Winter Break and New Year's Resolutions!

It has been quite a relaxing winter break, being back in the California with no work or school. But at the same time I feel this bittersweetness of being home and also of finishing the year off. This has probably been the year of my "turning point" into adulthood. I struggled with identity and went through some hard times coming out on top having conquered quite a bit of depression and anxiety. After this year I feel the most myself, the most me, and boy, does that feel good. I gained and then lost my "Freshman Fifteen" and I feel more healthy than ever. I stopped eating meat and I have more energy than ever and I feel so much more alive. I have had the amazing opportunity to see some incredible bands live and music has really become a thing that I enjoy so much. I have made new friends in Seattle and have started building these incredible relationships with a few incredible people who I really admire and inspire me so much.

All in all I am so proud of who I have become and everything I have conquered and I am SO PUMPED for this upcoming year, I know it will be full of laughter and late night study nights and hikes into the Washington wild and friendship and love and so much of everything.

One of my friends said the following (quite beautifully might I add), "I'm having this realization that my entire life up until now was just fluff, just filler. Sure, I learned and grew up and made friends but it was all for what's happening now. Now, I'm living somewhere I love where I can go out and just breathe in the beauty of nature. I'm studying something that I have such a strong passion for and I am surrounded by people with that same passion. I've made friends that make me feel more appreciated and loved than I ever have. I have a kitten who doesn't seem like much and is a total asshole but who comforts me and keeps me company when I need it most. I have a family who I love with my whole being. I am becoming a better person, with a whole new inspiration burning inside of me that I've never let come to the surface before. I am so thankful for this past year, 2013 was the hardest year of my life, but also the most important. 2014 has so much in store for me, I can't wait."

We are all growing up, now everything means more, its harder, but everything is so much more important to me now, my relationships, my studies, my family. It's like someone has turned on a light and I see everything with clarity now.

And looking forward to this next year, here are a few of my Resolutions for 2014 :) (They start off simple and stupid but that is because it took me longer to think out the really important ones)

1. NO SODA
2. Teach myself how to sing
3. Teach myself to draw (summer class?)
4. Get into my Word more, learn more about my religion and spirituality
5.Work a few more hours and buy myself nice things (aka concert tickets and trips)
6. PROMOTE AND PRACTICE SELF LOVE, SELF ACTUALIZATION, AND SELF CONFIDENCE
7. Continue to not let work and anxiety stop me from doing things that I love/want to do
8. Seek nature, love nature, and nurture nature
9. Travel a bit more, see new places and meet new people
10. Build on my current friendships and appreciate people more and be more grateful for these people.

I hope you all have amazing holiday breaks and lets all look forward to an incredible incoming year!

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My College Advice

My brother happens to be moving away to school, now he is older but hasn't really lived away from home yet. As he transitions from community college to the prestigious UCSD, my parents have asked me to put together a list of things to remember while living away from home for the first time. I thought it would be such a shame to impart my wisdom on just him, so I thought I should make a post about it.

First of all, I was no where near ready to move away from home when I did, I had an extremely hard time transitioning into college life and I still don't have everything figured out. I did learn quite a lot and I am very excited to start another year at Seattle University. Here are a few quick tips to help the move!

1. Time Management. A term that can be used for pretty much every aspect of mental health and social life at college. Remember to take time for yourself, take an hour or so every day to sit and browse the internet, listen to music, watch TV, exercise, or read a book to detox a bit. But also remember not to spend too much time by yourself (a mistake my lonely self made) because it creates a lack of stimulation and makes life kind of boring and miserable when it doesn't have to be like that.

2. SLEEP CYCLE. Probably the most important thing, creating a sleep cycle. You will be healthier and less prone to catching colds and all the fun things that living in the dorms have to offer. Even if you are going to bed every night at 2 in the morning and waking up at noon, that is still way better than having no sleep cycle at all.

3. Activities. Get involved. Something I was also terrible at. And something that I still need to work on, but this year I already have some trips and concerts planned and I intend on going on a bunch of hikes with a school program and just doing more fun things. A lot of people go to new areas to go to school and you might as well take advantage of learning a new city and seeing all that it has to offer. I have moved to the incredible city of Seattle and still find myself bored and miserable when I live in such an incredible place! 

4. Be Social. Don't be afraid to meet people. I had a terrible time trying to make friends at school, a lot of people were complete jerks to me. The best advice I can give to that is to keep trying, not everyone is a terrible human being and once you have a good group of friends, make sure you work on your friendships, being able to have someone to talk to and lean on is a major plus because college is tough and it'll make it that much easier if you don't have to go it alone.

5. Diet. One thing that makes a huge difference in your energy and school performance is what you eat. Now it is really easy to junk out when cafeterias tend to have such terrible food, but it is soooo important to make sure you are getting a good amount of nutrition. If you eat good food, you will feel good as well.

ALSO check out my friend's new blog!
She has a kitten so we know she is ok. And that kitten is adorable so yeah she is definitely ok.

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