#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.