Note: This post was used as part of an internship application for a company in my local area. It is not sponsored or affiliated with the company, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Everyone has something they’re excited about.
We all have something we’re so passionate about, we want to shout from the rooftops to everyone around us. If some of us had the guts to turn around to the person behind us in the bookstore, we’d tell them, “This book is amazing and you should totally read it.” And when you look up the definition of “amped,” Merriam-Webster tells you this: filled with energetic excitement and enthusiasm.
Let’s go down a personal route and talk about what gets me amped.
If we’re not counting the occasional weekly wrap-ups I do (where my reading pile mopes continuously), it’s been ages since I’ve written a post that gives everyone a little glimpse about me.
But hey, sometimes we need a little positivity in our lives! And what better way to give everyone that little glimpse, be a little positive and talk about the things that I’m excited or enthusiastic about (aka what gets me amped)?
1. Books
You know you have an obssession with books when:
- You could talk about them all day long
- The Kindle app is one of the first apps you download on a new device
- You try to see what others are reading when you see them carry a book
In fact, you know your obsession is reaching new heights when you start an entire website dedicated to books and reading and do it for a long time.
Sure I go through slumps and could spend days not reading if I’m not in the mood, but if I have the time, I’ll always go back to reading. While I don’t like every book I read, I’m always entering a book hoping that I will be plucked into the pages and into the world the author(s) create and never return.
2. Learning and Trying Something New
I always find myself wanting to try things that pique my interest and experimenting, especially throughout my blogging years:
- Messing with graphics
- Playing with styles and formats
- Writing new topics
Because I don’t always live in blogging, I like trying new things in life:
- Dabbling with different subjects in photography
- Trying different planning systems
- Trying out a new snack
- Making my character more adaptable to help people out in games
I like a little variety in my life and I’m not a huge fan of being restricted to one particular area, skill or trade. I always want to learn more, asking the why and how. I’m a firm believer that there’s always something new to learn every day, no matter how small or big.
3. Finding out why
Learning isn’t necessarily asking the why and how it’s also getting all your things together and going on an adventure to find out the why and how. Part of the beauty of blogging is not only trying out new things but getting the chance to explore the questions I ask when I make observations.
One question I’ve been asking myself lately is related to Bookstagram. Why are there so little accounts using the checkerboard theme? What can I learn from testing it out on my own account for a few weeks? I decided to plot out the theme and on March 14, I launched the plan into action, made observations and started collecting some data. I’m currently cooking up the post in drafts after reading Kal’s Stats Transparency Post, where she talks about the lessons she learned after one year of blogging.
4. Being Creative
I used to think being someone different was not okay, and I needed to be like everyone else around me. At some point in my life, I must have reached an epiphany.
Now I think, “what can I do to make this different?” or “what can I do to make this me and stand out from the others?” Whenever I’m writing a Top Ten Tuesday post, I don’t stay with the topic – I like kicking it into a new spin. When I created my Instagram and actually sat down to work on it, I thought about what I could do to make my theme stand out (but still be me).
5. My Accomplishments Journal
In late February I decided to start an accomplishments journal, where I list all the things that I’ve accomplished or find memorable throughout the month. Sometimes I find there’s a lot of stress and too much I forget about, and looking back through the entries over the months when I’m feeling down usually picks up my mood. Plus it’s always exciting to think about what new and good things will happen in the upcoming month. Each month that begins is a new, blank slate.
(When that journal fills up, it’ll be full of things I’ve been excited about at the time. That’s a good thought to have now that I think about it.)
The Biggest Amp: Blogging
Blogging takes all of the items that get me amped and rolls it into one. I’m talking about books, one of my favorite topics ever and something I could talk about all day. Whether it’s about blogging or myself, I’m learning something new all the time. I’m finding out why and answering questions I have while learning new things. I get the chance to be creative with my posts and try something new. I’m focusing on what things make me happy and documenting them in an accomplishments journal.
Starting my blogging journey at a young age gave me so much opportunity to learn and grow as a person, and I continue to do so today. I’m almost always excited to open a new post and write out my thoughts so I can have a conversation in the comments with everyone (even though I’m usually late).
Let’s talk, bookwyrms! What gets you amped? What makes you excited and enthusiastic?
Sophia started blogging in February 2012 for the hell of it and is surprisingly still around. She has a GIF for nearly everything, probably listens to too much K-Pop and is generally in an existential crisis of sorts (she's trying her best). More of her bookish reviews and K-Pop Roundups can be found at The Arts STL.
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Ohhh that’s such a nice post !!
I quite dig the “accomplishment journal” maybe I shall try that out for April..
Aww I love what you wrote about blogging wrapping all of thoses together, that is certainly true! xx
Thanks, Kristina! I’d love to see you try it out and see how it goes for you! 🙂
I could feel myself getting amped while reading your post lol I agree, Sophia, books and blogging are both such exciting things. I totally get you about hoping to love a book whenever I pick one up. Can’t wait to see your post on checkerboard theme and what you found out about it!
Agreed on all of those! Blogging is still a bit difficult for me, but books have been a constant all my life, and reviewing just seems like a logical conclusion to being a bookworm.
The accomplishments journal sounds like a fun thing to keep track of positivity, too.
It really is a fun thing to keep track of positivity! I love seeing the pages fill up, and it’s a good alternative (or intro) to bullet journaling if it sounds overwhelming before actually jumping into an actual bullet journal. Plus, it’s just good to have all of the good memories in just one place rather than hunting it down for some reason.
I hope blogging becomes easier for you over time, Para! 🙂
Nice list and great to get to know you better.
It gets me amped to finish great stories; to design new artprojects with colourful fabric; and when I am outside in a forest with beautifull spring sunshine.
I could not have explained it better Sophia!!!!! I love blogging for all the same reasons: I get to be creative, learn some technical skills, try new things and learn! Learning new things is what makes me happy in life! Great post!
Books and finding out why definitely get me amped! Blogging also makes me excited (apart from when I feel bad for not being consistent).
An accomplishments journal sounds smart. Sometimes, it’s better to focus on what I’ve achieved, rather than bemoaning what’s yet to happen.
I get the feeling of not being consistent and feeling bad for it! It’s something I’m still trying to learn to come to terms with sometimes – I hope you’ll find a way around that feeling and it’ll occur less in the future. 🙂
Books are definitely something are get me amped up as well, also, blogging.
I mean blogging is really something that brings everything together since you could talk about anything you want and then find people who like the same things and form a community. Honestly, that is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I love that you have an accomplishment journal! And I too have books and blogging on things that get me amped, but music is my biggest one 🙂 Whether it’s listening or playing but I’m super excited about getting to do so much more musical things this year <3 Thanks for sharing what gets you amped, and also, I love that you're always looking for why, X'D Davinci Code crackin' insta one step at a time!
Music – no surprise from me since I’ve always associated you with music since you talk passionately about it all the time! I hope you enjoy all of the musical things you do this year, Haley!
SOPPHHHH!!!!! You have inspired me to start my own accomplishment journal! I use to do gratitude sentences when I use to bullet journal but grew tired of it pretty quickly as it didn’t make me feel more…thankful? So I think I’m gonna waddle into the accomplishment journal thing you mentioned cause you know, sometimes you need that pat on your back saying “yeah you did that fam! GO YOU!” <3
Awesome, Sam! I hope the Accomplishments Journal works out for you! I thought of doing gratitude sentences, but uh… yeah, I failed on that for sure because it definitely did not make me feel more thankful and grateful versus having an accomplishments journal that could double as “I AM VERY GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF THIS HAPPENING.” Let me know how that goes for you – I’d love to hear about it!
I still get amped about books, and I really get pumped up, when I have people to talk about them with. I used to love trying new things, but the other I get, the less patience I have for it. But, I do still seem to have enough for tackling puzzles and I like organizing things too.
I find it hard to allow myself to be ‘amped’. If I get too excitable over things most of my family smacks me down. Not Jonas, thankfully. He likes it when I’m animated over anything, given my health makes me exhausted all the time. But the others… Yea, it adds to my reclusiveness. I feel like I can’t express myself and that hurts. Work is different though, and I have friends that get me better. Qué sera.
Things that get me amped include: books! Star Trek! Photography challenges. Exploring the metaphysical and paranormal. Dragons and saurs! My games, which are (haha) mostly Star Trek and Jurassic World. I had minor freakouts when the Star Trek games included Emperor Lorca, and John Harrison. Designing things for Port Jericho’s Zazzle store.
Writing used to but not so much anymore. Painting too, and I sorely missed that but at the moment I have neither the time nor space to devote to it. I love playing with colour though, and enjoy adult colouring books.
Sorry to hear about your family smacking you down for being excited! That sounds awful, but I definitely get feeling expressing yourself. 🙁 I’m glad Jonas likes it when you’re animated, and that you have friends at work who are support you and make you feel better. <3
Those are all great things to be excited about though! Playing with color is fun, and I'm glad you enjoy adult coloring books. It's a great way to play with color without having the time and space for painting.
I so agree with you about books and blogging Sophia. My love of books has grown into a love for all storytelling. I love how individual blogs are and we are able to share our loves with each other. Great post Sophia. ❤️❤️
15/10 would recommend this post, I love learning a bit more about YOU because you are great. And I also get amped about looking into why. I am really looking forward to your thoughts after your insta experiment!