Why I hate New Years resolutions

Okay, obviously I haven't posted in a long time. I'm in college. I'm busy and easily distracted. Sue me.

But I do have something I want to express today, and it is the lies that are New Years Resolutions.

The first reason that I didn't make any resolutions this year is that I believe that if you want to make a change in your life, you should do it when you feel inspired to do so, not wait until January 1st. You should constantly be assessing and re-evaluating your life--like when your computer automatically searches for updates. If you only think about making adjustments to your life once a year, you are going to find yourself in a rut real quick.

The other reason that I don't like resolutions is that, like, 99% of people don't stick to them. We have built up the idea of these resolutions to the point of extravagance. How many times have you heard someone say "In {year}, I'm going to work out every day!" or "I'm not going to curse once!"?

It is ridiculous to expect ourselves to be able to make sudden, complete changes in ourselves. By doing so, you are literally setting yourself up for failure. If you really want to change something, why don't you just promise to be more aware of whatever it is that you want to change? You don't necessarily have to act on it, but improvements begin with awareness.

So, if you made New Years resolutions, good luck to you, but don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to abstain from pastries for the next 364 days. You are human, not Gwyneth Paltrow.

Am I Happy?

Today was a rather introspective day, and I just found myself thinking, "Am I happy?"

I don't really know how I feel about my life right now. It is relatively boring, at least compared to last year, and other than knowing that I want to be a doctor or a vet, I have virtually no direction.

I have absolutely zero love interests, but instead my conscience is wrought with the awkward memories involving boys from the past year.

I haven't felt something strong in a long time. I used to feel things so deeply--too deeply--and now I feel utterly numb. I can chalk that up to the cocktail of medications I take every day, but in all honestly you don't go cold unless you let yourself. I've done that. I let myself forget who I am, and how much love I have to give.

But that aside, what right to I have to even think for a second that I am not happy? I have a family and friends that love me, a roof over my head, enough money to fund my distractions, opportunities (though not taken ones) out the wazoo, not to mention clean water and a substantial food supply. You'd be surprised how many people cannot say the same for themselves.

I don't need to dissect that sentiment for you. You know what I am trying to say. Be fucking grateful.

Just a Reminder

I have a few reminders for anyone who is reading…

You are your own person.

You have your own thoughts.

You have your own feelings.

You have your own scent.

You have your own gait.

You have your own darkness.

You have your own dreams.

You have your own past.

You have your own future.

You have your own choices.

You have your own pet peeves.

You have your own interests.

You have your own mouth. Your own eyes. Your own mind.

In a society obsessed with the idea of "owning" things, why would you ever cede those most precious, intrinsic assets to the fleeting and twisted interests of another? After all, what is more valuable than an irreplaceable gem that has been worn to it's unique shape by trial and time?

Keep Up.

It seems simple, yet I find myself constantly having to be reminded of it. It is true--life goes on! And if you don't jump on and keep moving forward with it, you are doing yourself a major disservice. 

I am completely stuck in the past. I obsess about what could have been or what I should have done or how I can make things now like they were before. 

You seriously HAVE to keep going. Or else everyone and everything else will pass you by and you'll be floundering in the past--alone.

Of course, it's easier said than done, and I am no expert on the matter. In fact, I am just trying to figure out how to carry on myself. But I do have a few ideas:

Challenge yourself. Set a goal. Do something that you have to work towards. For example, I have a race that I am going to run later this month. So, I am preparing for that.

Let it go. Remember these things: if something is meant to happen, it will, and everything happens for a reason. No matter how much hurt you have darkening your past, you can learn from your mistakes--and the mistakes of others--to make better your future. Accept what has been, and move on. You cannot change the past. Every day brings with it a million opportunities--don't miss out on them because you are dwelling on the past.

Know what is ahead of you. Sometimes, you just need to be reminded of the path that you are on and what it leads to. What keeps me going is knowing that one day, I will be a doctor. It helps to put things into perspective when you step back and see the big picture.

Life is too short to waste on the petty issues of our past. Don't let yourself fall into that trap.

Hair Repair 101

Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted in a long, long, time and I'm so sorry! I promise I haven't forgotten about this blog!

Let's get right back to it!

Recently, I got purple streaks put in my hair. I love them, but the fact that my hairdresser had to bleach my hair first means that my hair is FRIED. Like, I haven't even had it this bad before.

It's been almost two weeks, and I've made a lot of progress. I still need to be really careful and persistent with the treatments, but my hair feels a little bit less straw-like and breakable.

It kills me, because my natural hair is actually really healthy, and I totally messed it up! It is going to take forever for the broken strands to grow back, too. :(

But I'm gonna take extra good care of my hair, and I'll let you in on my tips!!!

1. I've talked about this product line before, but I'll bring it up again. I literally swear by it; it's the L'Oreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. I use all three every day, and ever since I started using that line about a year ago, I have noticed a huge difference in the smoothness and elasticity of my hair. I still have a lot of coarse hair, but it is much less unruly than it was with any other hair products, and trust me, I've tried a lot.

2. Coconut Oil is the next best thing I have found for my hair. I started using it about a month or so ago, and I immediately noticed my hair feeling softer and healthier. What I do is scoop a lot out of the jar, turn upside-down, and smooth the oil down the length of my hair from my scalp towards the ends. After that is saturated, I'll smooth some over the top layer of my hair, focusing on the ends, and the roots of my hair at the back of my head. These are my problem areas, so obvious you should cater the process to fit your hair. I put my hair up into a top bun with a clip, put a shower cap on, and leave it for an hour. You can use a hair dryer to really help the oil to absorb--blast your hair, with the shower cap on, for about 10 minutes.

When you wash it out, you will notice that there is some residue. You can shampoo again, but if you don't need to look particularly nice, I would leave it in. I promise it won't look as greasy as you think! Condition like normal, and when you hair dries I promise you'll be stunned! I do this about twice a week.

3. Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil. This deep conditioning treatment is a newer addition to my routine, and I use it every other day on the days I don't use coconut oil. After you wet your hair, you smooth it into your hair and leave it for 5 minutes (while you shave, for example), and rinse. It also makes your hair feel soft and luminous!

4. Heat Protection. So, as weird as it sound, straightening my hair actually makes it look less fried. Since my strands are such different lengths now, it looks better when they are all going in the same direction, which they don't do naturally. So, in order to keep my hair from getting fried again, I use two main products to beat the heat: Organix Extra Strength Moroccan Argan Oil and Got2B Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm. The oil is seriously amazing for giving your hair movement and shine, and the "balm" (its a spray) is new to me, but seems to really protect my hair from damage.

5. Vitamins! Okay, you've most likely heard of Biotin before. Biotin is a vitamin that is most commonly used to support hair and nail growth. I know it works, because I have tried it multiple times, but it also makes me break out every time I try it. So, that isn't really an option for me, but a simple multivitamin can still give your skin, nails, and hair the vitamins and minerals they need.

6. Water is so important! I know you've heard it a million times, but it is so, so true that drinking lots of water helps you in so many ways. As far as your hair goes, it just increases it's general health, helping it to grow in stronger and healthier than before.  It also helps me to feel focused, more energetic, and also it clears up your skin!

Check out my new blog!

Hey everyone! I have started a new blog, just for college students! It will be all about life in college: what to wear, how to study, how to deal with stress, and even things like how to deal with boys and greek life!

I'd love for you to go check it out, I'm really excited about it!

Click on the picture below to pop over!

Thanks guys!

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