What a Beautiful World

“Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller"- Ibn Battuta

When I think about the world, I think about all of the wonders that have yet to leave me in awe. I find it impossible to fully the describe the beauty of the world through words. Words can paint a picture and stir up a desire to travel to such amazing places. However, the world is something that you have to experience and learn about for yourself. The images in your head, stories you've heard, or a descriptions of that place, come together collectively to become a beauty in front of your eyes. The best thing though is gaining your own opinion about that particular place and sharing your experience with others.   

You have an array of choices as you travel. There isn't a set of rules that bounds you to traveling a specific way. You have a choice in the place you want to go, what you will do, how long you will stay, and how you want to live when you get there. Be adventurous, relaxed, and happy.  Travel is vast series of choices that allow you to grow and learn about just not the world, but also about yourself. A teacher that I once had(a worldly traveler) told me that you need to open yourself up when you travel because if you don't, you will be depriving yourself of the world.

There are hundreds of thousands of places all over the globe that are waiting for you to come and experience. The beauty of the world cannot be fully conveyed through words and images. Open yourself up to this magnificence and you can learn about what the world has to hold and everything beyond it. Life is meant to be experienced, so allow yourself to do just do that.

My top 5 list of the places I want to travel:

1.      Morocco

2.      Vatican City

3.      Thailand

4.      Paris

5.      Crete

I wish I was 5

Smiles that went from ear to ear, bursts of boisterous laughter that filled the room, and eyes of innocence completed my Thursday and Friday. On February 26th and 27th, hundreds of kids came rushing through the colorful, animated tunnel of people. I read the silly rhymes of Dr. Seuss as my buddies would grasp on to each word with the desire to hear the next. I danced with my buddies as they twirled and jumped around with me until I was dizzy. I helped my buddies with their activities as the spectrum of the rainbow was illustrated into various characters and objects. As I played the part of the patient, I watched my buddies point at me, smile, and whisper to their neighbor that I was their friend. I looked down at my buddies as they looked for comfort before doing what Dr. Seuss told them to do. With each movement and sound, I flashback to the moments of my childhood when each day passed with a carefree feeling.

            Up until high school, all I wanted to do was grow up quickly and take on the fun and responsibility of a high school student. My mouth drooled at the idea that one day, I would no longer be 5, 8, 10, and even 13. Now, time has passed, and I find myself at 15, writing about those moments in which I wished to be older.

            I came in to high school thinking that I was beyond prepared to handle everything and that these 4 years would go by with ease. As a sophomore, I've realized that days go by quickly, but they don't go by without difficulty. I remember being in kindergarten with by overwhelmingly large backpack that looked like it was crushing me, the bowl haircut that shouldn't exist, and the light up, sparkly pink sketchers that lit up my day. My most stressful thoughts bounced back between whether or not I was packed a good snack and if I would have to speak aloud to the class.

            Looking back at these moments makes me realize that sometimes we're so eager for something to happen that we don't take the time to appreciate the things around us. As a high school student, I wait anxiously for the day I get to take my pack boxes and move them into a dorm with other college students. I see the freedom and fun of being a college student, but forget how hard it actually is when you're out on your own. With my eyes fixed on college, I don't appreciate the difficulties I am facing right now. What I find to be an obstacle right now, will one day be the thing I wish I could run back to. I know that one day my high school career will come to an end and the future will come, so why just not live each day with gratitude? 

Dress Codes

Transitioning from middle school to high school, there were a couple things that I was extremely excited about; one of them being the dress code. For three years, I felt so restricted about my clothing choices as the boundaries of what I could wear seemed to be very limited. When middle school passed and I was getting ready to enter high school, I found myself free to dress to my interests and express myself through my clothes. It had become possible to utilize my whole closet from day to day.  

I remember out of the policies that they had, the one that I detested the most was the one that stated that you couldn't wear straps thinner than three inches. Thinking about this rule, it wasn't the rule itself that I loathed so much, but how they enforced it.

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Knowing that I couldn't wear a tank top thinner than three inches, I thought it'd be okay to put a cardigan over the tank top the whole day so that I wasn't exposing my shoulders or the straps of the tank top. I The whole day had almost been through and no one said a thing about it, so I thought that what I was doing was completely okay. At the end of 6th period, my P.E class, I was changing back from my uniform into my normal clothes when I heard the teacher's voice yelling from across the room. I had turned around and she was pointing at me. I walked down to her, fully dressed in what I had worn that day, when she told me that I wasn't allowed to cover my tank top with the cardigan because it wasn't appropriate and that she should've assigned me lunch detention for doing so. I felt so embarrassed about it afterwards because of the eyes that stared me down as I walked back to get my backpack and the feeling of getting in trouble.

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The first day into high school, everything about the dress code was so different. Looking around, tank tops without a cover-up was quite ubiquitous along with denim shorts and sandals. This was a common thing to see until the cold weather rolled in and people were bundling up in boots and jackets. I began to wear shorts, sandals, and tank tops too on those extremely hot days. It was a different feeling than in middle school. That change in feeling was probably because I was no longer melting in my jeans and long sleeves when it was 80 degrees or higher.

Due to the fact that the less strict boundaries and enforcements of the dress code, there were people who decided to push the limits of what they could wear. From time to time, it seemed as if people were coming to school half-naked. I support being able to wear what you want, but there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. For someone who dislikes dress codes, I found myself understanding why one exist. In the end, people should be able to choose to wear what they desire, but while doing so, they should think about how appropriate it is for where they are going. 

Whispering Winds

 Fresh pine, crisp winter air, and a rarely felt sense of serenity; all found in the mountains. This week already feels like a slow passing with camp coming in five days. Filled with anticipation, I wait anxiously for Friday to come. This year, I will be heading up to Whispering Winds in Julian with those in my faith formation class.

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 For the longest time, I've been dreading this trip away from the city. Giving up one of my treasured weekends, the thought of having to find time on Sunday night to cram all the work I couldn't do, and being far away from my bed made me the opposite of excited and happy. My best choice for the many months leading up to camp was to place that undesired thought on the shelf and forget about it until I had to pack my bags. However, during class last week, my group began to talk about the preparations for the weekend and what we would be doing. At first, I sat there with a fake plastered smile on the outside and eye roll and pout on the inside. As my facilitator and junior facilitators began to talk about their experiences at confirmation camp, I found myself erasing that pout and putting on a real smile.

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 I had forgotten what pre-confirmation camp was like last year. I had forgotten how blissful, spiritual, and amazing that trip was. Like the months leading up to this upcoming weekend, last year's anticipation was the same; I didn't want to go. I remember sitting on the bus on the way the way there; hoping that the weekend would quickly pass by and I would be back in Mira Mesa. That weekend became better and better with each talk that was given, each personal thought uncovered, and each newly made connection with someone I thought I'd never talk to. That weekend did go by very fast; not because I wanted it to, but because I hadn't wanted it to. I feel like time flies when you wish that it wouldn't.

That feeling that I had as I left camp last year has reemerged. Reality will be left behind the moment I step off of the bus and onto the unpaved dirt path. I'm ready to escape the stress of school for 48 hours, my phone that seems to be glued to my hand 24/7, and the constant hustle and bustle. My wishes for this weekend is to be happy, open myself up to others, and get connected with my faith. 

Recycling my closet

You've heard about the saying "Reduce, reuse, and recycle;" especially when referring to trash, but how about your closet?  Being under the age of 16, I can't get a job and my parents don't constantly give me money to spend for shopping. To save, I like to recycle my clothes. I collect the items that I haven't worn in awhile, I go down to a second-hand store, and give them what I have. They go through the items one by one,  picking out the items that want. For some stores, I'm able to take cash while in others I'm allowed to "trade" for items in their store. This opens up a great opportunity for me to put a little cash in pocket or save immensely. During one of my recent trips, I was able to save over $60 on a brand new Topshop dress!

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While I love to go from store to store trying to find new treasures, others don't find this activity to be quite appealing. The idea of going through second hand items don't sound exciting to people nor does the time it can take. From experience, sometimes it takes a while to find great pieces. I've come to appreciate the moment when I come upon an item that I actually really like and am able to where over and over again. Sometimes, it's not even the time that causes people to turn away when they hear or see the word "thrift", but the smell of the store. Something about second-hand stores that give it that musky smell of an old person. At first, the smell bothered me a little, but with time my nose has become accustomed.
Whether it's a brand new piece or completely vintage, I can find a wide range of new items that bring life to my closet. It allows for a vast variety of clothing without having to spend hundreds of dollars (even better trading it for free)! What's better than a fresh closet? For a girl who loves clothes but doesn't have the deep pockets for it, this is one of the best substitutions. This summer, I've made it one of my goals to go outside of San Diego and in to Los Angeles to scout the thrift stores there.
           

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 If you decide to try out thrifting, here's some tips:
1. Great second-stores to try is Buffalo Exchange and thrift trader in Pacific Beach.
2. Don't give up too soon (Go through a majority and if it feels dead, then know you gave it a try).
3. Be creative about the items you pick up.
4.  Look, don't scan because you could past a really awesome item.

It's that time a year again. January 1st, or the day that the majority of people decide it's time to reinvent themselves. The new year creates an aspiration within people to set new goals for themselves. They ask...

1) How can I be better?

2) What are my goals for this year?

3) How can I reach these goals?

               

The basic mindset after setting their new aspirations: "Give it my all. 100%. Nothing less." The idea of the difficulty and struggles that are strung on to these goals are masked by their hope, excitement, and desire to become the 2.0 version of themselves. Hope gives people a sense of power that motivates them to try and fulfill what they're hoping for. When they start to see that the road to improvement is not a walk in the park, they begin to lose hope.  With each failed attempt, these goals begin to look unrealistic and unreachable. Eventually, they just let go and turn back to their lifestyle before the new year even began. They set these goals on a shelf in hopes that the next year will be different. What people need to see is that a goal can't reached by going cold-turkey. It's like a quitting a habit. It won't happen over the course of a day or so.

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The new big question: How can I give myself the best chance at reaching the goals I have set up?

At first, people tend to set these gigantic goals that's a far leap from where they're starting. Whether you're trying to lose weight or stop being a procrastinator, it's about setting smaller goals that eventually lead to the big goal you first started off with. Don't expect everything to happen extremely quickly because by doing so, you're probably setting yourself up for failure. You need to reward yourself when reaching your "mini-goals". If it's trying to lose weight, after you reach a certain amount of weight, reward yourself with an indulgence. It shouldn't be a major indulgence that sets you back in your tracks; nor should it be an indulgence too small to feel like a reward. The most important thing to learn is to not quit. Your desire to quit is your enemy. When you take a step back, don't let it stop you. It's like losing a battle. You can lose a few, but win many. You may find yourself low on hope and on the verge of surrendering to your enemy, but take a look at the bigger picture; what's in store for the future once you've reached your goal. You keep going and when you do, you find yourself to be the winner of the war. (I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true) Like many others, I find that completing a task that I struggled with and believed I couldn't achieve is one of the biggest rewards itself.

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Other tips for achieving your goal:

1) Find a way to remind you of the significance of your goal

2) Get others with similar goals involved

3) Don't set up too many major goals (It's hard to juggle everything at once; esp. if it involves changing)

It's all about you

Like many others, growing up I was always taught that you should put others before yourself and that is how you become kind and generous. As the years have passed, I was taught that you should put school, extracurricular activities, and many other things before yourself. They said, "that is how you'll succeed." If you ever do anything else, you wouldn't amount to much. For the longest time, I went along with what I had learned from those people. However, I've come to realize how false those statements are. The most important thing I've learned was not taught to me by someone else; but instead it was something I had discovered myself. It is okay to put yourself first.

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It doesn't make you selfish, lazy, nor less than anybody else. Putting yourself first is quite the contrary to that. You learn many things that allows you to grow as person. You find that you can control many things that contribute to your happiness. You become a better person when you're happy with who you are and when other things in life doesn't hold the reins that control you. I've come to understand more of myself like...

1)  Life is a lot more relaxing when you let a few things go and you're no longer anchored by unwanted weight.

2)  I've become happier by surrounding myself with positivity.

3) Not every moment maybe the best, but it doesn't mean I should be constantly reliving it. Move on.

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Although, focusing on yourself is one of the most important things you can do in your life, there is a fine line that shouldn't be cross. That fine line separates those who are putting themselves first for the benefit of themselves and the things around them, and those who put themselves first because they lack concern for anything else that really matters. Cross that line and you are no longer a person who is putting themselves for the benefit of growing, but the lazy, self-centered person that people never wanted you to be. I emphasize the importance of finding balance, because without it, life is a mess and you're stuck in chaos.     

Find time in life to put yourself first and you can realize that life is a million times better when you're not stuck in the middle of losing yourself. While focusing on yourself, just don't become the person who's in it for themselves in a way that is selfish and indolent. Otherwise, you can find yourself maturing into something much more that is bigger and better.