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Politics and Activism

I'm Not Sorry

I replaced my sorry's with thank you's.

Madeline Raineri

Apr 17, 2017

Lindenwood University

Pexels

For a long time, sorry slipped out of my lips almost constantly.

"I'm sorry for this..."

"I'm sorry for that..."

But then I stepped back and realized, am I truly sorry? And what inside of myself am I so unsure of that makes me feel the need to consistently apologize for being true to myself? This "sorry" epidemic has devalued the word sorry to just pieces of sad confetti lying dirty and wet on the ground because they don't mean anything to anyone.

When I took inventory of my own life, I came to the conclusion that I am not sorry.

I'm not sorry I poured my heart into an endeavor that backfired and broke me.

I'm not sorry I made poor decisions regarding friendships and ended up hurt, leaning on others for support.

I'm not sorry I wear my hair to wild or dye it wild colors.

I'm not sorry I have piercings or tattoos, or sometimes only have the motivation to wear sweatpants.

I'm not sorry for making mistakes, going the wrong way, or throwing caution to the wind.

I'm not sorry for creating a life I love.

I'm simply not sorry. Because my life is not an apology.

The moment I realized that my life isn't something to be sorry about and my existence isn't a burden, I replaced my sorry's with thank you's.

Thank you for letting me bask in my glory as I am, and loving me nonetheless.

Thank you for supporting me when my world crumbled and I was left with nothing but a bruised heart and salty tears.

Thank you for giving me another chance to show you my heart.

Thank you for teaching me invaluable lessons about life and love.

Thank you for validating my thoughts and caressing my mind with new and exciting knowledge.

Thank you for opening doors, windows, and breaking ceilings to help me succeed.

Thank you for lending your arms and your ears when you didn't have to.

Thank you for warming your hands to heat up my heart.

Thank you.

I am not sorry for taking up space and roaring into the wind like the strong and independent woman I have become. I am not sorry for abandoning toxic relationships in order to preserve my sense of self-worth. I am not sorry for choosing myself, and I will continue to shamelessly choose myself every day for the rest of my life. Thank you for accepting me, wholly loving me, and allowing me the space on this planet to traipse languidly through life, leaving a trail of glitter wherever I go.

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I'm Not Sorry

I replaced my sorry's with thank you's.

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A must-watch list of holiday movies.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

A Christmas Story (1983)

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Home Alone (1990)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)

The Polar Express (2004)

The Santa Clause (1994)

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

A Christmas Carol (1992)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Elf (2003)

#EnglishMajorProbs

You are basically a zombie with a pencil.

You receive confused looks from others when you name drop an author/literary terminology.

You wear your suffering as a badge.

You proofread every text and social media post you write.

You cringe when you read a non-English major's paper,

You could spend all day in a library.

"The Office" is a mockumentary based on everyday office life featuring love triangles, silly pranks and everything in between. It can get pretty crazy for just an average day at the office.

The good old days are always happening now, so live in the moment.

“Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica” are the three most important topics one can talk about.

The Dundies are cooler than the Oscars.

Everybody has a Toby, and they are just someone you have to learn to deal with.

Group pictures are hard to take (especially jumping pics).

It's never too early to eat ice cream.

Schrute’s are always prepared for anything.

Except pop culture references...

Holidays are important and a very good reason to host any kind of party.

There will always be cynical co-workers to deal with.

Putting things in Jell-O is a great use of your time.

Sometimes funny voices and personas make awkward situations easier (just ask Prison Mike).

That places you may not always love can bring you the people you love.

Determination is an important characteristic to possess.

Sarcasm is essential in everyday life.

Love can be really weird.

At Halloween time, it is trivial to come with your best costume ready.

Friendship is long lasting no matter where the future takes you.

Pranks are funny no matter the age.

Goodbyes are hard, but reunions are worth it.

Blogs are confusing.

"That's what she said" jokes will never get old.

Jim Halpert can say so much with just a look at the camera.

Bros should always come before hoes because...

Declaring bankruptcy isn't as hard as we all thought.

Office places can be weird and stressful at times.

Michael Scott loves Dunder Mifflin and the Scranton Office more than anything.

"The Office" truly does have a lot that it can teach us.

Ah, pre-med: home of the dead at heart.

1. You have forsaken all your friends for coffee.

2. 8 hours of sleep? Try 4 instead.

3. Everyone asks you for medical advice, even though you’re not a doctor yet.

4. Your second home is the library.

5. Almost all of your nightmares are about school and exams.

6. You don’t see the problem with taking 3 technicals in one semester.

7. Research, research, research, research, research.

8. You volunteer more than any of your friends.

9. You like going to labs more than going to lecture.

10. But, you know it’ll all be worth the struggle the day you don that white coat and call yourself a doctor.

Books were always about understanding for me, about learning the way someone else sees, about connection.

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