#39 A 2012 Retrospective

There's something about New Year's Eve that makes everyone a little bit retrospective--or a lot retrospective in some cases. The prospect of a new year brings with it the thoughts of the year being left behind. It's impossible to move forward without acknowledging the past, and I think now is the time for me to do that! After seeing tons of Facebook statuses and tweets about 2012 in review, it's my turn to look back.

2012 was a big year for me. It was one full of ups and downs, old things and new things, and everything in between. As all of you know--partly because the majority of you were there with me--this year, I graduated from high school and began my college journey. That in and of itself is enough to constitute a big year. But more than those monumental life events, I'll remember the small things that happened this year too. I'll remember with clarity how much fun I had in the magenta-colored dress at senior cotillion in January in which my friends and I intentionally danced the opposite direction of the crowd during the line dances (yeah, yeah we line dance in Texas). I'll remember going on senior retreat in February...twice...the second time being far better than the first. I'll remember the stress I felt trying to finish the 2011-2012 yearbook for my school in March. Being an editor was certainly one of the most stressful experiences of my life. I'll remember April's senior prom that would be my last school dance and how much fun I had being with my friends for one of the classic high school experiences. Of course I'll remember wearing my Catholic school uniform for the last time and donning my red robe to  graduate from high school in May. Who could possibly forget that? I'll remember taking my first extended visit to college at orientation in June. I was probably more nervous for that than actually going to school, as weird as that sounds. I'll remember taking my last pre-college family vacation to California in July which gave me some much needed, uninterrupted family time in the midst of college preparations. I'll remember the whirlwind of a week in August that marked my last week in my hometown--a time spent staying up far too late and taking advantage of every possible moment with my friends, a time that will always stick out in my mind for more reasons than one. I'll remember September as the first full month I spent in my new home at school, making new friends and learning new things in class. I'll remember my ACL experience in October, something that is bound to become a tradition for me. I'll remember November for marking my first trip back home for Thanksgiving and how happy I was to see everyone. And I'll remember December for putting me through the stress of finals and giant relief of being done with them and making it to winter break. Of course there are plenty of other things I'll remember from the year, but those are the first that come to mind, which is bound to mean something.

Even more than actually remembering these specific events, I'll remember the lessons they taught me. I've learned to let loose and have fun, taking advantage of the time I have with the people that matter to me the most. To cherish family and friends always. That it's important to be open to new things and new people. Life is full of the new, and we have to get used to experiencing it. That we are not alone in anything we do, because there are always people around to support us. That there really is no place like home. That at the end of the day, we need to get over the bad in our lives and concentrate on the good. That it's important to cherish the good memories. That life goes on, regardless of how horrible you think it may be.

Clearly it's been a big year for me, and I want to thank you all for experiencing it with me. I started this blog in January of 2012, so you really have been with me the entire year, reading about my troubles, triumphs, and the advice I give. I can't claim to be an expert, but I can hope that I've reached someone this year. If not, that's okay, because this has been for me too. It's been a good year for me, and I only hope it has been for you too. My advice for today and for the new year is to look back with appreciation for the things that have happened in the past year and look forward with excitement and determination in the new year. Take the lessons of last year and bring them into the new year.

A goodbye to 2012, and a hello to 2013!

Wishing you a blessed new year, 

Morgan

#38 A Christmas Frame of Mind

One of my most favorite Christmas movies is without a doubt Miracle on 34th Street. If you've never seen it, stop what you're doing right now and watch it--well after you read this, anyway. I've always been a sucker for a good Christmas movie, and this one has always hit the spot in my heart. There is one quote in the movie that particularly resonates with me, and it's one I thought I would share with you on this greatest of days. It reads, "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind." I don't know about you, but I've always thought this was beautiful, and the older I get, the more it seems to mean to me.

It seems like in the days leading up to Christmas, there is nothing but the hustle and bustle of trying to get ready for one of the biggest days of the year. Basically it is chaos. I'm sure there is not a person in the world who doesn't get stressed out about something or other during the holiday season simply because of the magnitude of it all. But all of that stress and worry is made worth it when we are able to sit back with those we love and appreciate the most. Christmas waves a sort of magic wand over the world and makes it a softer and more beautiful place. It gives us all a chance to cherish peace and goodwill and be generous with mercy. Christmas is love in action. More than just being a day, it is a state of mind filled with great peace (which is surely much needed after the mayhem in the weeks leading up to the day), goodwill (which comes through the symbolism of a beautiful gift), and abundant mercy (displayed when people are able to put aside everything to show how much they care). 

So on this most wonderful of days, I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and everyone you love. I hope it is a day to remember for a lifetime--it should be if you're in the Christmas frame of mind! 

Lastly, I want to thank you all for giving me one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for, and that is the desire and motivation to keep writing because of your continued support. I only wish I could repay each and every one of you for this precious gift. It really does mean the world to me.  

Merry Christmas to all, and to all...go watch Miracle on 34th Street! 

With love, 

Morgan

#37 When All Is Said and Done...Well For Now

Here we are, fellow first-year college students! It really is the end...of first semester that is. A semester full of news (in both the news as in "Wow I had no idea that happened!" and as in new things), full of highs from good grades, accomplishments, and an overall excitement to have gone off to college, and full of lows from, well, not so good grades and missing the people we left behind. As I sit here waiting for it to be time for the flight that will take me home fresh out of my doozy of an economics final, I can't help but be retrospective. I mean what else am I supposed to be doing? School is over and all of my stuff is packed, so why not go on a thought adventure? And while I know I've been utterly blog-negligent lately (even Facebook was kind enough to remind me yesterday that I hadn't posted anything lately and suggest that I post now), I'm back now. Here I am, crawling out from under all my books, notebooks, and notecards, ready to end this semester, this year, and start anew. But until the year starts anew, how about coming on a reflective journey with me?

In the spirit of "Things I Should've Done," I think it's appropriate to bring back the input post so I, and others of course, can see how you've come to see the college experience. So tell me, what is the most important thing you've learned about college thus far? 

"That family is everything and being separated from them makes you appreciate them a billion times more."

"Have fun with it. Everyone's going through the same stuff that you are. And don't go to college looking for your husband. Go to meet your bridesmaids. Study hard, but remember also that this is where you'll meet some of your greatest friends."

"To enjoy it. Don't over-stress or let little things get to you. Listen to your professors, make new memories, and spend time with your friends. Learn from new experiences and you'll realize that you're constantly learning more about yourself."

"Well first of all that I should study with about a week of anticipation. And that I shouldn't have taken my family for granted while I lived with them because it kind of sucks not having them around as much."

"I think just being true to yourself no matter what you're going through or how much stress you have to put up with or how much you miss home."

"Be open to new ideas, new things, and new people because [college] is the four years of your life filled with the most opportunity for experience. Don't shut anything or anyone out. Either that or don't start worrying about your GPA at the end of the semester."

"Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and experience new things. You meet new people, have some great times, and get to see what all there is to do in college."

"You can do whatever you want, but you have to be willing to accept the fact that when you make a mistake there is no one else to blame but yourself. It's fun, but it teaches you how to have responsibility."

"I've learned that cafeteria food really does get old...fast."

As for me, I think the most important thing I've learned is that college isn't nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be. I'm sure all of you know how freaked out I was by the whole idea of moving away from everything I knew, but once I got over the initial shock, it became just as normal as everything else. I have friends, I have class, I have a routine--I got used to it. Sure I miss people from home and from time to time I wish I wasn't doing as much reading and studying as I have to do, but college is about growing up and learning to adapt in a new environment. Doing just that proved to be a lot easier than I expected, a fact that I was pleasantly surprised about. What have I learned? You get used to it, and you learn to love it.

With 45 minutes left until my flight departs home (granted by the time I post this I'll probably be at home, but you get the idea!), I can't help but look back with great happiness. I can tell I've learned so much already--scholastically and personally--and that makes me all the more excited to continue on the college journey. Though this is starting to have an element of finality, don't worry, I'll be back plenty of times throughout the holiday season and before I go back to school in January! For now, I'm going to shut my brain off and revel in the fact that I don't have to deal with finals anymore!

#36 The Ties That Bind

When I moved away to college, I told myself that I would keep in contact with my friends from high school. I'm a huge believer that it is important to maintain relationships with people you've met over the years. At one point these people were important to you in some way, so it's important to keep them in your life in whatever way you can. I know that it's very easy to lose contact with people from high school once you go to college, but I've made it my mission to stay in touch. Don't get me wrong, I'm not stuck in high school at all. My desire to maintain friendships does not stem from the fact that I yearn for the "glory days" of high school. I'm very happy with my college life thus far, and frankly I'd be lying if I said I wanted to go back to wearing a uniform to school everyday (although sometimes I do miss how easy it was to get dressed in the morning). I just think it's important to keep relationships with people who were with you during your formative years spent in high school. It's about integrating a part of your past with your present and future. I think being able to do this speaks volumes of a person's character. It shows that they appreciate the past and want it to be a part of them forever. This has been my personal goal--keeping in mind the ties that bind.

Recently one of my Facebook friends shared a link that appeared on my News Feed. It was a list entitled "32 Things That Are Worth Caring About." Number one on that list reads "Keeping in touch with friends when one or both of you move away, even if that means reserving time to talk to them even when it isn't convenient." Before I saw this list a few days ago, I'd been making a conscious effort to keep up with people from my high school days, but seeing that only reaffirmed that I'm doing something good. Sure, it's hard to stay in contact with people when you're miles apart, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. If you want to badly enough, you will find a way to make it happen.

So to wrap this all up, I encourage everyone to keep in touch! Send a text, write on a Facebook wall, mention on Twitter, give a call, or if you're feeling crazy, write a letter! (If you know me, you know I have a thing for handwritten sentiments! Feel free to write me anytime!) Use any type of communication possible. The point is that we should all make an effort. What do we have to lose?

For those of you interested in the entire "32 Things That Are Worth Caring About" list, here is the link to it. It really is worth checking out. Enjoy!

#35 I Love You. Thanks For 15,000

I've officially reached 15,000 views!

I want to thank all of you for being on this journey with me for the past several months. When I started this I didn't realize how much it would come to mean to me. It began as something I did because I was inspired one day and thought "Hey, maybe I should blog about that." I didn't think it would last nearly this long, but it has! I would like to say that it's all me, but it's really you. It is the view count that keeps me going. Seeing that number rise and rise makes me feel like people out there actually care what I'm writing on this small little blog. Since you all keep coming back, so do I. You all inspire me. 

I am humbled and grateful that you've supported me like you have even with all the changes--from high school to college, from regret to action, from Things I Should've Done to Things I'm Doing. I know I've changed as a person in doing this, and I think it's for the better. It has proved to me that writing really is an outlet. I encourage anyone looking for an outlet to try it. You don't have to be the best writer in the world to get something from it--in fact you don't even have to be good to get something from it! I learned in psychology class earlier in the semester that writing about your experiences is proven to make you feel better about them, and because of this, I believe that wholeheartedly. 

So again, I want to thank you all for going on this journey with me. I will ask that you stick with me because there are many more college adventures to be had! 

Here's to the next 15,000!

Also, congratulations to President Barack Obama and everyone who voted today--whether it was for the first time or otherwise! You're officially a part of history.

#34 Tom Landry Said It Best

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge football fan, and here in Texas, football is basically a religion. Legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry said it best: "Football is to Texas what religion is to a priest." Here, everybody looks forward to the weekend because there's high school football on Friday, college football on Saturday, and NFL football on Sunday. My school cafeteria even makes football shaped and decorated cookies (pictured below). If that doesn't show how much this state loves football, I don't know what does. I'm not originally from Texas, but I've been here for almost ten years. Most of life has been spent here. My formative years were here, so I learned to love the game from being around people who love the game. Now I'm one of those people who is totally into football season and anxiously awaits football season when it isn't. Because of this, one of the things that excited me most about college was being able to go to all of the football games. UT's Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is the sixth largest collegiate stadium with a seating capacity of over 100,000. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? Going to games is probably one of my favorite parts of the college experience. There is nothing like being a part of all the energy in that stadium. Hearing the cheers of the crowd, seeing the marching band play, hearing the sound of the cannon go off when the Longhorns score, putting your horns up, getting excited when the team does something right, getting angry when they do something not so right, all of it is amazing. Every time I go, I think to myself how lucky I am to be a part of all of it, how lucky I am to be there. I was lucky enough to be present at the October 6th game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in which the attendance record at DKR was broken. 101,851 people. And I was one of them. Granted I was suffering through the cold weather and wind in the thinnest sweater I own, but I was there. There really is nothing better than football in Texas. And football in general. If you're not a fan, become one. It's not just a sport, it's a way of life. Seriously. And also, feel free to get me Cowboys or Texans tickets for Christmas! I won't get into my obsessive relationship with NFL football. I love it too much. But that's a whole other story for a whole other time!

#33 A Lesson in Psychology

I learned recently in psychology class that the strength and longevity of memories is directly related to the amount of emotion felt during the event of their creation. This explains why the things we remember the most are the things that affected us in a large way--by either bringing us great sadness or great joy or some other impacting emotion. I know I will remember this past weekend for a long time to come because it was so much fun. There were several times that I just thought to myself how happy I was, which made the think of how much I need to get rid of the things that hold me back so that I can be that happy person all the time. Yes, it sounds silly, but I did have this epiphanic moment in the middle of a music festival with 75,000 people surrounding me.

This past weekend was the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. For those of you who aren't familiar with ACL, it is a three-day music festival that takes place here in Austin, gathering over 130 musical acts from all over the world to play rock, indie, country, folk, electronic music and more on eight different stages. My favorite acts of this year were The Red Hot Chili Peppers (of course), Two Door Cinema Club, Childish Gambino, Florence + the Machine, Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, and The Shins. I could go on and on about the acts, but I think you get the gist--they were amazing. In addition, it sells food and art from different vendors, a vast majority of them being local. Like I said, it attracts a enormous amount of people. Honestly, it's insane how many people are there. 75,000 people in a huge public park is crazy. But the atmosphere is incomparable. It's almost electric--you know there's something going on there. There is nothing like the sound of the music and all the commotion around. This year was my second experience at ACL, and I loved it just as much as last year, if not more. Not only am I continually awed by the power of live music, but I am also continually awed by the eclectic mix of people you find those three days at Zilker Park.

Another random psychology factoid, the most memorable events in our lives happen when they encompass all of the senses. At ACL, you can hear the resonance of the music across the entire park, you can see all of the crazy people around you, you can smell the local foods being sold by the vendors (not to mention the not-so-pleasent smells you come across), you can taste that food, and you can feel the beat of the music inside of you. All of these combined sensory experiences made me realize how lucky I was to be there, and there is nothing that makes me happier than that. I got to thinking that I need to be a happy, carefree person like that all the time and just let go of the thoughts that aren't good for me. It is for these reasons that I know ACL will always be an experience that I can look back on and remember fondly, and I can only hope to make all of my days as memorable as those three. I may not have Florence Welch crooning in the background of my everyday life, but that doesn't mean every day of my life isn't as special as the three days of ACL. So I guess, live every day like it's an ACL day!

#32 New Places to Wear...School Clothes?

In my last post, I introduced the new theme of my blog, Things I'm Doing. Like I said in that post, I was inspired to write about my new life in college one day in my early morning architecture class when we took a sort of class field trip to the beautiful courtyard of Goldsmith Hall here on my campus. Seeing it made me realize how much I'm enjoying my time here and how much I want to share my time with all of you. (Side note: the courtyard at Goldsmith is a microclimate, which is an atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the climate of the surrounding area--in this case, the microclimate is created by the building itself because of its square shape and open middle. The microclimate is a tropical one, so it is the only place on campus that can grow palm trees, which of course reminded me of home!)

For those of you who don't know, I've recently begun my college years at The University of Texas at Austin. I know I've said before that I don't like to assume that I have readers who I don't know personally, but in the off chance I don't know you and you don't know where I go to school, it's UT! Since I got here about seven weeks ago, a lot of my time has simply been spent exploring. I'd been on the UT campus before since my uncle is an Austin resident and former Longhorn himself, but I was no where near acquainted with the campus when I moved here. Even seven weeks later I still don't exactly know where all of the buildings on this giant campus are. UT is referred to as the Forty Acres because that was the size of the university when it was first founded. Since then it has expanded tremendously, so getting around it is no joke. Forty acres would be a cake walk compared to what it is now. Anyway, because this campus is so large, there is constantly something new to discover, whether it be a cool looking library, a beautiful spot beneath trees, or even a nook between two buildings that can become a good study spot. The possibilities are endless.

I just love finding new places (on campus--not new places to wear diamonds. Sorry Marilyn, all I wear is school clothes) because it reminds me of the fact that there is always something new to see. Even though I may not be the biggest fan of change, I do enjoy finding new things that can make the changes easier. So far, that has come in the comfort of an old library, the sense of home from the palm trees in the Goldsmith courtyard, and the constant view of the iconic UT Tower.

To get to the message of this post, you don't have to be just starting college or just starting something new to find new things. There is new in the familiar. It is just a matter of going out and being willing to find those new things. We miss a lot in the day to day hustle of life, but if we stop and look around we are able to see the cool things that we might have missed out on before. So look around. There is beauty all around; it's up to us to find it.

Below are some images I've taken of places I love on campus. I do not claim to have any photography skills--just a cell phone enabled with Instagram!

Top row (from left): My architecture classroom that looks like a movie theater, the ceiling in the Life Science Library, and the Architecture Library

Middle row (from left): The iconic UT Tower, the Goldsmith courtyard that gave me my inspiration, and the modern Norman Hackerman Building

Bottom row (from left): Lounge area in the Student Activity Center, my favorite 100,000+ capacity Darrell K. Royal football stadium, and the Littlefield House

#31 New School Year, New Ideas

Since my last post, I've been doing some thinking about a new concept for my blog since the current theme isn't really fitting to my life right now. It's been a thought that's always on my mind--I will admit that it has taken a rather long retreat to the back of my mind lately, overshadowed by psychology readings and economics charts--because I do really want to continue with my blog. I'm an English nerd at heart, so writing has always been a great outlet for me. It would break my heart if I had to abandon my Things I Should've Done post (pun totally intended, by the way). 

With that said here's what happened today. My first Monday class is an architecture discussion section at 8:30 AM. I forced myself to wake up and I have to say, I was not excited at all to go to class. I mean who wants to get up that early on a Monday? Yeah didn't think so. So I dragged myself over to Sutton Hall, and the TA gave us the assignment for the day. It was to answer a series of questions about the thermal qualities of a particular building on campus. It was an in-class assignment, so we all got up from our chairs and walked over to the building we were to analyze. When I arrived at the courtyard of Goldsmith Hall, I was immediately taken back by the beauty of it. How had I never seen this place before? It's so cool. I thought to myself, wow, I am constantly surprised by all of the cool little spots my college campus has to discover. I then went through a mental rolodex of the places I've already found in the short time that I've been here and the mere thought of them all made me so happy. 

Of course, this event caused a huge wave of inspiration to come over me in the form of an idea. And here we have my new blog concept: Things I'm Doing. Not exactly the most clever name, but I think it keeps with my theme quite nicely! For now, I'll leave it at that. The above anecdote will serve as a preview for my next post! I hope you all like my new stuff. I know it's not what you're used to reading from me, but I think it'll be a more fitting perspective for where I'm at in my life right now. 

Enjoy what's coming! And without further ado, Things I'm Doing. 

#30 With This I Return To You

Alright, so I'm accepting the fact that I am a beyond horrible blogger. In all honesty, my blog is always somewhere in the back of my mind, but for some reason, lately I haven't had any inspiration whatsoever. For awhile I was troubled by this fact. I mean I'm calling myself a writer, but I can't think of anything to write? To say I was discouraged would be the understatement of the century. I don't want to be presumptuous and assume that I have a ton of readers, but if I do have readers, I've felt like a disappointment to you all lately. There is nothing better than getting support from you all, but I haven't been delivering lately. I got to thinking about this the other day, and I had a thought. In a way, it's a good thing I haven't been blogging. The premise of the whole thing is things I should've done. It's about regrets and wishing to have done things differently. If I haven't thought of anything to write about, I haven't regretted anything. College is about starting over and creating a new life for yourself. It's kind of hard think of things I regret when I've only been in college for about a month and a half. The only real regrets I have involve poor food choices and going to sleep a little too late. Nothing worth writing about. But instead of being mad at myself for not being able to write, I've decided that I'm happy with that. It's a good thing that I don't have any regrets about my college experience so far. I can only hope it will continue this way in the coming months. I'm pretty sure I'll continue to make poor sleeping decisions and wish that I hadn't eaten things that I shouldn't have, but as far as life decisions go, I can only hope that I'll continue on the way I have so far. College has been good for me. No regrets. Yet. Hopefully it'll stay that way. 

Here's where you guys come in. I'm wondering if I should change up the content of my blog. I don't really want to completely make a new blog because I love this one so much, but I'm worried that if I keep it the same as it is now, I'll just ignore it for another month like I did this time (which is horrible, but true). Any thoughts?

By the way, thank you guys for staying with me even though I've been horribly inconsistent. I promise I haven't been doing nothing. Let me know what you think about moving forward with the blog!

#29 Showing My Family Some Love

So I've done it. I moved away from home. As I type this, I'm sitting in my dorm slightly shaking because I'm always nervous for new experiences. My mom and sister left about an hour or so ago, and I met my roommate a whole three minutes later. It was awesome. She walked in with a friend right as I was unpacking and still slightly crying from my mom and sister leaving. My sister then proceeded to text me and say that she thought she saw my roommate on her way out. She definitely did. Thank god my poor roommate didn't walk in to me, my mom, and my sister all crying together and standing around awkwardly, not really knowing how to handle the situation. Seeing me upset was probably awkward enough for her! But aside from the initial cry fest, moving in was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. (Pause while I go and pick up my books from the bookstore - all by myself) Okay I'm back. Anyway, as you guys have probably guessed, I'm not much of a fan of change. I always pictured moving to college as this horrible experience, and so far I have to say it hasn't been that bad. Granted, yes, I haven't been on my own for very long, but what I've experienced so far has been all right! I've decorated a little bit (except there's a giant bulletin board type thing that I was totally not prepared for, but I'll figure something out!); I picked up my books and smiled at the fact that the store I walked into was playing Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel which is one of my favorite songs of all time; I looked out at the view from my window and was more than pleasantly surprised to see that it looks straight out at the enormous football stadium; (I just left and came back again. Blogging from college is going to be an adventure!) and last but certainly not least, I caught up with some of my friends from high school who happen to be going to the same school as me. Not bad for the first few hours I'm on my own! But even though I'm having fun so far, I'm realizing how much I actually will miss my family and how much they've done for me - both through the college process and just in my life in general. I'll never be able to thank my parents enough for all they've done for me (pause, my dad's calling) over the years. They are without a doubt a huge part of my life. I should've made sure they knew that earlier. I always talk about my friends on this blog, but I think it's time my family got some recognition. Mom and dad, thank you for everything you have done and will continue to do for me. It doesn't go unnoticed, even though it may seem like that sometimes. Chumpy, you're pretty cool too. I know my life would be a lot quieter without you. And even though we fight sometimes, you know I love you and am glad to have you as a sister. To all of you, I'll miss you more than you know. I may not be the most blatantly emotional, but I love you guys. Know that I'm thankful for everything and that I'm always a phone call or text away. But don't freak out if I don't answer immediately!

P.S. I think I may like this college thing!

#28 Given Technology a Break

Hello. My name is Morgan, and I am addicted to my cell phone. And my computer. And my Kindle. And Twitter. And Facebook. And to playing GodFinger on my phone. And to checking Twitter on my phone. And to taking pictures of my dog on my phone. Basically I'm a technology addict. And while, yes, I have technology to thank for a lot of the things in my life, (namely this very blog) I do wish I hadn't become so dependent on it. I know there are great advantages to being connected - I can google my questions and curiosities and have an instantaneous answer; I can find out what my friends are doing with the push of a button; I can connect to my readers in a way that would not have been possible years ago - but I also know that it comes with a price. I have a much shorter attention span than I would have if I didn't have this need to check every text that showed up on my phone the second it showed up. I'd forgotten how much I loved the touch and smell of a printed book until I bought one last week (and proceeded to become a hermit, finishing it in two days. Check out Where We Belong by Emily Giffin - great read). I have, many a time, wasted the day away watching Netflix. I could probably list things like this all day, but you get the picture. My point is, technology is ever-present in our lives, both to our aid and to our detriment.

What I propose on the matter is a break. A break from television, from your cell phone, from Facebook and Twitter. From all of it. Maybe just for a day, maybe even less. Just give yourself a break. There have been nights when I've put my phone on silent and left it in my room so that I don't pay any attention to it, and let me tell you, those are the best nights. Those are the nights when I reconnect with my mom and my sister and we just hang out. Those are the nights when my friends just show up unannounced and I'm surprised and happy to see them. Those are the nights.

Just recently I had to send thank you notes for graduation and it reminded me of how awesome hand-written sentiments are. There is nothing better than getting a written thank you or letter from someone else. I know I've talked about this before (see post #16), but it really is one of the best things in the world. Better than a Facebook post or a thank you text message.

Take a break from all your devices. I promise, it'll be okay. Everything will be there when you get back. Write a letter, read a book, hang out with your family. I can't guarantee that your friends will show up randomly, but here's hoping!

#27 Realized

To be honest, I have no excuse for my ridiculously long hiatus. Simply, I haven't been inspired by much of anything lately. I've never been particularly good at coming up with something at will. Everything I write is raw. It just kind of comes to me in the spur of the moment, and I run with it. There is no premeditation. If there was, I would probably go out and do the thing I would write about instead of deeming it a "thing I should've done." But recently, I realized that that's kind of how life works. You can plan all you want to, but things probably won't turn out how you want. Life is a series of real, raw moments that make you who you are, and you can't just come up with who you are in the blink of an eye.

I think part of my lack of inspiration has to do with the fact that my mind is completely taken over by thoughts of college. For the past year of my life, my impending departure to college has been an ever-present topic, and it's something that I have insane mixed emotions about. One minute I can't wait to live in a city where I can do whatever I want, and the next I'm freaking out about the change ahead and want nothing more than to freeze time and pretend like it's never going to happen. I won't lie, most of my feelings about going away are negative ones. I've never been a big fan of change, and I know this one is going to be one of the biggest changes I'll ever go through. I like routine, and I know leaving and creating a new routine will rock me to my core. More than anything, I'm scared. Absolutely scared out of my mind. I'm scared that I won't do well. I'm scared of being away from my home. I'm scared of being away from my friends, my family, and even my dog. I'm scared that I won't like it. I'm scared of letting go of the things I know. I'm just scared of college, and all I want to do is lay in my bed at home forever. But I'm not at all ashamed of my fear. I know a lot of people going through the post-high school/pre-college phase are beyond excited to go away - I'm just not one of them. I've accepted the fact that college will probably scare me until even after I start class in August. I know there's no use in pretending that I'm not a huge scaredy-cat. I've realized that it's a part of who I am, and there's no denying that.

I realize that this hasn't exactly been the most uplifting post, but I think I needed to do it for me. I guess I just needed to admit to myself that I am scared of what's ahead, and that it's okay to be that way. I suppose this moment of self-discovery was one of those raw moments that I was talking about earlier. This post was not at all pre-meditated or planned - it is the mere product of a moment of panic. I was finally inspired again. It may have taken awhile, but it happened. And I guess that's life.

#26 Forever Alone?

My best friend Souther is unique in every possible way. She's quirky; she's loud; she'll do anything you dare her to do; she loves hard, and she feels even harder. She's pretty much my polar opposite, but that's why I love her so much. I've always thought we compliment each other well. She's there to tell me not to freak out about school because it isn't the end of the world if I get a B, and I'm there to tell her not to freak out when she breaks up with a boyfriend because there are plenty of other fish in the sea. Trust me, there have been many times that this has happened - on both ends. I think the most important thing I've learned from Souther in the past six years I've known her is the importance of bouncing back from anything bad that happens to you. I've seen her go through many heartbreaks and disappointments, but she always manages to push through and be a better Souther when it's all said and done. No matter what happens, you can always bounce back. I asked her to write a piece for my blog about what she wishes she would've done - or I suppose in her case it would be what she wouldn't have done - and she came back with amazing words about being in a relationship. Like I said before, I've taken from Souther that it's important to bounce back, and I can tell you for certain that she's bounced back from all that she mentions below. Keep that in mind. Even if you feel like your world is coming to an end because your relationship is ending or because you haven't been in a relationship at all, you can always bounce back. And without further ado, meet Souther:


When I was asked to do a feature for this blog, I wasn't quite sure what to write about so I figured I'd write about the only thing I know. Relationships. 


In high school, people can sometimes feel the pressure to be in a relationship or at least be talking to someone. People settle for less than they deserve just because they think they need someone else to make them happy. Well to all the "forever alones" out there, let me just say I admire you. I admire you for not settling, for not giving in to the pressure, and for still being happy. 


I have gone through more pointless and ridiculous relationships than I can even count, and I regret most of them. I wish with all of my heart that I could say I've never been kissed or that I've never been on a date. I know now that I rushed into things way too young. Waiting for something is the best part. On an episode of How I Met Your Mother, one of the characters says that the lead up to a kiss is even better than the kiss itself. I think that's true, and I wish so badly that I could go back and tell my 12-year-old self not to kiss that boy at his front door. So, sticking with the things I should've done theme, here is my feature: the boys I shouldn't have dated. (I know all my friends are going to laugh at that one.)


1. The guy from the cruise ship. 
2. The guy in sixth grade who gave me a cool necklace. 
3. The guy I broke up with my first love for. 
4. The guy who played my dad in a musical.
5. The guy that wanted me to make out backstage during a musical.
6. The guy who was a senior who led me on when I was a freshman. (We never dated, but he took up most of my time anyway.)
7. The guy I met at church camp who lived six hours away. 
8. The guy I dated in band for two weeks. 
9. The guy who was my ex-boyfriend's best friend.
10. The guy I met at work who I thought I was in love with.


Not all of my ex-boyfriends are up there, and that's because I don't regret all of them. Some of my relationships meant something, and I will always look back on them fondly. But if I could go back and do it all again, I would. 


So who cares if you're a high school graduate and you've never been kissed? Who cares if you've never told a girl you like her? Don't rush it. Good things come to those who wait. So just wait for the right one. You could be 18, 25, or even 90 and have not met "the one" yet. But trust me, they're out there, so just hold on. And remember, you can't be loved unless you first love yourself. 

#25 VIPs

Staying with the graduation theme (even though I said I was pretty much done writing about high school), today's post will be about people that have been important to me over the years and the people that have been important to you all over the years. Normally on what I've dubbed input posts, I don't put names with quotes, but I feel that this occasion definitely calls for some recognition. To anyone reading this who doesn't know the people that will be talked about, I'm sorry! But then again it may just be wishful thinking for me to presume that I have readers outside of my friends! In any case, if you don't know these people, feel free to skip the post. Personally I've always enjoyed reading nice things people say about each other, regardless of whether or not I know them. I think it helps me see the best in people. This may not be my most popular post, but it's one that I would really like to do, so I'm just going to go for it, no holds barred. There are a lot of people who've been important to me over the years, like I said in my last post, but there is one person who sticks out in my mind. Granted, she is not the only one who's ever been there for me so my intention is not to offend anyone at all, but to celebrate. Juliana Longoria is a friend like no other. She tells really long, detailed stories; she braids hair like a champ; she has quite an evil laugh; she's the best Skype date ever; she'll call it like she sees it, but still manages to be nice; she'll do anything for anyone else, no questions asked; she shares in your pains; and most of all, she's always there. Juliana is the most loyal friend I know. I know that I can go to her with anything (and believe me, I have) and she'll still be my friend regardless of what I say. You know how there are those people in your life who just understand you? That's who she is in my life. She just gets me. I don't have to explain anything to her because she just knows. She has helped make me into who I am because she taught me that there's no shame in feeling what you feel. I've called/texted her plenty of times freaking out that I'm the worst person in the world or that I'm stupid and worthless, and of course, she's always there to tell me that I am being stupid - not because I'm actually stupid, but because I'm stupid for thinking that I'm stupid. I can't thank her enough for being exactly who she has been for me these past few years. Juli, I really don't know what I would've done without you. Now, I could go on for days about how wonderful of a friend she's been to me over the years, but then this post would be way too long. So tell me, who is someone who has made an impact on you or has been important to you in your high school years (and if you're not graduating yet, thus far)?

"My dad because he is the one who has taught me to not take everything so seriously. He taught me to take a step back every once in a while and breathe instead of always jumping in head first."
Kimberly D.


"Mr. Hickson because he is probably the weirdest person I've ever really known and the kindest person I've ever met. He had a way of getting me to believe in myself and to better myself in high school."
Amanda L.


"Many people have been a part of my high school experience and a few have made a big impact on my life but right now there's one person that comes to mind when I think about who has impacted it the most and that's him. I still haven't figured out why he came into my life but the thing is that he did, and he opened my eyes to a totally different world. I had always lived a certain way with a certain mindset that I thought no one could ever change, but he did. With him, I realized that there are many ways to enjoy life and that things aren't what they seem until you experience them. He also showed me the importance of emotions and how much they can alter a person's decisions. There's many ways to do things and the only things you can control are your actions, words, emotions, and thoughts - no one else's. I wonder what else he'll teach me in the future, that is if he does decide to teach me something else (even though I don't think he knows when he's doing it and what he's already done for me)."
Miriam H.

"Luis made an impact on me. He wasn't just my boyfriend - he was more my best friend. He taught me that it's important to do well in school and that I'm capable of accomplishing whatever I want. He made me happier too. Basically he brought out the best in me."

Sara D.

"Katia because I always knew she was the one person who legitimately had my back and wasn't just saying she did. She was my outlet - the person I vented to all the time. And there aren't very many people I feel comfortable venting to."
Elizabeth C.


"I would say my dad. He helped me with schoolwork, worked with me on basketball and baseball, and he was always there when I was stressed, angry, or sad. He always told me he believed in me and that made me believe in myself."
Harrison M. 


"The one person that was the most important through high school would be my sister, because without knowing it, she was always in the back of my mind inspiring me to make good choices and be the best I could throughout the years."
Juliana L.


"Hands down Mr. Hickson. He's been there for me through every mental breakdown. And there have been a lot."
Amanda H. 


"I have to say my godmother. She always pushed me to be my best (and still does) and she taught me to overcome whatever obstacle is placed in my path with poise. Always to be nice to people even if you hate them because you never know when you're going to need them in the future. She basically shaped who I am today and she would scold me when I did things wrong and rewarded me when I did well."
Nere F.


"I can't name just one person. Everyone I've become close to throughout high school at some point has impacted my life in some way, but I'd have to say that the greatest impact has been made by my best friends who've stuck with me until graduation, and who I know I'll keep for the rest of my life."
Andrea H. 


"No doubt my family for starters. They always have an impact on me. Although, I think the people who have the biggest impact are your friends. I was lucky to have some great friends (even if they may be older). As for someone specific, Brother George was an incredible person, teacher, and influence on me."
Daniel E.


"Ms. Hartwig made me see the world in a completely different way. She was always there to listen to my problems and always challenged me to be better. She definitely made a significant difference in how my high school career ended up."
Chelsey G.


"My little brother Chris. I'm a big influence on him and that fact makes me want to be a better person for his sake. I love him a lot and I want the best for him and sometimes I'm probably not the kind of big sister I should be. I hope be forgives me for not always being there for him."
Souther R.


"Coach Ben. He was my mentor from school to track to weight training and he was always willing to go out of his way to help me. He always had good advice from his experiences as an athlete, son, and worker. He trusted me with everything, and I trusted him with everything."
Andres C.


"I never really thought teachers would make a great impact on me. They come in and fly out of our lives since they're only there for four years or even less. There's one teacher though that I'm sure I'll always remember. Physics class two years ago. I'm a science hater and surprisingly this teacher intrigued me with the material. Without her knowing, she has been my inspiration for thriving in academics. She inspired me to thrive in other aspects of my life as well. I never let this person know how much she changed my personality. So if you ever read this blog, Ms. Stull, thanks for the unexpected inspiration."
Eugenia V.


"Clara because of everyone I know, she has the best heart and soul. I aspire to be like her, and that makes me a better person."
William S. 

Two points on the same line,

always together, never apart. 

You are forever in my heart. 

XO, Morgan

#24 Thanked You All

Even though my senior year has officially come to a close, I still don't believe it's over. It's hard for me to grasp the fact that my every day won't be spent at my high school. Yes, it is exciting that I'm finished with the high school chapter of my life, but it's a bittersweet feeling to say the least. I'm both happy and sad to leave. I have so much ahead of me, but there's so much that I'm leaving behind as well. I loved high school - everything about it. My friends, my classes (well, most of the time anyway), my lunch table, even my uniforms. And I will always look back on my days at the Academy with nostalgia. In all honesty, I think what made my high school experience so amazing were the people that surrounded me. I know for certain that it would not have been the same if they hadn't been there. Some I've been close to since I started school, and some were more recent additions, but all of them had an effect on me regardless of how long they've been friends of mine. This post will be short and sweet - kind of like high school. To all of my classmates, teachers, friends, and anyone else who has been with me throughout my high school years, thank you. Thank you for making me into the person that I am today. Thank you for being there whenever I needed you. Thank you for sharing yourselves with me. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for teaching me that I need to cherish every moment. Thank you for everything. I don't know about you all, but it's hard for me to imagine my days without my fellow Bloodhounds. I'd heard before that senior year flies by, but until now, I didn't realize how true it is. To all future seniors, don't let it fly by! It really is a special time, and I wish my senior year could've been longer. My time as a senior, and as a Bloodhound in general, was amazing, and I know that I'll always look back fondly, thanks in part to the people I spent the past six years with. I know this isn't the last I'll see of all of you, but until then, farewell.

And that, as they say, is all she wrote (about high school anyway; college is a whole other adventure to be had).

Congrats fellow grads! '12

#23 Stayed in Dance Class

There's no denying that there's something beautiful about ballet. The grace, poise, and understated human strength that dancers have is astounding to me. I used to take dance classes but stopped before I went to middle school. I remember always loving it when I did it. I'm not exactly sure why I quit, but this past weekend made me wish that I hadn't. Last Sunday, I went to my friend Miriam's dance recital. It was the ballet version of Alice in Wonderland, in which she starred as the Queen of Hearts. In my eyes, Miriam has always been a beautiful person. She is always happy, always kind, and always there when you need her - the ideal friend, basically. But when I saw her dance, she became even more beautiful. Through dance, she came alive while I sat in the audience in awe. Even though she was a villainous character, I saw the beautiful person she is. I think that's why dance is so magical. No matter what character you play, the skill involved in ballet makes the character beautiful. You hate the Queen of Hearts, but that doesn't make her any less of an amazing dancer. As I was sitting in the audience, I instantly regretted quitting dance because I realized that that could've been me. Well maybe not because I don't think I ever would've been as good as Miriam, but I could've been in one of those crazy costumes on the stage having the time of my life. I guess I didn't stay in dance class long enough to develop that drive that all dancers seem to have. They literally have to dance, and if they don't, they're lost. I have another dancer friend that comes to mind when I think about passion and drive. Her name is Griselda. Every year my school puts on a Style Show that the seniors star in. In it, the whole class is divided up into groups and all the groups learn a dance from different choreographers and model clothing from stores that are willing to lend their stuff. I was unlucky and lucky enough to be in a group with both Miriam and Gris. Unlucky because they're both amazing dancers and would make me look bad, and lucky because they helped me out more times than I could possibly count. It was Style Show that made me good friends with Gris because she spent so much time teaching me the routines that I should've already learned. She never failed to say yes to me any time I asked her to help me - regardless of what she was doing. She lives for dance, and she is always willing to help other people feel the magic from dance that she feels. She probably has more passion in one hair on her head than most people do in their entire bodies, and I'm always amazed by that. Dance brings out beautiful things in people. That I know because I know people like Miriam and Gris. It brings out grace, poise, strength, drive, passion, and, obviously, beauty. Those things make me wish I'd stayed. I may not have been very good at it, but I should've stayed so that I could've figured that out. Miriam and Gris stayed, and for that I will always admire them.

#22 Life Lesson

Let me start out by saying that I'm sorry I've been silent lately. I had such a great momentum there, but I've ruined it lately. I suppose it's a good thing that it's getting harder and harder for me to come up with things I should've done. It must mean I'm doing something right... right? In any case, there are still things I should've done - whether they be big or small. And although lately it seems to be taking me awhile to come up with them, they're still there. Again, I apologize for taking so long. I hope I can come close to compensating with this post. It probably won't be my best, but I'll try! Now, since my graduation from high school is quickly approaching, I've been trying to spend as much time with my friends as possible. And let me tell you, between choir practices and final projects and their busy schedules, it's a difficult thing to do. It's pretty much impossible to get my entire group of friends at the same place at the same time because we all do so much. But of course, I cherish the time that we do have together - whether or not all of us are there. I know for me personally, there have been several moments in my life when I've just zoned out and almost observed the scene in front of me as if I was an outsider. In these moments, I look at the people around me, laughing and smiling, and realize how lucky I am, how happy I am. In a way it reminds me of a theme song to a comedy-drama. You know, where there's a happy song playing and they show each member of the cast laughing or smiling or doing something cute. That's what's going on in my mind at these moments. This happened to me a couple weeks ago when I was at a friend's house watching a movie with a group. As I looked around at everyone singing "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Disney's Mulan, (and actually that was my first time watching Mulan. I missed out on a lot of Disney movies as a kid, but more on that subject later) I saw how happy everyone was to be there with each other just watching a kiddy movie. Seeing everyone happy made me happy. It made me realize that I have to cherish the moments with the people I love the most before I won't be with them anymore. Sitting together watching Mulan garnered one of those out-of-body experiences for me. I looked on the scene with appreciation to every single person present. They are certainly some of my best friends because I've shared memories with each one of them. It's sad to think that I'll be without them in a few short months, but I would be silly not to take advantage of every moment with them now. I won't spend my time with them thinking about what it's going to be like without them. And this isn't specific to me and my friends. It applies to almost anyone and anything in life. We shouldn't spend our time thinking about what we don't have now or what we won't have it the future because it's a waste. Life lesson for the day: cherish what you have in the present. I'm sure you've heard it before, but it's worth saying time and time again. To close, I want to say thank you to my friends who forced me to watch Mulan. You gave me both a childhood re-do and a lifelong memory. It may have seemed like nothing, but it meant the world to me, so thank you all. Now that I look back on this post, it's not really something I should've done, but I guess I'll just go with it anyway! 

#21 Smiled More

When I started thinking about writing this post, all I had was a vague idea of what I was going to write so I took to Google to help me figure out the rest. I typed in the URL to the ever-popular search engine (and I'm constantly amazed by the simplicity and power of it, by the way) and, of course, was instantly presented with millions of results for my search query: smile more. I got everything you could possibly get on smiling. Smile how-to guides - which I'll admit puzzled me because who doesn't know how to smile? You curl your lips up in an expression of happiness. Sounds pretty simple, right? Smile challenges - smile when you see someone else smiling, smile when you hear laughter, etc. Smile fact sheets - it actually is easier to smile than to frown; people don't just say that. Everything. But as I was reading all this information about smiling, the thing I couldn't get off my mind was the fact that the smile isn't the important part. After all, a smile is merely an outward expression of happiness. Key word: outward. What really matters is what's on the inside (biggest cliche ever, I know). When I saw all of these websites, I realized that the important part is finding something to make you smile. It's not easy to smile when there's nothing in your life to smile about. You really want to smile more? Think about the things that make you happy. Give yourself a reason to smile. I have plenty of reasons to be happy. I'm happy that I'm going to a good school in the fall with some of my best friends. I'm happy that I'm a part of two great families. I'm happy that my friends accept me for the weirdo I am. I'm happy that I have all the opportunities I do. I'm happy that my dog still shakes hands (paws?) with me even though I make him do it all the time. My message today is simple. Smile. Because we really do have so many reasons to smile. We were created to be happy beings. Show your happiness. Smile. Make someone else smile. Pass it on. :)

#20 Spring... Breaked? Broke?

I think it's fair to say that nothing is as exciting to a second-semester senior as spring break is. From experience, I know it's all you think and talk about for weeks in advance, from starting a crazy diet and exercise plan so you're in shape for the week to hashtagging #springbreak on Twitter. There really is nothing better than a week off school when it's warm outside. Spring break is about freedom. Freedom from school, freedom from responsibilities, freedom from everything. And of course, that freedom is not limited to a high school senior. In no way am I saying that seniors crave the break more, but in my own experience, this year was the year that I looked forward to it the most. I know for a fact that every college kid on the face of the planet loves spring break because it means being free from work and worry. Long story short, everyone loves spring break. It's our first glimpse of the coming summer months. For me, that means leaving the life I'm used to and going off to college. Talk about freedom. It's a taste of the amazing things awaiting us. Of course, with freedom comes the possibility of regret. (You didn't think I wouldn't mention the "R" word, did you?) Not the probability, but the possibility. Personally I wish I would've spent time with more people. Don't get me wrong, I had a great spring break doing absolutely nothing, but I wish I'd made more of an effort to hang out with different people and done more. On another note, I don't think freedom can exist without responsibility. I think our main responsibility, at least during spring break, is deciding what to do with our freedom. We may make stupid decisions, but that's a part of life. This week's poll is a two-part question all about spring break. What is your favorite thing about spring break? Is there anything you would take back?

"Being with friends is the best part, but I hatehatehate the drama."

"My favorite thing about spring break was the fact that I wasn't at school. And I have no regrets... regrets are for losers."

"I loved the freedom of not having to stick to curfews or worry about what time we have to get back home. Since we stayed on our own I loved how it was a little taste of the freedom we're gonna get in college. And if there's anything I'd take back I would've done like one more day of cool kid/adventure stuff during the day. Other than that, spring break was great. No regrets."

"My favorite is being able to make my own choices because of the lack of supervision. I would take back that I didn't get enough rest and I didn't really realize it was my last until it was over."

"Being able to do what I want and that I got to take every day was the best... I never nap so it was pretty much amazing. I wish I'd spent more time with people and that I was more outgoing, but there isn't anything I would take back."

"My favorite thing was the real bonding time with my friends and the coming closer. I regret not making the most of every minute... But not really."

"My favorite thing is not having to worry about anything, not having a schedule or anyone to worry about except myself. As for something to take back... there was one night..."

"Hanging out with my friends and relaxing some was the best. I wish I could've hung out with my closest friends more."

"My favorite part was meeting new people, relaxing, and spending time at the beach. I have no PG regrets..."

"My favorite thing about it is getting to take a break and relax on the beach. I regret never going to any parties during spring break or doing anything wild like sneaking into a club."

"Getting to know my true friends and being stress-free for a week was great. To some of those closest to me I regret being selfish and irrational when I should've understood. I honestly wouldn't take anything back though. Everything happens for a reason."

"My favorite thing was that I loved the idea of not having to worry about anything. That for one week, nothing else mattered but to have fun. I would take back the pointless fight between me and my boyfriend though."

"My favorite thing would have to be enjoying everyone and every single moment. Just the fact that I'm surrounded by my friends with no parents is the best! I would take back one night when I was in sort of a bad mood, because I can change my mood any time, and I just decided not to so I didn't have a good night. Instead, I would change my mood and go back and enjoy every second of it."

More than anything, (well, besides having fun) spring break is about freedom and doing whatever you so choose to do. Of course, that comes with responsibilities. But I think one of our greatest responsibilities as teenagers is to have fun. We have plenty of time to be serious in the future, but for now, let's enjoy our spring breaks.

#19 Watched the Sunrise

People who wake up late miss one of the greatest feats of nature. It happens each and every day and is one of the most magical things on earth. The sunrise. There is something beautiful about the day slowly getting brighter - from the midnight blue to a lighter blue - and going dark once again. It's a comfort to know that whatever happens, the sun will always rise. There is always tomorrow. Who would've known the sunrise could have such great life lessons behind it? Getting up in the morning to watch the sunrise sounds great in theory, but it's a lot more difficult in practice. Personally, I've never done it. As a teenager, it's a struggle to get up at 7:00 AM and make it to school by 8:00 AM, let alone get up earlier than that to watch the sunrise. Although, with the time change, the sun rises between seven and eight here in my time zone, so that could make it a little easier. During the school week, it's virtually impossible to sit down and watch it. At 7:30 AM, I'm rushing out of my house to make it to school on time, not making a cup of tea to pair with my morning paper out on the patio. My suggestion would be to try it on the weekend. I know, I know, it's the weekend. Why would you want to voluntarily get up at 7:30 AM on the weekend when you could be in bed sleeping like a baby? To experience the magic of the sunrise. To see the beautiful colors. To ponder the thought of a new day, a clean slate. Getting up early does have its benefits. While I would call myself an early riser, I've never sat down and watched the sunrise, and I'm not sure why. Of course, sometimes I miss it, but other times I simply don't go outside and watch it. I should. There's a great significance to the whole thing. They don't call it the dawn of a new day for nothing. Watching a sunset is like saying hello to a new day. And it's the perfect time to be thankful for your many blessings. The Dalai Lama once said, "Everyday, think as you wake up, 'Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.'" Nothing like the Dalai Lama to make waking up sound like the most spiritual experience in the world. What better way to greet the day than to watch the sunrise and experience its beauty? So when your parents ask you what you're doing awake at 7:30 AM, just tell them the Dalai Lama said it would be good for your soul.

P.S. Just out of curiosity, how many of you actually do the things I'm writing about? If you have done some of it, tell me about it! If not, I'll keep writing anyway! 

#18 Realized

When I started the whole college process, saying I was stressed was the understatement of the century. I'd always seen past seniors and wondered why they were literally going crazy over it. All applying to college is is filling out some electronic forms, writing an essay, and pressing submit, right? Wrong. It's endless stress. It's filling out electronic forms, writing tons of essays trying to figure out which one is going to make you look the best to an admissions board, filling out scholarship and financial aid information so that your parents don't freak out about money, taking standardized tests, finding people to write you a letter of recommendation, and about a million other things. And then pressing submit - which was probably the hardest part for me. Oh and did I mention that you have to do all this and maintain your life outside of college applications? Yeah. And then, even when you submit your applications, the stress continues. You're playing The Waiting Game - arguably the most daunting game ever. And then when you get your acceptances or rejections, the stress continues. Where do you go? What do you do next? Seeing a trend here? Yeah, stress. This whole college application process is all about doing something bigger with your life. About figuring out what you're going to do with the rest of your life. Trying to decide your path at 17 or 18 is one of the toughest things in the world. What I should've realized earlier is that you don't need to know exactly what you're going to do when you're applying for college. I should've realized that it's really rare to know what you want to do with your life when you're 17. The most I think about is what I have due for homework the next day or what my mom is making for dinner. Some people have their entire lives mapped out, career included, but that certainly is not the norm. Knowing exactly what you want to do is not normal. And not "not normal" in a bad way, but "not normal" in the sense that it's extremely rare. I've realized that it's okay not to know. I'm okay with not knowing what job I'm going to have when I'm an adult. I know what I like and I know what I'll study in college, but I don't know how I'll parlay that into a career. I think part of what makes the pre-college process so stressful is that we're expected to decide our paths. People expect that we'll know exactly what to do, but the reality is that we don't. The idea of trying to decide the rest of my life right now is the scariest thing in the world. Applying to college is not the last step in deciding your future. It is merely the beginning of your discovery of yourself. Lewis Carroll once said, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there," so remember that when you're freaking out about not knowing exactly what you're going to do in college.

This post is dedicated to my lovely friend, Elizabeth, who is one of those rare people who knows what she wants to do and where she wants to do it. I aspire to be like you in more ways than one. Happy birthday love.

#17 Celebrated Nonconformity

Conformity (n.) - action in accord with prevailing social standards, attitudes, practices, etc. In simple terms, conformity is to go with the flow or to follow the crowd. I think conformity is a combination of personality and societal demands. Our society as a whole rewards conformity. It wants us to all be the same because we fear the unknown and things we do not understand. Look at society's reaction to homosexuality. It's not the norm so it must be evil, right? While I don't personally agree with this assertion, a lot of people do because that's what society tells them. High school is the perfect example of the issues that come with conformity. You're shunned if you don't follow the latest fashion trend (even if you go to Catholic school and have to wear a uniform), you're weird if you don't like going to football games on Friday night, or people think you're crazy if you don't care to go to the Homecoming Dance. People are accepted when they conform - and thus are rewarded - and ridiculed when they don't conform - and thus are punished. If this is how the world works, what do you think people are going to do? It's a sad reality, but the majority of us spend our time in high school trying to fit in. All people want is acceptance. Who wants to feel unwanted? It's easy to conform when we haven't yet developed an identity. It's easier to be told who you are than to have the courage to make your own choices about yourself. While there are times when conformity is not necessarily a bad thing - like when you're picking what color nail polish to wear or what basketball shoes to buy - it is when we become "okay" with things that we really aren't that conformity starts to harm us. So what if you buy the same kind of dress that everyone else has? It won't change your life in the slightest. It's okay. What's not okay is being okay with things you really aren't. We don't say anything to our friend who is making bad decisions because we don't want to lose them or we don't want them to be mad at us. We don't say anything when the people closest to us start to change before our very eyes. Conformity comes in many forms. The word conformity itself says so. It comes in many degrees. Some conformity is okay. Follow the leader if you so choose. But we should never sacrifice what we believe in order to fit in. I know every single one of us has heard this a million times, but it's true. We overlook some of the biggest issues life could possibly hand us in the name of conformity. I know I've acted like I was totally cool with things that I wasn't. Recently, though, I've started avoiding these situations. I know it's a cop-out, but I would rather avoid a situation than act like I was okay with it. At this point in our lives, all we're looking for is approval. It's our way of trying to find ourselves. What we don't realize is that we're forming a broken version of the person we really are - which is probably part of the reason being a teenager seems so hard. We're lost. And it isn't until we stop needing to be handed answers or stop thinking that the answers we're given are illogical or lacking substance that we start looking for our own way through life. It is then that we don't see a need to conform. Nonconformists may look like most people on the outside, but on the inside they have the courage to speak their mind, the ability to learn from their mistakes, and the desire to take the road less traveled, and that's something that should be celebrated.

This post is dedicated to Laurette who had the courage to ask me to write it. I hope it lived up to your expectations! (I'm a little scared it didn't!) Your comment restored my faith in myself and in my blog. I hope you're keeping up with making your new friend. It means the world that you were willing to take my advice. One of the things I wish I'd known earlier is that you can get all the good advice in the world, but it's useless unless you act on it. Thanks for the suggestion!

#16 Told Them What They Mean to Me

You know, they always say that we should never take things for granted in this life. We're only given so much time on this earth, and we should cherish everything and every person that we are blessed enough to have in our lives. Of course this is true. I would be lying if I said I didn't believe it. We have to take every opportunity to tell the people in our lives how much we love them and how much we appreciate them. Even the people we don't like are there for a reason. Think of the people you don't like as foil characters in the story of your life (shout-out to all my English teachers) who are there to make you the best possible version of yourself. Every person you are ever around has shaped you in some way. I mean, is there really such a thing as being original? Is who you say you are really you? They say you are the combination of the five people you're around the most. So are you really you or are you the people around you? Even though all of us would like to think we're a completely new person, I don't think we are. If I can't be totally unique, I'd like to think that I've taken the best of people. I'm happy having my mother's eyes and my father's sense of humor. My best friend's passion, my favorite teacher's heart, my sister's energy. If we really are the product of our environment, let's at least try to make it a good one. Tell the people who have shaped you how much they mean to you. Don't take them for granted. My suggestion to you on how to do this is to write a letter. For my 18th birthday, the people closest to me wrote me letters that did just that. It was the best gift I could've ever received. Sometimes it's a saving grace to know that you are loved and that someone thinks you're important. Give that gift to someone. And it doesn't have to be in the form of a letter. Write them a Facebook wall post (or whatever they're calling it right now. It seems to change a lot...), mention them on Twitter, hire one of those plane writers, or maybe even just tell them face to face. Whatever works. Let someone know they're important to you. It really is the best gift you can give someone. In order to put this suggestion into practice, I'm going to write a letter below that tells someone how much they mean to me.

Dear Amanda Rae, 


I don't know if I've ever told you this, but you really do mean a lot to me as a friend. We see each other everyday and we talk all the time, but I don't think I've ever expressed to you (adequately, at least) how much I value the friendship we have. It means the world to me that you really are there for me no matter what. I know I can always come to you with anything - whether it be news that probably shouldn't be considered news since I think everything is a bigger deal than it is, or if I'm just complaining about something, or if I just want a friend to talk to. You're always there to listen to my "news" and share in the excitement or disappointment. You're always there to listen to me complain about the silliest things. You're always there when I need you. You've been one of my biggest supporters in more ways than one, and I really can't thank you enough for that. I've always admired your spirit. You are one of the kindest hearts I know and I've always wished I was more like that. You've taught me that there is something to be said for mild-mannered people. I know plenty of people with big personalities, and I admire you for being different. Not to mention the fact that you're beautiful. Inside and out. And while we may be on different paths for our futures, I know our paths will cross plenty of times. You're one of the best friends I have, and I'm sorry that I've never told you that before. I hope this makes up for it. Stay beautiful lovely.


Love always, 


Morgan


Don't take people for granted - tell them what they mean to you. Simple as that.