summer lovin'.

by being you.

This is for those people growing up in countries who don’t have it all.
Those people who are surrounded by material wealth, but have none for themselves.
For anyone who’s ever been abused or bullied. By any one, in any place, at any time.
Those people who’ve had to stand by and watch their family and friends all fall down around them and weren’t able to stop it.
For those girls and women who’ve ever been mistreated in any way.
For those children who were born into a life they didn’t deserve.
For those people who were told they’d never make it.
Those people who were told they’re too dumb, too poor, too skinny, too weak.
Too coloured, too uneducated, too fat, too ugly, too unsociable, too slow.
This is for, you.
You are you, the best thing you can be is you. By being you, you tell the world you’re here to make a claim. You tell the world you will not be moved by all the walls collapsing around you. You tell the world you are strong. You tell the world you will make it.
You lead by example.
You lead from the frontline.
You show people the change you want to see.You show people you will not be felled.
You show people the bad things you’ve seen will not break you.
You teach people to dream.
You teach people to be inspiring.
You show the world what they need to see.
You show the world the potential it has in it.
You show the world you are beautiful, you are intelligent and you are strong.You show the people of the world, they can make it.
And you do all this,
By being You.

letters i'll never send.

do the stanky leg.

i cry from laughing every time i see this.

nothing is ever wrong. we learn from every step we take. whatever you did today was the way it was meant to be. be proud of you.

“the stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.”

One of the things I've struggled with, and I'm sure everyone does, throughout friendships is accepting the flaws and moving on from them.  It's hard to realize and accept that people are who they are and they're going to hurt you sometimes.  I've had multiple falling outs with friends because one of us, or both of us, get hurt and can't seem to find a way past it.  I've always strived, though, to eventually move past it and forgive with time.  I am proud of myself that at the moment, there is nobody who hates me/I hate/I can't be around.  I'm at a relatively good place with all of my friends and I find that to be a positive part of my life.  However, some of my friends think that in cases where friends hurt you, you should just get them out of your life and never look back and so, they disapprove of my friendships with the people who have wronged me.  I believe that everyone should protect themselves and not put themselves into positions where they'll get hurt, but at the same time, holding grudges and staying stuck on petty fights or falling outs does not do any good to you or your mentality.  You're going to never be able to grow and learn from these experiences because you'll be stuck with the anger and resentment towards the other person.  It can seem impossible in the midst of it all, but forgiveness is attainable if you work towards moving forward and finding the positivity and strength to look past it and be able to wish the person well.  Holding grudges and not having your heart open to forgiveness will only close you off to future opportunities and ultimate happiness.  So, I challenge all of you to, no matter how serious or hurtful the situation be, work to let go of any pain and maybe even move on enough to be civil with the person.  You should never try to get back the same friendship you had before, as you will just end up in the same situation, but a matured, altered, and maybe even cautious friendship is possible.  It takes tears, frustration, and work to get to that point, but the freedom and sense of peace is 100% worth it.

freshman year.

watch.

rejoice and love yourself today.

It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M

Just put your paws up

'cause you were Born This Way, Baby

My mama told me when I was young

We are all born superstars

She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on

In the glass of her boudoir

"There's nothing wrong with loving who you are"

She said, "'Cause he made you perfect, babe"

"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,

Listen to me when I say"

I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Oh there ain't no other way

Baby I was born this way

Baby I was born this way

Oh there ain't no other way

Baby I was born-

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Don't be a drag -Just be a queen [x3]

Don't be!

Give yourself prudence

And love your friends

Subway kid, rejoice your truth

In the religion of the insecure

I must be my self, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin

Believe capital H-I-M (Hey hey hey)

I love my life I love this record and

Mi amore vole fe yah (Love needs faith)

Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Whether you're broke or evergreen

You're black, white, beige, chola descent

You're Lebanese, you're orient

Whether life's disabilities

Left you outcast, bullied, or teased

Rejoice and love yourself today

'cause baby you were born this way

No matter gay, straight, or bi,

lesbian, transgendered life,

I'm on the right track baby,

I was born to survive.

No matter black, white or beige

Chola or orient made,

I'm on the right track baby,

I was born to be brave.

 

I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way hey!

"Don't be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Recently, one of my teachers showed me this and it really struck me.  To me, it explains just how much God is there for us no matter what and we can rely on Him through anything that happens in our lives.  This has become very necessary in my family with all the health problems.  In order to stay strong, we have had to fully rely on God that whatever happens, we can get through it.  However, something huge does not need to happen to need to go to God.  God is with us every single day, through the good times and the bad.  He is there to guide us and help us, but sometimes it is hard to realize.  We need to reach out to him in order to fully comprehend that He is always there for us.  Through good times and bad, not everything happens for a reason.  But with faith in God, and strength, we can find a reason for it and grow from these obstacles that come our way. 

life is too short to be anything but happy.

wouldn't life be perfect..

you know i love you.

Here's the day you hoped would never come

Don't feed me violins

just run with me through rows of speeding cars.

The papercuts the cheating lovers

The coffee's never strong enough

i know you think it's more than just bad luck

There there baby

it's just text book stuff

it's in the ABC of growing up

Now, now darling

oh don't lose your head

cause none of us were angels

and you know I love you yeah

Sleeping pills know sleeping dogs lie

never far enough away

Glistening in the cold sweat of guilt

I've watched you slowly winding down for years

You can't keep on like this...

now's a bad a time as any

There there baby

it's just text book stuff

it's in the ABC of growing up

Now now darling

oh don't kill yourself

cause none of us were angels

and you know I love you yeah

it's ok by me..

it's ok by me..

it's ok by me..it was a long time ago

it's ok by me..

it's ok by me..

it's ok by me..it was a long time ago

There there baby

it's just text book stuff

it's in the ABC of growing up

Now now darling

oh don't lose your head

cause none of us were angels

and you know I love you yeah

There there baby

it's just text book stuff

it's in the ABC of growing up

Now now darling

oh don't kill yourself

cause none of us were angels

and you know I love you yeah

50 lessons life taught me.

1.

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.


2.When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3.Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.


4.Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.


5.Pay off your credit cards every month.
6.You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.


7.Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8.It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.


9.Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.


10.When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11.Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12.It's OK to let your children see you cry.


13.Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14.If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.


15.Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.


16.Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17.You can get through anything if you stay put in today.


18.A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19.It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.


20.When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21.Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22.Overprepare, then go with the flow.


23.Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.


24.The most important sex organ is the brain.
25.No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26.Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"


27.Always choose life.


28.Forgive everyone everything.


29.What other people think of you is none of your business.


30.Time heals almost everything. Give time time.


31.However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32.Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33.Believe in miracles.
34.God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35.Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36.Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37.Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38.Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39.Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.


40.If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.


41.Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.


42.Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.


43.All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.


44.Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.


45.The best is yet to come.
46.No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.


47.Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.


48.If you don't ask, you don't get.
49.Yield.


50.Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift...

maria shriver.

i hope you dance.

it gets better.

It’s dark and trying and feels like the end; going on seems pointless. Every ragged breath you take burns and catches, turning living into a chore. It will never be any different, never any better than it is now, like some thunderous cloud is hovering above your head waiting to let loose. You start to accept the fact that you will always have this ever-present sense of dread and sorrow and then it happens. It gets better. No specific reason, no big showdown, life just improves and you’re stuck wondering how you let something so small dictate so much of your life. You smile and it feels so easy, natural. When you’re in the pits of belittling self-worth life turns into something you have to endure but it gets better, it always gets better, you just have to hold on long enough to realize that.

letters i'lll never send.

the purpose of life is a life of purpose.

reminds me of my mirror..

your life will never be the same again.

happy (belated) mothers day.

In honor of Mother's Day on Sunday-


(part of the talk I gave at a retreat)


I was too immature to realize it then, but these long hospital stays were especially hard on my mom. He [my dad] was at Rush hospital, about an hour away from our house in Kenilworth. For the first few days, she would spend all day with my dad, come home and sleep, and then go back the next morning at around six. That shortly had to end after my dad, thinking he was on a retreat, woke up and took a shower in his hospital room. That was especially dangerous as he could've slipped and fallen and hurt his back even more. My mom learned from that incident that he really needed to be watched 24/7. She started to only come home for a couple hours a day to just take a shower and change her clothes. Despite being exhausted and run down, my mom never complained and was still always there for me and my siblings when we needed it. She put everyone else before herself at all times. Even when I’m venting about pointless drama or about other unnecessary problems, she takes the time to listen to me and give me advice even when she has a million things to worry about and deal with. My mom shows that she is a true Christian leader through her selfless devotion to family. Instead of understandably breaking down after essentially losing all sense of normalcy and dependency on her husband, she stepped up to become the true foundation of our family. God works in mysterious ways in that he is in the people around you. Their love is a manifestation of His love.

patience is a virtue.

In my life, patience is a daily struggle for me.  Because my dad has short term memory loss, everything has to be repeated to him multiple times, from what day it is to what we're having for dinner to where my mom is when she's out running errands.  This every day can understandably be challenging at times, especially after a long, tiring day of school.  Even though I'd do anything to have my life/my family's life not be this way, I have learned a lot from this way of life.  I can now handle more without breaking down and I've learned to appreciate the present and focus on what's going on now.  My dad may not remember that we ate dinner together or watched tv together or joked around together, but I do.  These precious moments with him are important, and so savoring these times and trying my hardest to stay patient, kind, and loving is essential. 


Everyone has something they struggle with every day.  Challenge yourself to rise above it and find the lessons you learn in those obstacles.  Realize how amazing and strong you are by simply overcoming this every day.

hey you.

Me,


Be happy, be proud, scream at the top of your lungs, jump and dance around; you deserve it. Hey, it’s been a crazy first year of UNIVERSITY, your very first year and you did great, yes there may have been that thing here and there but you are here; breathing, seeing, talking, hearing, and enjoying life. Don’t let anyone or anything bring that down, no one can say anything to account for all the hard work you put into this year, it was all you and only you. Enjoy it.


Just remember for next year, there are no regrets just lessons learned.


Sincerely;


Your reflection

letters i'll never send.

you're not alone.

damn you autocorrect.

butterfly fly away.

Is it weird that I kind of like this song?

sing it out loud and let yourself free.

brace for impact.

"I learned that it all changes in an instant... I no longer want to postpone anything in life."

"I regretted the time I wasted on things that did not matter with people that matter... I decided to eliminate negative energy from my life."

"I only wish I could see my kids grow up... I realized at that point, by connecting those two dots, that the only thing that matters in my life is being a great dad."

"What would you get done that you're waiting to get done because you think you'll be here forever?"

"How would you change your relationships and the negative energy in them?"