Happy Friday!!

It's finally Friday and I could not be happier. I've been super busy this week. I had two papers due at the beginning of the week, I was working on the campaign, I volunteered at the polls, I was all over the place so I'm really looking forward to relaxing this weekend. Here is what's been keeping my happy this week:

• I finished both of my papers on time! They haven't been graded yet but I know that I won't be getting any points off for late work
• I volunteered at a polling location on Election day with the USF Feminist Majority workers. We were advocating a vote "no" on a certain amendment but we were also mainly encouraging people to go vote. We were also helping people find their correct polling locations telling them what they needed to have before they were allowed to vote.
• I volunteered for the Barack Obama for America campaign. I love talking to people and meeting friendly people, especially when they're excited about exercising their right to vote. It's a beautiful thing. I spoke to students on campus, handed out posters and buttons, and I called voters in different states. Calling jobs are tricky. People don't like it when you call them. Especially if you're calling to campaign for the candidate that they don't want or if you're calling during dinner. I have experience with cranky callers and I was really excited because of what I was doing so I didn't really mind the rude people. They tone it down when you continue to be kind and respectful. It pays to be nice.
• I'm an intern at fitsmi.com and we've had a lot of new members join so that's really exciting! I got to welcome them all to the wonderful fitsmi community and I really hope that they can find a home there. It's really a great website to visit. 
• President Barack Obama was re-elected. I couldn't be happier. 
• On election night, Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay person to ever be elected to Senate. Mazie Hirono became the first Asian American woman to be elected to Senate. Tammy Duckworth became the first female disabled veteran to be elected to the House of Representatives. Mary Gonzalez became the first openly pansexual person to be elected to Senate. There are more firsts that happened with this election and they all are reminders that who we are matters and what defines us can't hold us back. We can do great things. You can do great things. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
• It's getting colder here in Florida. It feels amazing. I love this time of year! Cold weather means it's getting closer to the holidays and that means no school and that means more times to spend time with family! Love it!
• As always, my family and friends!

I think that this week left me feeling inspired and empowered. I got a lot of good out of this week but it has also taken all of my energy. I also learned a lot about myself during this week. I learned what it means to stand up for what I believe in on a larger scale than I ever have before. This week left me feeling like I've made a difference in my life and the lives of others. 

I hope you had a good week and that your weekend is even better! Love you lots! :) ♥

Please listen to me.

The world we live in isn't perfect and you don't have to be either. Don't try to compare yourself or your life to societies standards of beauty or happiness. You won't accomplish anything that way. The best thing you can ever be is yourself and once you accept that, I believe that you can find happiness or at least begin your journey to freedom.

Don't let anyone tell you that you don't deserve love or you don't deserve to call yourself beautiful. You're worth so much more than the hate and the ugliness that society sometimes tries to spread. Don't believe it. You are wonderful.

Hello Sir or Madam

Do you want to see something awesome? This will blow your mind. Go look into the mirror. You see that person staring back at you? That person is greatness. If you want to see greatness, go look in the mirror.

Do you remember that time when you were really struggling and you thought you would never make it through and then you looked around and realized that you made it out alive? That moment prepared you for greatness.

Do you remember when you were in that really hard class and you made it through with a passing grade? That moment prepared you for greatness.

Do you remember when you never thought that you could ever love again and then you realized that love never gave up on you? That moment made you stronger.

Each day we become stronger and wiser. We are constantly growing and learning. We make mistakes and we learn from them. We fall down and we get up. Yes, we have setbacks but then we become stronger again. That prepares us for greatness.

watch me...you

picture stolen from weheartit.com. I
could spend hours just looking at the images there. check it out!

I'm posting it here to promote beautiful dreams. We all need a bit of encouragement especially in those times when someone tells you that you're a fool to believe in yourself and that you'll never make. You'll make it. Believe in yourself and then go ahead and reach for the stars. You can do it. If you ever need help, I'm here and I'll support you as much as you can.

You might think that the whole world is waiting for you to fail but...nope, you're not alone and I believe in you and if you believe in yourself then there's two people right there! Two is company!

You're more loved than you can possibly understand. I don't understand it but sometimes I feel it there and I realize that it's real. When I feel that love that I sometimes believe doesn't exsist, I grow a little stronger and I find myself doing things I never thought capable of me.

We all have to believe. Believe in love but mostly in ourselves. When we love ourselves and believe in ourselves and support ourselves, we can find the love and hope around us so much more easily. if that sentence didn't make any sense, I apoligize...I've been out of school. But I hope you do reach for the stars and not let any meanies tell you that you can't.

we have good power

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."

-- Alice Walker

When we don't believe in ourselves, things tend to go way down hill. We're stronger than we think and we're capable of so many things if we put our mind to it and put our heart in it. All the power we need is there we just have to take the time and find it within ourselves. Once you believe in yourself, you'll always be a winner.

quote of the day

May 9th's reasons to smile.

• I just finished watching the new episode of Kendra. I love her! She has a beautiful family and she's just so adorable. She makes me laugh. She's herself and that's beautiful, that's why she inspires me. I love her! She's also coming out with a work out dvd. I can't wait to get it! It should be really fun.
• Today was mama's day! It was fun. I went shopping with my mommy. I got new pajamas, a few cute tops and some socks. They went straight into my college bag. Eventually, I'll have to start packing in a neat and organized way but for I now, I just like shopping and throwing stuff in there.
• I read the words reservation confirmation and repeated it several times because it was just so fun to say!
• Worked out, not for a long time, just about 15 minutes because I had nothing better to do and I was helping my mom keep the kids occupied while she got their bedtime stuff ready. Honestly, I love working out and I think since I'm going to have less work to do now that all these AP tests are almost done with, I'm going to start working out every day again. I always feel good after I work out. It gives me more energy and I feel healthier which is great. I love feeling healthy. I need to work on that
• My mom loved the food I cooked for her. There isn't any left!
• I took an awesome nap. Me and sleep are like best friends and my nap was amazing!
• One month from today is the day I graduate!!!

Tomorrow morning begins another school week. Within this school week is another AP test. After that, no more! One month away from graduation and then a little over a month until I start college. It's all so exciting. So much to learn, all these new experiences. I think I'm ready, if not, I'll adapt.

If you took the time to read all of this, I hope you have a wonderful and beautiful week. Remember that you're strong and you're beautiful, just because you're you. You can handle everything that's thrown at you this week if you take the time to believe in yourself.

believe in you!!

"Once you believe in yourself, you'll
always be a winner."

-Kiyanna Shanay

because I believe too.

this is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read :)

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON."115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.