Waves

Waves are soothing. Waves mean the beach. The beach is the best on a warm summer day. The sand smooth between your toes. Laying on a towel with sun rays warm on your back.  The sound of laughter, crashing waves, and birds. The world seems at peace with itself.

Peace comes from nature. Nature involves hiking. I love hiking in the mountains with my family. A gentle breeze across my face, the chirping of birds through the air.  Nature is all around us. Just take a moment, get off the couch, and enjoy it.

Dear October,

Your month is wonderful.  You cause the leaves to change colors, painting the world with reds, yellows, and oranges.  Your temper is cool, but at times, you give us the cold shoulder.  You cause me to bring out my boots, pants, and fuzzy socks.

I love what you have to offer.  Pumpkins, scarecrows, and hay.  Skeletons, ghosts, and witches. The one thing I would change about you would be Halloween.  Everyone enjoys dressing up in ridiculous costumes and getting more candy than they can possibly eat.

Dressing up and everything associated with Halloween is fun, but do you really need to provide kids with candy? Have you not seen the reactions of kids whose parents told them they ate all their Halloween candy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YQpbzQ6gzsTrick-or-treating)? Trick-or-treating is poisoning the minds of our youth.

I hope you will take these comments into consideration.

Sincerely yours,
Autumn Lover/Halloween Hater

Relax

Yesterday I went to a debate tournament all day.  I was a ton of fun, but it also wears you down. This past week I have been working nonstop, whether working on debate, doing homework, or actually working. Life can be hard and busy, and every know and then we need a little break.

Ways to Relax:
1. Hang out with friends
2. Listen to music
3. Read a book
4. Watch a movie
5. Play a game
6. Sleep
7. Do what you love
8. Write something
9. Go for a car ride
10. Sleep

When life starts to ware you down, take a break, and doing something for the list above.

Speak Up!

Speak up like your ideas matter. Speak up like no one is watching. Speak up to make some one's day. Speak up like you want to so badly. Speak up like that bold little kid you once were. Speak up like your with your family. Speak up like you know who you are. Speak up like no one else matters.

Speak up like your on top of a mountain. Speak up like you accomplished your dreams. Speak up like you're a star. Speak up like everyone cares. Speak up like you are making a difference. Speak up with all of your heart.

Speak up because you can make a difference. Speak up because you can make a new friend.  Speak up because you care. Speak up because it is the right thing to do.

Speak up... because it can change your life.

Duct Tape

Duct tape can fix anything materialistic. It can fix trees and cars. It can be used to decorate and comes in many colors and styles.  

When I first her of duct tape, I thought is was duck not duct.  I've used duct tape to decorate a binder and make flower pens. One time, my sister and I tried to make duct tape shoes. 

It seems that duct tape can fix anything and nothing. It can fix binders and bikes, but it can't fix feelings and relationships. 

ChAnGe

I decided to change the look of this blog because change is good. Change helps us discover ourselves. It shows us how to do something new or correct behaviors. Embracing change allows us to endure it even when it becomes difficult.

When I was twelve years old, I found out I was moving to Utah. My reaction was full of excitement. Yes, that's right, I was excited.  If you get excited it really does make it easier.

Change is revolution. Throughout history there has been countless wars and revolutions over change. So if you find yourself doubting change just think of it like this. Without change you would not be living in this country you are living in today. You wouldn't have technology, because change is what brought it.

Embrace change. Live it, love it. It is here to stay and there is no denying it.

"It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change" -John Mayer

As you wait for change to come make your own little changes. Change the world. Change is good.

Yeah, Family Pictures

It only comes once a year. It involves yelling, complaining, and arguing. It's family pictures. This weekend I had the opportunity to take pictures with my family.  This year was actually a pretty mild year for the before pictures drama, but regardless of how well the family gets along there is always before picture drama.

Mom yelling at everyone to get ready. My sister and I complaining about our outfit or our hair.  Dad teasing my mom. My brother obediently listening on the sidelines. This is some of the drama that goes on at my house right before family pictures.

No matter what happens before hand it almost always has its benefits. The outcome always turns out pretty good and most the time we get some sort of treat afterward. All you have to do is fake it till you make it.

Family pictures may seem dreadful, but there is no getting out of them. Just think of it this way, without you there is no family in family pictures.

Now I was going to put one of the outcomes in this post, but that would defeat the purpose of being anonymous.

Life with Death in Mind

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

This quote is written across a mirror in my bedroom and is completely true about life. It doesn't matter how long we live all that matters is how we live our life. Each day we need to do the little things that makes our life meaningful. Knowing that you're going to die sooner or later makes the task so much easier. It allows us to make the most of each moment.

Say I love you to the people who mean the most to you. Make choices that make you feel good about yourself. Soak in every bit of knowledge you can.

Learn to enjoy school. Say hi to everyone you meet. Do what you love and express yourself every day.

These are a few of the many things that allow us to live life to the fullest.