living the life you want

We all have our own ideas of what a perfect life looks like.  What is one thing that they will always have in common?

Positivity and happiness.

Only the true sociopaths in this world would admit to never wanting love or a happy life.  I want a happy life, you want a happy life, we all want happy lives.
I'll be the first to say it; I cannot fathom living my ideal life today.  But I know how to start living how I want to live today.

Think positively. Because of what we are exposed to in our lives, it is common to think negatively about the world.  By trying to think more positively, we can relieve stress and anxiety about the negative because we just don't see it.  There is a fine line between being naïve and thinking positively.
Spend one day, just 24 hours, looking for the positive side of things.  It is not hard in theory, but it is more work trying it.

Break free from routine.  Change it up; go somewhere new for your daily cup of coffee, go for a walk during your lunch break instead of playing on your phone, meet new people and do new things.  Variety is the spice of life and we need to apply that.

Have no regrets.  Personally, I've probably spent the majority of my life worrying about what I've done and whether or not it was right or wrong or if I should've said yes or no.  Instead, we need to let it go.  Our lives our full of choices and once we make one, we must move one.  Say no, say yes.  Sing loudly in public places.  Go to that concert or festival that you've wanted to go to since you were a kid.  Spend your money on concert tickets or a new yoga mat.  Love with no regrets.  Stop waiting for 'the right moment' and start living.  What was done in the past is in the past; the only thing we can change is the future.

Live your life.  Don't worry, don't regret, love everyone, think positively, say you're sorry, travel, break free from routines and judgmental people.  Don't include people in your life who don't truly want to be there.  If they fight you, think your choices are wrong, or even hate little things you do, say no to them.  Just let them go.
Live happily.  Eat good food.  See nice people.  Do kind things for others.  Say I love you.  Wish only the best on people.  Live.

Pictures:
http://data1.whicdn.com/images/119593002/large.jpghttp://data1.whicdn.com/images/119404174/large.jpg

walk in the footsteps of a stranger

In the past couple of years I've come to a very real, and very unsettling, realization.
I abhor clothing.  Shoes in particular.

Maybe its the feeling of being restricted and trapped, maybe I just hate the feeling of fabrics on my skin.  Either way, I've always been that kid who kicks off her shoes under the table at restaurants or refuses to wear shoes outside.

I decided today to do some research and see what the research is on walking barefoot.
My mother has always told me that walking barefoot exposes you to germs that are bad for you, etc.

She was right to some extent.

You are exposed to germs when you run around barefoot, but your body builds up an immunity to them.  Also, your shoes are breeding grounds for bacteria.  You sweat up to a pint everyday from both of your feet.  And guess where that all goes?  To soak into your shoes.  That is naaasty.  If you just ditch the shoes, there is no funky smell and the sweat just evaporates instantly (unless you sweat a lot) without causing the bacteria stink.

Barefoot walkers (barefooters? barefeeters? barefeets?) are less likely to develop fungus, ingrown toenails, and athlete's foot because, guess what?  We have gotten rid of the breeding ground for all of these issues.  My friend recently had to have two toenails removed due to a fungus and ingrown problem.  She probably could have avoided those medical bills and painful nights by walking around without shoes.

When I was a little kid, I used to hide my shoes from my mom so I didn't have to wear them because they hurt my feet so badly.  My mom always said it was because the shoes had arch support and I have feet flatter than the Greeks thought the earth was back in the day.  There wasn't much I could do but suffer my way through life in restricting shoes.

Shoes mold and restrict our feet from letting them move the way they are supposed to.  Our feet were created to support our bodies and protect us from the terrain the generations before us had to endure.  Our feet do not need support!  Even on concrete!  There are thousands, maybe even millions of people in India and China (and other parts of the world!) who have never worn shoes and they have no complaints about feet pain, but yet there are probably two hundred podiatrists in the state of Colorado alone.

So what are the benefits to walking au natural?  Increased balance, joint swelling is reduced, can cause up to 62% decrease in anxiety and depression, aids in sleep, improved posture, and your feet and ankles become so much stronger!

There is this thing called reflexology (I'll do a post on this later) that says if you massage certain areas on your feet, you can help relieve tension and pain in another area.  When you walk barefoot, you are giving yourself a free reflexology session.

I'm going to go barefoot (24/7) for the next month.  The last week in July is Soles4Souls week when you go barefoot all week.  Let me know if you would try this!  A day, maybe a week, or even a whole month like me!

I'll write a few more posts on things like reflexology and ways to help those who need shoes (though maybe we don't!) and other charities.

I hope you partake in this challange, one way or another!

Picture

exams are upon us

I'm a high school student who decided taking the AP route was a smart idea.

I mean, it's great for getting college credit and all but I have since sacrificed my Friday nights and weekends to study, and study hard, for my exams.

This year, I decided I would take two AP classes.  I don't care what anyone says, AP Psychology is actually a hard class and AP Language and Composition may not be a lot of work but it sure as hell is a lot of vocabulary.  (They both are, really)

Monday I took the AP Psych exam and tomorrow I take the AP Lang exam.  For the past month I have been drowning myself in a delicious concoction of tea, flashcards up to my eyes, shots of espresso, study guides, practice tests, more tea and flashcards, and practice essays.

So yes, I am done.

The drawback to AP (one of the few...) is not only do we have AP exams, but we also have finals.  I technically have three finals in psych due to this lovely fact.

Also, I have walking pneumonia so I've only been at school a day an a half this week.  It's Thursday.
This is kind of a Public Servie Announcement.

Due to the fact that it is exams week, finals are coming up in two weeks, and I'm on my death bed, my hair has not been washed in three days, I'm wearing makeup from Tuesday, I haven't worn anything but sweatshirts and shorts, and I'm pretty sure my blood has turned into caffeine.

Because I am so fashion-conscious (see the joke I made there) I googled what to wear during finals week and I was thouroughly frustrated beyond belief.

All these high-end, rich, I'm-here-on-my-daddy's-money girls have decided that it's not okay for anyone to wear uggs, sweatpants, or sweatshirts during exams.

Excuse me, but there are barely enough hours in the day to study and sleep much less put on a pair of jeans (all that wiggling, twerking, and jumping around takes some serious time).

Let me just say this: IF YOU WANT TO WEAR SWEATPANTS, SWEATSHIRTS, OR UGGS/SLIPPERS/FUZZY SOCKS DURING EXAMS, DO IT.

Also, if you think that's awful, do what Teen Vouge suggests and wear something a little more chic.
But please, stop shunning us who wear running shorts, flip-flops, and sweatshirts because that's all we can manage to put on.

(Also, I hate doing laundry, especially during exams, so there is a limited selection for me to choose from)

So yes.

Wear whatever you want during testing, it doesn't matter!
I wish you all happy AP testing, exams, finals week, whatever you're taking!
And here's a cup of coffee from me to you!

Pictures:
http://weheartit.com/entry/114953088/search?context_type=search&context_user=cosi_7&page=3&query=studying
http://weheartit.com/entry/115104769/search?context_type=search&context_user=Hollywood67&query=coffee

life's soundtrack

Music is my entire world.
If you cut my arm, you could hear music bleed from every pumping vein in my body.
When I sleep
When I cry
When I shower
When I read
When I study
When I hurt

I am always listening to the marvelous, wonderful, ever-changing thing called music.

I've never had a favorite song.
But I've always had a life soundtrack.
A soundtrack that grew as I grew.
A soundtrack that changed as I changed.
A soundtrack that hurt
That bled
That cried
As I did.
I could never compile a list of every single song that I've listened to in my life.  But I have always had a soundtrack of my life.  A list of songs that was continuously added too.  Every minute, hour, day, month, of my life.
Here is mine.

Soundtrack of My Life from thatcrazyviolinist on 8tracks Radio.

Now show me yours.

living my life-2014

I hate New Year's resolutions.

Resolutions(noun): 1) the action of solving a problem, dispute, or continuous matter, 2) the deciding to do or not do something

We can't decide right now that we'll lose 50 pounds, or run everyday, or be nicer.  We will have bad days and we will mess up and not make our resolutions.

So I'm making strides.  I will stride this year.

This year, I will be striving to not self-hate.  If I begin to hate on myself or say negative things, I will replace them with positive, true sayings.  I will do a light, five minute workout in the mornings.  I will do 15 minutes or more of yoga a day; and every day, I will tell myself constantly that I am beautiful.  Especially if I don't feel it.

This lovely lady has put together Don't Break The Chain calendars for helping with our resolutions or Strivings.  With a very simplistic design, they allow you to write one thing you will attempt to do every day for the next year and how long you want to spend on it per day.  You then cross off the date you do it.  These calandars really motivate you to keep with what you plan on doing because they are always there, staring you down. (I have four on my wall right now...in all four colors)

I'm trying to live my life this year.

The past two years have been a discovery/recovery/getting my crap together time.  I was able to stop cutting, get out of my depression (for the most part), and get a handle on my anxiety and anorexia.  So now, now I live.

My 2014 bucket list isn't going to be long; it's going to be filled with the fun I never had because I was too busy worrying about what other people thought and trying not to throw myself in front of a bus.

So here's my 2014 bucket list:
1) Stand up for myself.  I will no longer be a doormat.
2) Get the tattoo I've always wanted
3) Write.  Write all the time.  Write anything.  Write.
4) Read more.  Read as much as you used to when you were younger.  Read the whole library.  Read the world.
5) Take more pictures.  Pictures will one day be your only remembrance of this life.
6) Love more.  Love everyone.
7) Smile all the time.  Smile at everyone.  Smile when you don't want to.  Smile when you're happy.  Smile when you're sad.
8) Wear whatever you want, whenever you want.  Red lipstick to school?  Check.  Want to wear mismatching clothes?  Hells yeah!
9) Laugh more.  Watch funny videos.  Say funny things.  Surround yourself with funny people.
10) Expand your vocabulary.  Learn a new word everyday.  Use big words and sound too intelligent.
11) Live like everyday is your last.

I truely hope you all have decided to make 2014 YOUR year.  This is MY year and I will kick its butt.  This year, live.  Live your life.  Do crazy things, stay safe, and smile.

I love you.  Everyone of you.  Even if you don't.