Cherishing the Little Things

Tonight, I chatted with my sister for awhile on the phone. I had caught a case of the writer's block in the middle of our conversation and asked her what I should write about. As I expected, she didn't really help at all, but we were still able to laugh excessively and have a great talk as we normally do.

It really just hit me a few minutes ago that she gave me my story idea on accident. Remembering to cherish the little moments is one of the most important things in life, from simple phone conversations to receiving great news. The picture above really sums it up for me: "Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will realize they were the big things." I can't emphasize this enough.

Getting a good grade on a test, having a fun time with friends, or even just enjoying the scenery around you are all moments that are worth remembering and pausing for a second to take it all in. It's times like these that will leave you with the biggest smiles at some times.

So, in this shorter-than-usual post, I dare you to stop. Look at your surroundings, and think about all of the great things that you did or that happened to you today. Who did you talk with that made you happy, or what conversations made you smile? What did you see that caught your eye? What happened that was worth remembering? I can guarantee that everyone smiled at least once today or thought about a memory that they wish that they could go back to. Whatever it was, I challenge you to find it again and pursue it.

Seize the day.

Why Wishful Thinking is Important

My personality can be best described as a dreamer. I constantly think of what I want for the future, who I want to become, and what I want to do with my life. Today's world has a tendency to say that we need to be more realistic, but I disagree.

Wishful thinking allows us to open the door of creativity in our minds. Imagination is key to success, especially when we have big plans for the future. Whether you hope to land a dream job or live in a big house with a wonderful family, hard work tends to pay off in the end. There's something magical about holding on to hope.

Ultimately, we have dreams because we want to pursue them and make them a reality. With enough perseverance and determination, we can. Regardless of the "social norm" or "realistic expectations," aiming to break this barrier is one step closer to reaching our goals.

We hope. We dream. We have faith that, someday and somehow, our wildest dreams will come true - and there's nothing wrong with that in the slightest.

Dear High School Girls

Over the weekend, circumstances brought me back to a high school. As a sophomore in college, it's been a while since I've been sitting on a set of gym bleachers, surrounded by high school students anxious to celebrate homecoming. One thing that really stuck out to me was the cliques of high school girls around me, and how I was in their place only a few years ago. It really got me thinking about how I wish someone had given me some advice while I was still there, so that's what I'm going to do now for you girls.

Stop getting yourself involved in "drama." It's petty, it isn't worth it, and it honestly amounts to nothing in the end.  When you graduate, are you even going to remember the reason why you stopped talking to your best friend for a week? Sure, you'll probably learn to laugh about it down the road, but there's no use in getting yourself worked up about something stupid.

Which brings me to my second point: boys. You don't have to try so hard to "impress" a guy that you like, and if you do, he's not someone that you want to be with. If you do have a boyfriend, make sure that you don't devote 100% of your time to him and only him. You're going to find that if you do that, you're going to lose valuable friendships along the way. You'll go through your fair share of heartbreak, but what you don't realize now is that you have a whole lifetime ahead of you to worry about relationships and finding someone that you want to be with. Chances are, you'll find him in the most unsuspecting place. For now, worry about finding yourself.

High school is one of the biggest opportunities to find out who you really are. If you want to join a club or take up a hobby that other people think is lame, do it anyways! The only thing that matters is if you are happy, not about "following the crowd." Be your own person and make your own happiness.

These four years are such a small portion of your life compared to what is to come. If you're going to college, you're going to discover that there's a whole world out there that you have yet to discover. Everything will work itself out, even if it doesn't seem like it. I promise that you will find happiness in the oddest of places. Right now, focus on your friendships and doing well in your classes. Forget the negative and do what you want to do, because in the end, it makes all the difference.

8 Ways to Stay Positive Through Distance

Distance sucks. There’s no way around it at all. Right now, I’m in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend who is leaving for basic training in five days and I won’t be able to be with him or really talk to him all that much until January. Having not seen each other since August, we make time amidst our busy schedules to Face Time and talk on the phone while we still can. If you’re in a similar situation, here’s a list of eight ways to stay positive (from personal experience).

1.)  Look through old pictures.

Looking back on some of my favorite memories is something that lets me know that, even though we’re apart right now, there’s plenty of opportunities to make more in the future.

2.)  Keep yourself busy.

One thing that really helps me keep my mind from dwelling on negative thoughts is making sure that I have a lot on my plate, schedule-wise. I’m not saying get involved in so many things that you can't breathe, but do enough to keep yourself occupied. Having fun and doing what you love is important!  

3.)  When you are together, make every second count.

Cell phones and social media have a tendency to take over our attention spans, whether we realize it or not. When you actually are with each other, set the cell phones aside and put them on silent - the cell phones will be there everyday, but your significant other won’t be.

4.)  Motivate each other.

Being so far apart means being extra supportive for each other. You both have aspirations and dreams. Cheer them on, no matter what goals they have in mind. While you might not be there physically, let each other know that you’re always by their side.

5.)  Stay updated on each other’s lives.

If you haven’t always been a long distance couple, you might have been with them everyday once upon a time. If you can’t do that right now, ask each other how your days have been. Including funny details can make it seem like you’re not so far apart.

6.)  Remember to stay focused on yourself.

Obviously, you’re going to be missing your significant other a lot. Regardless, one of the most important things to keep in mind is to stay focused on yourself and what makes you happy. You know yourself better than anyone else, so make sure that you are okay before worrying or stressing out too much.

7.)  Surround yourself with people who love and care about you.

It’s not always going to be easy. You aren’t going to be cheery 100% of the time. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but it also leaves you with a temporary feeling of emptiness. Hang out with your friends and family as much as possible. Laugh, have fun, and look at the bright side of life instead of what you can’t change.

8.)  Count the days.

Remember, you aren’t going to be apart from each other forever. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow - but sometime in the future, you'll be together. Look forward to the day that you’re reunited with your loved one, and think of the sparkle that you’ll get in your eyes when you’re with each other once again.

Top 10 Lazy Day Ideas

I'm a busy person, plain and simple. Between everything that I'm involved with both through my university, writing for outside sources, being with friends and everything in between, it can be hard to find down time for myself. When I finally do have a day where I don't have much to do, there's a few things that make me feel cozy and content. Here's my top 10 list to you, in hopes that you'll find them just as relaxing on your lazy afternoons off as I do:

1.) Drink lots of coffee and tea.
Ah, two of my favorite words. The first thing that I love to do is flip on my Keurig and brew a perfect cup of either hazelnut coffee or green tea (feel free to pick your own poison.) They both give me an extra boost of energy and taste delicious. Warm and wonderful, they guarantee a great start to my day.

2.) Comfy clothes.
If there's no pressing matters that I have to attend to or anywhere that I have to be, go-to outfit is generally my laziest pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. I tend to be the type of person who stays away from wearing sweatpants to class (because Lord knows I'll doze off,) so they add to putting me in a relaxing mood for sure.

3.) Candles, candles, candles.
My room isn't complete until it has a perfect scent, and neither are my lazy days. I have a million (maybe not quite, but just about) wax melt tarts that I put in a candle warmer that i bought for $6 and it works like a charm. Wildberry cheesecake, vanilla cookie crunch, apple cinnamon - you name it, I've got it. The aromas quickly fill up any room and help to relieve stress.

4.) Get a little bit of your work done.
Personally, I find myself more at peace when I've finished any pressing articles or assignments that I know I need to get done. Even if you know you only have 1 paper that's coming up within the week, you'll be happy that you got it done sooner rather than later so that you can focus your energy elsewhere.

5.) Tidy up, re-decorate, and re-organize.
I'm definitely the type of person who loves consistently changing up my room or re-organizing certain set ups I might have in my room. If you're room is a complete pigsty, I highly recommend at least putting your dirty clothes in your hamper before getting too comfortable. This way, you know that you won't have as much to do later and you'll feel less like you're procrastinating.

6.) Catch up with friends and family back home.
If you're away from home like I am, you might find yourself missing some of your favorite people miles away every now and then. With such a busy schedule, it's easy for me to remember or find the time to call friends and family during the week. What better time to share a good laugh or story over the phone than when you have nothing to do?

7.) Write.
Okay, I know we all don't love to write as much as I do. I literally always find myself writing 24/7 because A.) I'm obsessed with it and B.) it's honestly such a great outlet for any kind of emotion. Just writing down what you're feeling can make things seem a lot better if you're super stressed out.

8.) Create the perfect playlist.
If you already have one, awesome. If you don't, make one! Having a playlist of some of your favorite music playing in the background of whatever you're doing can make your lazy day even just a little better. If you don't have any music on your iTunes account, create a Spotify account through Facebook and have unlimited access through your laptop.

9.) Netflix.
You know how I said that coffee and tea were two of my favorite words in my first item on this list? Yeah, well Netflix is definitely a third favorite word of mine. So many shows and movies, so many devices, and so cheap! How could you say no to a scary movie on a chilly fall afternoon cocooned in your room?

10.) Fuzzy everything.
If you know me, then you know that I adore soft blankets and pillows more than anything. They can be incredibly therapeutic and are definitely a mood booster for any person. Fuzzy blankets, fuzzy pillows, fuzzy socks . . . who could ask for anything more!?

Arts & Crafts Time

Recently, I've been mulling over the thought of what I would include in my first substantial blog post (which would be this one.) My mind has been wandering in circles trying to pin point just what I want to write about, and I have been thinking about what has stood out to me that has made me truly happy.

Honestly, for today, I would have to say that both my drawing and watercolor classes have been true sources of my joy. With visual arts as my second major, I've really been able to immerse myself in one of my core passions through both my drawing and watercolor classes.

I have always found both painting and drawing to be captivating activities. The way that the paint flows so eloquently and the pencil marks up the paper brings such content to me. By being able to create, I have control over what I want to make and how I want it to look.

While I do sketch on my own every now and then, I have found genuine bliss in fine tuning some important skills in a classroom setting. Having assignments set by both my instructor and myself have given me a source of discipline in my craftsmanship with deadlines and certain techniques to practice that I might not want to do otherwise.

Regardless of if I want to or not, using certain drawing utensils or methods that I might find tedious are what will make me a better artist in over time. Habit and repetition will also keep me sharp in my ability, and without it, I would never really learn.

Because drawing and painting are two of my favorite outlets for relaxation in my life, these classes are rather important to me. Even though they may not bring the same thrills to others as they do to me, I am able to say that I'm happy when I am involved with them, and that's enough for me.