Originally Posted on June 5, 2021

Kristy always lived by the motto “work hard, play hard.”

Before traveling to Qatar, I specifically looked forward to meeting new people at work, swimming in the ocean, & visiting the parks. It’s been exhilarating to actually explore the places I saw online.

But there are frustrations that go on behind-the-scenes that are never posted on social media—the hot work days, the hectic traffic, & the mistakes that come with new experiences, along with the typical aspects of life that are hardly preventable, like physical sickness & homesickness. But on these days & in these moments of fatigue, I can pause & remember Kristy.

She prioritized fun.

Regardless of how busy life became, she made time to wear her favorite pink-and-white-polka-dot bikini & brown Roxy swim shorts to the beach. She chose to set her alarm on a random Saturday to drive to the city—to shop, eat out, & go to the movies. She planned family vacations & remembered to pack enough fruit snacks & chocolate chip granola bars for the road trip.

When I feel drained after a long work week, I think of her & how if she were here, she wouldn’t sleep in. She wouldn’t complain about exhaustion. She wouldn’t let the morning turn into afternoon without being productive.

She is inspiration to play as hard as I work.