Are you living for you?

The problem with people is they assume everyone wants the same things. As I talk to my friends and strangers, listening to their goals, I learn that they want to go down paths I wouldn't consider for myself and visa versa. But as individuals, and as a society, we tend to forget that it's perfectly acceptable for someone to want a different lifestyle from you.

For example, not everyone wants to get married and some people don't even want to be in a relationship. There's nothing abnormal about that decision. They have their reasons for not wanting one; and even they have no particular reason, it's still their decision and deserves respect.

Another example, not everyone wants to go to or even believes in higher education. Modern society has made it handy to have one, but classroom study does not suit everyone and not everyone has the desire to get a degree. There is no flaw in not wanting secondary education, especially considering the many successful people who didn't give college a single thought.

But try telling someone you plan to make different decisions from the accepted norm and you get skewed faces, long winded lectures or an outright argument. People have forgotten that we are not on this earth to conform to some definite way of living. We are here to try and make a life for ourselves that will bring us peace of mind and happiness and happiness is a very subjective thing.

No two people hold the same definition of happiness. It is something very personal. For instance, it would make my mother very happy to see me as a doctor. But it would make me miserable. I've decided to pick a field that she really has no interest in. She may not be happy about it, but she has no real right to deny me of my happiness.

However, I see parents, friends, and even strangers rob others of their chance to pursue happiness simply because it isn't what they want. I have friends getting degrees in industries that they can't stand and people being forced into lifestyles that their personalities are not suited for.

We don't all want to live in some chic LA apartment with our 6 best friends close at hand, throwing parties every weekend. Some would love that, but someone else would prefer a quiet country cottage surrounded by land and animals instead of people. Either way of life is perfectly normal. You may decide you'd be most content never settling anywhere.

Instead of giving people freedom to decide, society has given us a checklist to complete by a certain age and if for some reason we haven't done every acceptable thing we're considered failures.

This is one of the worst thing we have done to eachother. We are stripping people of their individuality and their right to have their own personal human experience. Life is actually very difficult when you have no sense of yourself. More and more I am meeting people who have no idea what they would like or what would make them happy because they have had little opportunity to explore it.

You have the right to make decisions that will suit you (as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else). Remember that there are billions of people who will never be able to make a single personal decision. Women in oppressed societies, people in tyrannical countries, they have no freedom to live for themselves. If you have even a small opportunity to create a life for yourself, take it!  Don't hesitate because it's not what society deems acceptable or because it's different from your friends. Take the chance to be happy; live in way that works for you.

I believe in daydreams

I believe in daydreams and warm cups of tea

Hand written postcards sent from you to me 

I believe in laughter shared with a friend

Long summer days that you never want to end

 

 I believe in lips that speak only of love

 The greatest of all reigns from up above

 

 

Love getting real mail? Try Postcrossing

kk

A month ago, I signed up for a postcard exchange program provided by postcrossing.com. You can check out the website for more information, but this is the jist of how it works:
1. Sign up for an account (which is free)
2. Create a profile which includes your address and a little about yourself, including the types of postcards you like.
3. Mail your first postcard, and when a user registers the postcard number, you are then the next person to get a postcard.
4. Receive and register your own postcard.

For those wondering, these are real postcards. You can find postcards in dollar stores, post offices, or souvenir shops to send.

The site has hundreds of thousands of users, which makes it more fun, as a postcard can come from anyone in the world. I also like that the site encourages postcards rather than letters. Writing a letter to a stranger can be a little intimidating. You just don't know what to say. But a postcard offers a small space to say a little about you, like your hobbies. The task seems easier, since sometimes just putting your favorite quote is enough. And of course, it's fun to look at the different pictures of places and things around the world.

Last week, I received my first postcard from a site user :D
It was from a lovely lady named Eva, who lives and plays the violin in Budapest. Eva and I have one thing in common: we both love resting, when we are not busy. I think the card she sent is perfect. It gives me a chance to see where she lives. 

Greatness of God

 

“If you don’t see the greatness of God then all the things that money can buy become very exciting. If you can’t see the sun you will be impressed with a street light. If you’ve never felt thunder and lightning you’ll be impressed with fireworks. And if you turn your back on the greatness and majesty of God you’ll fall in love with a world of shadows and short-lived pleasures.”

—	John Piper

Why do bad things happen to good people

A friend of mine made a post asking the following two questions below. I wanted to share my response to him.

Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why don’t bad people get punished?

Well, to quickly answer the second question…bad people do get punished.

Most “bad” people have internal struggles. Even if on the outside they look fine they are obviously dealing with something that is negative enough for them to inflict pain or conflict on others. They don’t have inner peace. To go through life without the peaceful content feeling is a struggle, even if you have everything else. So most “bad” people are suffering daily internally.

To address the first question…

Sometimes what seems like a bad thing, can be a blessing. When I had to leave school because of my illness I was distraught. I had a student loan to pay, no job, my health was miserable, and I thought I’d never be able to attend school again. But the situation forced me to look at other options and my life is actually better now, even with my illness, than it was before. I’ve created a life for myself that suites me better. I’m going to school, I’m working and I paid off my loan.

2. Sometimes it’s your fault. Yes I know it sucks to admit it, but sometimes we make mistakes that we could have avoided if we just listened to ourselves. There is a voice that tells you “don’t date that guy/girl” “don’t listen to those people” “don’t go down that road”, but we don’t always listen and terrible things can happen as a result. This is why the past can be your friend. If you live to tell about it, learn from it.

3. Most of what we call “bad things” is just life. Life flows in waves. Sometimes you get nice soft waves. Sometimes it feels like the sea itself is tossing itself on you. You just have to try and deal with it the best you can. Use your resources, talk to people, and remeber that nothing last forever; the problem will pass.

4. We are a bit too tolerant. Good people have a tendancy to put up with crap that they don’t need to. If more people spoke up, half the problems in this world wouldn’t exist. But people stay quiet when they should be shouting at the top of their lungs. If something is bothering you, say something Fix it while you have more control over it, instead hoping it goes way. It’s ok to put up a fight for your own happiness. It’s your life, after all.

Not even in fairy tales

You don't really want a fairy tale. If you do, you've never really read one. Because if you have read a fairy tale, you'd remember that there were dragons as well as princes; magic was used for both evil and good, and that happily ever after never came before dark and stormy nights.

Life isn't easy. Not even in fairy tales.

But life is a lot like a fairy tale. It takes courage to stand up to the evil witches and dragrons in our lives. It's takes heart to pursue your prince or believe that he does in fact love you, once he shows up. And like all fairy tales, it takes a kind of hope and patience in knowing that your dreams will come true.

Super Kawaii Haul! These items are too cute to handle

I love kawaii cute items, so I was so excited when my bestie got me all this cute stuff while on vacation! Thank You!!! In this kawaii haul are candies, stationary, bath stuff and beauty items. I won't show everything, but I will show a few of my favorite items that put an instant smile on my face ^.^




This is perhaps my favorite item (though I love them all). It's a notebook, but it is so cute and so me. The girls are adorable and I love how it's called "Happy Girl" It even has this super cute fashion game inside where you can dress up each girl character in different outfits. It's so perfectly cute, I can't handle it and something I would have picked for myself!



These candies were so good! They are hard candies that taste like pop. They even fizz in your mouth! I love the packaging. The big bold colorful letters definitely get my attention and goes with the whole "happiness" theme.



I have not used this product yet, but it is a bathbomb with a secret inside! I cannot wait to try it out and see what's inside and what it smells like. But the packaging alone makes me so happy. I mean it's called happy dolphin. How can you not smile!

This was such a wonderful surprise and you are a sweetheart for getting me all these lovely kawaii cute items!

Spilling Ink: The beautiful beast

Eyes like diamonds

Teeth like pearls

Skin like satin

Hair that curls

Make him gentle, make him fine, if he be all this…make him mine

And from the spell made by the young queen’s brew came a boy with thin limbs and features off skew. The queen gasped as she saw the hideous sight, trying hard not to deplore him. Trying, with all her might. She put him in room, dark colored with little light and kept the boy hidden for 20 years, out of sight.

Only the queen knew of the beast behind the door. She would hold him and bring him gifts from her kingdom’s store. The boy grew in that room never seeing his own face. He grew to be playful, wise and full of grace.

The boy, now a man, asked why he need stay behind the walls. The queen said he was so beautiful the world would be appalled. They would look at him and see their own ugliness within. They would hate themselves by hating him and see their own sins. The man asked why he had never seen his own reflection. The queen said this was for his own protection.

The man said why, what harm could it do. The queen said the man would become like others, vain and untrue. You will love yourself only with your eyes, and that is wrong said the queen, tis better to love with your heart which feels rather than sees beauty. The man was content with the answer and said he would stay in the unlit room for his own safety.

He told the queen she must be very beautiful indeed. The queen smiled but felt ashamed and full of greed. She had made the man to suit her own ideals and when he turned out to be different she locked him away. On her thrown of gold she sat high with pride, while her subjects suffered night and day.

The queen cried in her room, why am I like this? She cried on her bed and with her whole heart made a wish. Make me more like the man, humble and pure. If there be a way from these evils, let me find the cure.

The day after that the queen went to the man and said, “to you there is something I must tell.” I made you from a brew; I made you from a spell and when the spell went wrong I banished you to hell. The man seemed puzzled for he lived joyfully. How can this be hell, when you have done so much for me?

“I would have loved you more, if the spell went as it should. I would have given you all of me, and more if I could.”

The man asked do you love me now with your heart? The queen said yes, for you are kind, gentle, loving and smart. The man asked the queen to give the man some light. So he may for once, gaze upon the queen’s sight. The queen lit a candle and stepped into the glow. Upon seeing her beauty the man bowed his head low. My queen, he said, to me your heart has been fair. You have shown me love, mercy and that you care.

The queen realized that there had been a change in her. And from this feeling something began to stir. The queen took the man outside and proclaimed:

“I am in love and things will no longer be the same.”

She was kinder to subjects; her people were amazed. All across the lands, the people gave her praise. For she was different, her heart was now true. Now longer drenched in vanity, away her problems flew.

On the day the man and she wed, she was happy, of this you can be sure. For she loved him and he loved her.

Never ever do this

Never let anyone manipulate you into destroying your self esteem. They will own you, and will give you up to the world to devour you. Though it might be hard to ignore the brutal words of others (especially if they are coming from someone who is supposed to love you) you must try to retain some self worth and confidence in this world. It is all you ever really have. Don't put too much effort into pleasing others, instead use your efforts to love yourself. Let people say what they want and think what they want, but never let them trick you into sharing their negative thoughts.

When my times feels most valuable

I wanted to make buttermilk pancakes this morning. Correction, I wanted to eat buttermilk pancakes. I wasn't bursting with enthusiasm to make them. Isn't that how it is sometimes? You want something, but you don't actually want to work for it.

For instance, I want a million dollars, but I'm kind of just hoping I'll go to the bank and there it'll be without my having to do anything. Or how I really want to spend a summer in a luxury apartment in France, but do I want to work my tail off to earn enough to go to France...nope. But life doesn't work like that. You have to do something to get something.

If I want a boat load of money, I have to be willing to do two boat loads of work to get it. Sometimes it's all worth it. You work hard and feel proud once you've achieved the end reward. Sometimes it's not worth it, but in those cases at least you can say you put in your best effort. At least you tried.

Most of what we do is trival. It doesn't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things. I mean, me making pancakes is not going to help the world much (not unless I'm sharing). Even the hours spent working is done to stuff something in between the slots of time I've been alotted. It helps me contribute, but I'm not doing anything incredible simply by working.

The only real time I feel the time and energy I'm giving is doubled (trippled), and I really feel it is valuable is when I'm spending time with God. To the outside viewer, I'm not doing much in those moments. I'm not rushing around; I'm not trying to please everyone in sight; I'm not conquring the world, but in those moments I am doing the very best thing I can do for the world. I'm opening my heart; I'm letting him in; I'm boosting my self worth and yet humbling myself. I'm filling myself with joy, releasing my fear and sorrow, I'm conquring my demons, and I am connecting with everything he has put on this planet. All this lets me do whatever it is I'm expected to do with renewed excitment. It gives me courage to face the things I couldn't otherwise. It keeps me hopeful, joyful, grateful.

God gives me more than the world will ever give me. No matter how hard I work, the reward will never match up. And there is no possible way I can ever give to the world all that God has already given it. So while I do my trival work on earth, I remind myself to work even harder for God. Not because it will change the world, or even send me to heaven (it might not) but as a way to say thanks for all the times I didn't do anything but was still blessed by him.

Picture Credit: http://enoqi.tumblr.com/

Hey there, July

Hey there July, have you come to break my heart or kick start it? Are you looking for a victim or a friend? I could be smiling, tearing up from summer time laughter or shedding streaks of summer time blues. July, you bring so much excitment. The thrill of your arrival is too much for one girl sometimes.

 Ah, but you never make any promises, not real ones anyway. Sunny days, heated nights, sun soaked memories and stormy thunderous serenades. July can make you do anything and be anything. It can leave you blissed from summer sweetness as you run through the streets chasing your summer star or leave you wading through it's pool of summer sadness.

Hey there July, will you make me smile or make me cry?

Top:Asian market//Skirt:thrifted//Boots:gift//Belt:Yesstyle.com

Sushi and High Heels

 

I think we all have that one meal we crave often. For me, it's sushi. Walking past sushi restaurants is impossible for me. There is something about it--maybe the variety--that makes me opt for it whenever I'm hungry. Put me in a quiet corner, with nothing but sushi, and I'll consider it a makeshift heaven.

So Test Me June

Life is full of tests isn't it? Minor ones, major ones, some you can prepare for and others you never saw coming.

It feels good, doesn't it, to pass life's challenges I mean. But what if you know you're failing. It is possible to feel like a complete failure at some of the tests life throws at you. Or to feel tired of the constant preparation for the next big hurdle.

Take a deep breath. 

That's what I tell myself. As I stand outside watching the world change into a beauty of flora, I breathe in summer. I breathe in life.

 There are days when I want life to give me a break. Stop testing me I plead. I need time to just be, to breathe.

 But then I remember everyone shares this story. Everyone is being tested. And without a life's challenges how would I know what I was capable of. Would I love summer as much if I never endured winter?

 The hardships of life can be in there own way, rewarding. They draw out your strength. They help you get creative, assertive, aware.

With each test I come into a kind of summer, a self blossoming. And despite knowing there is another test just around the corner I take the time to breathe, to be proud of myself, and to reassure myself "I can do it"

 So if you must June, test me. Bring on your thunder storms and cloudy days. I won't begrudge you. Bring me rains for my garden. Help me blossom.

Hat:thrifted//Top:amyflyingakite//Pants:Jacobs//Ring:JuliesJewelryStore

How to achieve a balanced life

One of the most difficult things to do in life is to keep your life in balance. If you meet someone who looks as if all is going well for them, they are usually working very hard at it.

 General life obligations, and personal expectations make the art of living a very challenging one to master. Something in your life may be going great while another is part of your life is falling apart. And lets not forget the moments when it seem as if everything is crumbling around you.

Some people never feel in balance with their life. They never feel life hands them what they want, when they want it or they feel exhausted at constantly having to keep things in balance.

But if you look at people whose lives do look joyous, peaceful and balanced you may be see a some common elements.

1. They make themselves a priority. If you're always committing to others, never making time for yourself and the things that make you happy; if it's always your friends, kids, boss, spouse, parents that come first then it's no wonder you're feeling fed up with life.

You're not giving enough of your time and energy to yourself. You are not doing anything wrong if you make yourself a priority. In fact, it is essential. If you're not at your best then, no matter how much you're giving, nobody in your life is getting your best.

You need to take care of yourself first: body, mind and soul, before you start dishing parts of yourself to others.

2. They ask for help. Nobody can do it on their own. Each of us has only one body and we are only capable of so much. People who have their life in balance seek the help of others.

It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Instead, it gives you a chance to  a) sort out other things in your life
b) get things done faster.
Ask for advice, help, resources when you can to make your life easier.

3. They don't expect everything to be perfect. Most of us are trying way too hard to obtain an unachievable state of perfection in our lives. This is never going happen. Life moves in waves-- high tides and low.

 It's not realistic to expect that every part of your life is going run smoothly at the same time. We are human; we get sick; we get into disputes; we're thrown curve balls. It's more a matter of how to positively deal with things rather than expecting every moment of your life to be perfect.

4. They celebrate the good, deal with the bad. Some people don't take time to rejoice over the good things that happen in their lives. As I said above, they're too busy trying to make everything perfect to see what is actually going right in their lives.

Others fail to acknowledge the parts of their lives that need tweaking. They either don't want to admit they are making a mistake, or don't know how to address certain issues in their lives. But people in balance know that they have to deal with the things keeping them out of balance and take the time to appreciate all the ways life is being good to them.

Having a balanced life is a day to day thing. It's not something you do once and forget about. It takes making yourself a priority, asking for help when needed, dealing with issues that may be holding you back and not expecting life to be perfect.

My Sweet April

If March is a lion then April really is a lamb. It is more gentle towards me; more understanding, innocent and calm. I can handle April and it's challenges. I feel content. I don't know why I never achieve this level satisfaction with March, but I suppose everyone has their "winter."

The winds are brisk this April. There are still patches of snow and ice, yet I feel no disain for the slow coming of spring.

I look at April fondly, like that friend that is gentle and calming. The one you can spill your heart to without feeling judged. The one that smiles sadly at you knowing what a long a journey you've had and how much further you have to go.

 It says rest here, catch your breath. I won't over disturb you. March is demanding. March has expectations. March forcefully wants me to succeed. April wants me to try but not exhaust myself. April is courteous. It listens; tell me your woes; speak to me of your adventures.

 If you ever meet someone like the month of April, someone who is gentle and warm, someone who is patient and uplifting thank them--for they are like spring giving you a kind of renewal by implanting confidence and hope into your garden of life after a long winter. 

Moments of my day Feb 22

You wake up, thinking the day will be like any other and suddenly something happens to change it...like winning a contest. Mid morning, I recieved a message notifying me that I was the winner of a contest held by a youtube  member. I'm never lucky in contests, so I was more than excited when I found out I won.

It's amazing how winning something, having something good happen to you, makes the whole day sit on an optimistic and postive note. I felt lucky throughout the day.

Simply being to able wakup this morning with little pain, a roof over my head and a family makes me lucky or rather blessed, but we so often take these things for granted. I was more excited about winning something. Because for that moment it was as if fate chose me instead of anyone else. But fate chose me all day long, all month long.

 I'm still here, while other are not. I have friends and a family, while others don't, and I am safe, while many others are praying to be rescued.

We forget the mundane are the significant things in our life; the things that we assume are natural and everyday, like checking text messages (which is not at all mundane since in order to do so you must have a cell phone and that is a luxury in itself). Even if I had not won the contest I still would be considered a very lucky girl.

{Sorry I do not have a pic of my day but I thank you for reading xox}

Moments of my day February 15

 Ever wakeup knowing you're going to have a bad day, or least not a good one. That is how I felt when I woke up. I just didn't feel any enthusiasm for the day. I decided to shake off this feeling because I refused to give into a pessimistic attitude.
One of the reasons why I knew I wasn't going like the day was because I had to visit the denist and that always ruins my day. The trip there is unpleasant; the experience is unpleasnat; the feeling of walking out of there with a giant bill is...you guessed it...unpleasant.

To brighten up the day, I went to buy some left over Valentine's treats. On the top of the list were cupcakes. But the mall I was in didn't have any. Instead, I found myself in a new shop called Zexy Berries. It's I guess a dessert shop that sells chocolate covered fruits. But they also offer cookies and waffles. I've always wanted a waffle place in my city and to find one closer to my home was the best part of my day. I ordered a small one with strawberries and white chocolate. It was exactly what I needed to make the day go right.

I also bought some cookies from Zexy Berries. The service was wonderful and I know I'll be going there often. Sometimes you roll out of bed wishing the whole world would disappear. In those times, look for something, anything, in this big ol' world that makes being here worth it.

Moments from my day

There are times when I don't feel like compromising or waiting for a better day. Today was one of those days. I had an idea in mind of what I wanted from my day and decided to bring it forth. Sometimes your day dictates to you and sometimes you need to dictate to your day "this is how it's going to be!" My day listened.

I started by telling my day I wanted a thrifted mini backpack. My sister was kind enough to drive me out to the store and low and behold a Derek Alexander leather mini backpack was waiting for me. It was a steal at only 2 dollars. I also bought a long button down vest for $2.50. And my sister found a large stylish carpet bag for $4.00. Needless to say it was a good thrifting day.

I also decided today I was going to eat Mcdonalds. Without giving a care to nutrition or fat content, I indugled and felt very pleased about it. But while smiling at my meal, strawberry punch poured in my sister's car landing on my favorite trench. I guess it was my day's way of saying, "you can't have it all perfect." No bother. I'm too happy about the comment my professor left on my final paper to mind any spills and mishaps.

In fact I am posting her comment here, because I may never see a pleasant review of a graded work again. That and it may motivate me the next time I stress about a paper.

Dear Adelaide,


This is an excellent paper and a pleasure to read. I have pointed to certain sreas that could use more careful thinking and questioning; however, you have pulled together key contexts in evaluating the issue of individual rights and freedoms and the controls in place.


Best of luck in your future endeavours.

Romita

Natural ways to boost your energy

Your energy level can depend on how much you live life.  True, we all come with different levels; some people are always ready to take on the world, while others never seem to have enough energy to get through the day. But we all want to be excited about life and be able to do all the things we love. If you could use a boost in energy consider the following.

Escape the sugar trap
Sugar gives a jolt of energy, but it is short lasting and you will pay later. A burst of sugar flooding your blood cues the body to secrete insulin, which rounds the sugar up for storage. Your sugar high then becomes a sugar low. Choose complex carbohydrates that are released into the bloodstream slower.

Try yoga 
While this won’t magically give you energy, it releases the energy you have by releasing pent-up tension in the body. Tension is energy that’s blocked, when you release it you make the energy you have useable.

Meditate
Sitting quietly in a relaxed position with your eyes shut, repeating a simple word over and over again while shutting out distracting thoughts can reduce the body’s response to stress. This state of restful alertness you achieve through meditation is the optimum state of functioning. Meditation can help you feel perfectly relaxed and invigorated at the same time.

Take a shower
The water temperature doesn’t matter. It’s the falling water that gives you a kick. There is a special thing found in falling water, it’s called a negative ion. This is a molecule that adopted an extra electron. For people who are ion sensitive it's nature’s little pick me up. High concentrations of negative ions in the air lower the levels of a brain chemical called serotonin, which in turn makes us more cheerful and energetic.

Take vitamin C
Medical studies have suggested that people whose diets are lacking in vitamin C fatigue more quickly than those whose intakes are high. However, you can’t just take vitamin C and expect it to act like a pep pill. It will only be effective if your lack of energy is the result of a nutritional lack.    

Eat a good breakfast
You can use up 500-600 calories getting a good night’s sleep. You may not wake up hungry but your body has been depleted of the vitamins and minerals that give you the energy to tackle a brand new day. Not eating breakfast results in feeling headachy.

Give yourself something to look forward to
Anticipation of good things to come can give you a burst of energy. When you are looking forward to things, especially when pursuing a valued goal you liven up, have more energy, and concentrate better.

Get away from it all
Taking a vacation is a surefire way to recharge. Getting away from it all gets you out of your rut.

Snowy Salutations

As if they were happy to see me, snow flakes kissed me and swirled around encouraging me to stay awhile and play. My mother, being cautious, thought it would be a better idea for me to stay in and take the magic of winter from behind a window.

Usually I fear the cold, but I felt a kind of oneness with the season while standing out there. A magic was blossoming the same way flowers do in spring. I felt in awe that months prior my lawn was covered with greenage and now cold, wet, white heaped upon itself on the ground.

Seasons teach me that there is beauty in every stage of life. That not everything has to be bursting with life like summer to be considered beautiful.

Seasons teach me to accept change. No matter what, life progresses and nothing stays the same. This is a good thing; it's a beautiful thing, and it's something worth living for.

When the last snow flake of the season has kissed my cheek, spring will make its entrance. Until then, I will enjoy the season the same way I will enjoy each stage of my life.

Dress: H&M
Cardigan: H&M
Gloves: Navis Castle on Etsy
Purse: Garage Sale