Lately, every little things has been exceedingly beautiful to me. I’ve let myself become distracted by almost everything that catches my eye. It may not be very time prudent all the time but allowing yourself to notice the way raindrops sparkle on tree branches, how you friends eyes look when they smile, or the way your dog sometimes tries to jump on the couch but misses. Anything and everything.

1. Everyday Things

So, the pond you see on the left is one at the college campus where my middle college is hosted. There really isn’t anything special about the fountain but one day it looked particularly peaceful to me surrounded by small shrubs and little flowers. It also has some fond memories of my friend Madison falling in it.

The pomegranate is a great example of a random thing on my Snapchat Story! It happened to be first time cutting and picking out the seeds of a pom but I obviously got distracted halfway (literally half way ha) by how cool fruits are! Don’t laugh! Think about it-- a pomegranates grow on trees, making the tree look super cute in the process, and by the time you cut them open they have hundreds of those little seeds in them, and every time you peel another area there's even more hiding out! I don’t know y’all that’s pretty awesome.

2. Fall

Fall! Or Autumn! Whatever it is to you! Fall is by far my favorite season. Look at all these leaves! I honestly would have felt guilty not taking these pictures because wow look how pretty! @Nature you cutie pie.

3. Cute Things!

This. Dog. Is. So. Cute.

One of the most adorable I’ve met… but if you have a cuter one please let me meet them also. The reason I put this on the list is because sometimes people think it’s silly to get worked up over a cute pupper or an adorable baby because it’s immature or an over-reaction. But if you’re suppressing your excitement over something so precious then what is the point in holding babies or puppies?! Let yourself get excited in the most childlike way-- because something this cute begs that level of appreciation!

4. Words

This is a random quote I ran across on Tumblr one night. I posted it to my Instagram recently because I love it so much. I take every opportunity I can to write so I’m a big word appreciater and a good quote always gets me. In fact here’s a good one, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” -Mark Twain

5. The Sky

Not kidding you I have at least 30 pictures in my phone of the sky in random places at all different times. Before storms, sunrise, sunset, at night, when it’s snowing, no matter when the sky is never not incredible.

6. My School

So, a joke we have at my school is that we literally had to hunt down white males to be in yearbook photos that aren’t class pictures. Which is totally true. The guy peeking out behind my head is one of maybe 6 white guys at my school. Don’t get me wrong no hate to white boys but the diversity of people (in all areas) is without a doubt what I love the most about my school. Forever appreciative of my school.

7. No Seriously, the Leaves

One more time cause I need you to understand how stunning. LOOK AT THESE LEAVES.

8. Human Resilience

On a serious note for a moment, this year has brought up a lot of controversial conversations for all of us to engage in. On both sides of the “political aisle” people have faced intense criticism sometimes handled gracefully and other times not. Seeing the amount of resilience and determination and passion in people all over the country is incredible. People have marched and protested and opposed legislation and made their voices heard and whether you liked or not everyone of them contributed to a larger national- and even international- discussion on human rights and what it means to be not just American, but female or ethnic or LGBTQ+, in America.

That will always give me hope.

9. My Ladies

Not much to explain here other than the fact that I love girls and women and when we pull together it puts me in my feels more than anything else.

10. My Purple Hair

Oh yeah also I have purple hair now :)

11. How Fast Time Goes

As I’ve mentioned in other articles I’m heading off to college soon and it has really hit me how hard fast the last few years of my high school experience have gone by. The pictures I included were taken about a year apart of me and some of my teammates at our annual rowing banquet. In the first picture I was a junior and all of my friends were seniors. By the time the second picture was taken they had all gone off to colleges away from home but came home for a little reunion. The two on the left in each picture also started dating within that year (one of the cutest couple omg). So a lot changed between both of these photos but definitely not the love I have for all of them.

12. Being Single

Wooooooooh siiiiiingle liiiiiiife. Not like it’s been all that crazy because school and athletics life has been much crazier than anything romantically. I broke up with my first ever boyfriend back in the beginning of the year and had such a hard time getting over it. And sometimes I still have very lonely moments. Having friends in relationships gets rough because yeah sometimes I want a cuddle buddy too! But the thing is, I’m seventeen and about to start a whole new chapter. And the idea of trying to maintain a healthy relationship in the midst of all that sounds overwhelming. A few lonely nights I can handle… that’s what Netflix and chocolate is for duh.

13. Myself

Ewwww so cheesy. I know, I know so cliche. But I won’t take back an attitude of appreciating and enjoying myself. So yeah, you can deal with the occasional mirror selfie on Snap.

14. This Quote

Short and sweet and I won’t over complicate such simply given solid advice.

15. Change

First of all I did not draw this and I’m not sure who did since it was reblogged on Tumblr. I love this illustration. Change and development scares other people sometimes. For some, realizing that you have grown in different directions than they have can be intimidating. But you can’t let that stop you. Be different and outlandish and beautiful.