Pennies From Heaven

Ever since I was little I would always find pennies and other change in the strangest places. I had heard from someone that every time you see any coin in a weird or unusual spot it was left by someone in heaven as a reminder that they're still around! I used to find these pennies and then just smile, throw them in my pocket and forget about them. A few years ago I decided to save them in this little box I have. Every time I find a penny I keep it and add it to my collection!

The best part of the pennies is that each one has its own story depending on how/when you found it. I don't remember which specific penny in my collection I found at which specific place but the circumstances are hard to forget!

Next time you see a penny I hope you don't just ignore it! They seem to always come at the right time and never fail to leave a smile on my face!

Have you ever gotten a penny from heaven?

Tips to Avoid that "Drowning" Feeling

Being a freshmen in college, I always find myself "drowning" in my work load. With school work, actual work, tutoring and trying to keep up with friends, I find it hard to find time to even breathe (I should add that to my to do list). Here are a few things I do in order to try and keep my head above the water!

1. Lists, lists, lists!: This has to be one of the most important tips. Whenever I'm feeling too overwhelmed (which is more often then I'd like to admit) I always make a list. It makes me feel so much more organized when I have everything in order and laid out in front of me and I'm able to organize my thoughts and get to work!

2. Prioritize: Break things down into what has to be done first and what can wait for tomorrow. That way you will be able to get things done before they're due and not have to worry about finishing assignments/dead lines at the last minute!

3. Take A Deep Breath: No matter what I'm stressed about I always look back and remember that everything always gets done! Every time I had a due date for work or school I always got it done even if it was just in time. Basically what I'm saying is, it'll get done! Stop stressing...you will get it done!

4. Ask For Help: People may not be able to do your work for you but it's amazing how helpful it is to talk about your work load. Being able to talk about everything you have going on, makes the stress so much easier to handle. Plus, they'll be able to calm you down, which is crucial.

5. Keep A Calendar: It's so important to keep a record of all of the important things that have happened and all of the events and due dates you have coming up! If you have a calendar with everything written in, there will be no surprises which can keep the stress down without a doubt!

6. Me time: This one is sooooo super important! If all you think about all of the time is the things you have to get done, you'll break down. Every once and a while you must take time for yourself by reading a book (for enjoyment), watching a movie or even taking a nap! It'll allow you to clear your mind and you'll be able to start fresh again!

Next time you're in over your head, trying using some of these tips!

What do you find helps when you're stressed?

The Guest-House - Rumi

Whenever my english class gets cancelled (which is starting to seem like once a week) my professor emails us an assignment. Usually it's a boring assignment that just takes up time, but this week was completely different! We had to read a few poems and analyze them. The first couple I read were boring and I couldn't relate to any of them. Then, I found this one and I can honestly say I feel like I have a new perspective on emotions and how I should view them!

The Guest-House

This being human is a guest-house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, 

some momentary awareness comes 

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all! 

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, 

who violently sweep your house 

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably. 

He may be clearing you 

out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, 

meet them at the door laughing, 

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, 

because each has been sent 

as a guide from beyond.

Say I Am You: Poetry Interspersed with Stories of Rumi and Shams, Translated by John Moyne and Coleman Barks, Maypop, 1994.

When I first read the title I expected a poem full of imagery and words I didn't understand painting a picture of someone's guest house. Boy was I surprised when it turned out to be the complete opposite!

The one thing I love about poetry is that everyone can interpret the same exact words into a completely different idea then everyone else! Here are just some things I found powerful in this poem.

Lines 7-12:" Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight." These few lines were my favorite. It took me a couple read throughs to try and figure out what this meant. I finally realized that Rumi was saying that sorrow can so easily swallow us up and drag us down and eventually empty us completely. How beautiful is it that he is able to see this as an opportunity for renewal and a way to start over with new, better emotions.

Lines 16-18:" Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond." I believe that word choice was crucial here for Rumi. He could've easily said that the emotions were simply sent from above but instead he chooses to say that they were sent as a guide. That these emotions weren't meant to fix us immediately but rather guide us to be stronger and joyous.

What did you take away from this poem? 

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

As you may know, one of my favorite things to do is take pictures. It doesn't matter where I am, I always have my phone out and ready to snap a pic. Here are just a few of my favorite pictures with the little stories that go along with them!

Love is Everywhere 

So I'm pretty sure Chinese food id the best food ever, I order it all the time. One day I was eating dinner and I looked down into my soup and this is what I found! I couldn't believe what I saw. It was so cool to look down and see four perfect hearts floating around in my soup!

Dad Doing Funny Things

This is one of my favorite pictures! It was my Dads birthday and we were at Texas Roadhouse for his birthday and when they sang happy birthday they made him sit on this saddle, it was priceless! 

Sunsets

I took this picture of a sunset two summers ago. I had gone to a little ice cream shop in Connecticut with my friends and family. Every summer we spend a week camping and we never fail to go to this ice cream place, it's a tradition! 

All Of The Lights

This was taken at a Fall Out Boy concert in June. I forget what song they were singing but it was so amazing seeing all of these people holding up their phone flashlights and swaying to the song. My favorite part of every concert is that everyone is there because they love the same music! 

Tips to beat the struggle of a long-distance relationship with your BFF

Ever since I could remember Jillian has always been my best friend! Our moms were friends in high school and then we just became friends through them! Only problem is...she lives in Colorado! It's so terrible having your best friend live so far away but I have to say that we are closer than I am with some of my other friends. Here are some of the things we do that keeps our friendship so strong!

1. Keep In Touch- I know this one sounds pretty obvious and it's definitely the most important. Jill and I text all the time and we try to FaceTime whenever we get the chance. With technology now it's impossible not to keep touch, you just have to put in the effort!

2. Pen Pals- Even though I just stressed how important it is to keep in touch with friends through technology, writing letters is also super fun! I love getting letters and packages. It's another fun way to keep in touch and also let the other person know you're thinking of them!

3. Visit- This is my absolute favorite one! There's nothing better than staying at your best friends house for a week and meeting everyone that you've heard so many stories about. Now that I'm older I'm trying to get there as much as possible, which is difficult but totally worth it. 

4. Be Open- Another super important tip! I tell Jill everything...literally, everything. It's the best feeling having someone who knows everything and anything about you. It makes it so much easier to go through everyday knowing there is someone who is able to help me through the tough times because she knows where I've been!

To Be A Kid Again

Do you ever look back on your childhood and wish you could just go back in time? Back to when it didn't matter what you wore,  when makeup wasn't even an issue and you could just leave the house with the messy hair you woke up with? Me too! (Even though I may still do this sometimes...) Life was so much easier!

Now I have to set my alarm super early just so I have enough time to do my hair and makeup. But now, when I look at the young kids I can't believe what they are wearing!! They all have their makeup done perfectly and their hair more straight then I could even imagine. Sometimes I even find my self envying them (Yikes!).

But then I remember how simple life was when I didn't care what anyone else thought of me. I was comfortable in my sweats and ponytail! Part of me feels sad for the younger girls now because when they're supposed to be having fun and not worrying about looks they are constantly stressing over their hair and "acne".

I have to say that I am very grateful for the childhood I had. Free of makeup and stressing about every little thing. I can't believe how much things can change over one generation!

Lyrics, lyrics, lyrics!

Other than watching Netflix, my absolute favorite thing to do is to listen to music! There's something about finding one song and listening to it non-stop and finding something new every time you hear it. My two favorite groups are Fall Out Boy and The Fray. They both have two completely different sounds but I think thats what I love so much about them! 

The best part of every song is obviously the lyrics! There is nothing better than going through something in your life and then you hear a song come on that relates perfectly to the exact same situation you are in.

Whenever I'm bored or super stressed and just need to relax I always go through all of my favorite songs, pick out my favorite lyrics and write them down! In my English class my professor gave us these notebooks and told us to graffiti the front. So, naturally, I put song lyrics all over the front!

I just love the way this one turned out. The colors work together so well and all of the lyrics fit together perfectly! I actually have a notebook dedicated to just song lyrics. It's so therapeutic!

Next time you hear a song or a lyric that stands out to you, write it down! You never know when it may come in handy!