10 Things

I think this post is going to be a little less style centered and a little more chat centered. I've really been thinking a lot about the things I've learned about life/happiness/randomness during these past 22 years I've lived and what I can take away from that. I think the most creative and simple way to do this is my creating a list of 10 things I've learned so far.

1. (Pay attention, because this is the most important one.) My parents were always right. Always. Scratch that. My parents are STILL always right. I think this is just one of those things that's tough for most people to learn until they've lived at least a minimum of 20 years and most times it even takes way longer than that. Any younger than that, though, and ya still just don't really get it. I was never really the type to disobey, in fact, I was like the Ella Enchanted of children, but I still had my moments were I thought my parent's advice was bogus. Boy was I a dumdum.
2. Natural is better. These past couple of weeks I've been just plain old letting my wild hair BE. For years I styled the crapola out of it, and it suffered because of it. I saw a photo of a fellow curly haired lioness on Instagram the other day, though, and it all just finally clicked for me. This girl looked GORGEOUS in her curls, and I found myself wanting curls just like that. That's when I realized, dur, I HAVE curls like that. My parents always used to tell me not to style my hair, not to use heat on it, that it would get thinner over the years, and it'd loose it's curl. I didn't believe them, like the lame 13 year old that I was, I thought that they were full of baloney. (See lesson #1;) They were right, of course, but fortunately I've come to my senses in time for my locks to have a fighting chance. :) 
3. Loving your appearance JUST the way it is is essential. This goes in line with #2. Again, for years I plucked and plucked my brows into delicate little caterpillars instead of just letting them be the chunky worms that they are. Again, a couple of months ago, something just clicked and I decided to just stop, stop the fight against my brows. I'm a hairy person, that's just the way I am, and there's nothing wrong with that. Now my brows are back to their thick hairy selves and I couldn't be happier. The rest of my body, though? I'd still very much appreciate it going bald. Buh bye leg, armpit, and nether hair! You are not welcome and will likely never be unless I decide to go French, which is highly unlikely. I'm a Brit at heart. ;)
4. Family is the most important thing in the world to me. Really, and truly, there is no group of people that make me happier. The joy of having an eternal family is a constant testament to me of the truth of what I believe. Family is happiness. 
5. A happy and kind attitude can move mountains. I see no use in being unkind. Everyone is fighting a battle which we know nothing about, so smile. If I can be kind to someone, regardless of their attitude toward me, than I've done something good in the world. Spreading joy and love will always reap bigger rewards than negativity. 

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1. Find people that appreciate the qualities that make you, you and kindly encourage you to improve those qualities that maybe aren't so nice. I've found that the relationships that mean the most to me are those relationships where I don't have to hide who I am, the good, bad, pretty, and ugly. The relationships where I'm loved despite my imperfections and yet feel inspired to be better.
2. I hate the smell of toothpaste. I know, this isn't a life changing lesson, and it's super weird, but it's still something I've learned about myself. I don't know what it is, but the smell of freshly brushed teeth just makes me want to puke.
3. Weight really isn't as big a deal as I used to make it out to be. Honestly, who cares? Letting go of that particular care has certainly been a battle, though. But I've honestly found that I feel happier when I eat a big nutritious meal when I feel like it instead of stressing about calories and trying to restrict myself, and honestly I've found that I tend to be heavier when I worry about it and lighter when I don't. I think being healthful and strong beats being a "skinny minny" any day of the week. In fact, I kind of hate that term. It's lame and puts too much emphasis on the desire to be "thin". Be yourself at your healthiest and be happy about it, whether that IS on the smaller side or whether it's on the curvier side. Be you. Be happy. All of our bodies are different and there's no point wishing we had some other person's body. Comparison is the thief of joy. For myself, though? I'm currently simply striving to be stronger and more muscular in a healthful and natural way. 
4. A song in the heart is a pocketful of joy. Music can influence the world. Surround yourself with music that inspires and brings happiness. 
5. I am me, and I'm not going to hide. I watch TONS of tv, I'm a graphic novel/comic junkie, Harry Potter is my best friend, I'd rather lie in bed reading a book or giggling over something funny on the internet with my sister than go out, Star Wars and Back to the Future are the defining movies of my childhood, I can't dive into swimming pools, I love super heroes, Jane Austen is my home girl, 90% of my conversations with my siblings involve at LEAST on Pride & Prejudice quote, I'm a lyricist of funny songs, I can come up with a lovely cock and bull story to woo the masses in ten second flat, I'm a geek at heart, and I am HAPPY.