An Open Letter to the Man Who Is Ruining Our Tribe

Principle Chief Patrick Lambert,

                  I was thinking about how I was going to write this without continuously deeming you offensive things, and typing in all caps to indicate me screaming at you. I figured out that that’s pretty much impossible, so let’s just lay it all out on the table. You are the most conniving, evil, two-faced, cowardly, wicked, DICTATIVE, and hateful person I’ve ever known. I’m a strong believer in never tossing around the word “hate”, but I genuinely hate your existence.

Let’s just begin with how your Facebook page appears. If I didn’t truly know you, you may have had me fooled by your Facebook page. In this cyber world, you seem so caring, genuine, successful, and kind. Your posts are filled with a lot of gloating about yourself about how much you have achieved since you were sworn in as chief, a video of you and your wife wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and talking about Jesus’ birth. However, when it comes to addressing the 30+ people you have fired for absolutely no logical reason, you title that as “many changes we are going through”. Too bad I know who you truly are, and your sickening Facebook page cannot fool me.

Second, let’s address a time during pre-general election. The candidate I was hoping to be elected, a truly strong, wise, and kind person, Tunney Crowe, began to make everyone aware that you have had a “political agenda”, also known as “hit list”. He spread the word that you planned to fire many people if you were elected, promising their jobs to others as part of your political tactics. In response to this, you mailed out a letter to most enrolled members if I am correct, stating that Tunney’s statement was not true in any way, and that you did not have a malicious plan such as that.

Wow! First day in office and you had your puppets deliver “extermination” papers to over 30 innocent people, not to mention a husband and wife with three small children to provide for, along with many others with familes. After the election, former Chief Hicks went peacefully, and began his new job, which happens to be your old job. You had policemen serve papers stating that he was fired, and had him escorted out of his new office. All for what? So you could get “political revenge?” So that you could publically embarrass him? Does that help you sleep at night? Quite frankly, I don’t know how you could sleep at night, knowing how many people you left, and continue to leave, unemployed and broken.

Though my family expected this of you, I still overflowed with rage when I received a tear-filled phone call about you firing my Dad. I sit here, overwhelmed with anger and sadness. You fired a man of integrity-- the most hardworking, smart, honest, loyal, dedicated, and reliable man. You will never find somebody to replace my Dad with as big of a heart as his. My Dad did his job at the Housing Division with his whole heart, and helped his service area, and outsiders, in any way he could, any time of the day or night. Who does this make a fool out of? Hint: not my Dad.

A few days later, and you are attempting to attack my Mother. I’m sure it kills you knowing that the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority is not under the Tribe, therefore, you cannot just heartlessly fire her as well. So you attack her in other small, childish ways. Attempting to make her give up her well-earned seat on the TCGE board, kicking her out of her office because it’s in a tribal building. I imagine you will continue to attack CIHA until they are surrendering to your dictator-like actions. Again, who does this make a fool out of? Another hint: not my Mom.

You are not a leader. You are a dictator. A leader works WITH their Tribe, not against it. Unfortunately, I bear some bad news. You will not get away with all of these horrible actions, because one day, it’s going to catch up with you.

A worthless person, a wicked man,

    goes about with crooked speech,

winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,

    points with his finger, 

with perverted heart devises evil,

    continually sowing discord;

therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

There are six things that the Lord hates,

    seven that are an abomination to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

    and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

    feet that make haste to run to evil,

a false witness who breathes out lies,

    and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 6:13-19

Good always prevails, and evil always falls. You have caused so much hurt in many families, including mine. It’s still appalling to me how you can go about your daily life, pretending to be someone that you are not. I’m wondering how you can sleep at night with such a wicked heart. I know that I, nor my parents, will stoop to your pitiful level.

Still I Rise,

A Young and Concerned Tribal Member

8 Things I Learned From Grieving (not just the death kind)

           Today is July 23rd, 2015. My last blog post was June 1st, 2015. In my last blog post, I stated that my new blog schedule would be one post a month... so hey, I'm upholding my promise! Better late than never, right?
           I've been searching for some inspiration to write for about a week, but unfortunately, my inspiration comes from a series of unfortunate (and tragic) events. On Monday, my dad's dog, Bella Blue, was hit and killed by a car. If that wasn't enough, my great uncle, Dan, passed away yesterday. I know, you're probably wondering where I got inspiration out of these two tragic things, but think of it more like this: my inspiration comes from grieving. So, due to my recent grief, I have reflected back on past grief to gather all of my thoughts for this post. Now, am I making more sense?
           And yes, this blog post will also be in list format, like all my others. In my opinion, list format is always more interesting, and easy to read- rather than writing paragraphs... paragraphs are like reading a lengthy, boring essay. Anyway...

Here are 8 things I learned from grieving (no, not only the death kind):


1. It is okay not to be okay.

When you first glance at that sentence, it won't make much sense to you. The meaning of this statement is simply that it's definitely okay to feel sadness, and even to express it. Grief is not an easy thing to deal with, but it's even more difficult to deal with if you feel like you must compress it. There comes a time when you feel you need to be strong for somebody (or somebodies), and that may be true. But, there is also a time when somebody needs to be strong for you so that you may have your time of emotional relief. Use your best judgement on when you think that should be, and let the tears/ endless rambling/ anger release (though, you should include a disclaimer to anyone who may be around if your choice method of relief is anger).

2. Taking alone time to "let it all out" is also healthy.

If you're anything like me, you hate crying in front of people, even those you're close to. If you don't mind to cry, and usually can't help it, in front of people, always know that you don't necessarily need an audience. It can be therapeutic to attempt to hold out until you're alone, like in a hot bath with candles, or just lying in your bed, to let out your emotions out. Other ways to cope involve journaling, bike rides, long walks in a calming environment, listening to music, cleaning, reading the bible, blogging, and pretty much anything that will distract your mind in a positive way, and give you space to clear your head. People have many different methods of coping.

3. You are not alone.

Again, if you're anything like me, you hate to "talk about your feelings" with others. Something about that certain activity just makes me uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassed, even if everyone else feels the same. Although, talking about your feelings with somebody close to you and that you're comfortable with, can be very helpful, calming, and also therapeutic. It's okay to feel sad, anxious, angry, etc... so, always consider reaching out to a close friend or family member to talk and relieve some emotional pressure. Chances are, if it's something that has closely affected them as well, they are feeling the same emotions and would love to share this conversation with you. 

4. Do not overthink. 

The phrase "overthinking is destructive" is 100% truthful. I'm the "poster-person" for overthinking, so what I will say from experience, is true.  If you trip and stumble into the endless, dark abyss of overthinking, please find your way out immediately. Overthinking can lead to an overload of sadness that may lead to depression, and even guilt. The "what-ifs", "could haves", and "would haves" are three of the biggest evils, and your mind can trail off into ridiculous thoughts. It's a little bit like hallucination in the mind, it can always find a way to tricking you into thinking you could've done something to prevent whatever it was  that led to the tragedy, or even that it was your fault. Bottom line, overthinking is dangerous, and you should find a distraction for any down time you may find yourself with in the midst of grieving. 

5. Never lose sight of yourself.

When you are grieving, it's very easy to drop what you love doing, as depression may have taken it's place. But, what you love doing is what can restore your happiness after a long drought. Take some time to listen to some of your favorite old CD's, dance around your room, play basketball, go for a run, sit on the swing, sing your heart out, write, read, whatever makes you happy- never lose that, and always stay your true self. Don't let the dark shadow of life's misfortune overthrow your bright, true, unique self. 

6. Never feel stupid or apologize for the emotions you feel.

Everyone has their own unique reactions to all different situations life may throw your way. Whether it's your dog, or your friend, there is no such thing as too many tears. My dad's dog passed away Monday, and I still find myself sobbing when I think about the day. I felt stupid when it came to my excuse for not coming into work, but then I realized, I'm not sorry for feeling the way I felt, and that everyone has their own circumstances that they need their suitable time of grief for. 

7. You will find yourself more susceptible to others' feelings.

I'm kind of tough when it comes to my compassion and feeling sorry for others. But, since Monday, I have found myself becoming softer and more understanding of others' circumstances. If I were the person that covered my shift at work because of Bella's, (dad's dog), death, I would've had a hard time feeling sorry, and may have even mocked them a bit. But, until I were in their shoes, I wouldn't have understood. I'm thankful for the lessons I have received, and the compassion and understanding I have gained.

8. Grow from your misfortune. 

There are all kinds of new things you will learn each time you have something to grieve over, and you should always learn and grow from every experience. For future reference, looking back on the personal tragedies in your life, can be very helpful and building to the person you are, and who you're becoming. Analyzing the emotions you felt, and breaking them down, can be a healthy learning experience. Never let the bad things overflow and weigh you down. There's nothing you can do, and nothing you could've done, to change what happened. Learn from it, and grow from it. You will come out stronger, bolder, and happier. 




I will be writing a new post once I am settled at my new apartment, or until I start college... whichever brings me inspiration first! Until next month... Au Revoir!

12 Things I Learned in High School

      Ta daaaa! *insert remorseful, awkward, apologetic smile*... Here I am writing a new blog post... two months since my last one... My apologies! I could write all of my excuses, but it really only comes down to two: 1. laziness 2. I've had absolutely no inspiration to write. So, now you know that I suddenly have inspiration after a long draught. 

      I tried many things to spark inspiration: flat out sharing on Facebook that I needed inspiration and begged for some sort of debate (sorry- didn't get any interesting responses), trying to reach within for some sort of deep feeling that I could write about (I think I reached too far- resulting in nothing), and also pondering on recent unfortunate events... all gave me nothing. But, cue the "ta daaa" again, I'm back... with a full and loaded mind.

So... without further adue, (and, before I forget my topic or get distracted)...

Here are 12 things I learned from High School:

     As the end of my long four years at Murphy High School is coming to an end, with graduation being only 9 days away, I spontaneously began reflecting on everything I went through in high school, and the lessons I came out with that made me who I am today. Therefore, I can give some valuable advice to some hesitant, frightened newbies. Although some may be harsh, some may be cliché, all are completely true.

1. You will have embarrassing moments.
Let's start out with the basics so I don't scare you off too soon. There will be times when you're completely and fully red-faced and sweaty-palmed... whether it be some intimidating seniors crowded around you and asking you random questions, or when you realize you've acted a fool with your friends and now... everybody's staring at you. Stay cool, this too shall pass.

2. No, not everybody is staring at you all the time.
Calm down, prom queen wannabe. Yes, I will admit, on the first day of my freshman year, I felt as if every person in the grades above me were staring, and more importantly, judging. My heart raced and my head ducked, being the scared, intimidated "freshie" that I was, and lacking self esteem as most... I scurried down the hallway, terrified that I would be late to my first class and- oh no, not getting to choose my seat with my friends... oh my, the horror! What if none of my friends have that class with me!?... Anyway... Chillax, homes. They'll scout you out, but they aren't gonna throw you in a garbage can (still, avoid eye contact).

3. You will drop all your books in the crowded hallway at least once.
And yes, it is as scary as movies perceive. Also, you will probably be humiliated, and begin to sweat and hear laughter from afar. But, fear not, pick up your books, get up and smile, and carry on. Unless, a cute older boy helps you pick them up... then you're just a unicorn and none of this advice should be read. Just go live your movie scene life, ok?

4. You will lose friends.
Some, if not most of your friends, will fade away and become only a classmate (if not an enemy) over time. Freshman year, you dive in head first with your "squad" of your seven best(est) friends to begin the adventure of high school together. Sorry Charlie, it'll be one squad member by senior year. Don't fret or become upset, it isn't necessarily a sad thing, just a part of growing up. High school can, and will, change people into who you never thought they'd be- in good, and in bad ways. People tend to find themselves and become who they're meant to be during the years of high school, resulting in some lost friends. Saddle up... it's a long and bumpy ride.

5. Disregard all snide remarks made about you or your friends.
There will be (insert insulting names) who will trot by on their high horses with something negative to comment about you and your friends just having fun.

9 Reasons Why You May Feel Unhappy (And Some Advice!)

As humans, it's our natural instinct to conform to the same old schedule every day. This blog post was inspired by my spontaneous motivation to begin a new lifestyle. I told myself today that tomorrow would begin a new routine for me, which will include: cutting out sodas and all sugary drinks- water only (exception: sweet tea every now and then), (hopefully) go to the gym every day, portion control, smarter meal/snack choices, begin doing a morning daily devotion, and hopefully just all around building up my motivation, feeling better about myself, and making wiser choices all around. Today, I decided to take some time to reflect on some of the things that may have been bringing me down and simply making me feel "blah" all of the time. I came up with a lengthy list... also pretty embarrassing. 

1. Conforming to an unhealthy schedule.
I find myself doing the same exact routine every. single. day... and did I mention unhealthy? I only go to school half a day this semester, and it's on rare occasions that I have an obligation when I leave school. Therefore, since I don't have a job (searching), I usually go home, eat, and lie in bed... and occasionally, I pick up lunch before I head home (mostly always something fast and unhealthy). Then, I stay in bed watching Netflix until time to do homework, shower, eat dinner, and prepare for bed. 

2. Having a dirty room/commons area.
There are few things that make me feel worse than coming in, seeing, and proceeding to ignore my extremely messy bedroom/bathroom/commons area. "Why not just clean it and keep it that way?"... there's a few things called my bed, Netflix, and naps that tend to drain every ounce of motivation I have after coming home from school, preventing me from doing anything about the dirty laundry blocking my doorway, the dirty dishes waiting to be washed (did I mention the clean ones to be put away?), and the clutter in my bathroom from the rush of the morning trying not to be late for school. 

3. Skipping the gym.
Every day, I pass the gym on the way home, and I always tell myself "tomorrow"... then, I find myself doing that every single day. It's as simple as packing my gym clothes as I leave for school, but you know me... always late, and extremely unmotivated. At the end of every day, I feel guilty and always have a serious argument with myself about making excuses for skipping the gym (i.e.: I have to shower every night if I go to the gym every day, I'm too tired, I don't feel good, etc.), but it seems to never change anything. Simply taking charge and packing that bag before you head off can result in you having no excuse to stop at the gym on your way home or on your lunch break. 

4. Eating/Drinking unhealthy things.
Many times, I have sworn off of sodas, fast food, etc... but, I have a habit of breaking it after a week or so. However, each time I have started a good habit of drinking/eating healthier, no matter if it was for one week or one month, it always made me feel better about myself. You notice the positive change on your body in as little as a week. It's as simple as cutting out sodas, and only drinking skim milk and water. You will see a drastic change in your energy, mood, and body in about a week. Then, learning to control portions, and making wiser meal/snacking choices can also make a big difference in your life. Breakfast: protein shake, or fruit, coffee. Lunch: small sandwich with vegetables/fruit and water, or a meal bar with milk or lots of water. Dinner: whatever you want (in moderation), controlling your portions and only eating until you are full, NOT until your plate is empty and you are miserable, along with milk or water. Dessert can be low calorie items, or fruit. Snacking in between meals is okay, as long as it's something healthy like vegetables, fruits, granola bars, or diet snack bars (with water!) It also helps me to use the app, "My Fitness Pal" to keep track of your calories and exercise to help you lose weight. 

5. Staying up late and having to wake up early. 
Every. Single. Night. it never fails that I find myself finally lying down to go to sleep anywhere between 12am-2am. I'm just a night person... I get more done at night: homework,  laundry, thinking, reading, catching up on my favorite tv show, etc. However, simply getting everything done that needs to be done, and being in bed by 11pm at the latest can make a huge difference in your mood and energy the next day. For me, it's never going to be easy to wake up at 6:30am and start the day, but if I went to sleep at a decent time, once I get moving, I feel much better. 

6. Excessive lying in bed or napping during the day.
Science proves that a 30 minute nap in the midst of your day can be very beneficial to your health, but it's usually taken to an unhealthy extreme by most... napping 1 to 3 hours, lying in bed all afternoon (guilty), or binge watching Netflix for hours on end (also guilty). Everyone needs a break during the day, but taking it past a short nap can make you feel completely yucky when you wake up or finally get out of bed only to go get something to eat. If you feel overly tired from the day, lie down for a (max.) 3o minute nap to recharge. Be sure this nap is began no later than 4pm. If you lie down to take a nap after 4pm, you are likely to end up trying to sleep through the night, only to wake up confused, energized, and most likely in a bad mood at around 1am-3am. If it's too late for a nap, try to stay up, eat a good dinner, get your work done, and get in bed around 8pm-9pm. 

7. Unorganization.
If you find yourself smothering from clutter, searching for something you need every morning, misplacing everything, and never getting papers turned in because you lost or forgot about them... you may be suffering from unorganization. It makes you feel short of breath... or maybe that's just from panicking because you can't find your homework that you also forgot to do. Try cleaning and reorganizing your life. Start with that desk you never use in your room that is used as a catch-all, and go on from there... corner to corner, bag after bag. Get a bookshelf, organize drawers, throw old stuff away, store keepsakes away in a storage box, clean out and reorganize your purse, clean out your car, get labeled folders for stuff and organize your backpack/briefcase, etc. You can finally breathe again once this is done... continue to maintain!

8. Procrastination.
I am the absolute world's worst for this one. Several, several times, procrastination has gotten me in trouble. Assigned: March 2nd, Due date: March 18th, Began: March 17th at 8pm. How many times have you known something had to be done by a certain date, but continued to make excuses and put it off down until the very last moment you have left? I can't count on my two hands or two feet.. there's too many incidents where I was a victim of myself in procrastination. Solution? Get it done, ASAP! The day that it's assigned, find your first available clear window to complete the task. Get it over with as soon as you can so that you can breathe and enjoy some relaxation before the due date without that nagging voice in your head constantly reminding you about the things you've yet to do. 

9. Refusing to go out. 
Now, this can be tricky. There's a fine line between going out every now and then to enjoy a meal/drink, a movie, a show, dancing, a concert, etc., and going out every single weekend. It's actually healthy for the mind, body, and spirit to enjoy a day/weekend off every now and then to relax and recharge in the midst of a busy schedule. I find myself making 20,000 excuses to NOT get out of bed, fix my hair, do my makeup, and actually socialize with... ew, people. I just like to be at home and enjoy my private space where I can look however I desire, wear whatever I want, do whatever I want, and not have anybody to impress or socialize with. On the contrary, some people hate being at home and go out as much as possible... but, that's just not me. Who doesn't like to be as comfy as possible? I would choose a relaxing weekend at home watching netflix, reading, etc. over a party any day. However, I do like a fun, refreshing weekend out with friends or my boyfriend going to dinner and a movie, baking and a sleepover at a friend's house, or exploring the outdoors every now and then. It makes me feel happy and recharged. Staying at home alone with nothing to do but the same old things every weekend can get pretty depressing, making you feel isolated and usually leads me to overthinking and going crazy. Moral of the story: go out every now and then to recharge and relax away from your crazy schedule!

4 Reasons Why Young Adults From Small Towns Are Not Close-Minded

Being raised in a small town, I usually automatically have the southern, classic, church raised, "mom and pop" view on some of today's controversies. Being raised in a small town, always being around "good old people", and going to a southern baptist church every Sunday morning while growing up has been my guide of right and wrong in today's world and helping me make the right choices while transitioning into adulthood. However, despite how "close-minded" old folks around my small town may be, they have always been capable of making the biblically correct decision when in controversy. As a young adult from a small town, preparing to move away and attend college, I have already faced plenty of heated debates with people that have opposite views and morals than I. Being an opinionated young adult can get you into some sticky situations sometimes, but I love nothing more than a good debate with somebody who may see something differently than I. While I have my opinion, and you may have your completely opposite opinion, I will still never tell you that you are flat out wrong. Your opinion may be completely contrary to mine, but you are still entitled to  speak for what you believe is right, and that's not for me to judge or tell  you that you are wrong. 
          While I may be from a small town, this does not mean I am close-minded. As a matter of fact, I have kept an open mind with just about everything in the recent controversy (ie: gay marriage, transgendering, abortion, legalization of marijuana, etc.) However, if you were to ask anyone 60 and up that was born and raised here, they would most likely give you a very biblical opinion, which will most likely disagree with everything that's being legalized these days, following with scripture to back it up. On the contrary, young adults that were born and raised here will most likely keep an open mind to the pros and cons on the subject and decide on their own what they think is right... due to the changes in public schooling, technology, social media, and pop culture. 

1. Any young adult born from 1991-2000 has been exposed to the age of advanced technology.
Yes, even in our small town where 4G LTE didn't exist until 2012. I was born in 1997, and while wireless internet didn't exist at the time around here, it came about here in the old small town when I was around 9 years old. Starting at around the age of 10-12, you start your psychological development of social placement and the need for belonging (proven fact), and that's when everybody my age started joining social media sites... thus, the pressure for me to join MySpace and Facebook was on. I wasn't allowed to have MySpace, so I created a Facebook in 2009 (11 years old). Creating a Facebook opened a new door of exposure to me, and sometimes I wish I had never created an account on a social media site at such a young age. But, this is how I learned the opposite side of the world... the non-biased, non-religion based world. Although it was harsh and awakening, it was still a great way to find myself, develop my sense of individuality, and develop my own opinions about upcoming disputes. The door to the outside world is still opened, even in the valleys of NC. Thank you, internet.

2. Anyone attending a public high school from 2006-now is exposed to a wide diversity of teenagers/young adults.
Again, even in our small town where almost everybody is raised in church and pretty much all the same morals. Even though you may think of a small town high school with sheltered teenagers, there's still those who moved from somewhere away to here with a totally different outlook, and also those who developed a more... er, untamed, unique personality. Thus, creating an open door for a different side of the world for us "small-town kids".

3. Most everyone in graduating high school classes from 2006-now go off to college.
According to statistics gathered in 2011, about 68.3% of high school graduates enroll in college (Synonym). In my school district, I would guess that around 70% of high school graduates go to college after high school. However, finishing college with a degree might have a little bit of a lower percentage. If you have been to college, regardless of what type or where it's located, and regardless of how you were raised, you can admit that you were exposed to some things that shocked you and made you think a little deeper. Therefore, young adults from small towns that go off to college will most likely develop a more open mind and see the world a little differently. Every newly-college aged friend that I have, whom are all spread around at different colleges, have come to me with a story about some crazy encounter with a raging extremist in their psych class, an atheist that made them cry in their world politics class debate, or a gay marriage enthusiast group parading around campus with signs in protest of the outlawing. One of my closest friends was the poster child for the classic sheltered, small-town good girl before she began college at a university, and college seemed to (abruptly) open her eyes about lots of things in the world and gave her a stronger sense of self-belonging and helped develop her own opinions. She is truly a remarkable person, and she will always be a good girl with a good head on her shoulders, but now she is a stronger, more outspoken person with realistic views on life because of her exposure to the diverse world. 

4. Most every teen/young adult that grew/grow up here eventually want a way out to explore the world and experience different cultures.
You can ask just about every 6th grader to 12th grader if they love this town and wish to stay forever, and 98% of them will say "absolutely not". While this small town tucked in the valleys of the North Carolina/ Tennessee mountains is breathtakingly naturally beautiful, no young adult wishes to stay here where the main source of entertainment is Walmart. Besides, there's not much here for young, newly-graduated adults. Most wish to rush through high school and find a way out, whether it be a job far off in another state, or college on the other end of the state (or country). Most every teenager growing up here longs to experience the big city life, go new places, and befriend new people... as far away from here as possible. So, with the choice span of jobs and college being very slim, most have motivation to escape to a new, larger, and more developed area. Therefore, most obtain a new mindset and self-establishment by leaving this small town and experiencing the diverse environment of the big city. Those raised in a small town and flee to a large city for college or work after high school become the smartest there is, having been raised with good morals and a strong sense of right and wrong, but also developing an open mind to the outside world. This "small-town-but-now-big-city" adult will be good with making the right decisions. 

I hope this blog thought was informative and enjoyable to read! 
Be back next week. 

Observances

Technology has undeniably taken over today's younger generations and our entire society. It's actually quite sad, even though I'm being a bit of a hypocrite here.
There's too many times I have sat in a restaurant and witnessed young children, teens, and even adults completely ignore the company around them, and instead, they're completely absorbed with the temporary entertainment of their smart phones. 
What's so sad about these scenarios is that they're surrounded by family/friends, but they're too busy playing their favorite game for a new high score, or scrolling through their Twitter feed or Facebook news feed.
Does anyone seriously look back and say, "remember that time at dinner with my family when I was scrolling through my Facebook news feed and saw that hilarious video of my neighbor's dog? Good times." Surely not. The memories are made by telling old stories around the dinner table with your friends/family, reminicscing on old times, and laughing until you cry. It's looking back and saying, "remember my birthday dinner a couple years ago when my ex showed up with his new girlfriend and we laughed until we cried and made a huge scene in the restaurant?" or, "remember that sleepover we had together and we talked about [insert old embarrassing boyfriend from past's name], when Hannah spilled nail polish all over Mekenzie's rug, and ate candy and talked about life until 5 in the morning?" 
It's about the concrete memories that you'll never forget... the times you can look back on and still laugh and feel the contentedness that you felt in the moment of the memory. 
So, why are we planning to meet for coffee or dinner with friends or family, when all we do is sit around and play on our phones, ignoring eachother's company? Have you ever thought maybe you could do that when you're home alone and bored?
Or, when you're traveling or sightseeing, you spend so much time taking 20,000 photos and tweeting about it, or posting your photos on Facebook... to really and truly breathe, take in, and live in the beautiful moment of your life. Nothing will ever top a psychological, physical, mental memory that can make you feel the same exhilaration you felt in that very moment all over again when you reminisce. No tangible memory, such as a photo, video, etc., will ever be as beautiful as being able to think back to your first view of the Eiffel Tower and feel the same butterflies that you felt at that very moment when you were actually there. Photos will never be able to make you feel as much as your mental picture, because you're able to feel the feeling you felt as that view took your breath away. 
So, when you're out with friends/family, or sightseeing, it's okay to snap a few pictures to share with social media or to print and hang on your wall, but don't get sucked into that notification that pops up on your phone during your meal or visit. Take in the view, make memories, laugh until you cry. Don't let your phone rob you of the memories you could be making.

Hello!

Bonsoir!

My name is Erin. I'm new to this blog thing, but I thought I would give it a try.
I have so many thoughts; some brilliant, some sad, some reasonable. I thought that since I have so many thoughts, people around me get a little bit tired of hearing them, but I also get tired of bottling them up. So, therefore, I came to the conclusion that a blog would be my best spot for my life updates, random thoughts and ideas, discussion topics, etc. 
Bear with me, if you will. You might find that my blog becomes intriguing... that's my goal, anyhow.

Erin