I have arrived!

Well May 1st has come and gone and I am happy to report I have moved to Boston! I feel so empowered that I set a date and stuck with it, however life on your own does take some adjusting to. One of the good things is that my roommates seem pretty cool so far, which is good! The downside, living on your own means you are responsible for yourself. You no longer have your parents to fall back on and take responsibility, it's all on you.  For example, when you forget to move your car on street cleaning night you are the one who gets to pay the ticket and when you don't go to the grocery store, you are the one that has to figure out a dinner plan. This may sound like I am complaining, but really its just something you never think of when you say you want to move out. Your roommates are obviously going to be there for you, but it is not their job to take care of you and vice a versa. It's after moving out that you grow your inner strength and really start to appreciate where you have come from. When you are living at home and have a job you go out and by fresh organic food, but when you are out on your own looking for work those prices do not seem worth your poverty.
I am glad I took the plunge because, yes, at times living on your own may not be the glamorous life I imagined, but it also offers you the chance to experience life and know that you can do it! As with any type of change you need to be open to new experiences and embrace life rather than running from it or staying in your comfort zone.

"She Said I think I'll Go to Boston..."

I have to admit I'm afraid. I fear the walls outside of my comfort zone. I have built them up so high that now i can not see past them and they consume my vision, but I must break free from them. I feel so safe in the world I have created for myself, but that does not mean that I should stay complacent with where I am because I also fear by staying where I am I will never be able to truly grow. I have always lived at home with my parents and for a few years in college lived with my friends, but now I feel the need to branch out and make a life for myself. But how do I leave a place that has been such a good home when I fear the unknown I will be pursuing?
Today i made a deadline that I will move to Boston by May 1st. Ideally I would like a good paying rewarding job before that time and I still do have three months to find one, but if not I decided I'm taking my savings and going. In a way i feel empowered because I am taking a stand in my life to do something, but in another way I feel as if I'm five and want to run into my bed an hide under the covers. I don't know why this is so hard for me people do this everyday they grow up and move out of their childhood homes. It's not a revolutionary idea, it's just something that every grown human being must go through at some point in their adult life. For some reason the thought of me actually doing it just makes me quiver. How is it that people do this? Am I the only one feeling this? Or maybe others are too, but they just try not to show it.
Its only natural to be resistant to change especially when the change you are undertaking will literally alter every aspect of your life. All I know is this house and these people who have raised me since I was born, it only natural to want to cling to the reliable and the situations I know, but who knows maybe a move will be just what I need. Maybe I want to be able to go up and down the stairs at any hour of the night, or talk when I have something to say at whatever volume I want or take care of myself instead of being doted on every second of the day. Don't get me wrong I am very thankful for all that my parents have done for me and given me the opportunity to experience, but at some point they need to trust that they raised me well and that I can make it on my own and its looking like that time is now.
I am someone that does not embrace change I like familiarity and predictability, but there comes a time in life where that can not be the case. In math class we learned about this theory called grow or die. Now I'm not going to go as far as to say that if I don't move out of my house I'm going to die, but the theory holds true that if you are not growing and moving forward in your life that you are not going to prosper. People need to constantly be challenging what they know to be their reality and do things that may not always be what is expected of them. what is the worst that could happen? Yes you could fail, but you have already failed if you don't even try to begin with.
So as I embark on this journey I ask God to watch over me and send good things my way because he is the one who has the power to bring blessings into our lives and he only wants good things for us. With him on my side who or what should I fear?
So hear goes nothing three months to move to Boston let the countdown begin! 

Congratulations!

Another year has gone by and another class has graduated from Assumption College. Not a day goes by that I don't miss the time I had spent there with people I could never forget. I remember two years ago as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma and shook President Cesareo's hand and it feels as if it was yesterday. Where has the time gone? Looking back I can see a lot of things in my life have changed, but not the special place that Assumption and the friends I have made there hold in my heart. As I look at photos and statuses all over facebook celebrating the class of 2013 I hope they are able to see what a great opportunity they were given to go to Assumption and use the skills they have learned to reach their dreams. No one knows where they will end up out of college, but what they can be confident in is that Assumption and its community will always be behind them. As the Class of 2013 embarks on the next chapter of their lives they will, like anyone, have hard times and things will not always go as expected, but they need to remember that in the end things will work out and no one at this age really knows what the heck they are doing. Now is the time to pursue dreams and explore what it is that will make your life fulfilling to you. Going into the real world can be a scary thing, but fear not because you can do it. You can make a life for yourself and should not be afraid or fearful to move on to the next adventures in your life. So good luck Class of 2013 and remember Assumption is always your home and will always be filled with the memories you have made, but now is the time to make new memories as you venture off to do great things in the world. Though you may not be close to your friends anymore and won't be able to meet up in charlie's for a cup of coffee the friends you make at Assumption are there for a lifetime and will always do whatever they can to lend a helping hand. So go forth doing Assumption proud as you conquer the world and bring a little bit of Assumption's sunshine to the rest of the world. Good luck and congratulations on graduating, you did it!

With Liberty and Justice For All

I have to say that I am disappointed. I just don't approve of the recent laws and rulings of the government. America is the best country in the whole world and I would never want to live anywhere else, but today we were truly tested on how far our elected officials are willing to take their "power". I personally am not an avid follower of politics, but do like to have at least some idea of what is going on in the country. I have felt the effects of our not so good economy, to put it lightly, as I search for a job and can tell that the country is not heading in the right direction.

Today the Supreme Court passed the individual mandate as part of Obamacare under the taxing power of government, but I honestly fear that the government will use this ruling to over reach their powers. If they can tax those that don't buy into heath care what is next? What if the government decides it wants you to own a certain size house or buy certain foods or only have energy saving cars, if you don't comply they can't force you to buy any specific product, but they can (according to the Supreme Court today) tax you for purchasing the undesirable product. All I can see is a threat to the freedom we have spent so many years to protect and defend and the worst part is that the threat is from within our own country.

Our country was founded due to the objections of our forefathers to the injustice of a tyrant, over controlling English ruler, so why would we want to go back to that now after all the lives that have been lost in order to ensure we would have our freedom and could live our life in the pursuit of happiness? Since when do we pass bills that are only explained after we pass them? And why are elected officials who claim that if things do not get better in their four years of office they will leave peacefully pour billions of dollars into their re-election campaign? Obama is even desperate enough to ask people to donate to his campaign in lue of a birthday or wedding gift...that is crazy! We believed that hope and change would come, but instead we got a government that wants to control everything and anything. You can't even buy the size soda you want in New York because it "leads to obesity" (even though there is no direct link), but don't worry you can celebrate donut day as long as you exercise moderation....what?? that makes no sense! The mayor claimed in an interview on the Today show that donut day was historic and should be celebrated in moderation, well what about soda can't the same be said? He claimed that that is what the soda ban was trying to help do, so basically what he was saying is he trust people not to eat too many donuts, but once people get near soda forget about it Americans need help...Do these politicians listen to themselves when they talk? or do they just like hearing the sound of their voices?

Today's decision has just further motivated me to stay involved in what is going on in this country and make my voice heard. Many who are upset know that this battle is not over and that come November our voices will be heard! We all need to band together to get Obama out of office and make sure we send the message to Congress that if they threaten our liberties they will pay the price and that their actions do hold consequences. One of the things that really annoys me about this whole healthcare issue is that whatever Congress or the President passes they will never have to be under it's jurisdiction. I feel that they need to get off their high horses and see what is really best for the American people and not what they can do to line their own pockets. So, yes Obama won today, but lets hope come November the American people will win and we can get back to the ideals and values that this great country was founded on. Lets hope that when we move forward that means great strides to keep government in check and not change into a socialist society. 

Appreciate The Life You Have

"Be thankful for whatever situation you are in because happiness will never come to those who don't appreciate what they already have". I think sometimes we are often too quick to judge our own situations without really seeing all that is going right in our lives. If your life is anything like mine then it is not always easy to see all the blessings you truly have until you actually take the time to step back and try to look for the good things in your life. All to often we see other people's lives as so much better than our own, but are they really? Why are we so quick to accept that others have their life together when we know from our own experiences that life is never actually able to be made that simple and neat?

I was taking with a former classmate of mine and I feel he brought up an interesting point. He asked me if I buy a scratch ticket and I win any money would I tell a lot of people and be really excited about it and I, being the person I am, would of course tell everyone and quickly post to Facebook and call my best friend in Thailand. However, he said what if you didn't win any money would you be so eager to share this information and I replied that I, for obvious reasons, would not be as eager to share this information with others, but would probably still tell my best friend :). Which he was quick to point out is true for many other events that happen in our lives. People tend to emphasize when things are going well in their lives and tend to hide when they are not, which just goes to show that you really should not be comparing your life to anyone else's because you are only getting what others are letting you see, which is the good things in their lives and all too often the bad is being de-emphasized and pushed to the side.

From Tara Burner Blog

This is just something to think about when you get down and feel as if your life is the only one spinning out of control. Just remember its not just you. Right now as many of my friends and I, along with other young adults, try to figure out what we will do in the world and how we will make an impact that is lasting we need to remember not to compare our lives to others and think that we are alone in this struggle, but remember that everyone has their struggles. In most cases no one really knows what their plan in life should be until it happens. So don't get discouraged if you are thinking that this is not where you saw your self in life right now just remember there is a whole generation in your same shoes and no one ever really knows where to go next we are all just stumbling around to find what will make us happy and how to live in a world that does not always seem to play fairly. Therefore, embrace life and do what makes you happy because you only get one life to live so you better make it count! Look to appreciate where you are now in life rather than looking down on it and feeling bad about yourself. Everything will work out in the end! Believe that and for now just enjoy the unanswered questions and the moments of doubt. Remember life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful; its all about your perspective on the situation you are currently in.

You Hold The Power

You are in total control of your life whether you know it or not. You control what you will do and where you will go in your life no one else can do it for you nor can anyone else truly know what is right for you. People may know the stories of your life and the drama that has unfolded, but they will never be able to know your deep inner feelings that words will never be able to express. Just going to show that others do not have the right to judge the way you live your life and the paths you will decided to explore.  In life you have to take the time to really evaluate what you want and not be ashamed to admit when you are on the wrong path. Everyday we make decisions that affect where we will go in the future. Sometimes you will look around and say wow I don't know if I like where my life is heading. The great thing about life is, however, you have the right to say that and make the appropriate measures to change your current situation.


photo from Bits of Truth



Life is not set in stone, nothing is ever guaranteed. If there is one thing I have learned about life it is that you have to enjoy the good times while they last and weather through the storm for just a short bit because life is constantly changing and evolving. People will come into and out of your life and you will make life decisions that will take you in many various directions, but one thing that will always be true is that through it all you will be in control of your actions. You will be able to change your course whenever you want, even if it is hard to see that in the moment.

We all needed to be reminded that our goal in life is to be happy and if the path we are on is not making us happy then we are not on the right path. If we continue on the is path then we will continue to get the same results, however if we are courageous enough to recognize we need to make a change great things can happen. We have to not be afraid of the unknown and step wholeheartedly on. We can not let the fears of failure or uncertainty get the best of us and we can not let the voice in our heads that say change is impossible defeat us. We need to realize the that word impossible really means i'm possible! Why waste another minute not being happy?

There is a story of a five year old who was asked in one word what he wanted to be in life and he said happy, the teacher then responded that he did not understand the assignment, but he thought she didn't understand life. This story just goes to show how much we need to find our happy place in a world that does not always foster it for us. So really take the time to evaluate where you are going in life and where you actually want to be. What can you do today to make this limited time we have here on earth the best it can be?

Friendships

"Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you the kind of person you are". I have gotten these words of wisdom from a fortune cookie, clearly the source of any great life advice, but if you really think about it your friends can have a huge impact on your life and the person you become. They are the people who you choose to help enrich your life and they are the ones you can truly be yourself with. I personally do not know what I would do without my friends they are always there for me and I hope they can say the same about me. They listen to all my trials and tribulations, hear my beautiful sounding off key singing and accept my pink obsession, even when I leave the house wearing a full pink outfit.They help to make me laugh when all I want to do is cry and I always have good memories to share with them whether its imaginative bedtime stories, watching Law and Order SVU together screaming Elliot, singing Taylor Swift, laughing at things only we understand or taking random trips to Boston on a whim. I am truly blessed to have the people I do in my life. Having good friends that help bring lift you up when you are down and who you can share your deepest thoughts with is vital to having a happy life.

Those people you have chosen also say alot about you as a person and the type of qualities you value. You should be with friends who help you look on the bright side of life and support you with the decisions you make. They should not belittle you or make you feel bad about yourself in anyway. They should standby you through the good and the bad because if they can't accept you at your worst why should they be able to have you at your best? Throughout life you will be faced with many trials and its always helpful to know you don't have to ride the journey of life alone.

As I try and figure out where I am going next in life and what my dreams and aspirations are I am very thankful to have the friends I do and hope everyone who reads this also feels the same way about their friends as well. If not you can always try and branch out to make new friends. Everyone can always use a friend and it really is all about the quality of the friends you have never the quantity. Sometimes all someone needs is to know that they have someone in their life that when they pick up the phone they will listen and not judge them and always try to put a smile on their face. So really try and take the time to thank those who you know you would never be the same without because they have forever had an impact on your life wether they have been around for years or just entered your life recently their influence can last a lifetime.