20 Things I believe In

When I am happy, I am extremely happy. Like giddy-dorky-silly-funny happy. When I am unhappy, I am distraught. Like don’t-talk-to-me-don’t-look-at-me-I-hate-everything-happy-in-the-world unhappy. Rarely is there a middle ground. This week seems to be moving about as slow as Congress’ decision-making and I feel compelled to label it as “not my week.”  I decided to use this as inspiration to compile a list of things I believe in that keep me going. Enjoy.

1. Making Lists- This one of many. I make lists about everything! Pros and cons, to-do, long-term goals, short-term goals, things I like, my favorite words, etc. (I just made a list of lists).
2. Mental Breakdowns- It sounds more melodramatic than I mean it to, but crying and lashing out at your pillow is better than letting stress build up inside your head and keep you awake at night. If you space out your mental breakdowns, you avoid putting yourself into a completely life-ruining depressive state. C.S. Lewis said, “Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.” So, folks, have your mental breakdowns, then brush it off and move on! (I do it all the time).
3. Snuggling- With cats, dogs, pillows, books, friends, and cartons of ice cream. Holding someone (or something) that gives you comfort is one of the best forms of therapy, I don’t care who ya are.
4. Critiquing Movies For All They’re Worth- The number of times I’ve been told, “It’s just a movie,” when I question the possibility of certain things happening in real life is a very high number, indeed. I’m especially critical of happy love stories. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
   
5. Calling My Mom- Now that I live away from home, I call my mom all the time. When I’m bored, when I’m stressed, when I’m excited, if I just had a great cup of tea, if I fail a test. This is a lady I saw almost every day of my life for the past 18 years, obviously I’m having some separation anxiety. Even if she makes me more stressed when I talk to her, I still do because it’s better than building it up inside my head and lashing out at random passersby or friendly bus drivers or the squirrels roaming around campus.
6. Mix CDs And Playlists- I have a playlist for every situation: Disney songs, songs from musicals, songs to listen to on rainy days, during workouts, while I’m drinking tea, when I want to be sad, when I want to cheer up, while doing homework, etc. Each event in my life has its own soundtrack (and yours should, too).
7. Taking Notes In Different Colors- It keeps me awake and actively listening. It also helps with organization and looks pretty.
8. Going On Walks- I do some of my best mind-clearing on walks. Luckily, I live in a beautiful area, so I’m always inspired and breathing fresh air. Walks also allow me the rare opportunity of having a run-in with one of the loves of my life: dogs. There is a serious lack of dogs in my life ever since I moved onto campus.
9. Chai Tea Lattés- They taste and smell like Christmas and I’m obsessed with them. Chai puns are also easy to create and are said often in my daily life. (It’s my way or the chai way; What chai through yonder window break?; We loved with a love that was more than love, I and my chai tea)
10. Staying Up 10 More Minutes (Or 3 More Hours) To Finish A Book- I’m a binge reader. I usually immerse myself into the story and finish it in two or three days. When I was in high school, reading-for-fun was taken away from me when I wasn’t focusing on school work. (I didn’t choose the nerd life; the nerd life chose me).
11. Giving Strangers Life Stories- It’s similar to extreme people-watching. You sit in an airport or at the mall or anywhere in public. You choose a random. You give them a name and a story. The stories are usually tragic. It’s like writing a short story and it kills time and it’s entertaining and if you don’t teach it to your kids, then you are parenting incorrectly. (Just kidding…but seriously).
12. Waving To Dogs- “Dogs are people too,” Stick It. If you haven’t seen it, then see it because it’s hilarious. Have you noticed that dogs are always smiling? Well, they are. And when someone smiles at you, you smile back. And you wave. I just love dogs, okay?
13. Looking Good When I Don’t Feel Good- This is something I try to teach everyone I know and I do all the time! Whenever I’m having a rough week, I’m sick, I’m hurt, or I don’t feel prepared for something, I always make it a point to put a little bit of extra effort in my appearance. This is especially useful when I’m speaking in front of a group of people. Although I’m so nervous I could cry and my voice is shaking and I forgot everything I was going to say and I’m ten seconds from hiding under a desk in the fetal position, at least I’m not worrying about how I look. (I guess I probably should be worried about how I look if I’m in the fetal position under a desk).
14. Keeping A Notebook Handy- I have approximately twenty thousand notebooks. They each have a different use and none of them are completely filled, but there’s always one nearby if I need to “spill some rhymes,” or write a quote, or whatever! You never know what you need a notebook for (but if you’re me, you need one for everything).
15. Watching Bad TV Shows- When you have a lot of weight on your shoulders and mind and heart, there’s no better way to distract yourself from it than to immerse yourself into a mindless television show that you love to hate (or hate to love). Examples of these include; Pretty Little Liars, Jersey Shore, Say Yes to the Dress, etc. Choose your poison wisely because you might get addicted. (Hint: finding awful television shows may be the easiest thing to accomplish).
16. Being A Tourist- I love being touristy and lame and wearing a fanny pack and taking pictures of every inch of every new place I visit. Okay, not so much that, but I do love exploring. One of my best friends and I spent all last summer exploring the back country of San Diego, places in our own town, beaches of Southern California, and Downtown San Diego. One thing many people don’t realize is you don’t have to go somewhere new to be a tourist; you just have to look at things with a new perspective. You can’t get bored of seeing things for the first time.
17. Cookies- I’m the real-life, certifiable cookie monster. I love cookies and cookies love me. Something that I don’t love and that I think should be outlawed in this country is nuts in cookies. “Inconceivable!” Here’s a picture of me with a cookie handlebar mustache.
18. Organization- If everything has a place, then nothing gets lost. I give everything a place: my thoughts live in notebooks; my tea in a bowl; my clothes in neatly organized drawers; my keys on their ring. This isn’t an obsessive-compulsive disorder I am exercising, but 1) I hate losing things; 2) I have the worst memory ever, so If I put something in a random place, it will be gone forever; and 3) I live in a dorm about the size of Harry Potter’s closet under the stairs – there is absolutely no room for clutter in my room (or in my already chaotic life).
19. Drinking Water- People don’t realize how much better life is when you’re always hydrated. Drinking water can fix headaches, give you energy, hydrate dry skin, and I personally think it’s delicious! (Silly Allie, water does not taste). [Yes, it does. And I love it].
20. Making Yourself Laugh- Dr. Seuss wrote, “All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you’ll be quite a lot!” Ain’t that the truth? I figure that you have to learn to make yourself laugh or you will always be miserable. Who cares if people think you’re crazy!? If you don’t think you’re funny, then who will? It’s kind of similar to that (true) bologna about loving yourself before loving someone else. I’ll be the first to say it, I thought this blog post was hilarious. Sue me!