This week, we have our third presidential debate. While everyone has their own different political views, we can all agree that the debates are hard to watch. They have been laughable, but there are definitely moments of...unpleasantness on the stage. To give you a platform to base the amount of painfulness you're experiencing while watching the latest edition of Presidential Election: 2016, I have compiled a list for you of everything that is less torturous than watching America fall to pieces.
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PoliticsOct 17, 2016
22 Things That Are Less Painful Than Watching The Presidential Debate
This election is no smooth ride.
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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Health and Wellness
To The Cheerful Person On Their Rainy Days, You Are Valid
The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.
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Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
Ask friends of mine to name a quality about me, and one a lot them will point out the fact that I am almost always smiling. I like to laugh and smile -- not to quote Buddy the Elf in April, but smiling is my favorite! It is probably my favorite go-to expression. However, what a lot of people do not see is that I have my down days. I have days when smiling and laughing is a real struggle, or when I have so much on my plate that going out of my way to behappy takes more effort than I have stored in me. Be it a symptom of college and growing up or a facet of life, I cannot always be content.
For whatever reason, these down days are not spoken about. One does not casually throw how they cried themselves to sleep during dinner with friends to choruses of "same" and similar examples. For the normally cheerful person, this is even more impossible of a feat, unless they wish to hear the dreaded "But you seem so happy!" when they self-disclose. Not being able to talk about your fears, anxieties, or sadness to those around you for fear you break the illusion of happiness can grow really stifling really fast.
To those cheerful souls stifled by their down days, you are valid.
It is not deceitful to one day be happy and the next day be sad. It is okay to confess you have not been doing well too, even though the conventional way to go about it is to say, "I'm fine" and deal with it later in private. I know I have my times where I, knowing people see me as a relatively happy individual, hide my emotions in an effort to not burden them. I keep it all bottled up and let it fester until it hopefully passes and I can move on. This is not healthy, nor is it realistic, but it is what I have grown accustomed to doing because of my fears.
I imagine my form of bottling things up is not an isolated experience, especially for the typical cheerful person. Everyone has their down moments they feel scared to share. It is cooler not to share, because who wants to hear about someone else's sadness? People just want the good stuff. Life is hard enough without having to hear other people's problems. However, these emotions are normal.
I mean really common.
Even the happiest and most successful person you can think of probably has had them. By asking someone you normally guide for help in getting past a particularly tough day, you are not upsetting them. You are not invalidating the happiness they normally turn to you for. You are not giving up some ruse. You are showing you are human and have real feelings, too. You are showing you have just as much a right to feel your emotions as anyone else. A few more smiles and laughs here and there do not invalidate you. It is just as okay as confiding to someone you know that that previous "I'm fine" you threw their way at dinner actually translates to you are experiencing a rough patch and are finding it hard to find your way back to happiness.
To the cheerful people of the world, feeling sad sometimes is a part of life. Your sad days are just as valid your happy ones, and choosing to express that sadness will not discredit any happiness you may share with the world. Keep spreading your joy when it comes.
Just know that, when the dark clouds do roll in, you are allowed to ask someone for an umbrella.
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Student Life
11 Struggles of Packing for College
It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you
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Photo by Alicia Christin Gerald on Unsplash
1. Figuring out when to start
Timing is key, you don’t want to start too early or too late.
2. Searching through list after list to get everything you need
Every store has their own list of what you need and you’ve reached a point where you can’t decide which one is right anymore.
3. Shopping for deals
Ads after ads, coupons after coupons, you go shopping all the time and hope you get the best deal.
4. Getting bins to put everything in
Buying bins after bins and hoping you have enough for all the essentials
5. Figuring what you can’t live without
You can’t just take your entire room and place in your dorm. You need to figure out what you need.
You can’t just take your entire room and place in your dorm. You need to figure out what you need.
6. Going through clothes to find what you need
You have too many clothes and you don’t want to forget your favorite pair of sweatpants.
7. Finding out your siblings took something from you
You knew that top was somewhere, turns out it was in your sister’s dresser.
8. Fighting with your parents.
You know what you need and despite what your parents say yes you need that poster.
9. Trying to plan things with your roommate
If they don’t live by you, the discussion of who’s bringing what becomes harder.
10. The fear of forgetting something
While overpacking is a thing you’re scared you’ll forget something. You go over what you packed in your head a hundred times.
11. Move in day
You thought packing made you nervous but here comes move in day, this makes packing look like nothing
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Entertainment
14 Reasons April Ludgate Is Every College Student's Spirit Animal
We all have that "I don't care" attitude.
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Facebook
April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation is notorious for her "I don't care" attitude. She speaks her mind without caring what anyone thinks of her. Fans love her because she isn't afraid to be herself. April can seem cold and negative, but she's really just fearless and strong-minded. And despite her sometimes harsh words, April truly cares about the people she's closest to. These are all reasons she is the epitome of a college student. April complains whenever she has to do any kind of work, but ends up doing the work anyway. April Ludgate is the ultimate college student spirit animal.
1. Most students just take life day by day.
2. That means procrastinating, one day at a time.
3. College students don't mind dressing like crap sometimes.
4. In fact, dressing nice feels weird.
5. College students get so stressed that they contemplate dropping on a daily basis.
6. But most find another solution to deal with that stress.
7. And that solution can be pretty cheap. Anything over $5 is expensive.
8. One of the only things college students will spend money on is coffee.
9. College is just really expensive and you never forget how expensive it is.
10. But hey, we're getting a somewhat high-quality education, right?
11. We all really just want to pet dogs all day.
12. And eat pizza for every meal.
13. And stab the next person who asks us what we want to do with our life.
14. However, despite the stress and student loans, college is amazing and there's plenty of reasons to smile.
Thank you, April, for inspiring us with your wicked relatability.
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Adulting
11 Ways To Live The Best Life You Can
Life is full of twists and turns, but you have to keep going.
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Life is all about twist and turns, sideways and which ways. Nothing is permanent, so we should take risks, and chase our dreams. We are taught at a young age many lessons that will follow us into adulthood. What we aren't taught is how to feel, and how we handle those emotions. We just have to figure them out ourselves, and that's not fun. In my 21 years of living, I have come to know that way too many people can't handle emotions, or the fact that not everyone is dead inside like them. When you're like me, and you have zero control over your emotions, it's hard to feel comfortable around people who aren't so in touch with themselves. As much as I would like to feel nothing at times, I've accepted who I am and the fact that I can cry over practically nothing. So, there are some things in life that you just have to do.
1. Wallow.
No it's not fun, and no one actually likes to feel this miserable, but according to Psychologytoday.com, Tina Gilbertson talks about how wallowing is a good thing, and why you should do it. If someone broke your heart, wallow. If you had the worst week of your life, wallow. You have the right to feel how you feel and be upset. If you are hurting, you can wallow, it's allowed!
2. Cry.
All though crying is usually part of wallowing, I consider it on a whole different level. Or levels, I suppose. I cry at everything, from commercials to birthday cards. I weep, and I have no self control. Once the tears start flowing, they don't stop until I am completely dried up. Like everyone says, you always end up feeling a million times better after you've let go of that negative.
3. Get Angry.
I struggle with this big time. I don't get angry very easily, and have the worst time ever trying to show someone I'm upset with them. I'm one of those people who tends to get angry, and keep it bottled up inside. Most of the time, I can let it go pretty quickly though. Regardless of how I am, getting angry just needs to happen now and again. If someone made you cry, get angry. Why would they do that? If they upset you in any way, feel that anger -- but let it go. Feel all of that negative, punch a pillow, and let it go. Don't hold on to that too long though, release those bad vibes, and go back to being the incredible person you are.
4. Tell Someone You Love Them.
Not even gonna lie, this one is kinda hard. Well, at least it's not easy. Regardless, you should do it. Say it first, and mean it -- don't forget to cherish that moment. You were brave enough to put your heart on the line, and there are a lot of people who can not do that. It doesn't matter what they say back, hopefully yes, but be proud of yourself either way. Don't be afraid of those words and what they mean. Being able to love another human being is a gift.
5. Forgive.
This one is short, and simple: You are never going to grow as a person unless you forgive your past, and who has hurt you. The way they treat you has nothing to actually do with you -- it is purely a reflection of themselves. Once you learn that, move on. You will be the much bigger person for it.
6. Let go of the negative people in your life.
None of us are ever really good at this. We make excuses for people a few too many times, we have too much hope, etc. Eventually, we all have our breaking points. For some of us, we can take a lot of negativity, and be fine. For others, at the first sign of trouble, they're done. Sooner or later, we all realize what is actually important in life, and that guy who makes you cry or the friend who really isn't a friend, needs to go. Your happiness depends on you, and only you. So, let those awful amoebas crawl away!
7. Be yourself.
This is the most important one on the list. No one is more you than you. You are a snowflake, you're unique, so act like it! How can you ever trust anyone unless you trust yourself? Go with the gut feelings, and wear bright colors. If that is what puts a smile on your face, that's all that matters. You are wonderfully made!
8. Swallow Your Pride.
We all can be stubborn, and stand our ground. I hate to break it to you... you're not always right, and you don't know everything. If you have friends who are constantly telling you that, you need to fix something. Don't fight us, swallow your pride and admit that maybe you should open your mind a little. It doesn't take much, I promise.
9. Stop Freaking Out Over Your Body.
Unfortunately in today's society there is a specific image that floats around, saying we need to look a certain way, be a certain size, and wear specific clothes. All of that is BS. You are perfect how you are. and please, please don't listen to what social media has to say on how our bodies should look. If you are really unhappy with what you see in the mirror, fix it. You are more than capable of making a healthy change in your life, if that is what you want. If you gain a pound or two, it is OK! Just eat a little healthier, and work out -- you'll be fine. There are far too many wonderful things in life for you to be angry at your body. It carries you around all day, and is the reason you're living. Be grateful for that.
10. Say No.
It's not hard. Say no to bad food; say no to drama; say no to people treating you any less than you deserve.
11. Accept Love.
This is the greatest gift you could ever give yourself. Accepting real love from someone is like no other feeling. To have such a positive feeling is irreplaceable. Sometimes, it isn't easy to accept love -- especially when you've been hurt -- but if someone is willing to love you for everything that you are and aren't, hold on to them.
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StableDiffusion
Why are girls consistently so late? They just can't help it. Our internal clocks are always just a few minutes behind, or maybe more for some of us. Arriving on time to class is a challenge every morning. If you're continually finding yourself being the last one to walk into class, here are 13 possible reasons why you didn't quite make it on time.
1. You spontaneously tried a new hairstyle....that you hated
You decide to curl your hair a little differently, but your curling iron has taken over. You try and run your fingers through your hair, but it only becomes a jumbled frizzy mess. There's not a fat chance you will leave the room looking like this and you HAVE to fix it. You're late, but at least no one will mistake you for the reincarnation of Albert Einstein.
2. You tried on 20 different outfits
You open your closet and stare at your clothes dumbfounded. You try on your new top from Forever 21 and think, "No, this shirt looks just like a knock-off of the Anthropologie shirt I actually want." One thing leads to another and all your clothes are now on the floor. With one minute left before class starts, you put on a t-shirt because you've just given up. You're late.
3. You stabbed your eye with your mascara
You've applied foundation, eye-liner and eye-shadow. Wow, you even contoured a little. To finish off, you apply mascara to your eye lashes and suddenly your back-up alarm goes off (you know, the one that sounds like a siren going off signaling a zombie apocalypse) causing you to jump and stab your eye! Tears fall down your cheeks ruining your perfectly air-brushed look, and your mascara is everywhere. You know you must start over. You're late, but at least you don't look like a clown.
4. You got caught stuck in bed checking social media
Your natural instinct is, of course, to grab your phone to wake yourself up. As you start to scroll through your Instagram feed, you realize that you've looked at a year's worth of photos from your friend that went off the deep end since they went away to college. Thirty minutes have now gone by and yeah... You're late.
5. You were trying to impress someone
Word on the street is that McHottie is crushing on you. There's no way you're going to let this one get away, so you go the extra mile to look as put together as Michelle Obama, no matter how long it takes. Perfect outfit? Check. Perfect hair? Check. Perfect make up? Check. Late? Check. Maybe you're not so put together after all.
6. You forgot to check the weather
You slide on your skinny jeans and slip on your favorite sweater. Loving your trendy style, you walk outside feeling ready to take on the day. However, it's so blazing hot that your skin is already sizzling, and you've only taken five steps. OK weather, bipolar much? You know you'll be miserable all day, and will sweat more than a man who's about to meet his future father-in-law if you don't change. That's right, you're late.
7. You just don't mind being THAT girl
You walk into a full class, embrace the glares and the dirty look the girl in the front row throws at you as you confidently make your way to an open seat in the back. Unashamed, you take your seat and get settled. You are late and a proud disruption.
8. You decided to wear shorts and realize you have to shave your legs
Ew Gross GIFfrom Ew GIFs
You are stubborn and have it set in your mind that you WILL wear your hipster high-waisted shorts. However, your legs resemble that of a woolly mammoth. You know no one will actually notice, but you fear that your porcupine leg hairs will steal the limelight from your fabulous new shorts. There's no debate here; you take the time to shave your legs in the sink and now... you're late.
9. Your bed was just too warm compared to the Antarctic weather outside
Your bed was so cozy and soft and at the perfect temperature. You just couldn't get up, could you? You know that leaving your bed will be equivalent to getting hypothermia after doing the polar bear plunge. Gratefully, you rest for an extra 10 minutes. Lazy and late you are.
10. You debated too long on skipping class
You just can't make a decision to skip or to not. You could say you're getting ready for class, but really, you've paced around the room and come up with a solid 10 good reasons to not go. You have a test you could study for, you could take a shower or maybe call your mom! After you've spent the morning debating with yourself, you realize that your professor takes attendance. Good luck, you're late.
11. Your roommate steals the shower before you
You are towel wrapped and ready to rinse and repeat. You exit the bedroom noticing that your roommate is now suddenly missing. As you approach the bathroom door, you hear the squeak of the faucet, followed by a burst of water. That thief. At least you're late and it wasn't your fault this time.
12. You're rewarding yourself for being on time last week
You let out a drawn out yawn and make your way around the room in a sloth-like fashion. You take the time to comb every individual strand of hair and eat a gourmet breakfast, aka microwavable oatmeal. There's no need to rush, you deserve to be late.
13. You overslept your alarm
Classic.
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