Memorial day isn't about the swimming, barbecuing, and bonfires

Happy Friday!

The image I chose, a gif, specifically, perfectly describes how I felt walking out of work today and I'm sure others felt the same way. I probably could have actual ran but I just got off after working a 9-hour day and, boy, I was ready for my 3-day weekend. With that being said, I hope everyone the best in regards to any traveling or camping. Stay safe and enjoy, and for most of you all, the day off. I do realize that some people don't have the luxury to have Memorial Day off, so be courteous to others who might be required to work.  

Here's the link to my latest Odyssey article: To The People Who Don't Feel Enough. 

Before I get on with my post for the week, I wanted to give a birthday shout-out to a couple of important people. One being my second-oldest cousin on my dad's side of the family: Sam Curtis. Happy birthday! I hope you enjoyed it! Maybe we can to get together sometime soon. And the other being my aunt Debbie. Happy birthday, Aunt Debbie! I hope you spent the day enjoyably surrounded by loved ones. 

Memorial Day is, anymore, became a holiday whose meaning gets overlooked. For many, people look forward to the barbecuing, bonfires, spending time with loved ones, baseball, and etc. It's like the official kickoff to summer. But that's not the meaning of the holiday. That's not why we celebrate it. 

It's not even a happy holiday, so to speak. The meaning behind this day is quite sad actually. Memorial Day is a holiday dedicated to those military members killed in actions. That's why it's called "memorial", as in "memory", for those who laid down their lives to protect us, to protect what this country stood and continues to stand for, to protect the freedom we have to live each day knowing that there are brave men and women out there fighting for us. 

Thank you, brave men and women across America. Thank you for putting your country before yourself. Thank you for putting everyday people, like myself, before yourself. Thank you for being brave and tough and doing what you think needs to be done to protect this country and what it stands for. Thank you for sacrificing time with your loved ones, like friends and family, to fight and defend. Thank you for your service.

Until next week,

Thought of the day

To all the people who don't feel enough

Happy Friday!

Fellow college students and professors, I hope you are surviving finals week or the beginning of it... And to the rest of my readers, I hope your Friday went as well as it could have. 

This might come as a surprise but I'm actually writing this post on Friday. But I can already tell that this post isn't going to be very long because finals and I want sleep. This week was busy, long, and a struggle to get through. My one bright side that really helped me get through was I got hired as a student assistant with Rod Library Public Relations. So yay me!

Here's the link to my latest Odyssey article: 15 Animals Gifs To Get You Through Finals Week.

To all the people who don't feel enough:

I understand. And when I say that I understand, I mean it. I've been there. In fact, I face this feeling every day in way or another. So I'm here to tell you a few things.

First off: You. Are. Enough. Please listen to me when I say that you are worthy and you have worth. I know it's hard to believe it because you could give me so many reasons, so much evidence or proof as to why you don't believe in your worth. So when you happen to screw up or fall apart, you start connecting all the times it's happened before and you start to think you aren't enough. It's natural to feel this way and it's real easy to connect things because then we can make sense of something. But the thing about life is that it's messy and imperfect and most of the time doesn't make an ounce of sense. We are all trying to make it through and most of the time we don't know what we are doing; people just don't admit to this or don't realize they are even doing this. 

Second: you're human. You're allowed to mistakes; in fact, it's even encouraged to make mistakes. You're allowed to feel angry, sad, depressed, happy, anxious, shy, and on and on; and you're allowed to express them. In society, in American society, in particularly, it's assumed that we need to have it together at all times, have your whole life figured out by age 8. And if we falter and break down, it's seen as weakness or "poor them" or "why don't they have their life together". But that's wrong. Everyone has their breaking point, when they don't want to or can't be strong anymore. This isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign you've become exhausted and tired and you needed to let go. Some people plan their life out to a "T" but that doesn't mean you have to do the same. It's okay not have what you want to major in college figured out by the time you are 6 years old. 

Third (and lastly): you can't control everything. If there's anything I've learned be being a control freak or perfectionist, it's that it gets exhausting and you'll burn yourself out real quick. And herein lies the problem, you can't be everything, do everything, and try to stay sane in the process. Something's got to give, and more often than not, it's your sanity that is lost and then you panic because nothing's going right and feel that everything and your life is out of control. While that might seem dramatic, for some people, I just described an everyday struggle they face. The simple fact is there are only very few things we have control over: our words, our body language, how we react, and what we do. Basically, I just described that you have control over you and your actions. Once you start letting go of what you can't control, you'll find it's easier to see the beauty in the world and it's easier to breathe it all in without the feeling of the whole world on your shoulder.

While I could go on, this feels like a good place to stop. Three things you need to repeat to yourself: "I am enough," "I'm only human and it's okay to not to be okay," and "I can only to do so much and that's okay". Is this a cure all? Nope, but it's a good place to start.

Signed,

Someone who's struggling, too. 

 

Until next week,

Thought of the day

 

 

 

 

5 lessons I've learned from watching Parks and Recreation

Happy Friday!

Finally is right. It's Friday once again. If you haven't treated yourself yet today, then go do it right now, but please wait until you finish reading this post. What if I have already treated myself today? Good for you, and you could do it again (because you probably deserve it).

It's been a stressful week. After my last class today, I felt emotionally, physically, and mentally tired. I don't know what's going on with me lately. Maybe I'm experiencing "the sophomore slump". I do have good news. Recently, I began thinking more seriously about my education and the many opportunities I have. With my major, I have the option to study photography in Italy which combines my love for taking pictures and my love and wish to travel. The only catch is money, but I would love to see there are any scholarships available to apply for and would seriously consider seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Also, I been thinking about attending graduate school to get a Master's in library science since I love libraries and the books in them. I'm not quite sure of the emphasis in library science I would pursue. So many opportunities that it overwhelms me. 

 My latest Odyssey article: 16 Reminders for 2016.

If you have been reading my posts, you would know I recently started watching the show "Parks and Recreation". The documentary-like show follows the Parks and Recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana. My first impression of the show was that it wasn't to be taken seriously and it would be a just-for-fun show. 

But I was wrong, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I've learned many new lessons and reinforced what I already know. I highly recommend watching the show: it will make you laugh and teach you something in the process. 

1. Treat yo self. 

In this episode, Donna and Tom set aside one day that they call "Treat Yo Self". They go out and buy everything as a treat to them. The show exaggerates the actual lesson. You need to treat yourself every now and again. How you do that is obviously up to you, but you should do this to reward yourself just because.

2. Adulting sucks sometimes.

April is right. Being a responsible adult sucks. Sometimes we just want to have our moms make us better when we are sick. Sometimes we just want to sit and pout because we didn't get what we want. Sometimes we have to refine from buying something we really want because we are saving up to go on a trip or buy an updated car. Sometimes we have to be the better person when others are acting like a jerk. But what makes adulting worth it? We (not me yet) get to buy alcohol.

3. You are never alone.

Learn to spend time by yourself. Find something you love doing on your own. When it seems as if there is no one there, there is. YOU. You'll always have yourself. A couple words of caution, though: never lose all of yourself in someone because the reality is that people leave and you'll be left wondering who you are and who you were before they came into your life. There is a difference between being alone and feeling lonely. You can be surrounded by people yet still feel alone.

4. Caring too much can be harmful.

Stay with me on this one. Kind-hearted people, my mom for example, always think of others before themselves. Always put others' needs before their own. And when asked about they want, they usually don't know what to say because they always spend time putting others wants before their own. It's often we don't realize all they sacrifice for others. And these kind-hearted people get so used to putting themselves last that they forget to think about themselves, and that's mentally harmful. 

5. In every joke, there is a little bit of truth.

I'm fairly sure I've heard of this before from someone or something. Jokes, sarcasm, wit all are used as a cover, to protect us from feeling the full effect or not wanting the other person know just how much you actually like them. We hide behind the jokes because it's easier and you don't want to face what's really going on. The more jokes, sarcasm, or witty remarks you hide behind only end up biting you up in the end,

 There are many others, many, many others, but those are the ones that stood out to me. 

Until next week,

Thought of the day

 

Sometimes we have to learn make the sacrifice

Happy FRIDAY!

Hello, all readers of mine! Did you read that top line, because if you didn't, I suggest you read it again. JBIF (Jumping Because It's Friday) is the new acronym I just came up with. Another reason for you to enjoy today is the fact is you survived this week with all its trip-ups and stumbles. YAY! GO YOU.

Another reason for me to be happy is that I survived this week of three tests or mid-terms. Although, I have two tests next week, but I will remember I can do it and survive.

Other reasons: IT'S HOMECOMING FOR UNI. That's pretty exciting. I will be working during the parade and half the game, but life isn't always going to work around my work schedule. Sacrifice is a part of life, and I am continuously experiencing and learning that. Life lessons sometimes need to be taken with a smile plastered on your face.

*********

The main focus of this post is to talk about a topic many people experience frequently- some more than others- if their day-to-day lives. It's something that can be a hard or easy decision for people to make. Depending on how the decision will affect yourself and/or others in your life, it can almost be a decision someone makes without even thinking about it. 

Sometimes the effects of our decisions we make have consequences we didn't anticipate or we couldn't avoid. We don't always realize how the decision we make now will be worth it out in the end. 

 Sacrifice

In life, this something that can be guaranteed as something you will have to go through. The cool thing about sacrifice is that it's a life-long process, and it's not something we figure out once and think it will be the same situation every time. Circumstances will be different. Context around the decision will be different. Your mind-set will be different. 

Parents. I realize all parents are not like mine. They make so many sacrifices for their children. You want that last piece of cake? Go ahead. It's almost an automatic given that parents put the needs and wants of their children ahead of their own. Some parents don't mind making because they believe they are doing it out of love for their children and just want to see their children happy. Others believe differently. It's for this reason (among others) that I'm thankful for my parents and all the sacrifices they have made for me, because they didn't have to do it. Thank you, Mom and Dad.

Military and other emergency response people. While some might have strong opinions when it comes to these people and their actions, I believe we all could agree on the fact they are putting their lives on the line to protect us and that's something we should recognize that brave sacrifice. What we often forget is the family and friends of these brave people who make the incredible sacrifice that they do. I don't say this as often as I should, but I'm thankful for those brave people. Thank you, members of the military and other emergency response teams for ensuring my safety and getting me assistance when I need it.

Siblings (specifically older for me). This is true for me. They have sacrificed nights out to watch me for my parents. Or the times Mom said they had to take me with them if they went somewhere (obviously having your little sister tag along wasn't cool). For the times when they put up with the stupid and maybe embarrassing things I would say about them in front of their friends or someone they liked liked. Also for the times they let me watch whatever Disney channel movie happened to be premiering that night. They have made so many sacrifices for me, and I appreciate for putting up with my antics and quirks. Thank you, Billy and Rachel.

Family and friends. For those who don't already know, I have many quirks and strange aspects of my personality. There are a couple that I think my family and friends have a hard time with. No-filter on what comes out of my mouth sometimes (re: most of the time) and that I talk to myself. Sacrificing their time to be patient with me while I likely backtrack what I maybe should have filtered. Also they sacrifice their reputation when they are with me out in public and I say something without thinking or if I start talking to myself in public. Thank you, family and friends.

Take the time to thank those who have made sacrifices for you.

Until next time,

(Oh God. The Toy Story 3 feels are coming back to me! Ahh!)















Thought of the day