Hey everyone! So I greatly apologize for not being on in FOREVER!! I've been super busy with school and getting in the groove of things, I haven't really had time to post things!! Well, I just ended my 3rd week of school and I'm loving it!! Most of it, at least. There's a 1 credit course I'm taking that is going to be a pain in my behind- and it stinks because it's only 1 CREDIT!! Anyways, I'm having a ton of fun- I love all my classes (minus the one mentioned above), I love the freedom, and I love meeting people!! However, I hate the late nights (I haven't gone to bed before 12 in sooo long), I hate waking up early, I hate making time to eat (because I have NO breaks for lunch so I'm sooo hungry all the time!), and I hate how rude people can be. Just a tip for everyone out there: be nice to people!! Even if you don't want to be friends with them, STILL be nice to people!! There are some girls on my hall and I walked by their room and heard them playing a song I really liked. So me, being friendly and wanting to make friends, paused and complimented them by saying, "Hey! I love this song! I'm glad someone else knows this band!" and they replied by glaring at me, getting up, and slamming the door in my face. I mean, I was being NICE!!! So please, just remember, if you do something like that, you make the people feel like crap and that's rude. If you're nice, people will more than likely LIKE you! No duh.
There are many girls on campus that are like that, unfortunately, and it actually put me in quite a funk the other day. We girls are very sensitive (most of us) and we can make mountains out of molehills quite easily. I had to vent to my friends about how rude girls were being was and how I feel like I'm inadequate and it was awful! I know a lot of people- girls especially- that feel that way. We feel like we're getting judged no matter where we go, whether it's how we look, what we eat, how we talk, who we hang out with, etc. Every day after I vented this week, however, something came up regarding this topic. Here are a few things I learned and I'd love to share with you guys- especially if you feel this way, too!
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~Love yourself. This sounds kind of weird. You're probably like "She wants me... to LOVE myself? Whaaat?" But seriously! This is good advice!! I found a quote by Mark Sterling that goes a little like this: "If you want to soar in life, you must first learn to F.L.Y. (First Love Yourself)". DANG! That's poetic right there!! Basically, if you want people to love and accept you for you, you have to first choose if YOU want to love and accept you for you!! If you tell yourself, "I'm too fat!", "I'm too skinny!", "I'm too ugly!", "I'm stupid!", "No one could love me!", etcetera, then you'll not only believe it, but others around you will, too! People see you as you see yourself. Lucille Ball once said, "Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line."
~You are unique. Dr. Seuss is known for his quote that says "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” The last sentence of that is amazing. We're all different, so if no one likes you for who you are, then they're missing out on a one-of-a-kind experience! NO ONE alive is "Youer than You". There's only one of you and you should be proud of it.
~You are not alone. People go around wearing masks that protect them from getting hurt. What we don't see is what's underneath- the pain that goes on under those beautiful, confident masks. Whatever you're going through, KNOW you are never alone. Someone else is experiencing or has experienced exactly what you have.
Plus, you have a Friend that is walking by you always and will comfort you when necessary and never leave you. Deuteronomy 31:6 says to "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV). God promised that- and when He promises something, He never breaks it.
~Sometimes you have to open yourself up. I personally have a hard time with this. I used to keep everything bottled in and it felt like I'd just explode at any moment!! Sometimes you have to tell people what's going on and let someone else help you! It feels great to talk to someone about what's going on. Don't think about it being a sign of weakness or something- that's what I felt! I think, now, it's actually more mature when you can talk to people about your problems! Make sure it's someone you trust, though, and someone that cares about you! You don't want the person going and talking behind your back about your problems because that causes problems in itself!!
~Dare to be DIFFERENT!! You were born to be you!! You were born unique!! You have talents and characteristics no one else does. Don't try to fit in with the world- dare to be different!! One of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes is "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?". This is so true. We WERE born to stand out- not fit in. Why should it matter what other people think of you- they're just people and YOU'RE YOUR OWN PERSON. Be proud of that!!
~Remember that you are beautiful; you are precious; you are worth something!! We are all beautiful creations of God. Now I know that not all of the people that read this believe in God. But here's the thing: whether we believe in God or not, He believes in us and sent His Son to DIE for us- His creation! He bought us with a price- obviously we're worth SOO much to Him!
~God created us just the way we are. Genesis 1:27 says that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them..." (NIV). According to this verse, we, as humans, automatically have a connection to God- we are created to be like Him, in HIS image! We are precious to Him whether we choose to believe that or not.
Now just because I'm saying these things, doesn't mean I'm perfect. Heck, I'm FAR from perfect!! I am just as insecure as the next girl, but I'm trying to work on that. I struggle with these same things. I have to realize these truths and be my own person!! Stay confident. Be you. I'll be working on this, too, so YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
I hope you were able to take a lot of this away and apply it to your life!! I also hope it helped and encouraged you like it did me!! Stay strong, everyone!!
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Guys, I'm a Christian. You probably know that. Just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I'm perfect. I'm not perfect. None of us are. This week I realized that, despite feeling inadequate and like a loser, I have someone I can turn to for everything. He IS perfect and can and will help you through anything. The world might look at me with hatred, but God never does! Girls might judge me based on what I wear, but God sees what's in my heart and loves me for me! If you don't know God, I highly suggest you find out who He is!! Here's a video I was shown the other day and it's long, I know, but really impactful: http://myhopewithbillygraham.org/defining-moments/ I highly recommend this!! You are also very welcome to email me with anything: aprincessfromfaraway@gmail.com.
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And They All Lived Happily Ever After...
