So, this isn’t going to be one of my typical don’t-worry-be-happy blog posts (what category will I even put this under??), but I just wanted to share some of my insight that I gained last night after watching American Sniper.

Like almost every other person in the theater, I had absolutely no idea who Chris Kyle was. Obviously I was aware that he was a soldier based on the previews for the movie, but I had no clue what he did, that he was a Navy Seal, and the incredible life story that he had.

For those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet, (and you definitely should) American Sniper is about a Navy Seal, Chris Kyle, and the war through his eyes. It showcases what it was like for him to be a soldier, on and off the line of duty. It’s an emotional movie that really puts life into perspective.

While I sit here (and you read this) there are Americans overseas dying. I hate to be brutal, but seriously. In one scene of the movie, Chris Kyle looks at his wife and says, “There’s a war going on, and nobody acts like it’s even happening.” (Or something along those lines, sorry, I don’t have the best memory.) That scene really hit me hard, because it’s true.

Everyday you turn on the television and see endless news stories about celebrities and their not so exciting lives. (No, I honestly do not care that Justin Bieber is an even bigger douche today than he was yesterday.) But, you rarely see news stories about the men and women that are fighting for our country, and that’s sad.

These people literally risk their lives for people that they don’t even know. All because they are proud of their country, and they want to defend it. In my opinion, these soldiers; past, present, and future; should be recognized a hell of a lot more than they are right now, and not only after they are gone. They need to be praised and thanked and know that they are supported by all Americans. Even if you don’t agree with war in a sense, you need to agree with what these people are fighting for.

“I’ve lived the literal meaning of the ‘land of the free’ and ‘home of the brave.’ It’s not corny for me. I feel it in my heart. I feel it in my chest. Even at a ball game, when someone talks during the anthem or doesn’t take off his hat, it pisses me off. I’m not one to be quiet about it, either.” -Chris Kyle

If you had the choice, would you want to spend your life as a happy, optimistic individual or a sad, pessimistic one? Obviously the majority of you would rather be happy (or at least I’d hope so). So, why don’t you just do it??

People think that being happy is so difficult, but honestly, it’s quite simple. You have to be in the mindset that you need to be happy. You have to wake up every single morning and say to yourself, “Today is going to be a great day,” and guess what? It will be a great day. If you choose to look at the positive in everything, then you will, without a doubt, be as happy as you could possibly be. People may think that it’s overrated, but here’s why you should make being happy a priority in your everyday life:

1. When you’re happy, you’re healthy. Believe it or not, the happier you are the healthier you feel. On some occasions, I have literally made myself sick by being anxious, scared, or worried about certain situations, but when I choose to be happy, I feel better than ever.
2. Having a positive outlook on life makes everything more enjoyable. Who wants to be around someone that acts like a Debbie Downer? (The answer is no one.) When you look on the bright side of things, especially in negative situations, it not only makes it easier to get through tough times, but it also makes you feel better when things don’t go your way.
3. Your emotions can project to others, so why not make them happy? In many cases, small groups of people will share emotions in certain contexts. For example, if someone comes into work and they are bitter and negative about everything, then the people around them tend to start to feel the same way. So, if it works with bad emotions, then why wouldn’t it work with good ones? Try it sometime.
4. Life is too short to be anything but happy. When you are 90 and you look back on your life, would you rather think of happy times or bad times? The answer is obvious, and only you can choose how to spend your life.
5. Smiling is the best accessory you can have. When someone walks past and they have a huge grin on their face, they look like they’re glowing with happiness. As humans, we are attracted to people like that, so if you’re single, or maybe you just like making friends, having a smile on your face is the best way to get people to approach you (just don’t look creepy).
6. You’re alive! If that’s not a reason to be happy, then I don’t know what is. If you’re breathing then that alone is a reason to smile.
7. If you focus more on the good, then you’ll find more good in the world. If you seek out the good in any situation, then you will find it. It’s always there. You just have to look hard enough.

So, there you have it. Remember why it is better to be happy, and don’t be afraid to be that annoying optimistic person (kidding, not annoying) everywhere you go.

This post kind of goes with my last post about being yourself.

I wanted to talk about how difficult it is for people my age (or any age for that matter) to figure out where they belong in the world and what they’re supposed to do with their lives.

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You know, it’s a very terrifying thing to be thrust into the “real world” at the age of 18. People expect you to go to college with the intention of knowing exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life. It’s so incredibly unrealistic. Since I graduated high school in 2013, I have already changed my major (and schools, actually) three times, and I’m still not even 100% sure what I’m doing now is really what I want to do for the rest of my life. I can almost guarantee that I’m not the only person my age that feels this way.

We are under so much pressure to have our lives planned out perfectly from the moment we enter college. We have to take specific classes every semester so that we don’t fall behind, graduate in four years, handle our schoolwork, have a job, pay rent, buy groceries, and somehow make time to have a social life. And this is supposed to be the best time of our life??

College students get so caught up in all of this that they forget what college is actually about— finding yourself.

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How are you supposed to know what you want to spend your life doing if you don’t even know exactly who you are? Are you someone that enjoys talking to people? Or being alone? Do you like helping people? Or are you the one that usually needs the help? What do you like doing? What do you hate doing? What are you good at? What are you bad at? These are questions that you have to ask yourself in order to find out who you are.

You have to try new things. Do things that you could never imagine yourself doing. (Except illegal things, of course.) Be with people that bring out your happiness.

Be alone.

You have to get comfortable with being alone so that you can get to know yourself. People are so chameleon-like these days. Their personalities completely change depending on who they’re with and where they are. In a way, it could be good, but it’s also very very bad. How can you stand your ground with anything if you change yourself based on who you are with? It just doesn’t work.

Don’t be afraid to find out who you are. You might be missing out on a truly incredible person.

Walking into a room full of people you don’t know can be absolutely horrifying.

Do I look okay? Is my hair a mess? Do I smell? Why are they all staring at me? Is there something in my teeth? Am I even wearing pants right now???? Wait, where are my pants?

Sorry, I got carried away, but you see where I’m going with this.

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Today’s society is one big ball of judgement. No matter who you are or how you look, someone is judging you. If you think about it, it’s seriously intimidating. So, I’m here to tell you to just say, “F*ck it,” and be yourself.

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You  can  will drive yourself crazy if you live your life to please others, because honestly, no one even knows what they want. That may sound confusing, but let me just explain myself.

Imagine you are in your own little bubble. No one can see you. No one can hear you. No one can judge you. What are you wearing? What kind of music are you listening to? What kind of accessories/games/other items of that sort do you have with you? What are you even doing in your little bubble? Are you writing? (like me) Taking pictures? Playing some kind of sport? Basically, what is your ideal bubble-world?

Whatever it is, make it real.

In today’s society, it is  so looked down upon to be yourself, and that’s sad. Every single day I see people putting others down based off of physical judgements such as, hair, makeup, clothes, etc. (I gotta be honest, it’s mostly girls, but guys are guilty too.)

If you want to wear a bunny suit, do it. If you want to dress like a fashion model every day, do it. If you want to wear a lot of makeup, do it. If you want to rock the natural look, do it. If you want to join PETA and be a vegan, do it. If you want to be a hunter, do it. Basically, do whatever you want.

WHY DO PEOPLE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT OTHERS DO?????

Honestly, I don’t think I will ever find out the answer to that question (at least not any time soon), but until that time comes, don’t be afraid to just be yourself. Wear whatever you want, do whatever you want, and be whoever you want to be, and whoever hates on you for being yourself is a jerk who doesn’t deserve to know you anyway. The world is yours to explore, and it’s so much more fun when you stop trying to please others.

I know it’s been a while (10 days to be exact, I think) since my last post, but I’m still here and I’m still writing, so don’t worry guys.

Today is the three year anniversary since my grandpa’s death, and it really has me thinking…

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How can anyone even deal with death of someone close to them, anyway?

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It’s sort of a hard thing to understand, unless you have had firsthand experience. According to many grief websites (and my own personal grief counselor), there are 5 stages in the grieving process: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Just by knowing the meaning of each word, it’s pretty easy to understand. First, you deny that they’re gone. Second, you become angry that they were taken from you. You then begin thinking of reasons how you could have saved them, and become depressed upon the realization of their death. Finally, you accept that they are gone, and continue to live your life normally.

I think it’s a bunch of bulls**t.

Personally, I suppose I went through the stages; however, it definitely was not in order and I definitely went back and forth between the stages. One day, I’ll think that I’ve accepted it, then the next day I’m angry, bargaining, and depressed all at once. I don’t think you ever, ever get completely over the death of anyone, no matter the age or timeliness of the death.

You just have to live with it.

You have to learn how to live with the constant heartache, the constant feeling of emptiness, the hole in your heart and in your soul.

It sounds absolutely terrible, but it’s possible. Your heart and mind have this crazy way of healing themselves. They just need one thing—time.

I know it’s cliché, but it’s true. Time heals all wounds, you just have to let it.

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So, if you’re dealing with the loss of a friend, family member, dog, cat, spider, or pet rock, just know that it gets better. If you allow sorrow to consume yourself, then you will always feel miserable. You have to keep your head held high and know that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I promise