www.thesunnygirl.com

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Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Cooking with a Cook

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Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Starting a New Chapter

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Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Taking Baby Steps

We are creatures of habit–especially when it comes to the environment. It’s so easy for us to go about our day, abusing our planet, without even knowing the damage that we may be doing. I can only see so many stranded polar bears until I have to care. After hearing a recent presentation about saving the environment, I care even more. And maybe it’s not a matter of caring; we all want to help our planet. Maybe it’s a matter of remembering. We’ve all heard the facts in same shape or form. I think if we’re really going to make a change, we have to remember those facts not only hours after we hear them but for a prolonged period of time. We need to remind ourselves.

There are countless ways we can start making steps to help our environment. Baby steps. No, I’m not asking you to give up Ruth Chris steakhouse (I can’t resist) or to take two minute showers (sorry, standing in the shower for a little while is relaxing for me). It’s about taking your own baby steps that will get the Earth moving in a positive direction.

So here are some ways that you can help Mother Earth shine a little brighter in your own special way:

1. Turn off the lights: This is probably the easiest and quickest ways to save some energy.

2. Unplug your chargers: Again, it doesn’t take long. And here’s some karma for you—I used to leave my chargers in all the time and my charger was dead after just a few months from a power surge.

3. Cut back on the beef: I learned that going without beef for you is equivalent to taking 17 SUVS off the road. Personally, I’ve done this and I really don’t miss it. Unless, again, I’m at Ruth Chris.

4. Avoid the paper: Living in a sorority house, we are constantly using paper plates, paper cups, and paper napkins to try our hands. Use silverware and a towel instead. If you’re at a restaurant, air dry those pretty paws.

5. Turn the water off while you wash your hands: Or shave your legs. Or shampoo. I didn’t realize how much water it was wasting in between.

Again, it’s all about the baby steps. Do what’s comfortable and convenient while still making a positive change. We can do it!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

What Death Taught Me

Death is never easy to accept. Whether it’s sudden, shocking, slow, or painful, there is something valuable that I have learned from death in light of the recent events. Death brings people together. It can draw families closer and it brings distant friends near. Because of death, we hear from people that may have had a silent presence before. We suddenly come together to appreciate an amazing and dearly missed person; their remarkable qualities, their contributions, and their passions. That is how it is for Nick. If only he were here to hear it.

In my small hometown, everyone has become aware of this tragedy. It’s a town where everyone knows just about everyone—especially if you’re a kid or the parent of a kid. After spending 20 years together, we grew up alongside each other and we know each other’s stories. I only knew Nick during high school, but over time, he touched many people’s lives. People really cared about him—as is evidenced by his memorial page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rest-In-Peace-Nicholas-Joel-Haverland/129230060488517. Please feel free to join if you feel so inclined.

What puzzles me though is why people save their love up. Why didn’t we tell him how much we cared while he was still here? Are we taking life for granted? Too often the words are too late—I don’t think they are falling on deaf ears but I wish they could have fallen on Nick’s ears while he was still here.

Please say what you want to say to those you love. Before it’s too late. Don’t assume that people know how you feel. You have to say it.

We miss you, Nick.

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Gone Too Soon

One day here, gone the next. Gone at 6:50 pm last night, we lost a wonderful person who contributed to this world in so many ways. He graduated in my senior class—only 20 years old—and he is gone much, much too soon. Just riding his bike with friends, and just like that, gone. I am greatly saddened and shocked by this news; this is the first time I’ve known someone to pass so suddenly and at such a young age in an accident.

How do we cope? I wondered aloud last night, “How does this happen? Is it fate? A freak accident? Why him?” There is no perfect explanation for why such tragedies occur but my roommate paraphrased a quote saying that we are the clay, shaped into unique pots depending on our individual purposes in life. While I’m not saying that this was his purpose, certainly not, maybe that was the way his pot was sculpted. As far as I’m concerned, it was a glitch in the pottery wheel. This isn’t supposed to happen.

I pray for his family and all of his dear friends today. May the individual who made these terrible choices endure the consequences. I hope that the boy we lost yesterday will live on in our hearts and remind us just how precious life is. As yesterday shows, you never know what life may bring. May we love others, and tell them so. And as hard as it may be, may we get “back on our bikes” and continue to live life to the fullest just as he did. We can’t live life in fear waiting for terrible accidents to come to us. We can’t give up but we can’t forget.

Here is the article: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/11/vehicle-hits-4-people-kills-1-in-ventura/

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

YES!

After all of those days, waiting for a door to open, one has! I have to admit, hearing “no” was starting to have a nice ring to it, but then, hearing the sound of “yes” made it all the better. I heard one of the best “yesses” yesterday—when the producer at NBC News called to tell me that I got the internship position at NBC News! I’m so thrilled about this and I can’t wait to start. I feel so thankful for the opportunity and I know this will be a huge chance for me to learn more about broadcast journalism.

I have to admit, and as I told the producer, I don’t have as much experience in this field as I would like. UCLA does not offer a broadcast journalism major (unlike our lovely neighbors…) so it’s hard to gain actual academic experience in this career. But all the more reason for me to ask important questions, do my research, and get my feet wet! I’m just so grateful to have a chance to be in this environment.

So I’ll be starting this summer, 16 hours a week, whenever I’d like to go to the studio. I’d say between 4 am and midnight are pretty flexible hours! The news that the studio produces goes to the Today Show, MSNBC, and Nightly News with Brian Williams. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

The Tyranny of Happiness

You’ve had a hard day. Sometimes, don’t you just want to hear—“I’m sorry, that’s really hard” instead of “you can do it!” or “just keep trying harder!” Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about optimistic thinking, but it doesn’t always help to be constantly bombarded with advice instead of empathy. This might be a shout out for all you guys just trying to be helpful…well, it’s not all the time. We girls don’t always need a suggestion to our problems, we’re smart cookies. We can figure out our own problems, unless we ask directly for advice. Often times, we just want you to listen.

But in all fairness, I was told the sickeningly sweet positive words of wisdom like, “Just keep a positive attitude!” last night and while I hate to admit it after my previous paragraph, it did help me out a little. It was also suggested that I should “meet new people” when I went out, and well, I guess the advice worked, because I did. So maybe there is some value to these comments…maybe.

My roommate enlightened me last night on the irony of how happy suggestions do not always lead to happy thoughts. It’s called the tyranny of happiness. I think that’s the perfect phrasing for it. Shouldn’t words of encouragement make us feel better? Not necessarily. There is certainly a time and a place. So maybe on the days when the Nancys are a little more negative and the Debbies are a little more down, we should mellow out a little ourselves when trying to empathize.

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Walking in their Shoes

Can helping be truly selfless? It’s been a common argument for a while now—whether or not self-interest is involved in altruism. And while I’m sure our own needs  can play a part in whether we help or not, there is one technique that researchers suggest for truly selfless giving. According to a study by Batson, Turk, Shaw, and Klein in 1995, when we show empathetic concern, or “feelings of warmth, tenderness, and compassion toward the other,” we often feel more compelled to offer assistance.

It’s based on the concept of “we-ness.” When we sense a similarity between us and the people we are helping, we can relate more to their needs and circumstances. And because the evolutionary theory suggests that we want to protect our genes, it would make sense then that we would want to help those that we feel more related to.

Let’s try to step in someone else’s shoes for the day. What would it feel like to wear worn out shoes from sitting on the street corner? What would it feel like to wear a cast or be immobilized in a wheelchair, despite what shoes you’re wearing? What if you have no shoes at all—because you lost your legs in a car accident? All of these things could happen; in a way, it happens when we imagine it. For some people, their “shoes” are a daily reminder of their reality.

May we offer to help people, no matter shoes “we’re” wearing. We’ve all been given different abilities and talents in our unique lives, but helping is a skill that everyone has. Let’s make good use of it.

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook

Happiness for Moms

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! I hope you make the day meaningful for your mom, mamacita, mommy, momma, or mew—whatever special name you have for her. I want to especially thank my mother for all the wonderful things she has done for our family over the years. She is one special lady who shines her sunshine wherever she goes.

What qualities are you thankful for in your mom? Tell her so! I know it can be hard to say the words sometimes, but people, and our moms especially, should hear it. They should know how much we love them—saying it is the easiest way.

Here are 10 reasons why I LOVE my mom:

1. The Marila Cook dance: She is always the first person to get excited for me and I love how she gets so enthusiastic about great news.

2. Enthusiasm of the Energizer Bunny: She always has a smile on her face and she is one of the friendliest people that I know.

3. Her leadership abilities: She served as National Charity League President and she worked tirelessly for the organization. Her hard work paid off and she did an outstanding job.

4. Her dedication to education: She has always stressed the importance of knowledge. With her masters in nursing, she is always searching for new information to study.

5. Her caring heart: My mom worked as a nurse in heart surgery for over 20 years and she still works as a nurse. She truly cares about her patients—I think she is perfect for the job.

6. Her dessert skills: Oh, if you could see a cake that she decorates.

7. Party planner to the max: From our annual news year’s party, to every elaborate birthday party, my mom makes every special occasion even more special.

8. Giving back: My mom is a true philanthropist. I think she exemplifies the word “selfless.”

9. Laughter: My mom has a great laugh. She and my dad make a killer combo.

10. Supportive: Whether it’s a phone call, cards, or kind words, my mom always uses just the right words to inspire me.

I love you Mom! Have a happy Mother’s Day—you certainly deserve it!

Keep shining,

The Sunny Girl, Lauren Cook