Celebrating Me: January 6th

I want to get into the habit of celebrating myself. So I decided to have a photo shoot with myself every month on the 6th. I tried to do this my senior year of high school to see how much I changed over the months but I don't think I was there emotionally to celebrate myself every month. I've changed a lot since then so I want to try it this year.

Every month on the 6th, I'm going to get dolled up, or not, and get comfy with my camera. I pick the 6th so that it will fall on my birthday come August. So I did my photo shoot today and I loved it. I really felt great about it so I'm going to write it off as self care. I think I'm going to keep up with this to the best of my abilities.

I was really exciting about my photo day! I got to play with my make-up and feel glamorous! I loved it. What I thought was interesting was that my favorite photo was myself in my satin cap right before I washed my make-up off.

The photos:

Today I feel at peace. I feel productive. I'm relaxed. I'm happy to be in my own skin today. I enjoyed a great cup of coffee today. I didn't do everything on my to-do list but I'm okay with that. Today was a pretty good day!

My quote of the day is, “The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
― Maya Angelou. 

Happy Halloween!

This Halloween I got to dress up twice!. I dressed up the first time for the PRIDE Fall Formal Masquerade and the second time for a costume party. I didn't have an official theme for either of the costumes. I wanted to be a princess and I felt like one so that's what I was. In the first costume, my friend Mia(pictured) told me I looked like a rockstar superhero princess so that's what I am in the first picture. At the costume picture that the second picture is from, someone said I looked like little red riding hood so I'll go with that. I felt absolutely beautiful each time! I also had a great time!

I hope you beautiful today. If not, it's okay. I hope you feel beautiful tomorrow. Just so you know, I think you're wonderful everyday.

I am beautiful♥

I am BEAUTIFUL.

I was made this way. I struggle to see it but I know it's there. I can no longer afford to listen to the lies. I can't be put down anymore. I'm way too beautiful and precious for that.

I hope you know that you're beautiful and precious too.

you can heal the world with your mind

Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives

♥

'Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind

♥

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou

hmmmm....

Have you ever had those negative people in your life that you just want to tell them, "be gone. you don't get me. you make fun of everything that I do. you want me to be just like you but I'm not and since you can except that then get out of my life! I'm my own person and I like what I like and just because they aren't identical doesn't mean that I'm stupid, or weird, or anything like that. except that or let me be. stop making fun of me for being true to myself!"? It's like when I'm around those people, I become a more negative spirit myself but it's hard to stay away because sometimes you really care about these people and don't want to just give up on them.

I find it really hard since everyday I'm fighting to love myself more and to be more positive for me so I don't have to sit in the shower and cry or have all of those suicidal thoughts becasue I know that my life is beautiful and precious and I deserve to be happy. Happiness is one size fits all and I refuse to let anyone influence me against me or make me think that I can't be happy or that it's wrong being true to myself and living my life for me.

I'll just say that it's a little bump in the road for today and even though it was a pretty big bump, the smiles still outweighed the frowns and a happy heart of mine is in the winning corner. My smiles won today especially with the lovely lyrics of Beautiful Flower by India Arie stuck in my head.

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you,
who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are
powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

your heart is special...

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. if He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart."

we are more than you think

"where would we be if we couldn't dream?"

picture is from a note I made and put in one of the bathrooms of my high school last year. I was really sad when it disappeared. I worked pretty hard on it. I was happy that it was seen though :)

Princess :)

By now, I know that life isn't a fairytale but I still like to think of myself as a princess. I think princesses are awesome so I feel special knowing that I'm one too. A princess is a young woman with power and as a young lady, I have a lot of power.

I have the power of love. Love is really powerful. We're loving beings. We're made to love and be loved and having that love in us make us all really powerful. Even though we don't always see the love there, it's there making us stronger. I know a lot of people feel unloved at times or some times all of the time but it's there. It's all around you. you're really not alone. i promise. I really do.

With the power of love. We have the chance to learn. We can accept other cultures and love people for who they are. That's super amazing. We have the power to be open minded and accepting of the world around us. Not everyone uses that power but it's so cool when you do.

Another power that qualifies me for being a princess is the power of hope. I'm all about hope. Hope is believing that what you want can be had. It's believing, it's trusting, it's feeling strongly that something can/will happen. It's really powerful. We have the power to allow hope to come inside our hearts and that's when we start seeing things differently in a more positive light but not unrealistically which is very healthy.

There is also the power of using my own mind. Having opinions and views and sharing them. The power to seek knowledge and go on adventures through reading like my favorite disney princess, Belle. =] People don't always acknowledge the power and importance of knowledge but it really is important. It can take us anywhere and paired with hope, and all the other amazing qualities of a princess, it can help you to become what ever you want to be.

We have to be brave so that we can find the courage to learn about the world around us. To accept new things and to understand them. It takes a lot of courage to step out of your comfort zone but it's possible and with bravery, you can make it happen. I never thought I could do it but it happened and it worked for me.

Princesses are also beautiful and we are all beautiful so that's really the first and easiest qualification.

That's what makes me a princess, strength, love, hope, courage, beauty, bravery, and being myself. Who I am is someone amazing and who you are is someone phenomenal and we make the world a better place just by living in it. We're royalty you know =] ♥

you define beauty

The video posted above was made by http://www.twitter.com/youdefinebeauty. everything in this video is true. You do define beauty. You're beautiful-- inside and out. You're special and important. Your flaws make you beautiful. Embrace your beauty, it's priceless. You don't have to change yourself to create an image of beauty because you're already beautiful because you're real. Let your beauty shine so that others may see it too.

girls with guts :)

A 12 year old girl who was sick of the bullying at her school created a website that could serve as a safe place for girls to gain confidence or talk to someone when they feel alone. Her courage and willingness to help really inspires me and gives me hope. We need more girls who are brave enough to stand strong for what they believe in despite what others will say. At 12 years old, I probably would have just dealt with low confidnece by crying in my room or ripping up a lot of paper. I'm glad that she started this website. She knew she wasn't alone and felt the need to help the other girls who were probably in the same situations. I don't know her, I just saw her story on the news one morning but I am SO proud of this girl! She is helping so many people. Check it out! http://girlswithguts.org/


this would be her awesome Mission Statement:

"Girls with Guts is an empowerment website to give all females, regardless of age, the confidence to stand up for themselves NO MATTER WHAT!!

This website will be a place where females nationwide can come to relate with others about problems they may be having in school, work or at home. It is Girls with Guts mission to help instill the confidence a female may need to overcome bullying, peer pressure or violence.

Confidence comes with self-worth. When a female knows in her heart that she has value and that she means something she can overcome any problem life may throw her way. At Girls with Guts we know that sometimes it is easier said than done, but when you come to this website know you are not alone. You may be having a problem that someone 1800 miles away is also having. We can get through anything TOGETHER!

For those situations that can't be fixed with a pep talk or advice we can refer you to someone that can help if you want us to. This website will always give you the option to maintain your anonymity.Lastly Girls with Guts will be a place to make true friends...the type of friends that help you get through the hard times and celebrate with you in the good times!

~Shandon Mark age 12, Founder of Girls with Guts.org"


here are some other cool places to find advice or a friendly confidence boost.
- http://operationbeautiful.com/ (beautiful notes and stories)
- http://twitter.com/projectbeauty (positive tweets, the best tweets.)
- http://girlswithguts.org/ (see above=])
- http://dove.us/ (Dove's Self-Esteem Fund)
- http://twitter.com/girls_with_guts

Reach for it!

Is there a goal that you'd like to reach? Don't be afraid.

Nothing is impossible. Be Fearless and follow your dreams.

"Reach for the stars, even if you fall, you'll land among the clouds."

I've found that there are so many people who feel as if they don't fit in and they don't know what it is that makes them special. We're all special, unique, and beautiful. You may think that there is nothing special you but that's not true. If you can't see it yet maybe it's just hidden, but trust me, it's there. You just have to find it. Make it your goal to find it. Chances are it's already there and you just haven't noticed it. You never know if you've made someone's day with just the flash of your smile. You never know if your simple hello or thank you changed someone's outlook for the rest of the day. You could be the most special thing on this planet to someone else and not even know it. Remember that you're special and you always will be. Someone sees the light shine in you like no one else can. Someone believes in you always and loves you unconditionally. Never, ever forget that. Because someone believes in you, you can achieve all goals. You can follow your dreams. You have the ability to find what makes you feel special and then be the best you that there ever was. Believing in yourself is the first step and you can do that because someone loves and believes in you. Reach your goal. Nothing is impossible when it is supported by unconditional love.

"If a goal is worthy, there is no good reason to stop pursuing it!

Find something you truly want to do, then go for it with all your heart, mind and strength."

-God's Little Devotion Book for Students.