The Secret to Happiness is...

..that there isn't a secret at all.

1. Be yourself. It sounds corny, but it's true. You were born an original. Don't die a copy.
2. Smile. A lot. Laugh when you want to and sing all the time. I tell people to sing because that's how I cope with things. Whenever I'm sad or stressed or hurting I sing and it instantly makes me feel better, as does listening to music. And you don't need a good voice to sing. It doesn't matter if you can't carry a tune in a bucket or you can, if you have a problem with pitch or not, if you're off key or on it, sing loudly and proudly.
3. Write - it's a wonderful stress reliever. I don't know what's wrong with me, but for the past week all I've been doing is writing in my journal. ALL. THE. TIME. I've never written as much as I have the last few days. It's wonderful.
4. Tell someone you love that you love them.
5. Pop bubble wrap. It's fun and theraputic.
6. Blow bubbles outside. Who didn't love blowing bubbles as a child. If we do child-like things that remind us of that time when we were young and carefree, then we'll feel young and carefree.
7. Find an animal that you love and play with it. I love dogs, but some people prefer a cat or a hamster, maybe even a snake....
8. Create something. A novel, a drawing, a painting, a song, a sculpture, pottery, jewelry, clothing. Make something that is all yours, belongs to no one but you.
9. Cry. It releases endorphins and makes you happy.
10. Take pictures. Capture those happy moments and no matter what happens never ever burn them. Why should you erase something if it once made you happy?

Let it out

She took a look at the world around her and all she saw was red. Hearts, faces, doors, windows.... She looked through everything and noticed that everything was different than she'd seen before. People were hurting, crying, in pain. And when she'd finished crying herself, she smiled and some of the red faded into the background. The sky turned a shade of blue she'd never imagined possible. The sun shone a little brighter than ever before. People took off their masks. Life had meaning. Words spoken were not words of hate, but of love. Life was lighter. Life had meaning. Time passed by slowly, allowing her to drink in every moment. Her heart felt light and her head was in the clouds. Life had meaning. All because she cried.

Crying cleans out the toxins in our bodies - whether it be of our soul or body.

Don't hold it in because it just makes it worse.

Let it out.

Selfish, party of one, your table's ready....

Tonight, after talking through a problem with a good friend, I realized that all this time I've been completely selfish in my pain. I thought that I was the only person going through something while everyone else is fighting a battle as well.

I didn't even know what was going on with him until tonight and now I realize I've been so blind to the goings-on around me, especially with my friends.

It's not even that my problems are so big, it's just that sometimes I think I'm a freak because I feel some of the things I feel. At times, I really think I'm screwed up - like the way my mind works and especially how easy it is for me to fall for someone. (I've always hated that thing about myself. I get attached way too quickly.)

But tonight, I saw what problems he was having to deal with and my heart just went out to him. He had so many emotions - regret a huge one.

I try to live my life by "no regrets" - that everything is a learning experience, and that's what I told him. And although sometimes there is just NO talking to him because he's hard-headed and stubborn, I think it gave him something to think about.

So goodnight, my friend. Sleep well and pray, keep God your focus and everything will work out according to His plan.

Personal

I have a job.

You do not do it for me.

I am more than capable of doing it without you, thank you.

Wish

If I was given one wish for anything in the world, I would not wish for a thing. I would want everything to be the same and go on normally. Why would I want to change God's beautiful plan? Sure, I might wish for love... but who's to say that it isn't coming my way soon? I may wish for money, but money makes people shallow. I may wish for good grades... but I want to earn them myself. I may wish for friendship, but I know who my true friends are. I may wish for wisdom, but if God did not make me wise there is a reason. I may wish for more wishes, but what would I wish for then?

No, if I ever got to wish for anything, I'd give it back. I just need my family and friends, a glass of sweet tea, some good music on the radio, and a great book in my hand.

There's a peace I've come to know

There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul

I can say "It is well"

I realize now that I do, in fact, have the anchor I've always wanted.

Thunderous

As the clouds grow darker and darker out my window, I'm struck with the feeling that something dangerous can happen today. Tornado watches, tornado warnings, severe storms, heavy rain, strong winds... all of these are words I do not like hearing. And living on the tenth floor of a building doesn't exactly appease the worry either.

The worst part of the storm is not in this town, but I still don't like the storms.

And then, like always, I get to thinking about the kind of storms in my life. Am I living for God every day? No? There's a storm. Do I judge people too quickly? Yes? There's a storm. Do I procrastinate daily? Like I'm doing right now? There's a storm.

There are constant storms in my life and I try to go around them, but that just ultimately leads me to another storm. So to avoid those storms I try to go through them and end up getting sucked up by a tornado so to speak.

It's so amazing how wrong I am all the time, when I like to think I'm right. But of course, God slaps me across the face and tells me to get over myself.

I like this trait of His.

I think when I go to heaven, we'll be tight.

Bowery

Oh Bowery how I have missed you! You are a beautiful representation of everything Jesus was and is. You stand so tall protecting the inhabitants with love and mercy. You welcome everyone with open arms and persuade them to stay and partake in all you have to offer. What a mighty fortress you are for the Lord. What a beautiful structure so tall and welcoming.

Inside you awaits a home for all of the Dorothys of the world in search of it. A place where men can hear the word and express their love and gratitude for God and all of his power. A refuge for the oppressed is this brick building.

And alas, I will be there in a mere two months to love and embrace all of the ones who've been fortunate enough to wonder into its solace.

In two months I will be reunited.

In two months I will be truly happy.

I wanna dance the tango with chance

There are so many things on campus that I want to get involved in. Ambassadors, newspaper, the longwood show. I want to maybe intern somewhere for a professor if I could. I need to get a job.

I wish I could do all of this and maybe I can, but I'm barely finding enough time in the day for the things I'm already doing - which is not much. How can I fit more into my schedule?

I want to be involved. When I leave school in a few years I want to look back and see that I did productive things while I was here instead of just sitting in my room watching movies or on facebook all day.

But more than anything, for the past month or so I've been wanting to write. That's all I've wanted to do. But I had nothing to write about - nothing to write for. And so now my current aspiration is to write for The Rotunda. I will have to wait until I am off BCM council of course because their meetings are Thursday nights.

I just want to go to a few meetings to see if I really an interested, or if this is just a passing phase I'm going through. But hopefully, this will give me something to occupy my time, and also prove to be something I love.

Pet Peeve

I don't think it's a good idea that after I've been inactive in my blog for so long to have my first post back be something negative, but I need a good rant.

Something that really ticks me off is when I don't like a certain person. Especially when I see this person all the time. I don't like not getting along with people, but how can I when they are.. let me just get it out - annoying?

I try to get along with everyone I meet - find the good in everyone. But some people have personalities that mine doesn't mesh with.

And what ticks me off even more is when these people see that I am not particularly warmed up to them and they try so hard to get me to like them. They compliment me all the time, try to chat with me, offer to do things for me.

The best way for me to like you is to go away - that might have been a little too harsh, right?

I need space, and space is the opposite of what you're giving me. I need breathing room.

And I have no breathing room right now - so to speak.

I know this is not like me at all - but in a way it is. And if you were inside my head this would all make much more sense, but alas, you are not me, you are you. So be you - somewhere else.

*This week has not been good.