:)

"to the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

I know I post a lot about my friends, but I honestly couldn't enough. I'm so grateful for everything they do for me and for the fact that they'll always be there for me no matter what. I don't know where I'd be without them. This Thanksgiving, I reflected most about how thankful I am for the many friendships I know will last a lifetime. Through ups and downs, we always manage to rise above it and realize how important we are to each other. They are honest when they need to be, even if I'm not going to like what they have to say. We challenge each other to be better people and when it comes down to it, I have the absolute best time with all of them. Crying from laughing multiple times through the night is standard. I know that I'm going to stay close to them even if many of them go to different schools all over the country.  

Love you guys! XOX

live now. do it now. take risks. tell secrets. this life is yours.

I'm pretty sure I've posted this picture before, but I couldn't help putting it up again. I have it printed out and posted right next to my bed to remind me how to live, especially now in college. I can't believe that my first semester is almost over, that I'm almost 1/8th finished with college. Too often, people concern themselves with what others think way more than they should. Nobody should care what you do or how you act. If they do, then it means they are insecure with themselves and aren't worth paying any attention to. So, act crazy with your friends. Dance like a freak. Rap to songs as loudly as you want. Talk to as many people as possible at the parties. Life is short. Like a quote by Mark Twain said, you're not going to look back and regret certain things you did. You're going to regret not being yourself and not doing things you wanted to just because of what you thought others thought of it. When it comes down to it, most people are drawn to the confident people who are doing what they want, not the people trying to seem perfect all the time. Accept that you're not going to be perfect and own it; you're not going to be young for long, so own it and go out there and show everyone who you really are!

silly dreams & youthful screams.

One of my best friends, Marykate, just made a blog. She is always one of the people I could always look to for support and advice whenever I'm done. She's always filled with positivity and can make my tears of sadness turn into tears of laughter. I'm so excited to read her daily lessons and insights about life.

10 life-enhancing things you can do in ten minutes or less.

1.    Watch "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. See it online at Oprah.com. This is a deeply moving segment that may be the best ten minutes you've ever invested in front of a computer.
2.    Spend a little while watching the sunset with your mate. Nothing extra is necessary. Just sit and take in the natural beauty of the sky and appreciate being able to share it with the one you love.
3.    Sit quietly by yourself. It doesn't really matter where or when. Just let your feelings bubble up and then experience the thoughts flowing out of your mind. Clearing your head and heart will give you extra energy to get through the rest of the day.
4.    Write a thank you note to your mate. When was the last time you thanked your partner for just being who he or she is and being with you? Doing this in writing will give your partner something to cherish for the rest of his or her life.
5.    Take out your oldest family photo album and look through it. The experience will fill you with fond memories and perhaps make you a bit wistful for days gone by.
6.    Play with a child. Most kids have short attention spans; ten minutes of quality time from a loving adult can make their day. It will also help you stay in touch with the child inside of you.
7.    Visualize or imagine a positive outcome for any issue. Medical doctors recommend visualization to patients with chronic and potentially fatal illnesses. If it can help them, it can do the same for you. 
8.    Go to bed with the one you love ten minutes earlier than usual. Then spend that time just holding each other. Let the feeling of warmth from your mate move through you.
9.    Hang out by some water. Studies show that hospital patients who can see a natural body of water from their beds get better at a 30 percent faster rate. If you're not near the coast or a lake, try taking a bath. Doing so is also healing.
10.  Get your body moving. Shake, twist, and jump around. Let yourself feel the joy of moving to your favorite music, or just the sounds in your head. Run, walk, and bike to your hearts content. You will live longer and love it more.

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"the unexamined life is not worth living."

I think it's important to constantly seek opportunities to improve yourself. Today, I decided to make a list of self-improvements that will make my quality of living better and raise my level of happiness. Life is all about challenging yourself and learning lessons, even if the lessons are sometimes hard to listen to and experience. Self-reflection can sometimes be difficult, especially when overcoming faults and obstacles can seem daunting and impossible. Try to write down 5-10 things that you ultimately want to achieve. This won't cause pressure, but instead motivate you to start thinking positively towards your goal. Of course, everyone is going to have bad days and take steps in the wrong direction, but the important thing is to have the intention to help yourself be the best you can be! Here are some of the ones I thought of for myself:

- stop overthinking --> learn to fully be myself without hesitation

- don't be afraid to tell someone something that may be hard to hear

- maintain old friendships and challenge myself to constantly make new ones

- find 5-10 minutes a day for meditation/self-reflection/prayer

- don't beat myself up when i'm not happy --> accept/own my emotions

- get out of my comfort zone as much as possible

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."