Living the Life » Uncategorized

Practically Speaking

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:36:13 +0000

Winning the lottery probably wouldn’t change my life that much, because money is not as important to me as love (the Beatles had it right!) and friendship. However, if I were to suddenly win bucket loads of cash, I would probably put a fair amount into savings and then some into starting my clothing design business. I would, of course, treat my friends and family to some nice dinners and maybe a swank vacation. After that, I would donate the rest to charities like Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, the Red Cross, and Greenpeace. Oh, and I would stock up on cat food and litter for life…

Habitat for Humanity Celebrates 25 Years of Service to Local Families in Need (prweb.com)

Open Your Eyes

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:35:44 +0000

I definitely want to pass on the family tradition of travel. My parents traveled a lot when I was a kid, and it opened my eyes in unexplainable ways to different cultures and perspectives. I think this has helped me a lot in terms of being open-minded and tolerant in new situations, and I hope that my children can have similar experiences. Travel doesn’t always have to be big… sometimes all it takes is traveling a little further down the same old street or a few hours west to appreciate new things about your family, friends, and the world around you. Often, traveling changes you more than anything else.

Adventures in Paradise

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:30:57 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

I would love to go to New Zealand because I have never been there before, and based on scenes from The Lord of the Rings (which was filmed there) and various photographs I’ve seen on the Internet, it is stunningly beautiful. My boyfriend’s grandparents went on a trip there recently, and they confirmed these thoughts; his grandpa said it was even more perfect than Hawaii, which is certainly saying something! They also raved about the delicious dairy products, specifically the butter. They said it was very clean and peaceful, with no crime to speak of. There is every type of landscape imaginable: mountains, forest, beach, and so forth.

A Life Without Love is Nothing At All

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:29:19 +0000

As cheesy as it sounds, my greatest achievement so far is discovering true love. We all have ambitions and career aspirations, but without the love and support of someone else, all is for naught. True love is never selfish; it cares always for others more than itself, and it grows stronger in the face of turmoil. Every day, I make a point of increasing my love and compassion for other people around me, in the hopes that together we can make this world a more peaceful place. A simple smile in the hallway or a well-timed compliment can make another person’s day so much better. You never know what others are going through, and it’s up to you to be the light and be an arbitrer for change.

Bubbly

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:21:47 +0000

I would love to be a dolphin, because they are so smart, friendly, and playful. Their eyes are sweet and warm, and they always look like they have a knowing smile on their faces! They are very social, often forming giant social networks called superpods, and they get to communicate via ultrasonic messages and endearing clicks and whistles. Studies of dolphins report that they are very kind and altruistic, as well, often helping other dolphins who have been injured or have fallen ill. They love to leap and ride the waves like playful children, and seem surprisingly comfortable around humans. They are even artistic, in a sense, creating impressive bubble rings in the water for fun.

Miraculous Healing Power of Dolphins (neatorama.com)

Simple Pleasures

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:19:14 +0000

My idea of heaven is simple: anywhere peaceful and beautiful, where I can be with my loved ones for eternity. A cottage in the mountains or a wooded forest. A tent on the beach by the sprawling ocean. Riding bikes through the hilly countryside, past fields of giant sunflowers. I would also like to live inside some of my favorite memories with my friends and family, to enjoy them all over again, this time knowing that they will never come to an end. Some memories are exciting and complex: backpacking across Europe, camping in Colorado, music festivals in San Francisco. Others are much simpler: eating delicious homemade dinners with my parents, curling up in my boyfriend’s arms, brushing my cats.

It’s hard to tell your best friend what they don’t want to hear

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:18:40 +0000

Image by NR Acampamentos via Flickr

My best friend is someone I have known for a year and a half. That doesn’t seem like a long time, but we have been doubles partners on our tennis team for two seasons and you have to bond and understand each other very quickly for you to be an effective and winning duo. We don’t go for more than 2 days without seeing eachother, and no more than 12 hours without talking. The one thing I can’t stand about her is that she cuts me off when we are having a conversation, as if what she is saying is more important than what I am. It’s not something that is easy to start talking about, wouldn’t it be ironic if I started the idea of it and she cut me off? I don’t think she would be offended if I brought it up, and I don’t think it would cause a conflict. The situation and conversation about it would just be awkward though. all in all I think it would be worth it though, she would be more aware of it, and maybe she would tell me something I am unaware of that annoys her and maybe others as well.

The power of peer pressure

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:10:08 +0000

I personally have never given in to peer pressure, or that I can remember at least. Nothing crazy like drinking, smoking, doing drugs, or something illegal. Even though I haven’t experienced peer pressure I understand it is a huge problem in our society. I have seen it happen to others in my friend group, and heard numerous stories of it in schools. I think the one thing that can be done to avoid it is to show kids how to be confident in themselves so that they can have the self esteem to do what they are comfortable with and what they know is right. This can be done my empowering and positive role models like teachers and school staff members.

Secrets Revealed About Friends

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:57:16 +0000

If I were to tell my best friend one thing that I can not stand about him, it would be something that I have already told him in the past. My boyfriend is my very best friend, and I have told him that his chewing when he eats his food annoys me and bothers me to no end. It frustrated him at first because it is something that his sister had pointed out that annoyed her, and he wants me to accept him how he is. But this is one area that really annoys me. I can live with it most definitely, but sometimes it grates my nerves more than others.

Feeling the Pressure from Peers

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:56:36 +0000

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

I feel very fortunate that I have never felt the effects of peer pressure. Throughout middle school and high school, I was friends with people who never made me feel as though I had to give into the things they were doing. As I found out friends were doing things that I did not approve of, I would end the friendship so that I was not affected by their poor choices. I had very supportive and loving friends in high school and college, and I am so thankful for people who were willing to have a high moral standard for themselves and their friends.