31/365

God heard my prayers about Glee. This episode was so much better than last week's. So, let's jump right in.

The episode began with Sue telling us the rules of the mini-competition. The New Directions, struck with the rule that they must have 12 members, rush to recruit Kitty. Of course, she doesn't come too easily. It takes her a while for her to come around, but it's Glee, so she does.

Sue is still obsessed with Klaine -- or Kurt and Blaine. Who else was disgusted by Kurt deciding to date the old guy? I didn't even take the time to learn his name; I was too busy yelling at him from my sofa, to listen to what they were actually saying. So what can you possibly do to two people that are at odds? Well, put them in an enclosed space with no escape, obviously. The key to exit? A kiss.  It doesn't take too long and, no matter how much Blaine and Kurt protest, the feelings were definitely there. 

The New Directions won the invitational, of course. They win by using a set list that is Sue's downfall. Good idea, Kitty.

catch you later,

Karleigh

They're gonna throw fruit at us. And I just had a facial. // Kurt Hummel

30/365

Why don't we do another FlashBackFriday? Last night, I was thinking about turning twenty-one this year and that got me thinking back to my twentieth birthday. Ed Sheeran came to Nashville on my birthday this past year so I made plans to go immediately after I found out. So, as my FlashBackFriday, I think we would relive my Ed Sheeran concert!

My mother is also a huge fan of Ed Sheeran, so she and I drove up to Nashville. We'd only ever been once, to another concert the year before. The first time we took the interstate, so this time we took the trace. The Natchez Trace is so beautiful. It's so wonderful to get to look out at all of this land that God has created. It's so green and beautiful. I'm a city girl through and through, but there's something so beautiful about the 'country.'

The concert was really wonderful. I'll never forget my mother squeezing my shoulder when he sang "Afire Love," which is her favorite song.  I definitely recommend going to see Ed Sheeran if you ever get the opportunity. He's really wonderful.

catch you later,
Karleigh

Your soul could never grow old; it's evergreen. // Ed Sheeran

29/365

Do you remember when everyone started getting Facebook? I remember coming home from school and creating my account with one of my best friends at the time, and we carefully thought about everything I put on there. I would later delete that Facebook account for personal reasons. 

How many hours a day do you spend on social media? Go ahead and factor in the times when you are alone, maybe waiting for your friends before lunch, and scrolling through Twitter just to not look awkward because you are standing outside of the cafeteria by yourself. When you are alone, do you often go on social media so that people won't talk to you? 

I'm guilty of being in both those scenarios and doing those exact things. Our phones have become our safety nets. We rely on them when we have no other form of entertainment.

So, here's the next thing: how obsessed are you with social media? If I followed you on Instagram and you followed me back, then I later unfollowed you, how long would it take you to notice? I do not pay attention to this. I have never been that concerned with who follows me, but I know people that are. For example, I have unfollowed people on social media and received angry text messages coming up with reasons on why I didn't want to follow them. The reason that people unfollow others on social media is really simple. They just don't want to follow you anymore. I don't know why this is such a big craze, but if it bothers you, let it go. Nobody has time to listen to you get angry because you lost one of 249 followers on your Instagram.

Also, do you delete posts if they don't get a certain amount of likes? I've seen people do this and I simply cannot understand it. The obsession with people approving of you on social media is one you should try to let go of.

Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of wonderful parts of social media. Staying connected to distant family or activities at school -- the only reason I created my new Facebook -- is important. So, I guess you just have to make up your own mind. Or is it like everything in the twenty-first century where it'll be obsessed over and then later die away. Remember MySpace?

catch you later,

Karleigh

"The more social media we have, the more we think we're connecting, yet we are really disconnecting from each other." // JR

28/365

On some days, it is very clear what I want to do. And other days, it is not. Throughout my entire life, I've wanted to do a lot of things. I wanted to be a veterinarian, flight attendant, teacher, writer, doctor, etc. I really remember a day when I was getting ready to graduate high school and one of my teachers made us go around and say where we were going and what we were going to do. And I joked and said, "Today, I want to be a flight attendant." 

And a girl I had known all my life said, "No, you're gonna go into journalism." 

And it become very obvious to me. Writing is what I enjoy -- though some days the last thing I want to do is write these posts -- and it makes me happy. Now, there are a lot of things I'm good at. And I don't think it's wrong to say that. You are also very good at a lot of things, even if you don't think so. I promise we all have many talents. What you choose to do with one of your talents is usually your career -- if you choose to make it so. I'm not going into journalism though, but she pushed me in the right (write, if you will) direction.

Ideally, we would all get to do what we love. It's not always the case. Either way, now I study English in college because that girl pointed out something that others could see, but I could not.

So, open your eyes if you don't know what you want to do. It could be right in front of you. Or three desks back. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip Toe if you must, but take a step. // Naeem Callaway

27/365

What is faith?

I know someone that asked a group of young girls this question and they had difficulty answering. It's hard to come up with an answer. We toss around the word faith a lot. To have faith in something is equivalent to trusting in something -- or someone. So now you can give me a definition. Trust is defined as the belief that something or someone is reliable. So, we could say that faith is relying on something. So what are you relying on? What do you have faith in?

We often use the word faith as a synonym to religion. So you have faith in a deity of your choice. For example, I have faith in God.

How do I have faith in God? In relationships, we have faith in our partners. We trust them and we rely on them as an extended part of us. The difference in God and your boyfriend -- which is a weird comparison -- is that you can see your boyfriend. You know that he is real, and you will find out if he is trustworthy. 

We cannot see God in front of us; even though we are taught that God is everywhere we go. He is inside of us, should we choose to place Him in our hearts. The thing about God is that to say that He exists -- and I would -- you have to have faith.

So, I suppose faith is knowing that someone or something is there, despite seeing or touching. Faith is a strong sense of belief or trust in someone or something. So now that you know what faith is, I guess you have to ask yourself if you have it? And if so, what in?

catch you later,

Karleigh

 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. // 2 Corinthians 4:18

26/365

This morning I saw a man that had been pulled over by a police officer and I thought that that must be an awful way to start the week, much less the morning. Sometimes, we have days that are cloudier than others. We wake up on the wrong side of the bed or wake up to negativity that had settled in the front of the brain while you were dreaming. It's not always explainable; it's just what it is. Some days are better than others. 

So now, it is Monday evening and you may judge the week from this point out. Is it good or bad? If bad, what can you change to make it good? How can you change your week to be one to remember instead of one you are dying to forget?

I'll tell you how.

Change the way that you are thinking of the week. Now, today may have been rotten from start to finish. Things could have endlessly gone wrong and, if they did, you may not know exactly why. Well, don't dwell on that too much. 

Have you ever seen "Gone with the Wind"? Do you remember the end of the movie when Scarlet has been left by Rhett Butler and she looks towards the sky and utters her most famous lines? 

"Tomorrow is another day."

Well, it is. So think happy thoughts and make tomorrow better than today.

catch you later,

Karleigh

"If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." // Roald Dahl

25/365

I don't have that many regrets -- not unless I think about it for a long time. Obviously, I regret wasting time with certain people and I regret how I responded to certain situations but my biggest regret was wasting a lot of my life away from the Lord. I mean I am only twenty years old and it doesn't seem like I wasted that much time, but I didn't live my life in the ways of pleasing the Lord until about three years ago, despite being saved and baptized when I was nine yeas old. I just wish that I had done a few things differently, in the way that I would do them now. 

Can you think of someone who has this mindset: "I'm a Christian but I am young and have plenty of time to go to church and serve Jesus. I'm going to live my life how I want to now and live for Jesus when I am older."

This idea is so upsetting to me. From the day that you commit your life to the Lord, you are supposed to throw away all of your sinful ways and live your life as the Lord has written out in the Bible. Obviously, we all make mistakes, but learning from those mistakes and asking the Lord to forgive them and guide you to avoid them in the future is what we are meant to do. 

It's very natural to question God at times and it's natural to have doubts. This is where your faith steps in and I think when you are able to see Jesus in your life again that you are made a person of stronger faith. But when you are questioning, it doesn't mean that you can throw away all the morals that you've had. 

The Lord will always be there but you won't always be here. Don't wait until it's too late.

catch you later,
Karleigh

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. // 1 John 4:13-15 KJV

24/365

I always blog about Glee on Saturday, so I have to make myself talk about the awful episode that aired last night. 

Sue opens up the episode by revealing her love for "Klaine" or Blaine and Kurt. She even has a shrine dedicated to them in her "hurt locker" which is really a storage unit full of different sculptures of people. The funniest? Al Roker. She tells Becky that her goal is to get the two men back together. Throughout the episode she attempts to show Blaine how awful Dave Karofsky is by having all of his exboyfriends show up at their date to Breadstix, putting a bear cub in their bedroom, etc. These were truly the only funny parts of the episode.

Sue makes it her mission to distract Rachel so that the New Directions do not do well at the invitational where the Warblers and... that other group will perform to show how ready they are for sectionals. To distract Rachel, she hypnotizes Sam to romance and then kiss her only to forget having ever done it after the kiss. This leads to an awesome performance of "A Thousand Miles" where Rachel and Sam are driving down the road while playing the piano. Rachel ends up playing off the kiss, so not too sure on how that worked out.

Kurt tries to date again. He ends up going out with a fifty year old man. This was weird and uncomfortable. Schuester's group performed "Whip It" and some other obscure song, both of which were awful. 

And then we are left to wait for the second half of the episode. I hope it delivers more than this episode did.

catch you later,

Karleigh

"Have you ever liked somebody so much you just wanna lock yourself in your room, turn on sad music and cry?" // Rachel Berry

 

23/365

You know that when people are mean or they say things that come off defensive or abrasive? How do you respond? The way you react to situations says a lot about your character. So...

Do you come back with someone just as defensive? Or do you pull back like you've been wounded? Or do you smile and try to be kind?

If you react defensively, the conversation only elevates to a point of constant aggravation. Like you are in a competition for who is quicker with their comebacks and who has been in a worse situation.

If you react wounded, then you play the guilt trip on that person. They hurt your feelings and you make them know that.

If you react kindly, then you are, in my opinion, reacting in the best way possible. Responding positively eliminates a stacking of problems and a guilt trip. 

"Kill them with kindness."

It's a phrase that we've all heard before. It's the best way to respond to people. So the next time someone is ugly or they come off a bit abrupt, try to kill them with kindness. They'll be so stunned by your polite comebacks that they won't be able to further the argument. (And you'll feel awesome by not stooping to their level.)

catch you later,

Karleigh

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; // Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

22/365

Today is much better than yesterday. I did more thinking today than worrying, which is awesome. I just want to share something that I was thinking about but I think this one will probably be as short as yesterday's blog. 

If you are anything like me, you wonder why your friends haven't been texting you. It makes you nervous like you've done something wrong and then sometimes you feel that they are doing it intentionally to be hurtful. It's kind of a slippery slope because it can be a bit more of you thinking and not communicating. I'll even go as far as not to text them to see how long it takes them to respond -- or remember -- me. 

If you've ever found yourself doing this, please stop. Yes, sometimes people cut us off to be mean or because they don't know how to approach us at this time. Basically, you should just go ahead and contact them as you normally would. They probably are wondering why you haven't been texting them. Sometimes we forget that the phone works both ways. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? // ‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬ KJV

21/365

I'm not gonna lie to you guys. I've had a really rough passed two days. Yaknow, I really wanted this blog to be a place where I could let the real world happenings fade for a moment, tell you guys some stuff that I've been contemplating and then go on.

Right now, my mother is in the hospital. I'm a nervous wreck and that's all there is to it. 

I just want to point this out to you guys before I finish this one short. Whether you realize it or not, someone here on this earth would be shattered to know that you aren't well. You may not know them that well and you may not care about them the same way, but somebody loves you. And I want to make sure you know that. 

Also, know that someone is always there to listen to your problems. Now, I'll wax poetic all day about it being okay to keep things to yourself and that you don't have to tell people things, but when you are worried sick and can't find an escape even for a few minutes, know that someone will listen to you. And they don't have to listen in the way that you think -- if you just go out with them and listen to their nonsense for a bit it will probably make you feel better. That's all for now.

catch you later,

Karleigh

With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when they judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. // Isaiah 26:9 KJV

20/365

I am a big fan of the boy band One Direction and this band has a song from their second album, Take Me Home, called "Little Things." Now, in my opinion, the song is a little cringe-y. I don't like the idea of having to put up with my imperfections until someone says that I am perfect in spite of/because of them and then they are suddenly beautiful. The title, however, got me thinking. Little things add up to big things. In the song, they talk about things like talking in your sleep, the crinkles by your eyes, how much you weigh and how, when all put together, they make up the awesome person that is you.

Now, we often thing about the little things we don't like throughout the day. For example, I went to the bathroom before my class this morning and wished that my bangs weren't cut just how they are. That is a little thing. It doesn't make a big difference about me. You probably would never notice the way that my bangs are cut, until I've brought it to your attention.

Well, here are some little things that you should bring to your attention. What little things do you do daily that add up to making you a better person? That is the constant plight of humanity -- we are constantly on the search of being a better person than we are at this very moment. If you can't think of something little, here are a few of mine:

I have the Bible app on my iPhone that sends me a daily Bible verse every morning. Sometimes I read them and sometimes I don't. Now, you may not think me reading the Bible helps me as a person -- I do. So, I get them sent to me. Whether or not I read them is what makes the difference. Another example is that I will sometimes write myself little notes so I don't forget important things that someone has said to me. If you have complimented me, I've probably written what you said on a Post-It and placed it in my agenda, because it was nice and it helps me to remember to value myself when I get caught up in the world around me. 

So, besides clicking over to go listen to One Direction's "Little Things," I hope you take the time today to reflect on what you are doing to help yourself today. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

"Close some doors. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere." // Paulo Coelho

19/365

I have had friends who lack ambition. You probably have too. If you can't recall them at the moment, here are a few of their traits: 

• They have the potential to be very good at something, but no drive to complete.
• They know they should be completing a task, but do something else instead.
• They question why you are working so hard when you could be having fun.

But that's just a few. I had a friend once that would never turn in their papers for college. They knew it was coming up. They were intelligent and knew they should be working. And they didn't do it.

If you've met me, you know what I did. "Have you turned it in yet?" "You know the due date is two weeks from now. You'll never get in if you don't do it soon." "Have you turned it in? Huh, have ya?" I'm annoying, but with love... Sorta.

See, the thing about a friend who lacks ambition -- and this is different from your friend who doesn't want to think about college right now, so is ignoring it until they have to; they need comfort and gentle pushing --  is that they don't want to do anything. They have no drive and no matter how hard you push, it won't change. You cannot motivate yourself while constantly being the only motivator for someone else.

In my mind, every one is their own motivator. If yours is not there, then there is no motivation. Now, you cannot motivate someone else and you at the same time with full energy. It is exhausting reminding someone of their potential constantly. They have to see it themselves.

So, basically, try to be the best version of you and try to encourage others. But realize that you cannot fix someone, you cannot magically make them care about certain things. You can only work on yourself. After all, you are your biggest project.

catch you later,
Karleigh

"When nobody else celebrates you, learn to celebrate yourself. When nobody else compliments you, then compliment yourself. It’s not up to other people to keep you encouraged. It’s up to you. Encouragement should come from the inside."// Joel Osteen

18/365

When you turn on the television you are guaranteed to see something... unwholesome. I struggled with a word because you know what they talk about on television. You see what's in movies and you hear the songs on the radio. I guarantee you that every time my mother and I leave a movie, she will comment on how many curse words were in the film. Every time. Because when my mother grew up, people didn't curse on film. People did curse. We are the same people that we were in 1974; we are just more open. Now, being open isn't a bad thing. There are things that are talked about now that are so important, that should be discussed (ie depression and suicide discussion stemming from the death of Robin Williams). However, there are some things that I wish society would stop trying to make 'cool'. Here they are:

1. Drinking alcohol makes you cool, makes me people like you and helps you enjoy life more. False. Alcohol is not this magical drug that makes you seem awesome to other people. They are drunk. They don't know who you are on a Tuesday morning at 9am when you just finished your coffee and are planning to eat a takeaway Chinese by yourself that night. They know you -- or just the blurred image of your face -- at 11pm on a Saturday when you can't really walk straight. Problem. 

2. Having problems in your life makes you complex and, therefore, more interesting. No, having problems means you are like everyone else in the world. I blame made-for-TV movies for this, because they glamorize our misfortune and make it seem like that will make people love us. Once you reveal your problems, people can learn to love you. Eh, not true. People don't need to know everything about you to love you and having problems doesn't make you more interesting -- especially if you tell them to everyone.

3. How many people/who you have sex with means a lot about you as a person. The one thing I hate most is that the media thinks it is lovely when men sleep with many women, but awful when women sleep with many men. To be honest, your value doesn't depreciate by how many people you sleep with. You are the same person before you got in the bed as when you got out. Also, the idea that you have to sleep with someone by a certain age or you're lame -- yeah right. Who you sleep with and how many people you've slept with is your knowledge and you don't have to prove anything to anyone. Chill out.

There are many other things that I see problems with within the media; these are just a few that I've been thinking about lately. You remember when they warned you about peer pressure in school? What they didn't tell you is that your peers aren't really the ones pressuring, the people in the media are. Think about it.

catch you later,
Karleigh

"I am in competition with no one. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone. I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday." //  unknown.

17/365

Last night, Glee was on television. So you know what we're gonna talk about today?

Here's what you missed on Glee:

Kurt and Rachel made it very obvious that they don't know how to teach very well. Rachel wants to lead the Glee club into its first successful week with songs from Carole King's album Tapestry while Kurt thinks that the club would benefit more from Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. Glee decides to do what it does best -- mash ups. 

To be honest, it turned out alright. Blaine and Kurt kick off the episode with "It's Too Late" by Carole King to remind us that they are still broken up and maybe it is too late for them to get back together. Dave Karofsky was there again. Blugh. I feel that's a story line that will get old very quickly. Santana and Brittany kick off the week with "Hand in my Pocket/I Feel the Earth Move" which ends in a proposal. Who saw that coming? Me, in the preview from the week before. Way to kill a good surprise. Don't worry about killing though, because Kurt was there to remind Santana and Brittany that he and Blaine are broken up. So no one else can be happy right? Gosh, someone give Kurt a collection of Judy Garland movies and some ice cream and send him back to New York for a while. We have not forgotten that you and Blaine are broken up. 

During all this happening, Sam Evans has been taking over practices for Coach Beiste while he has been out due to his knee which is really cancer which is really him hiding that fact that he's begun undergoing FTM transformation. Wow. Glee sure does know how to give you the run around. Sue, surprisingly remains nice about this -- as we have learned, she isn't heartless. At least Coach Beiste can finally be himself and Sam can maybe take over the football team.

Speaking of surprises: Becky Jackson has a boyfriend and he doesn't have down syndrome. I can't really tell what glee was trying to tell me here. Is this guy a weirdo who is using Becky for ulterior motives or am I awful for thinking this relationship is a little off? Who knows. Glee didn't tell me but I do know that I am not the only one who thought Becky's new relationship was a little different than I expected. The biggest twist was Becky wanting to pretend to have been in the Glee Club -- weird.

The third song of the episode was "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow/ Head Over Feet" performed by new kids Jane and Mason. To be honest, I was surprised by their talent. I really look forward to seeing them perform again later. Kurt, of course, interrupted them to remind us of something we all tend to forget. HE AND BLAINE AREN'T TOGETHER. Oh, what do you mean you remember that? You mean Kurt has pointed it out multiple times? You're kidding!

There was one positive to Kurt's constructive criticism though -- the new kids have definitely got to work harder if they want to be as good as the New Directions have been in the past. In the end of course, they all vow to work harder toward sectionals and remind each other through song that they are friends. 

Tune in next week to hear more about the fact that Kurt and Blaine aren't together. In my head I just keeping hearing Ross say, "WE WERE ON A BREAK." Geez. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

"I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is giving a high five." // Alanis Morissette

16/365

 Some of you may not like looking at old pictures. I happen to adore it! I could look at old pictures for days and never grow tired of it, so I thought maybe you guys would like to experience a flashback Friday. I love flashback Fridays. So, I went searching through some old pictures and found these gems. I have to say, I was an adorable baby.



These pictures were snapped at my first birthday. My mother and I still lived in Jackson and I was obsessed with Winnie the Pooh. Things have obviously changed since then, mainly the fact that I don't weight less than twenty-five pounds. In the photo to the left, my mother is helping me set up a card that I received -- notice Winnie the Pooh on the front. The picture below is of someone holding up a jean dress and I looking at my mother in disbelief. Did she really expect me to wear that? Honestly, I was a diva from day one.

'"You really expect me to wear that?"

catch you later,                      

Karleigh

“Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would I'd never leave.” // Winnie the Pooh

15/365.

It doesn't take one too long in life to realize that friendships aren't eternal. We gain and lose friends all the time and it's awkward. From the first time when Jane tells you that she didn't save the swing for you, but for Leah, her new best friend. Goodbye, Jane! See you in high school when we'll finally be able to talk to each other again. To college, when you drift apart peacefully or scream until your blue.

The most innocent of friendship breaking is the kind done on the playground. The friend break-ups in middle school, high school and college are the hard ones. Why? It's because you have emotionally invested yourself in that person. And usually we try desperately to make them talk, to tell us what happened so that we can fix it.

Sometimes we have to break up. Sometimes friendships are meant to last forever. They aren't built on a good foundation and they crumble. I've been thinking about this a lot lately and here's how I think you can be able to know if it's time to let a friend go and how to confront them.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. How are they acting differently? Has your friend always been a little moody? Maybe they cut other friends off for a bit, but never you? Well, maybe you have just made it into that other category now. Remember that after a few days, they were besties again? Give them a few days and see if they come around. If they don't or their behavior still feels off, in a way that you aren't used to -- say they used to reply immediately to your texts and now, if they respond, it's in one word answers -- then you can move on to question two.

2. How can I approach them about it? Someone very smart once told me that, in confrontation, one should never say "you" because it makes the conversation feel like an attack. This is true. It's a tricky slope though, because if you make it all about you, then you're being selfish. Remember that your friend has their own life and their own problems. She's a part of the friendship too and you have to account for her feelings. You are probably not the only one hurt.

3.  I've done those other things but everything is still weird. What do I do now? This is when you have to make the tough decision. You can either confront your friend and ask them if they don't want to be friends anymore or you can just slowly stop making the effort. At the end of the day, you have to make the best decision for you.

Obviously all friendships are a little different and everyone responds to situations differently. At the end of the day if you are unhappy, you have to change something. Don't rush into this decision though; people go through phases of life and sometimes we just have to give them a little time.

catch you later,
Karleigh

It's really hard not talking to the person you used to talk to every day. // unknown

14/365.

Get over it. Whatever that has been hanging over your head for the last few hours, few days -- heck, since we rang in the New Year, get over it. If something has been bothering you since 2014, get over it. Put that load down and move on. 

I know a few people have had lousy starts to the year and maybe you have too. I know I have. So, tonight, I'm telling you what I'm also telling myself: get over it. It'll make you feel loads better to just put down the negative and pick up the positive. This year has so many things to offer so we have to make sure that we are ready for it. Get over your troubles that have been hanging around for years or that have just started to really rule your life. Step up and over them and keep moving into the good things of 2015. Trust me; there will be many.

Now, I cannot leave you all just like. If you know me well, you know that I love a good boyband. So, I give you McBusted's single "Get Over It," which has inspired this post and has been playing on repeat in my car as I try to get over this infection that has taken over my head. Hopefully, we will be back to our regularly scheduled program tomorrow. For now, here's McBusted:

catch you later,
Karleigh

When you're down down down down down, get up and get over it. // McBusted

13/365.

I watched a video the other day and the girl had found an old list in one of her diaries, a list of things she had hoped to accomplish by the time she was thirty. At twenty-five, she had completed most of them and attributed it to the fact that she wrote them down. And yaknow, I believe it. To have ideas swimming in your head, especially as a writer, is nothing compared to having them all written down for you to sort through and organize. So, I thought maybe I would share some of my wants/hopes/goals with you guys in the hope that they would all come true. Here goes nothing:

1. Get my PhD in English.

2. Try to make videos on YouTube for fun.

3. Go to New Orleans and eat beignets 'til I feel sick.

4. Travel the world.

5. Tour art museums.

6. Let go of the things I let hold me back.

7. Become a teacher.

8. Dye my hair a pastel color.

9. Write a book (or two or three or fifty).

10. Have a family.

11. Live in another country.

12. Write for a magazine.

13. Go to Disney World with my mother.

14. Study abroad.

15. Smile everyday.

Those are just fifteen and if I really wracked my brain, I'm sure I could write them all down for ages. But those are ones that I really would love to do, and they are all do-able. Isn't that awesome? So, today I challenge you to write down a few of your goals/wants/hopes and maybe share a few with me? I'd love to see what you guys are wanting to do so badly that you imagine it daily, that your heart aches for you to complete it. Anyway, write down what you want to achieve and keep it where you can see it. If you see it, you'll do it. And you should do it. You should do all of it.

catch you later,

Karleigh

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." // Henry David Thoreau

12/365

People are not innately good. This isn't really a new and shocking statement. There is light and dark inside of us and sometimes it seems like the darkness can dampen the light so much that it is hard to find. The light seems to get smaller and smaller as the darkness swallows it until you are in a pit of your own agony. It's awful. It seems to damage you as a person. So, you have to find something that brings light or you will drown.

And light does not come all at once. You see flickers of it and then eventually rays will shine upon your face and the darkness is hiding in the corner to avoid being hit by the light. The light shows you how wonderful life is, how there is so much more than the world around you and everyone has a different source of light.

For me, it's Jesus Christ. Some days, when I just feel very upset and just not good, praying helps. It lets me hand over my worries to someone who truly knows me when I don't know myself. Not everyone finds hope in faith, which is upsetting to me, because throwing your fear away allows you to believe in what is beyond. Your flesh is nothing. The world around you is nothing. Your life is small. But God is big. He's everything. He brings light in darkness and hope in despair. 

Sometimes it isn't all at once. Sometimes you have to pray for a long time. You have to fight an uphill battle. But you can only achieve true happiness, and you can only enjoy the light of life with The Lord beside you.

Next time you are overwhelmed with the world or with your darkness, take the time to pray. You may not be able to tell people around you what is happening inside of your head and sometimes you shouldn't. Secrets are sometimes only for you. You don't owe anyone anything. But The Lord already knows your heart and your secrets are His secrets so taking the time to pray can be cathartic. It is cathartic, if you believe. Anyway, next time you are drowning in darkness, in your worries or problems, please take a moment to talk to God. He'll always be there to listen and His wisdom knows no bounds. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light upon my path. // Psalms 119:105 KJV

11/365

To be honest, I'm not feeling the greatest. I've been infected with some sort of respiratory infection and I am probably dying. Not really, but you get the gist. So, today I am going to leave you with something a little different while I attempt to organize my stuff to go back to school before I have to do some major work tonight. If you are returning to school tomorrow, I wish you all the best. I hope everything works out for you in the upcoming semester. So, here we go...

Your voice is oxygen.

When you open your mouth

And words fall out,

Painting me into a picture

That only you can see

But that I feel in the bottom of my soul,

And I can breathe

Finally. 

I know, of course, that poetry isn't for everybody. I hated it for a long time, until I learned how to analyze it. Now, I find poetry to be one of the most beautiful art forms. If you feel differently, then perhaps you just haven't read the right poem yet. Or perhaps you just really hate poetry, which is cool too. Today, I encourage you to take time from your schedule to read something nice, even if it's just the instructions off the back of your brownie mix. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

"No matter what people tell you words and ideas can change the world." // Dead Poets Society

10/365

Glee returned to television last night. That high pitched noise you kept hearing? Yeah, that was me screaming in complete happiness at the return of my favorite television show.  To be honest, Glee is not always the best television show. The character development often lacks and the way story lines are handled is always just a bit off. However, I must say I was thoroughly impressed with Glee last night.

Now, let us review. Spoilers lie ahead.

Rachel was on point as always. After the fail of her television show, "That's so Rachel," she returns to Lima to bring the glee club back to McKinley. As always, she never fails to entertain. Rachel's constant persistence and ability to come back better than she was before inspires me so much. Needless to say, I cannot wait to see what Rachel plans to do with the New Directions.

Now, Blaine and Kurt's relationship is always touch and go. I'm one of those people who doesn't really care if they get married. I am sad that they are broken up; though, who is surprised? They are only nineteen and twenty years old. They have had many episodes of breaking up in their four year relationship. They aren't a very sturdy couple and it shows. However, I am very upset about Blaine dating Karofsky. Like Kurt, I was able to forgive Karofsky for his awful behavior in the beginning of the show but I am not ready to bury the hatchet. Blaine dating Karofsky doesn't feel natural; in fact, it feels more like he's trying to get back at Kurt. I'm interested to see where that will be going.

Continuing with Blaine, I am very proud for him to be coaching the Warblers. The new character, Jane, was outstanding. The fact that Blaine even questioned letting her in annoys me. The Warblers are built on a sexist foundation so I'm glad that Jane went somewhere else. She is way too good for Dalton. Roderick was also exciting. I don't have too much to say about him yet. I'm sure he'll have his own drama soon.

I would also like to take a moment to say how unbelieveably wonderful the Unholy Trinity performed "Problem" by Ariana Grande and there was no better way to end the final season premiere than with "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. It was so beautiful.

As far as season premieres go, this was the best Glee premiere that I've ever seen. I cannot wait to see what the season will bring.

catch you later,
Karleigh

"Being a part of something special makes you special." // Rachel Berry☆

9/365

There is a very weird emotion that surrounds returning to school and it's different for everyone. Some people dread going back to school; some anticipate its return. It all depends on the person. A few nights ago, I listened to a girl tell me how much she hated school. She hated it so much that she took online classes just to avoid it. And in my head, I kinda figured it out -- or at least, I figured it out so that I could understand her reasoning. It wasn't school that she hated, not the learning aspect but the environment in which she was asked to learn.

The environment of school is built on this scale of how well you function around your peers and how well you test. Public school can be very difficult for some people -- some people just don't fit in to the school system. If they learn differently, they are treated differently for it. Kids who learn things too quickly and then sit idle while peers are still learning can be seen as aggravating, know-it-alls. They annoy the other kids. Learning at a slower pace can aggravate fellow students when one asks for a problem to be worked that is simple for some and harder for others. The point is that people are all different and that shows but is not always accommodated for within the point of their lives that is the most educational.

The testing aspect of school is really a pain in the behind. Teachers judge how well students know subjects by tests, but sometimes certain people don't test well simply because they don't. The tests might make them nervous -- the fear of failure is planted at a very young age now -- which results in a low score. And I'm gonna lay something pretty crazy down right now. Are you ready? The ACT is a scam. It doesn't really judge how well you know those subjects, it judges how well you test. People stress over the score simply because they are taught to do so. Students hire people to impersonate them to get better grades. Tell me what is okay about that. Tell me that the testing aspect of school isn't terrifying sometimes.

The point is that our education system isn't built for everyone, but you can make it work for you. Here's how:

1. Go in with a positive mindset. Even though sometimes school really sucks, you are so lucky to be given an education. Remember that some kids in third world countries are literally dying because they want to go to school. Feel blessed to be where you are -- yes, even in algebra, you can feel blessed.

2. Learn how to test better. There's probably a better way to say that. Anyway, approach your teachers and ask how to study for their tests. If you reach out to your teachers, they'll be much more willing to help you. But beware, they won't be so nice if you ask them how to study just before the final exam.

3. Remember that you are really just there to learn. I've mainly stuck on the problems in our education system, but sometimes school sucks because you don't have friends. If the problem with school is a social issue, do what you can. Remember that you really are just there to get your education; friends are just a bonus.

As you return to school, push yourself passed what you know you are able to do. Surprise yourself with how intelligent you are. Now, get to class.

catch you later,
Karleigh

"Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way." // George Evans

8/365

The saddest thing to me is that you will never see yourself the way that I do. You are so beautiful. I hope you feel it -- I hope you feel like you could do anything, like you hold magic in your fingertips. You can do so many things and you will. Even if all you did today was get out of bed, that was beautiful. Do you ever get struck by what a miracle you are?

I hope I'm not telling you anything new. I hope someone has told you this before, has made you feel like a miracle before. You deserve to have looked at yourself in the mirror and been astounded with how remarkable you are. There is no other person, out of seven billion lives on this world, that is exactly like you. No one has felt exactly as you have. No one has experienced things exactly as you have. You are the ultimate definition of individual. 

Last January, I saw this video for the first time. I love slam poetry -- there's something much more effective about it. It hits you in the face and makes you believe; it makes you feel. I rediscovered this video yesterday and I've been thinking about it since then. This girl knows what she's talking about.

Words mean a lot to me, but sometimes my words alone aren't enough. I hope her words get the message of today's post across. Please know your worth. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

"Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars." // Serbian Proverb

7/365

Being an adult is weird. But don't be mistaken; I am by no means an adult and part of me believes that you aren't an adult until you say you are. However, according to the government, I am an adult. Can you see me frowning? Cause I am.

Being an adult is weird, because I don't know half the stuff that I feel I should. It's like a switch should be flipped on your eighteenth birthday where you suddenly know all of the things your parents do about bills and... other adult stuff...

This is where I have a slight problem with public education. Do you know what I learned in high school? I learned how to use the quadratic formula and how to identify rhyme and meter in poetry. And, by God, I will never forget that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

But here are a few questions that I wish were addressed when I was in high school:

What is health insurance and how do I get it? How do you do your taxes? What is a mortgage? How do I budget? How do I live off of minimum wage while being a full time student? How do I pay off my student loans? When is it okay to actually get a student loan? Who should I pick to cosign with me? How the heck do I shop around for different plans in my insurance/cellular provider/Internet service provider? How do I transition from child to adult and remain an okay, fairly well-rounded person?

I, like many other twenty year olds, have to rely on the Internet, my parents, and a basic level of knowledge to work out being an adult. Eventually, you and I will learn how to do all the adult stuff our parents do. At the moment though, whenever I act like an adult I really just feel like I'm in that episode of Rugrats and I really just look like this:

Like a baby in a suit. Is that what you feel like? I hope I'm not the only one.

Yaknow, when I really think about it though, maybe successfully figuring out what all that "adult stuff" is, is actually the first step of being an adult. Man, that's weird. It's time for a nap now, so I'll meet you guys in an hour for snack time right?

catch you later,

Karleigh

"You know all that stuff like pi, algebra? Totally useless. Maths should be like, ‘This is what a mortgage is. And if you don’t pay your credit card bills, this is the prison you’ll be going to.’" //  Nick Grimshaw

6/365

I hope, more than anything, that you have dreams. Whether they are very big or very small or very in between, I hope that you have something to work toward. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a dream is something that you have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a long time. Tiny dreams are things that come to you in the shower and that you keep in the back of your mind. They are always there and they are always different for different people. There is a thing about big dreams, though -- and that is that we tend to keep them to ourselves.

Have you ever wondered why you feel a little embarrassed to tell someone about your big dreams? I believe it must be because big dreams are these far fetched ideas that we may never make tangible -- but then again we might, and those are the most wonderful dreams, dreams turned to reality. However, sharing the inner most wants, the dreams that create drive and ambition, is scary. People laugh at big dreams. 

Do you ever wonder why? 

It is due to the general fear that you might exceed the norm. What is the norm? Well, it's the "American dream" -- you know, the middle class family with 2.5 kids and a dog in a house in a cul-de-sac. However, the "American dream" is more fitted to a family in 1962, than in 2015. In 1962, if you told your friends that you wanted to be an actress or an astronaut or the president, they would laugh at you. Why would you want to do that? Why not live and die right where you are? In 2015, they would probably still laugh at you. Why? Again, you might exceed the norm that is still there, though it does not always apply. 

Do you remember when I said that dreams were different for everybody? Well, your small dreams could be someone's big dreams. And maybe, the next time you tell someone about your big dreams don't feel discouraged if they laugh or call you silly -- because perhaps there big dreams are equivalent to your small dreams. This doesn't make you a better person, just a person with a broader ambition scale. 

The thing about people laughing at your dreams is that it usually will drive you to complete them. However, as you work towards your dreams, if those people constantly belittle you and your dreams, it is not that your dreams are too big. It's that that person is too small to realize your potential.

Realize your potential and embrace it. Don't ever let people's reactions make you throw away your dreams. Dreams are what keep you going. They create drive and they fill you out. Hold on to your dreams. You never know when they might come true.

catch you later,

Karleigh

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." // Mark Twain

5/365

You ever have one of those days when you wake up and want to be someone else? Not necessarily a celebrity, but just another person? Someone else with completely different problems? Someone with a different background and different thoughts and ideas?

I do.

I always wonder if my life would be different if I had actually stayed in all of the sports I attempted. Do you think I could be a really awesome soccer or softball player? Maybe not. Maybe I would just be more athletic (read: I would be more fit and maybe skinnier).

The things we did as children affect us in adulthood. The little things that we do in our everyday life affect us and sometimes I wish I could just quit some habits cold turkey. The habit I would like to stop? Wishing I was in a different place right now.

I can get a little wrapped in where I wish I was or where I want to be and forget to just be who I am right now. Do you ever think that you will never be the exact age that you are right now ever again? I'll never get to do this day over. My hair will never sit quite like it did today and I'll never feel exactly this way again.

As people, we are constantly growing and changing -- even when you feel stuck -- and that's such a beautifully terrifying thing. Even the people that you watch on television or listen to on the radio are evolving. They will never be the way they are today again. 

So, what I'm trying to get across is to love yourself today and appreciate the struggles. It's okay to want to start over but don't waste your time thinking about what it would be like to be someone else. You might wake up one day and wonder what it was really like to just be you.

catch you later,

Karleigh

“everyone you idolize wakes up scared to be themselves sometimes.” // Pete Wentz, Dec. 2005

4/365

We are four days in to 2015 and so far I've felt like all my writings have been very solemn. So, after pushing away the negativity I've been feeling and letting myself relax -- which I've almost fully done, I finally know what I can tell you guys.

Do you ever have a moment when you are asked to describe yourself or tell about something that makes you happy? They always make you do this on the first day of a semester. If you're like me, then you have a lot of trouble remembering stuff in that moment, even though you know that there are so many things that you are interested in or that you have done. They just escape you.

At the end of 2014, I was trying to remember some of the wonderful things -- because I know there were many blessings during that year -- and I kept coming up short. I knew there were things I was forgetting about the year, things that had been so wonderful. So I made a goal not to forget to count my blessings at the end of 2015. 

Here is my idea! (that I'm borrowing from something I saw on Pinterest ages ago)

I've picked a jar from the selection in our cabinets and dubbed it my "Wonderful Things from 2015" jar. The idea is that whenever something good happens or whenever the Lord blesses me during the year, I will write it down on a piece of paper, fold it up and slip it inside of the jar. At the end of 2015, I will take the time to read and reflect on all of the wonderful events of the year -- even if it is as small as someone letting me cut in front of them at Peppers. This way I won't let myself be caught up in the somewhat sad feelings that sometimes accompanies a holiday and I won't allow myself to forget the good things. So, I challenge you to do this too. Hold onto your good memories from the year and relive them in the holiday season of 2015.

Let the bad stuff go and hold on to the good things, guys. The good stuff is more important. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

"Say yes and you'll figure it out afterwards." // Tina Fey

3/365

One of my main goals in life, and especially in the new year, is to remain positive. I've received so many blessings and opportunities and I've learned that maintaining positivity is the way to get things that you didn't even know you wanted. However, there are always going to be people that have to have a hard time. You know who I'm talking about: Debbie Downer.

Debbie Downer is the girl or boy (Donnie Downer, anyone?) who always brings the negative to focus in an otherwise happy situation. If you are lacking in a personal reference at the moment, refer to the Saturday Night Live skit with Rachel Dratch in which she manages to bring down the excitement of Disneyland with references to bombings and the like. How anyone can think of anything other than happiness or Mickey Mouse shaped ice-creams at Disneyland is beyond me.

However, here are three things to remember when faced with a Debbie (or Donnie) Downer:

1. They might not be able to help it. Not everyone is able to see the positive in a situation. Some people are just made with negative personality traits. While you might find a circumstance to be a constant thrill, they may be overcome with nerves or fear that causes them to say negative things. This is where number two comes in...

2. Don't let them get you down. It is so easy to talk about things you hate rather than to talk about things you love. Among young people there is often a feeling of competition and when we're talking about things we like, we often want to love it more than our friends do. Hate, however, is something we can share. We hate people because our friends hate them. We hate foods because our parents do. We hate the way we look because the media tells us to do so. We hate things in groups but we love things alone. Loving something while someone else doesn't is difficult because you don't want to force them into loving it or seem overly positive (Think Glinda the Good Witch). While they may be only seeing the negative, attempt to bring the positive to their attention without being ugly about it. Trust me. This part takes practice.

3. Accept that sometimes people don't want to be happy right now. Sometimes it is hard to imagine that other people are really going through things, just as you do. We can believe that other people live these painless lives, if we cannot see their outward strife. However, real people have real problems. And they all matter. Sometimes people get caught up in their heads and cannot quite get out, and they just cannot be happy right now. This may mean they say things that make you upset or even, angry with them. As Elsa told you, let it go. Your pent up anger and frustration doesn't help them or you. And if you are both upset, no positivity will flow around you. Accept that this person may not be able to happy right now, and try to share some love and positivity with them. Don't force it. Let your happiness radiate so that it flows over them. They'll appreciate it, even if not at that exact moment.

Maybe you've been in situations likes these (maybe you've even been Debby/Donnie at that time). If so, I hope that theses offer moments of reflection and redirection. It's hard to be positive all the time and it can seem quite unrealistic. Do your best to maintain positivity in 2015. A happy heart is the healthiest heart.

catch you later,
Karleigh

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.  // Proverbs 17:22 NIV

2/365

I had an entire post written out for today and then life happened. Don't you hate that?

When I was a little girl, my mother took me to pick out a puppy. I can only remember one part of this, mainly sitting in the front seat of her Toyota after picking out my tiny dachshund puppy. He was so very small. I named him Precious, which I have regretted multiple times throughout his fifteen years -- not because he wasn't precious, but because people often assumed he was a girl. 

It's funny how animals age. Because three months ago, my little boy was running around the house and waiting for me at the door on Friday afternoon when I came home for the weekend. Now, he can't see me from certain distances and he can't hear me come in on Friday evening. This morning, when I woke to find Precious in a very unwell state, it was very obvious that my baby was an old man now. Have you ever been with your grandparents and suddenly you realize how old they are? Like when they forget how to crank the car or what your name is? I hope you haven't, because that is a very sad feeling. People grow old and you lose them and the same happens for animals.

Today, I have to put my dog to sleep. If you had been there while my mother and I discussed this, you would imagine that this animal was an old man whom we had known for a long time -- whose death would leave us almost inconsolable. I don't really understand how pets become like family members to us, but I guess when you are home alone and you talk through making dinner or while watching TV, it's better to have a dog there so that you can say you weren't just talking to yourself. They listen to us rant and curl up at our feet when we're sad and somehow they become like little people who love you so unconditionally that it hurts to say goodbye to them.

I'm writing this pre-euthanasia because I'm sure to be too upset to write it after. I hope my baby sleeps extremely peacefully. Thanks for being such a sweet and loving boy. I love you so much.

catch you later,

Karleigh

"A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than he loves himself." // Josh Billings

                                                                                                    1/365

Today marks the beginning of a new year. Have you made new year's resolutions? Maybe to hit the gym more? Eat healthier? Quit watching trashy reality television? I'm not ashamed to say that I have two out of those three resolutions myself. I'm sure you have others, ones that are more personal. These goals are for you and they don't have to be shared, but I have one that I want to share with you.

One of my new year's resolutions for this year is to leave behind my feelings of inferiority. This shouldn't be as hard as I feel it will be. I haven't quite figured out if this is built into my chemical makeup or if it is so easy for people to find this part of me and act on it in means to hurt me. However, I have been in far too many situations that have made me feel inferior. In high school, amongst my friends. In college, amongst my roommates. This holiday, amongst my family. And it has reached a point now, it has come to head in a way that I can finally say that I'm done with it.

In the past, I've cut these people off. Did you know -- or have you realized yet -- that you can't quite cut off your family? And, if you cut people off like I do, then you still regularly check their social media accounts to see how they are doing?

In 2015, I will not do this. In 2015, I will allow myself no anger for those people in their ugly ways because they are not worth it. I will only allow myself aggravation for allowing them to get to me. I will leave their evil with them. The need to hurt those that hurt you? I'm leaving that in 2014. The pent up anger and frustration that I find for those people? I'm leaving that too. Their names in my list of searches on Instagram and Facebook and Twitter? None of that. Everything that is tied to these toxic people are things that I leave with their ugly behavior in 2014.

I am leaving my feelings of inferiority in 2014 and I encourage you to do the same. Understand that your friends should not make you feel bad or as if you are in a competition. You should never feel unworthy to be around your friends or your family. Leave this behind. In 2015, love yourself. Treat yourself well. Realize your worth and don't let anyone make you forget it.

catch you later,
Karleigh


But I got my fingers laced together and I made a little prison
And I’m locking up everyone who ever laid a finger on me
I’m done with it
// Yellow Flicker Beat, Lorde