Author: renee0303

A few weeks ago, my mom signed me up for a weekly email newsletter… COURAGEworks. I was super confused when I received the first one, but after a few minutes I realized… this is exactly the kind of thing she would do, something to brighten my day a bit now that I’m off at college.
And my goodness how thankful am I that she did it. Every Monday for the past month, a quote shows up in my inbox. I’m not the type of person to hate Mondays but some weeks, I could definitely use another day of weekend! These quotes make my Monday. Courage and confidence are something I have struggled with, but am really working on. Seeing these little bits of encouragement is the perfect way to start my week. In fact, I’ve been so inspired by these little quotes by Brené Brown that I decided to share some of my favorites with you.

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“Courage is contagious. Every time we choose courage, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver.”

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”

“Until we can receive with an open heart, we are never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgement to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help.”

“Vulnerability is the core of all emotions and feelings. To feel is to be vulnerable. To believe vulnerability is weakness is to believe that feeling is weakness. To foreclose on our emotional life out of fear that the costs will be too high is to walk away from the very thing that gives purpose and meaning to live.”

“Here’s what is truly at the heart of wholeheartedness: worthy now. not if. not when. We are worthy of love and belonging now. right this minute. as is. There are no prerequisites to “I am enough.”

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have a happy week + if you’d like, you can sign yourself (or a friend/family member/significant other) up for this uplifting newsletter here

xoxo

 

Every year, on the day after thanksgiving, my family goes up to the mountains to cut down our Christmas tree. It’s one of my favorite traditions. It makes the tree that will fill our home for the next month that much more special.

This year, it was quite chilly and the ground was covered in snow. We bundled up (even Bandit had his parka on) and headed out. The goal: find the tallest tree that will just barely fit into our house. We eventually found the perfect one and managed to carry it all the way back to the car and put it on top of the car. The 20 ft tree on top of our little Subaru is always reminiscent of the Griswold’s tree in National Lampoon’s Christmas vacation (lol).

Next step: decorate!

On Friday, we had the first snow of the year. There’s something so magical about it. The first time, in a long time, that the world is covered in a sparkly white blanket. Maybe I am just over romanticizing the weather (I’m sure I’ll be feeling very differently about the snow by the time March rolls around), but there’s something about it that makes me so happy. I think I started crying when I saw the first flake.

This my favorite time of year. Cozy sweaters, warm drinks, time with family, twinkling lights, big scarves, happy hearts, cuddles, decorated cookies… oh and did I mention Christmas music? People are more giving, more loving. And with snow on the ground, it finally like the holidays.

 

 

[ Sometimes life gives you lemons. But sometimes life gives you problem sets, projects, and two midterms all in one week. When that happens, you don’t make lemonade, you put off everything and spend hours doing differential equations and making overly long study guides.

Sometimes life gets busy and you go out for breakfast with your best friends in Chicago, you spend hours just talking with your roommates, you cheer on your team at the last home football game, you visit your sister, and you go see a play that makes you feel many emotions. And when that happens, you neglect to post on your blog (something you had promised you wouldn’t do).

But now I am back + life is not quite as crazy, so without further ado… ]

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In light of recent events, I decided to write about love. There is so much sadness, hurt, and violence in this world and to love is the only thing I feel like I can do to counteract that.

Maybe it’s easy for me to say to “just love”… ignore the tragedy that is happening all over the world and be hopeful, keep smiling. It’s “easy” because all of the people that I love in Paris are safe, I don’t know anyone personally in Beirut, I have never faced the horrible discrimination that so many people face on a daily basis, I feel safe on my campus when there are attacks at universities all over the world.

I know that what I have gone through is nothing compared to what so many people have to go through on a daily basis, but I still don’t think it’s easy at all. My heart breaks for the world. My heart is aching for the lives lost, for the people who die and the world doesn’t hear about it. It becomes even harder when I just don’t know what to do to fix it. The only thing I know to do is to love and spread love. Maybe I can’t change the whole world, but I can try to change the world around me.

Smile at strangers, give someone a hug and a kiss, call that one friend you haven’t talked to in far too long, give compliments, listen to the stories of others, pray for the world…

Especially now, the world needs a little more light.

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“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Today was a beautiful day, quite unlike the past few… It has been cloudy and cold in Evanston and it didn’t hit me until today when I was walking outside in 65 degree weather that I’ve been in a mood lately. Maybe it hasn’t been noticeable to most people, but when the weather gets colder and the skies are grey, it has a huge effect on my mood. In Colorado, there are 300 days of sunshine every year and so I’m still not quite used to days in a row of overcast weather. I want to curl up in a ball with a bunch of blankets next to a fireplace drinking a big cup of tea. Which, for one night, isn’t bad at all. But after a few days, it can be too much.

I know that I’m not the only one too. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a very real thing and it is only going to get worse as the temperature drops and the days get shorter. So, while I’m in a good mood and the sun is shining, I’m coming up with a list; a list of things I (and anyone else who suffers from the grey sky melancholy) can do to cheer up when the sun is hiding away from us because, even though I don’t want to admit it, winter is coming.

1. work out
   Though it might be too cold for a lovely morning run outside, a gym is never too far away. There is nothing like a good endorphin rush when you are feeling down. Elle Woods said it herself: “endorphins make you happy and happy people just don’t kill their husbands.” They are also less likely to want to hibernate in a giant pile of blankets.
2. listen to pump up music
   Yes, slow songs seem to match cold weather perfectly, but they also only exacerbate a glum mood. Put on some party tunes [when in doubt, dance it out] and you will be feeling better in no time.
3. find a cuddle buddy
   Because sweater weather is also prime cuddle weather, I am definitely not saying to not do so. Just find someone to snuggle with. It’s easy to want to be less social during this time of year, yet withdrawing yourself from people will not help your mood. Grab a bestie or a special friend + cuddle. Being with someone you care about is a guaranteed trick to lift your spirits.
   
4. dress up
   When it’s cold outside, my sweatpants seem to be screaming my name “wear me! wear me!” However, getting dressed up is something I have to do when it is below freezing outside. There is nothing wrong with sweats, but putting on a nice sweater, leggings, and little boots can make you feel better. Take care of yourself, give into vanity just a little bit, and it can go a long way to re-energizing yourself.

stay warm + stay happy

xoxo