Traps

There are things I can't write about and things I can't talk about. In a way, everyone is trapped by confines in one form or another. It will always be that way. 

Perhaps this is good for us? It comes with advantages and disadvantages, but maybe our traps protect us. If were weren't shielded from our own inhibition, how would we learn discipline? However, I get tired of censoring what I say. I suppose I can write what I want and keep it to myself, but that limits the creative sharing process too. Some of my best writing remains hidden, only because it may hurt someone's feelings or reveal too much. I don't try to hurt anyone, but sometimes- rarely- people hurt me. 

That is not a good place to end, because mostly people are very wonderful to me, in the best way they know how to be. Most of the traps surrounding me are ones I have set myself. Just please don't let anyone censor you (too much) and trap you.

Things I Like About College

I have been here at school for approximately six weeks, so I suppose I now have some credibility in compiling this list. So far, I'm really liking it. It's hard to answer the vague question "how's college going?" without using the blanket statement "it's good..." or launching into too detailed an answer. So, hopefully my list will be a concise but personalized answer to that question.

(In no particular order)

1. Instant mac and cheese cups
2. My roommates
3. (Most of) my professors and TA's
4. Avocado and cucumber rolls on Tuesdays
5. Walking around when the weather is mild
6. Freedom of sleep/wake up schedule
7. Doing laundry (It makes me feel accomplished)
8. Receiving packages
9. The pretty campus
10. Free movie showings (How to Train Your Dragon, Get Him to The Greek, Inception)
11. Seeing people I know and recognize
12. Taking photos (I guess that hasn't changed.)
13. Working out occasionally
14. Bunk bed! (It's actually a love/hate relationship)
15. Figuring out public transportation
16. Diddy Riese (A cookie/ice cream place in Westwood)
17. Seeing high school students on tours of the campus 
18. Getting to lecture early and finding a good seat
19. Staying up really late
20. Other free activities/things (Hypnotist Show, henna tattoo, food sometimes)
21. Phone calls from friends
22. Feeling more grown up
23. Decorating my dorm for Halloween
24. Having inside jokes and memorable quotes with my roommates
25. Skype time
26. Making birthday posters
27. Finding short cuts and hidden spots
28. Looking at classes I might like to take at some point
29. Tutoring George (my sixth grade tutee who lives in LA)
30. Sleeping...or napping.

Nostalgia

Over the weekend, I spent some time looking at nearly all the photos I'd ever been tagged in on my Facebook account. Some might say that's a really lame thing to do, but it made me remember a lot of good times in high school and at camp and with my friends. I realized I'm perhaps more photogenic that I thought, but more importantly, I realized that I do miss things about my life just a few months ago. High school is over and that is fine, although there are many great teachers there who inspired me and who I will visit. But Artemis is different. I feel that the Artemis program (Artemis Leadership Training Adventure, in case you're confused) is a permanent part of my heart. I miss the girls there. I know I'll return to help as much as I can, I'm just going to miss those monthly gatherings where so much happened to me. I'm even sad about it. I guess I have to move on; it's just hard of let go of that. Five years is a long commitment. 

And if anyone from Artemis is reading this, I hope you had a great ALTA weekend and made lots of memories for yourself. Those are undoubtedly great times. I'm sad but I'm happy too.

Life Rules, Part 1

These are a few life mottos I've found very applicable and useful in life. Think about them. I didn't totally invent these concepts (they're based on common sense in general); I just like them.

1. If its not 100% yes, it's no. You'd be surprised how often this applies to various situations. I guess it goes along with being whole-hearted. It's hard to fake something that's really important. Stick to your instinct. 
2. Don't snoop through others' private information, communications, or things. I.e. email accounts, text messages, journals, drawers, et cetera. You almost always find something that will hurt you or make you confused. And then you've got only yourself to blame, NOT the person to whom it belongs. It wasn't his or her fault you looked. In cases of suspicion, I suppose the best thing to do is discreetly confront the other person, if it's that important. Usually it's not.
3. Don't be (too big of) a hypocrite. I'm a hypocrite. I said not to give advice.

Quotable Friday's Post

Hello! This time, it wasn't my fault that I missed my Friday post. The internet and cable TV cords were accidentally severed, causing our building to lose wireless and wired service. So with that excuse out of the way, here's the quote I was going to post yesterday...

It's a good one...

"Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."

Have a good weekend.

Happy Thursday. This says it all.

What I Am, What I'm Not

I'm tough.

I'm impervious.

I'm adaptable.

I'm flexible.

I'm independent.

I'm not (too) vulnerable.

And that makes me strong.

Black Skirt

I'm wearing this black skirt today. I've been wearing it a lot lately; I've found it to be a very versatile piece. There's a story behind this skirt. A few weeks prior before I moved down to Los Angeles, I went shopping with mom and sister at the mall. In the Pac Sun store, I tried on this skirt for the first time. I really liked it and wanted to buy it. My mom didn't, however. I don't remember the exact conversation, but she didn't think it was flattering on me and didn't want to waste the money. Maybe she worried I'd never wear it. I was upset, but we left the store.

The next week, I was shopping with a friend and saw the Pac Sun store. I went inside and bought the skirt with my own money. And I felt pretty liberated. Of course, I can't wear it in front of her, but I packed it and now I wear it often. This is my black skirt, it matches a lot of shirts. It fits me, and has pockets. The epitome of feminism. 

So, I guess there's a moral to this story. Many times, my mom is right when it comes to clothing choices and shopping. I'm certainly no expert. It's good to listen to advice. But other times, you might have to disobey or deviate in order to make a decision that's best for you. Maybe my mom was right and this skirt makes me look fat. I don't think so, though, and perhaps I'm happy in ignorance. I like wearing my black skirt on my own and I'm fine.

Quotable Friday's Post

Reflect. And I'll talk to you soon.

FEAR: 

False 

Evidence 

Appearing 

Real

Week Three

I can't believe I haven't posted at all this week. Part of me was afraid to reveal the truth, or to somehow jinx my good fortune. I had a very good weekend; this upcoming one will be dull in comparison (probably). I really appreciate everything my boyfriend does for me. I was joking with one of my friends (you know who you are), and told her to discover the flaws in the boy she liked, and then her crush would be resolved. I'm pretty confident I know all of Sean's flaws, and I like him despite of and even because of them. You've probably heard that advice before. "Loving unconditionally." But I really mean it- it's essential.

But never mind that. I don't like to give advice; it makes you vulnerable. I have started this tutoring program where we go to schools of lower-income populations and help kids with math and science, primarily. My tutee's name is George and he's in sixth grade. I'm actually going to leave to get on the van very soon. I like it. I really want to help him. I've been wondering if I'm involved enough in college and extracurricular activities, but now quizzes have started being issued and midterms approach and my mind stops questioning so much.

Stay tuned for the Quotable of the week. I have something in mind, but I want it to be in separate post. 

Also, because of circumstances I can't detail explicitly here, I'm going to start posting a lot more photographs. (Better quality ones, too, at least digitally.) So...I hope you have a good weekend. I hope you read PostSecret and do something you like, such as solving Sudoku puzzles or eating yogurt with cereal or drawing faces on a pumpkin with a Sharpie. Those are things I enjoy.

Quotable Friday's Post

Reflect on this:

Well done is better than well said.

-Benjamin Franklin

Im(perfect)ion

Listen, listen.

Do you ever think about it?

You're not gaining anything by trying to be the best.

Striving for the impossible.

Setting vague goals with little value attached.

And now...

Do you realize the weight you've put on yourself by being the best little girl in the world?

Quotable Friday's Post

I missed it by an hour, but I can still post now. You'll all forgive me, right?

Reflect on this:

“Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.”
-Gertrude Stein