"MCM" & "WCW"

WOW! It's been a while since I've written! It feels good to be back! :)

There's a topic which I currently feel very strongly about. It has to do with social media (all things do these days). Obviously today's society revolves around social media, which is great. There can be people you haven't spoken with in years that you can reconnect with over the Internet and see what they are up to based on their pictures, posts, etc. In that aspect it is awesome.

In other aspects though, social media isn't so great.

Something that has come to my attention lately are these "MCM" (man crush Monday) & "WCW" (woman crush Wednesday) posts. Yes, they are supposed to be fun and what not. The fact that (mainly) women and I'm sure some men are letting this silly trend affect their relationships is mind boggling!

I myself have never posted either of those things because quite frankly, I find them to be silly, but I see a lot of girls posting things about how "they are never the WCW," and I also hear a lot of things about how girls get mad at their boyfriends if they don't post a picture of them every Wednesday saying "WCW". UMMM?? Obviously you're his "WCW" if he is dating you, and trust me, nobody on social media wants / needs to be reminded of that on a weekly basis.

People these days are so hung up on the hashtags of social media that they actually let it affect their relationships, which is sad. Social media hashtags certainly should not have that big of an impact on people's relationships.

If our generation is having these huge malfunctions in their relationships because of social media hashtags I'm scared for what the future generations have in store for us.

"Man Up"

In English this week we were learning about feminism throughout published texts and in everyday society. I learned how language is very meaningful and how the context of how something is said or written means a lot.

Today my professor showed us a video about a man refuting the the saying "Man Up." The saying can be very offensive and men, just like women face troubles in the everyday society. The saying "Man Up" is very demeaning to men. It's calling out and putting their masculinity into question.

All in all, this week I learned a lot about how words can be very offensive even if they are being said in a jokingly manner. Although, feminism has come a long way; women still face a lot of problems in today's society. And although it is not recognized as often or as much men face problems in todays society as well.

Here is the video that we watched in class today about the man refuting the saying "Man Up." I would highly recommend watching it!

Guante - "Ten Responses to the Phrase 'Man Up'"

Why Is It Always Hardest to Take Your Own Advice?

Why is it always so hard to take the advice that we can so easily give to others?

When someone you know needs you to lend an ear whether it be on a relationship, a work problem, or just anything at all - the advice that you are able to give just comes so easily.

But, just because you give them the advice in hopes that they will follow it doesn't mean that they always will. Things are always easier said than done, and many times we don't recognize that until we are put in a similar situation ourselves.

Relationship advice for example; it's one of the easiest things for me to give advice on. I listen to what people tell me and put myself in their shoes and then I give them the advice that seems most fitting for their circumstance. And I've always wondered why people continuously ask for the advice if they never end up actually taking it? I don't tell people what they want to hear, I tell them the truth and what they need to hear.

It's not until recently that I've realized that the advice is so easy to listen to and agree with at the time, but when it comes to following through with it - that's the hard part. No one ever notices how difficult taking their own advice can be until they are in a situation that causes them to do so.

While talking to my mom tonight about a situation she asked me "what would you tell a friend in this situation? You always give great advice… Now take your own advice."

Turns out, it's easier said than done but sometimes the only thing left to do is think about the advice you would give another person in your situation, and then take that advice yourself. I guess sometimes theres just no other choice.

She is a paradox

I stumbled upon this quote and thought long and hard about the meaning of it — mainly because I think it applies so much to myself. I analyzed it long and hard and came to the conclusion that when people tell me "I'm confusing" they are actually right. I have a good idea what I want out of my life with my schooling and my career. Other than that, I'm just enjoying the ride. I don't have to have everything figured out right now and I'm coming to the conclusion that that's okay. Many times people in their fifties still don't have everything figured out.

I'm always faithful to the ones I love and the ones close to me but regardless, I never like to get too close. The words "I love you" are thrown around so often these days and I don't understand how. I still have a hard time saying it to the people I have known for years and truly do love. It's just a tough thing to let out of my mouth. It makes you vulnerable, and that's scary. I have no problem committing to people but I have to be one hundred percent sure that it's the right thing. If it isn't, isn't it just a waste of both of our time?

I break down, just like everyone does (hence the gentleness), but I never let anyone see that. I keep moving forward. That's how I like to live my life.

I like to enjoy the good and embrace the bad because everything is a lesson learned even if it is unpleasant or a not so good decision.

You have to be a pretty good person to put up with me but I guess the ones that stick around are the true ones in my life or they just don't have a choice (haha). I'm a paradox and pretty unpredictable — but I'm okay with that.

What The Future Holds

Wow, it's been so long since I've written! 

I figured I would just post about where I'm at in this point of life.  

Next week, I leave for college which I am beyond excited for. I know now that I am ready to be on my own and ready to fully dive in whole heartily to what the future has in store for me. 

After my senior year I can honestly say I was no where near ready to move away from home and be on my own. I spent a year at community college which was the best decision at the time. I didn't fully know where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do with my life - so why waste all that money if I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted out of my future? Community college was a really great option and I would recommend it to people who are unsure. Even if you only attend for a year - like I did. 

This past year I have grown up so much and I'm really proud of where I'm headed. I am enrolled as an English major at Penn State Altoona, where I will remain for one year and then transfer to University Park for my junior and senior years. From there, I plan on attending law school. 

I've always had a passion for writing and it's always been my strong point. I've also always been interested in the criminal types of law. So I decided I might as well do something I'm passionate about (regardless of all the schooling.)

I'm so excited about my future and everything I have coming my way. These next few years will be filled with all new adventures and journeys. I'm looking forward to all of the new memories I am going to make! 

Blank

Lately, I haven't had much to say or write about. I wish I did, but I just don't. Maybe it's the summer and my brain not being in school or thinking mode. Hopefully, once I'm back in school and learning about different types of things I will have more to write about.

I don't just want to write about useless and unimportant things. Usually when I think of something to write about I write it down right away but lately I've just had nothing.

Summer time is freeing me and my brain of everything (which I can't complain about). Maybe in a month and a half when I'm back at school my mind will be full of thoughts again.

Independence Is Key

How come so many people are so dependent on others is a question that frequently runs through my mind.

Yes, I understand that younger children are dependent on their parents / other people to an extent, and I understand it's never a bad thing to ask for help, but there are so many people today that think they will get to where they want to be by leaning on someone else. That isn't the case, my friends.

In order to get to where you want to be and in order to thrive when you get there you must learn to be an independent person.

So many parents baby their children to the point where the child is incapable to do anything for themselves. It's not that they don't want to do it for themselves it's simply they either just don't know how to or they've had it done for them for so long that they just don't even think to do it for themselves. Raising a child to be that way is not helping them. In the long run it is actually hurting them.

I don't want to step on anyones toes or call people out on their parenting, but I've witnessed people out in the real world that have no idea how to fend for themselves and it's sad. It gets to a point where when they grow up and are on their own that they just don't know how to be alone. They don't know what to do with themselves. So they are always in a relationship because they are so dependent on others and they always need others to be doing things for them or they need others to help them feel something. It's never a bad thing to be alone. There are plenty of quotes that state "in order to be happy with someone else you must first be happy with yourself," and I agree with that 100 percent and think in order to be happy with yourself you must first spend some time alone.

One of the things that annoy me the most is when people say "I don't know how to not be in a relationship" or "I need to have a boyfriend / girlfriend." No, you don't. If that is what you think, then you need to learn how to be on your own because through everything the one person you will always have and always be able to rely on is yourself. You are the one person that you can always count on.

Growing up, my siblings and I were never babied but we were and still are always able to ask for help when we need it, but we are all our own and independent people. Because of that I was able to learn who I am and know what I want out of my life. I never had anyone telling me how I should / shouldn't feel about things, and I never had someone down my throat about what I should be doing with my life. I know how to be alone and on my own and feel things for myself. So shout out to you, mom. Thanks for that.

So my advice to parents, don't baby your children. Always be there for them but make them fend for themselves more often than not. How will they ever learn to be independent and fend for themselves if you are always doing it for them?

And my advice to children, don't always depend on your parents and other people. Work for what you want because no one else will get you to where you want to be besides yourself. Learn to be alone and find / get to know yourself before you commit to anything. You might like being alone and like yourself more than you think.