It’s been quite a while since my last entry here, but I thought now would be a good time to ramble a bit. I’m sitting outside, in the best spot I can find in this God forsaken town..On a park bench, underneath a tree in the lawn of the art school. This is the first time in several weeks that I have been able to stop and clear my head.. I am finishing up my final projects and presentations for my senior design classes, so these past two and a half weeks have been the most hectic weeks of my life.. I had 8 projects and a 10 page essay (along with 2 exams and a part-time job) to complete all within this two-week death sentence….

Currently I have managed to finish all but two, which are due tomorrow.. Looks like another long night for me! I have been averaging about 3 hours of sleep each night, and pulling at least 2 all nighters each week. There have been occasions where I had an opportunity to sleep in after a long night of work, and boy did I take advantage of that!!

Paranoia and anxiety tends to set in about the third day of little to no sleep, and this is not healthy for any kind of stable sense of life. I introduced myself to caffeine pills to aid me in my quests to pass these projects….these do not help the anxiety. However, they do make you forget about it for a few hours while all you can do is crank out a high volume of work through your hawk-eyed tunnel vision.

It’s a strange feeling being able to sit still now. As I type this I know that I have a full 15 minutes before I have to clock-in at work…well..10 now.. Those past 5 minutes seemed to creep by!

I realize that my writing is not nearly put in the same style as it would normally reflect..my thoughts are even more sporadic, and nothing seems to cross my mind even the slightest bit before I’m on to the next thought. I want to slow down, and enjoy these last 10 minutes, but I know my body won’t let me..It’s amazing how momentum works! You can move and move, seemingly endlessly until something snaps and your body decides it will no longer meet your demands..I am almost at that point!

Three. More. Days…. That’s all I have left before this marathon of a month will finally move on to it’s recovery period..

Stay hydrated my friends…this too shall pass..

Over the past few months I have been holding onto this idea of writing down some of the little, and big, lessons that life has taught me since I so helplessly entered this world. And since this blog is all about letting go, it’s about time that I hang them out to dry. So here goes:

1. Not everyone is as they appear. Even the people you see from a distance that look like they could cause no good to anyone may surprise you. You don’t know their story, so there is no grounds to judge them. Same goes for the people that seem the nicest towards you. 

2. There is an opportunity in almost every situation. Take control of it and let it work for you. 

3. Your attitude changes your reality. Almost any situation can be seen from a multitude of viewpoints, make yours the one that brings the most positive outcome. 

4. Money is fake, but the world today is driven by it. It doesn’t control happiness, but it does control comfort. Find a happy medium between the two. 

5. Marriage is not happiness. Even though I am not married, I have been around enough married people to know that marriage is not what brings happiness. You have to bring the happiness into the marriage by having a strong and happy relationship. A piece of paper is no more of a commitment than a potato sack is a coat. It may make you feel good and warm for a bit, but after all, it’s just a potato bag..

6. Resisting work is harder than doing the work. Procrastination is one of the most time consuming, exhausting things that you can do with your time. If you love your work, then why resist it? (I’m still working on that one)

7. Do what you love and you will hardly be working,

8. Enjoy the little things. Looking back on all of the things that have made me the happiest over the years, it wasn’t the big events that brought me that joy. It was all of the little details. People smiling, laughing, just talking. Or even just sitting by myself with a nice cup of green tea, soaking in the world.

9. There is no need to rush. Walking, driving, or even thinking. Patience can open doors that you wouldn’t have even realized were there. Is it bothering you that the person in front of you is drive exactly the speed limit? Why not slow down and join him, it might be peaceful to let go for a minute.

10. Religion does not make you a better person. Actions do. 

11. Thoughts create actions create habits create character. 

12. Emotions are there to guide us, not to hurt us.

13. Follow your beliefs. If you don’t believe something, don’t tell people, or yourself, that you do. Primarily speaking about religion but it applies to other areas as well. Be completely honest with yourself in your beliefs. It’s 100% ok to open your heart to anything that you truly believe. 

14. Great things come in small packages. Especially girls. But even the big packages can be exactly what you were looking for. 

15. Most advertising is evil. Don’t believe everything you see. 

16. The biggest luxury in life is health. But keep in mind that sometimes doing without luxuries can be a gift hidden among the struggle. 

17. Almost everything you see is a reflection of your state of mind. 

18. Somethings are out of your control, and that’s ok. 

17. Meditation can do wonders for a weak soul. Even a strong one will benefit greatly. 

18. Even men can take baths. 

19. The way you treat yourself is just as important as how you treat everyone else. Physically, and emotionally, nothing can boost your energy like taking good care of yourself. 

20. Your life is an open book. You have the freedom to write it as you wish. Every situation may not be in your control, but what you can control is your reaction and response to those situations. Grow from them.