90/365

When I was a little girl, I had one phrase that I said more than anything else: "I can do it." I hate to say that I am still that way. Maybe it's the Virgo in me -- if you believe in the descriptions of astrological signs -- that commands me to be like this. I just do not want people's hands in my projects, or their help if I think I can do something alone. I thrive under pressure, so that's never been a problem for me. I love to be busy and I love having people look to me at deadlines and such. I just enjoy doing things (and I especially love when I am able to do them well).

However, I cannot always handle things by myself. It takes a lot of me to let go of something; it just so happens that my grip is very tight. I cannot stand to tell someone 'no' or that I'm unable to do something. I will stretch myself quite thin, and I do so frequently. 

What I am going to have to start telling myself is that I cannot do anything. I'm literally unable to be apart of everything, or to have my hand in all projects. However, I always appreciate patience when people give me a second to figure this out. I always feel that when I have to turn someone down that I am letting them down somehow but, like I said, I cannot do everything. 

This is a lot of confirmation for me. It's nice to have a reminder that it's okay to say no every now and then. Some days I really do need to just sit on my computer and watch vlogs by British people until I fall asleep. Some days I need to wake up at six and get started on everything immediately. I feel that everyday I wake up with a different personality, but you have to wake up and jump on your plans for the day. If that means that I get up six and get started immediately or sleep til ten and the only thing I accomplish that day is making food for myself, then I did what I was meant to do. 

Sometimes I just have to remember that everyday doesn't have to be GoGoGo but that, every now and again, I can stop and binge watch television shows on Netflix. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

"And now I'll do what's best for me." // unknown

89/365

I don't like when people devalue women. I did my senior project in high school on the women's roles during the Civil War, because it was important to me that people realized that, even when women weren't legally permitted to fight, they still did everything that they could to aid people around them. I know that men supposedly have built up our country -- that they are the ones who started everything we have, but the world rests on the shoulders of women. I'll tell you why.

Without men, there are no women. Women birth the future generations. We raise our children to understand the world for what it is and what it isn't. We enable our sons and (attempt to) encourage our daughters. Men have built our past but women are building our future.

Here is some truth that I want to drop on you real quick: women are literally the best thing that God ever created. Our bodies create new life; in our bodies we hold the potential of new generations. Rupi and Prabh Kaur are two sisters that approached the public view of female bodies and their magnificence in a series of photographs that they titled "Period." 

To the left is one of their photos, that stresses the beauty of the "ugly" parts of femininity. In the context behind the pictures, the sisters wrote this:

"in older civilizations this blood was considered holy. in some it still is. but a majority of people. societies. and communities shun this natural process. some are more comfortable with the pornification of women. the sexualization of women. the violence and degradation of women than this. they cannot be bothered to express their disgust about all that. but will be angered and bothered by this."

I think it is time that we start loving the parts of women that we don't think are pretty and instead focus on the negativity that we face for it. We should be more disgusted by the violence that women face, and less disgusted with their natural body processes. Love women for everything they go through, because at the end of the day, they went through all of it so that they could create you.

catch you later,
Karleigh

"A woman is a school. If you teach her, you teach an entire generation." // The Light in Her Eyes (2011)

88/365

I made the mistake of saying that Sundays would now be fitness themed. I am sadly not very good at exercise. I'm trying to make it a point to get better at it, and it would probably help if I liked it. This is the part I'm embarrassed about: I only exercised once this week.

I don't remember if I told you this last week or not, but I have an old yoga kit that was given to me. The people had never opened it so I took it all out last week and left it beside my nightstand. Now I avoid looking at it while I'm in my bedroom. I left my yoga mat at home this week, so at school I laid one of my grey blankets on the floor to cushion myself. This is horrifying. I was embarrassed and had to run and lock the door because I didn't want anyone to walk in on me lying on the floor in my pajamas on a grey blanket attempting to work out. 

I tried to follow along with Cassey Ho, a fitness instructor who has a YouTube channel called "Blogilates." I worked my way through her "What Makes You Bootyful Butt Challenge" and various different short videos for arm and back workouts. Cassey is super great to listen to and follow, because it feels like you're in a class while still being alone. This is great for me. I do not like people to see me workout, especially my mom. She attended a gym for a while and now knows everything about how I should set myself up on the mat. At the end of the day, I don't really want anyone to watch me get my exercise on. 

So, this last week was a bit of a fail in terms of me exercising because I was traveling so much. Hopefully this week I can get on track. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

"Train like a beast. Look like a beauty." // Cassey Ho

87/365

This week my online teacher sent out an announcement about our midterm. Now, this online class is basically an eight-week emergency class for me; so when she said we would have a study guide, I was thrilled. Then I received a follow-up email two days later saying that we wouldn't have a study guide and that we would need to just study the online notes. This is the worst thing ever. In college you do not often get study guides, but in online courses they are basically the key. Without a study guide, I have to make flash cards.

I have a love/hate relationship with flash cards because they are super helpful for memorizing but I don't ever feel like I really learn anything. So today, let's have a chat about how you can learn using flash cards. 

study-with-coffee.tumblr.com

First, you have to choose how you plan to make them. Some people like to flip the cards and others like them on their phone. Chegg has a great flash cards app that will totally save your life if you enjoy studying on your phone; it is also super handy because then you have your flashcards with you all the time. And it's free! However, if you prefer traditional cards then you should start by picking up a few packs for about fifty cents at Dollar General. 

 

Then gather your notes, some highlighters, pens and make a game plan. It's a great idea to color your cards based on your notes. Say you are studying another language and each word is either masculine or feminine. Write the word in your native language in the color that you want to match to masculine or feminine (ie family / la familia). Colors are a must with flashcards because your brain will piece the colors together with the information and it will be easier for you to remember.   

 

After you make your cards, then you have to actually study them. You can't just make them and forget it. Here are some tips for helping you study these better:

• Write the key word on the side without lines. It'll be easier for you to picture.
• Read your cards aloud. Literately read all of it aloud; even the stuff you already know.
• Be in a place with little to no noise. Music may be great in the background, but you have to take in a lot of information from these cards and you don't want to hinder yourself.
•  Do not write in cursive. It's easier for your brain to capture what you write when you write in normal handwriting.
• Read over them twice a day, if you can. 

I hope these help you if you are planning to use flash cards when you prepare for finals. There are fast approaching, folks. It's time to get down to business.

catch you later,
Karleigh

“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” // John Locke

86/365

Recently, I've been choosing the next school I plan to attend. A lot of people know this already; I have constantly brought it up to people. I've asked where they would think I would go if they saw me on the street. I've worn different school shirts to see what people think. And let me tell you... it is a painful decision to make.

I live in a town divided. For my entire life it has always been between two schools. I've never had much of an opinion on either school, and I still have no swaying factor.

I'm writing this because maybe you are in the same position.

I have factored my family and close friends' opinions into my decision. It was not until recently that I spoke with one of my best friends about choosing and how I felt that I would disappoint certain people by not choosing their school. She told me that was dumb -- Thanks, babe! You were right. That was dumb to think.  My mother said this to me recently: "Don't factor people into your life when they don't factor you into theirs."

When the people that I was fearing disappointing chose to wear red and blue today, they did not consider me. When they make a decision that will be a huge step in their future, they do not factor me into their decision. So why should I factor them in to mine?

Basically what I am saying is follow your heart, as cheesy as that sounds. You have to do what feels right for you and not what people want you to do. You are the one who has to live in your future.

catch you later,
Karleigh

"Nothing will ruin your 20s more than thinking you should have your life together already."// unknown

85/365

If you know me at all, then you know that I am a massive One Direction fan. I have quite the love for those five boys and am rather invested in their career. It is with a huge weight in my stomach that I acknowledge that Zayn Malik has left One Direction. Last week, Zayn signed off of a few shows due to "stress," and just yesterday, their PR team made a statement on behalf of One Direction.

One Direction has worked non-stop for the past five years. From the day that they began they X-Factor Live Shows, they have been working. Every November they release an album and begin a tour in the following February. They constantly are involved in PR stunts (Don't tell me you believed that Harry Styles dated Taylor Swift because he liked her) and being flown all over the world. In my opinion, it is completely their team's fault that Zayn was driven to leave One Direction.

Zayn wrote in their statement that he has "to do what feels right in [his] heart." You cannot fault Zayn at all. His mental health has definitely suffered over these past few years, especially due to the constant harassment that he receives on Twitter due to his religion -- calling him a "terrorist" and encouraging young girls to believe what he does. Last year, a video was released of Louis Tomlinson, another member of One Direction, and Zayn smoking marijuana and talking about other drugs while in South America. This video and their substance use got mainly pinned on Zayn. One has to understand that this sort of blame and harassment plays a heavy part into Zayn's departure. 

Zayn cited his mental health and privacy as reasons to leave the band and most fans have been very supportive of his move. While they will miss Zayn, they look forward to seeing where One Direction heads to next. We will all miss Zayn's beautiful riffs on the album (and his gorgeous face on the stage), but we wish him the best.

catch you later,

Karleigh

“Life is funny. Things change, people change, but you will always be you, so stay true to yourself and never sacrifice who you are for anyone.”// Zayn Malik

84/365

Today has been a crazy assortment of 6+ hours of driving, lots of walking, and cool bits in the middle of all of it. I'm absolutely exhausted and all I want to do is cry about Zayn Malik leaving One Direction (which I think we will talk about tomorrow) and sleep until May. So, today I'm going to leave you with one of my favorite sonnets. Did you just remember how freaking weird I am? I did too. I'm sorry.

I love this sonnet. It's my absolute favorite and I memorized it when I was in the eighth grade -- test me next time you see me: do I still remember it? 

Anyway, here you go:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; 

Coral is far more red than her lips' red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; 

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damasked, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. 
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know 
That music hath a far more pleasing sound; 
I grant I never saw a goddess go; 
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. 
     And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare 
     As any she belied with false compare. 

catch you later,
Karleigh

"The greatest challenge in life is discovering who you are. The second greatest is being happy with what you find." // unknown