LifestyleNov 23, 2016
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Relationships
25 Things I Want My Younger Cousins To Know
A little advice for my original best friends
1h
890
Bailey Totten
I've known you your entire life. More than likely I held you in the first three days of it and at least one of us cried. Cousins are truly one of the best things in the world and while sometimes I complain about how many people crowd Grandma's living room on Christmas Eve, I wouldn't trade you all anything.
You are my best friends, the only people who can understand what it's like on Thanksgiving, and you are the spunkiest people I have ever met. But you as so so young, most of you are just now starting your adventures in the public education system. I mean, I'm so very young too. I'm not married, I don't have children, heck, I just started my adult life, but I do want to give you what little advice I have. My dears, these are the things I want you to know.
You are young
Like I said earlier, you are young and you have so much in front of you. It's okay to make mistakes, and be a kid, and get your hands messy. Take advantage of your youth and realize because you are young you don't have to have it all figured out right now, when you're 18, or ever.
You will be scared
With so much of your life and so many decisions in front of you, there will be things that scare you. Getting called on for an answer when you weren't paying attention, your eighth-grade vaccinations, walking into the hospital after someone you love had a heart attack, and going off to college, to name a few, will make you think it's easier to run and hide under the sheets.
But be brave
No matter how much of a 'Big Kid' you are, some days you're going to have to dig really deep to find your bravery. I would be lying to you if I told you that this entire summer--the summer before I start college-- didn't involve me having to carry my bravery with me every day. It's okay that you're scared, but don't let your fear determine how you live your life. Let your bravery (as minuscule as it might feel) be bigger than your fears.
You are your own person
There will be thousands of people who will tell you how you should live your life, but at the end of the day, it's yours.
Take Chances
There will be opportunities that will change your life forever as long as you're willing to take the chance. The best endings have the riskiest beginnings; don't let your life pass you by because you are afraid to take the leap.
When you get the chance, play.
Right now I know playing is a part of your daily life, but it won't be forever. The older you get the more responsibilities and technology will take forever. That's okay and completely natural, just make sure when you're given the chance, run around barefooted for hours and play with your cousins.
Listen to your parents
I know, I know. That is literally the lamest and most stereotypical thing I could have ever said. I probably just lost the status of your favorite cousin, but as the big kid I am I've never regretted listening to my parents and every life lesson they offer.
God First
It won't be easy, but putting Him first is the most important thing you will ever do.
Family second
Friends come and go, but family is here forever. You will never look back at your high school years and regret spending the day helping your grandparents instead of going to the popular girl's party.
Everything else comes after
School, friends, and jobs are important, but never as important as God and Family.
The opposite sex doesn't matter
Yes, they are going to break your heart, but don't let them break your spirit. Also, you will have your entire adult life to worry about dating, don't throw away your teenage years chasing after 'The One'.
Life moves fast
I graduated high school last May and I'm asking myself how that happened. Enjoy every second and every stage. Never take a moment for granted and don't rush anything. You're exactly where you're supposed to be.
Put money into your savings account
Yeah, you might not be able to buy that new computer game, but your 18 year old self will thank you for it.
Study hard
It might not be cool to study the week before your big test, but more opportunities will be opened by good grades than by cool stories.
Just remember your life isn't made up of numbers
No matter where that number is coming from: the grade book, the scale, or the dollar amount in your bank account you're so much more.
Learn how to shake hands
Shaking hands is the foundation of introductions, business building, and promise making. Make sure your foundation is a sturdy one.
Things will fall apart
Not everything is going to go as planned. There will be some points in your life everything falls apart whether that be when you're trying to figure out what to do after graduation, when someone passes away, when you don't make the team, or when your dad loses his job.
But almost every time it's better in the long run
The best changes and the most rewarding opportunities happen when life doesn't go as planned.
Choose kind over cool
No one ever remembers the cool kid. You will never regret being kind.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
The benefits of staying hydrated are insane. Drinking water will solve roughly 97 percent of your problems.
Have a hobby outside of your phone
Yeah, scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest is a great boredom killer, but it's not a hobby. Do magic, learn an instrument, or read a book. Not only do hobbies engage your brain, but you'll be genuinely happy when you do them.
Take care of your skin
Sunscreen, wash, moisturize, exfoliate, tone, and moisturize again.
Always put your name on the cover of your books
One of the best parts of having actual paper books is being able to loan them out to your friends. Loaning a book is like showing the reader a piece of who you are. Just make sure to clearly mark that they're yours or you might never see them again.
Take care of your teeth
Brush at least twice a day for two minutes a day and your pearly whites will look good and you won't have to occupy the dentist's office every six months.
I'm always here
I'm just a phone call, text message, or short drive away. A thousand miles, next door, or somewhere in between, I promise to be there for every girl/boy problem, family event, and fight with your sister.
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Adulting
15 Tips I Wish I Knew As A High School Senior
You can never go back in time, so live in the now.
2h
151
Kristen Sack, ORHS Graduation
You are a senior in high school, you have made it to the final year that you have been looking forward to since the first day of freshman year. Whether this has been the worst or best four years of your life, appreciate it. You will never have these times back, you will never be in high school again. It is hard for someone still in high school to wrap their brain around, but there will be a day when you wish you could be in the shoes you're in right now. Here are 15 things I have learned being in college that I wish I knew as a high school senior:
Appreciate what you have right now, don’t wish it away.
Seriously. I know you’re seniors and all you want is to get out of high school, but trust me YOU WILL. Be patient and live in the moment. Right now is your last time to ever be in high school, take advantage of that and have no regrets.
Look around you and take in what you see
There will be a day when you can’t remember that guys name that you had a crush on in history class and there will be a day when you miss that class you had with your best friend. Take it all in. Look around at each person who has impacted you in one way or another and appreciate that you have them right now, because you won’t always.
Don’t slack off on college research
You don’t want to end up at a college you don’t like because you didn’t do enough research...trust me. Look at retention rates, campus housing, majors available, what there is to do outside of campus, clubs available, etc. You will be living there for the next four years, you need to know everything you can about every college you're applying to in order to make a good decision. Collegeboard.com is your best friend right now.
If you like a college, visit it, then visit again, maybe even stay overnight.
The truth is you won't really know what a college is like until you live there. I visited my college twice and even stayed overnight with current freshmen. What I experienced during those visits is much different than what it is like to actually be here, but it is the closest you can get and it is important that you do that.
Don’t care about what anyone thinks
Seriously, in a couple months you will never see half of these people again. If someone called you a loser, screw them. It doesn't matter whatsoever. You're not what others say you are and you need to understand that. You will be surrounded by a whole new group of people in a year and can recreate yourself in any way you want.
Graduation day will go by FAST, take every moment in.
I honestly do not remember the day I graduated at all. It was so surreal and something I had worked so long for, I just couldn't grasp that it was happening. Don't be me. On graduation day, breathe and remember what you see, what you feel, the people who are screaming as you walk to receive your diploma.
While looking at colleges, make sure to take into consideration where they are located.
I go to school in the middle of nowhere and I didn't realize that until I came here. Look at transportation options around the schools, find out where the closest mall is.
How popular you are right now literally doesn’t matter at all.
Honestly, you will go to college and make new friends. If you don't have many in high school, don't sweat it that is one less person you have to say goodbye to when you go off to school.
Don’t stress over your SAT scores
They don't define you, and they certainly don't restrict what colleges you will get into. Try your hardest, but if you don't do as well as you wanted, don't freak out.
Don’t complain about a five-page paper, college will be much worse- get used to it
Your workload will double, maybe even triple in college. Get used to not procrastinating or else you will struggle in college.
Enjoy all of the free time you have
Weekends will be your only free time in college, so enjoy being able to come home from school and relax.
Don’t stress the small stuff
That one test you got a D on, it's not going to alter your future and restrict the rest of your life.
Don’t worry about what colleges others are getting into
This was one of my biggest issues my senior year. If your friend got into Harvard, great for her, but don't be ashamed if you're going to a state school. No one is judging your college choice, and if they are- who cares? Go where you can afford and where you think you can thrive.
Go to prom
This is your last chance. Don't skip out because the boy you like didn't ask you. You will never have another senior prom.
There will be a time when you miss high school
I know you're all rolling your eyes at this one. High school was probably the worst four years of my life and I was the LAST person who would ever miss it. But I do. There are many classes and people and activities and clubs that I wish I could relive. College is crazily different from high school and it will make you miss those four years.
I hope you take these tips to heart. I truly wish I had known these things when I was in your shoes, if I had, I would have spent my last year in high school much differently. Think about where you will be in a year as you walk the halls, as you sit in class, and as you eat lunch with your best friends. Appreciate the moment, it will be over soon.
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Wikimedia
Everyone, and I mean everyone has heard of the show "One Tree Hill". Many people think that this show is the best thing they've ever watched and others won't bother watching it because they know they'll get hooked. And yes, I know many people have written about this show before, but I couldn't resist. I could re-watch every season multiple times to the point where I can almost quote an entire scene. Trust me, once you start "One Tree Hill", you will be hooked. There's way too many reasons to list as to why you'll love this show, and these are just a few.
The Scott Brothers
I mean, just look at these two. Even though they've just become close as brothers and had an extreme hatred for one another, basketball brings them close together. These two heart-throbs become the guys that every one wants but not everyone can get.
Brooke and Peyton's best-friendship
They may bicker constantly, cry over the same guys, and sometimes hate each other, but at the end of the day, every girl wants a best friend relationship like Peyton and Brooke.
Brooke Davis
Brooke Davis is by far the most loved character on the show. If you weren't friends with her, you hated her because she was absolutely perfect. Loved by all guys and hated by most girls, Brooke was the queen of her school.
Naley
Nathan and Haley, otherwise known as 'Naley', were the first relationship goals any teenage girl ever had. The star athlete falls in love with the tutor and it's been every girls dream ever since.
"I want to be someone who's good enough to be seen with you."
The Love Triangle: Lucas, Peyton & Brooke
Oh GOD. This love triangle keeps everyone on the edge of their seats while watching the drama unfold between who Lucas actually wants to be with. He starts off with Peyton and then ends up with Brooke and then flip-flops back and forth constantly.
But, we always knew that he really wanted Peyton. Even when he was with Brooke he'd be thinking pf Peyton. So, when she brought up who would be standing next to him, everyone KNEW he'd choose Peyton in the long run.
Keith Scott
When Keith passes away, everyone was absolutely devastated Keith made this show complete. He had the biggest heart around and was the father figure in Lucas' life. Without Keith, Karen wouldn't be Lucas' strong mother.
The Ravens
Just watching Nathan Scott play basketball was enough to get you hooked. He looks so good in his jersey and this episode specifically was the most exciting to watch. The show itself revolves around basketball and it's what keeps Nathan and Lucas' new relationship so kept together.
Jamie Scott and Quentin's Relationship
Quentin, or 'Q', was one of Haley's students. Although he was slightly a punk, him and Jamie created a bond that was one of the closest ones on the show. Unfortunately, Quentin eventually dies and it leaves little Jamie heartbroken.
How Mysterious Peyton Sawyer Is
Oddly enough, Peyton gets stalked, meets her biological parents, and is wound up being independent yet mysterious. She originally dated Nathan, when she was still in her cheerleader stage, but once they broke up she being quiet and slightly gothic. She ends up dating Lucas but has a creepy stalker, Ian, who claims to be her 'brother'. She's an interesting character to say the least.
To Hate Dan Scott
Dan Scott is 100% the villian of the show. From abandoning Lucas as a child, to pressuring Nathan into basketball, to ruining Karen's life, to his wife begging for a divorce, to having the entire town of Tree Hill hating him, Dan Scott is the worst human being to ever live.
For The Quotes
This quote has probably popped up on your Instagram feed 50 times on a ton of girls posts, but hey, it's a scary thought. One Tree Hill is filled with quotes that get your mind spinning because they're so deep.
Brooke Davis Gives The Best Advice
The Romance
Every couple ever on this show makes you want to roll up in bed and cry because you don't have a relationship like any of the ones on the show. Ugh.
You Consider Tree Hill Your Home
You get so engaged in every episode that you honestly think Tree Hill is where you're from too. It's weird..
You Dream of Their Group of Friends
No matter the fights and the drama and the young teen maraiges, you dreamed of the friendships made in "One Tree Hill".
"One Tree Hill" will forever be a part of my life and I would recommend to anyone to watch this show. You won't regret it! Sorry if it takes up all of your time though :)
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Health and Wellness
5 Ways To Bring Positivity Into Your Life When All You Want To Do Is Drown In Self-Pity
It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.
06 January
1786
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash
The first two weeks of classes have come to an end and they have been anything BUT easy. It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.
Although this seems like the best solution, it is also the easy way out. Take it from the girl who took basically a whole week off from her life because she just could not handle everything that was being thrown at her. This caused her to feel extremely lonely and even more stressed out for being behind in classes that JUST began.
Throughout the week, numerous things were made clear to me that I knew in the back of my head but needed either reassurance or a better understanding of. Here is a list of things to remember when life seems to be weighing you down more than you can handle.
1. There are people who love you and want to be there for you.
I am lucky enough to have a great circle of friends and an amazing and supportive boyfriend. They are always there for me but it is time when I am struggling with anxiety that I see it the most. They continue to remind me of God's love even when I cannot see it at the time and to let me know that in the end, they are always there.
2. It is OKAY to need alone time.
Personally, I am an introvert who loves her alone time. Whether that be in my room with some candles on while reading a great book or going watching a movie by myself, I crave that alone time. Explain to your loved one that if it is best for you specifically, some space could greatly benefit you when you are feeling anxious.
3. The outcome of the issue that you are stressing over probably is not as bad as you are imagining.
This is something that someone dear to me continued to remind me of this week. I was stressing over something that 1. was unavoidable and 2. was something that would require some hard work to catch up in. I was reminded that even though I may constantly be thinking worst case scenario does not mean that will happen (and he was 100% right).
4. Just because you are feeling unmotivated does not mean you should give up.
As a writer, I go through stages of writer's block. I feel like all my ideas are "already done" or "not original." The same thing can happen in a class when I am not understanding a concept. It is crucial to remember that during these times just because something may seem "overdone" or "hard to understand" does not mean that it is. I sat down with my computer last night and out of nowhere realized articles may sound similar but these are MY opinions and thoughts. That has never been heard. Classes with hard concepts? I learned that sometimes you just have to out that extra time in and really give it everything you have.
5. God is there, even when you do not feel like He is.
This is something that I definitely have been struggling with. I am going through so much, where is God to help me? He is there when you are crying your heart out. He is there when you feel that push that you need to pray because there is nothing else to do. He is there through the friends who are filling you with love and encouragement. He is always there.
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1. Thank you for being my person.
2. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself sometimes.
3. Thank you for always encouraging me and rooting for me in all aspects of life.
4. Thank you for knowing how to have fun.
5. Thank you for being my partner in crime and never letting me make stupid decisions alone.
6. Thank you for understanding when I’m not fine, even though I say I am.
7. Thank you for eating junk food with me even when we are supposed to be “dieting.”
8. Thank you for being the shoulder that I need to cry on and the laughter that I need after.
9. Thank you for being there during my first heartbreak and never saying, “I told you so,” even though you could have one hundred times.
10. Thank you for supporting me and never judging.
11. Thank you for the long talks and always assuring me that our bond could never be broken, even when we are miles away from each other at school.
12. Thank you for always knowing what to say when I'm sad.
13. Thank you for reminding me to be the best version of myself and never doubting me.
14. Thank you for the endless memories and being my best friend.
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