikes.  I guess you could say that your shoes are a visual description of yourself.  My shoes (like myself) have holes.  A lot of people would say they are worn out, but I think that just adds character.  My shoes have lived their life to the fullest.  They have felt to fresh dirt of countless job sites, being stained with paint and stucco as they construct a house that will become a home for a new family.  They've seen the happiest of times, inside Bank of America Stadium and Cameron Indoor Stadium, creating memories with my dad that will last long past their lives.  They've seen the saddest of times, feeling the cool tile of my grandma's hospital room, to the soft carpet of the chapel, where they hear my Aunt's soft sobs as we reminisce the passing of my 3 year old cousin.  My shoes have been to hell and back, with holes and marks, but that's what make them special.

#Blessed

For Spring Break I went on a cruise to Ensenada Mexico.  I had the time of my life, made memories with the people I love the most, ate more than I thought was humanly possible; but that’s not what stuck with me from my trip.  As we walked the streets of Mexico, I saw more poverty than I had in my whole life.   I saw people as old as 90, sitting of the side of the dirt road, begging because they are to old to work.  I saw men out in the fields picking crops; doing anything they can to support their families.  I could see little boy’s ribs, as I knew they would probably go hungry that night.  Our cab driver had to leave his family in Cambodia to come to America to find work, and send everything he had back to his family, only being able to visit once a year.  All this while I was letting someone else clean my room, make my food, and entertain me.

The day before we left, my sister was upset because she wasn’t getting the iPhone 6.  She’s 10.  I don’t blame her for feeling upset, I blame the society we live in for thinking it’s a bad thing to not have the latest and greatest thing out there.  While we were having dinner, my dad was planning another cruise for when I got off my mission.  We were spending more time thinking about having fun in the future we forgot to enjoy ourselves in the present.

I think we all need to remember every single day how blessed we truly are.  I know that we all may not have it as easy as others, but we all have something to be grateful of that.  Hold on to it, and never let it go.  Live in the now, be kind to everyone, I don’t know if anyone is still reading this at this point but I think we all need to do a little better at being grateful.

If you really knew me...

Very few people really knew me.  What I like, what I don’t like, what bugs me.  I feel like this class helped me let a lot of people know the real me.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I had a hard time with ‘hipster day’.  I’m the type of guy that wears basketball shorts and a t-shirt to school every day.  Isn’t that hipster?  It’s unique and no one else does it.  But I guess I’m more creative when I button my top button and wear glasses that just give me a headache.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I love writing.  I want to be a sports journalist when I’m older and work for ESPN.  I love putting my feelings in words.  I love this class. 

If you really knew me, you’d know that I am very strong in my faith.  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I LOVE it.  I am called to serve in the Louisville, Kentucky mission and I couldn’t be more exited! 

If you really knew me, you’d know that a lot of people look sympathetic towards me when I tell them I’m going to Kentucky.  If you really knew me you’d know this is the perfect place for me.  I was born in Atlanta Georgia and I absolutely love the south.  I would be the worst missionary out there if I had to learn a language. 

If you really knew me you’d know that I love sports.  I can’t name a sport I don’t find interesting.  In my life I’ve played, baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, lacrosse, soccer, swim, and I am currently on the Lone Peak Men’s Volleyball team (yes, we DO have a men's volleyball team here, kinda wish people knew more about it).  I play setter and I absolutely love it.  Playing or watching, sports is kind of my life.

If you really knew me you’d know my name isn’t Chuck Watts.  My best friend Mason Stenquist’s sister is having a baby, and they are thinking about the name Charles.  They said if I would make Chuck Watts my name, they’d name their boy that.  So I’m hoping he grows up to be famous so I can be responsible for his name. 

If you really knew me, you’d know that I am the one and only….

Austin Hammond