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libraryofloveletters · 3 years

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Love Delivered To Your Doorstep

Evan Buckley x Reader

Warnings: fem!reader, mentions of cheating, break ups and killing/serial killers. (<in a joking context)

Category: fluff for the most part.

Word Count: 3.9k

Author’s Note: Doesn’t follow canon, it has a little of buck begins in there but it doesn't follow a strict timeline. It also is written like Buck moves to LA and has his apartment from the moment he moves there while trying to figure out what he wants to do.

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Texting and calling was never your choice method of communication.

Letters had always been more of your thing.

Truthfully, they hadn't been your thing until your boyfriend moved halfway across the country for university. The two of you met in high school, freshman year and became inseparable since. Growing together and promising to always love each other no matter what -you always knew that couldn't be true but it never stopped you from telling him.

When he told you that he was going to be applying to UCLA during your senior year of high school, it came as a bit of a shock to you. The plan was always going to college together, get engaged when you were done school and then married with a house by 30.

You held out the hope of that being possible until the day he showed you his acceptance letter.

You were incredibly proud of him but it was real now, he was leaving.

You watched him pack up his entire life and uproot himself from New York and moved across the country. You sent the first letter to him at what was supposed to be his apartment.

September 30th.

‘Hi baby!

Just writing to see how you're settling in. How’s UCLA ? Have you gotten a chance to go around and get to see the place ? I know you’re there for school but you've got to live a little too. Hope your neighbours are sweet, your mom told me it’s a pretty nice place and it’s got a good view, sounds like your type of place. Hopefully I can come visit you soon.

I started my classes last week. My chem professor is a pain in my ass already, he expects us to read an entire textbook in a week - well not exactly an entire textbook but you get the point. My biology professor is a sweetheart, she showed us pictures of her kids and talked about them for an hour, I didn't realize being a mother was so interesting but she was cool. Also showed us a video of an appendectomy that one of her colleagues performed last week. How are your classes and professors ?

Did I mention I bumped into Sam at the grocery store ? Yeah, he’s back and he’s not fine to tell you the truth. He seemed like he was ready to snap but that might just be my judgment. He said to tell you hello if I spoke to you so- hello :)

I’m going to sign off here, I know this one is short but I don’t have much to update you on. Life’s been pretty dull without you. Hope you’re having fun out there, soaking up the sun for me.

Write me back soon, I love you.

Yours always, y/n’

You mailed the letter the next day, a few weeks had passed before you received a letter back. Except this letter had a different sender name but the same address.

October 22nd.

‘Hi y/n,

This isn't your boyfriend. (I'm assuming that’s who you're writing too based on the context of the letter) I’m Evan, I live in the apartment you thought belonged to your boyfriend or maybe you got the address wrong, I’m not sure. I know you were waiting for an update on all these exciting things that are happening at UCLA. I do not go to UCLA nor can I update you in anything exciting that’s happening there, sorry.

Anyways, the reason I'm writing you back is because I figured you’d want to know that this isn't the correct address and the person you were looking for isn't here before you send another letter and get no response. I was debating if I should have even written you back, but here I am, writing you back.

Your professor for chem seems like an ass to be honest (hope that’s not rude) and your biology professor sounds great, is she hot by the way ? because bonus points for that. Anyways, are you studying medicine ? I'm guessing yes because of the classes you're taking. I'm thinking of signing up to become a first responder but I haven’t decided yet on what yet or if I'm actually going to do it. Anyways, good luck on your classes and the shitty chem professor.

Hope you find your boyfriend (again, assuming)

Peace out,

Evan.’

To say you were shocked would be an understatement. How could the letter you sent to your boyfriend’s apartment belong to someone else ? Why was there someone else living in his apartment ? You dug through your apartment, searching for the paper he left you with the address, you finally found it buried in a drawer.

The address on the paper was identical to the one that Evan sent to you and to the one you sent prior to that. Either your boyfriend was lying or you were losing your mind.

November 4th.

‘Dear Evan,

I'm sorry that I sent the first letter to you and as you guessed, I was looking for my boyfriend who seems to be a bit MIA right now. His mother says that’s the right address and the place that she helped him move into. So I'm not really sure what’s happening there. Anyways, sorry for unloading all of that on you.

To answer your question, yes, I am studying medicine and no, she isn't hot. My bio professor is a 65 year old woman who loves her college aged kids very much. If that’s your definition of hot, then yes - she's got milf status

Have you decided yet if you’re going to sign up to be a first responder ? That’d be pretty cool. Imagine all the girls swoon over you and how many girls you’d pick up just for being a paramedic or a firefighter.

Wait, are you into girls ? Or guys ? You know, whoever you're into, just imagine how many of them you’d pick up.

Also, you’re not a murderer or anything right ? because I rather not answer questions when the police come asking about why I've been sending letters to a serial killer.

Anyways, signing off for now.

Yours always, y/n.

ps. if you do end up bumping into or meeting a guy that looks like my boyfriend, (tall, brown hair, brown eyes. he’s got a pierced ear and a little butterfly tattoo by his collarbone- though not sure why or how you'd see his collarbone) let me know or tell him that his girlfriend is looking for him.

Double ps, what size shirt do you wear ?’

Buck laughed at your absurd question. A person he didn’t even know was asking what size shirt he wore. The letter was set on the coffee table with the rest of the mail, getting buried under all of the stuff he had on there. It was almost the end of December when he realized that he hadn't written you back yet.

December 21st.

‘Hey y/n,

Sorry I've taken so long to get back to you. Things have been hectic over here. I’ve been doing some ‘soul-searching’ - I guess you could call it that and honestly, I don’t think if this whole first responders thing is for me.

I tried out bartending or well, the technical term is mixologist and I’m liking it so far, I think i’m going to stick with it for now.

How have you been ? How’s school ? Surely, you’re on break for the holidays right about now or at least when you get this letter. I hope that you're spending the break doing something fun.

I’m not going to make this very long, I’m sure you’ve been busy with whatever you’re doing right now.

Also, I’ve been meaning to ask. Have you located the mysteriously disappearing boyfriend yet ? I haven't seen anyone that fit your description.

well, that’s not true- I did and just to be sure I asked to see his collarbone, he looked at me like I was a mad man so I guess it wasn't him ?

Anyways, I hope you have a good holiday and you're probably gonna get this sometime between holidays, so merry belated (?) Christmas and happy New Years y/n.

Peace out,

Evan.

ps. medium or large, depending on what it is. Hopefully that answers your question weirdo.’

January 13th.

The morning of the 13th, he went down to check his mail. A box was there with his name on it, the return address was one he had only seen on an envelope. The box returned upstairs with him, setting it on the counter before opening it.

Upon opening it, there was a letter and some colourful tissue paper with what seemed like a sweater under it. He opened the letter first.

‘Dear Evan,

Happy New Years! How was your holiday going ? Did you do anything fun ?

I’ve been good and school is good too, I'm almost done my first year, isn't that crazy ? Just a few more months to go.

How’s your job as mr. mixologist going ? I'm sure you’ve met some wild people and heard some interesting stories.

As for the boyfriend situation, that's over. I’m not surprised to tell you the truth but it still kinda sucks. Anyways, so what happened was that his older brother had come home from college last year and brought a friend with him. She went to the same school as his brother but transferred to UCLA- anyways long story short, they hooked up while he and I were still together and he moved in with her after his mom helped him move into the apartment I thought he had.

But! I’m single and chilling now so it’s all good. (bonus, she cheated on him and left him so yeah)

I got you a little something for Christmas and as a “sorry for unloading all my boyfriend drama on you” present. I was in the gift shop and it made me think of you. Do you celebrate Christmas? I forgot to check oops. If you don't, count it as a just a “sorry for unloading all my boyfriend drama on you” present?

I got a large because I wasn't sure if it would fit. I hope you like it. That’s all for now.

Yours always, y/n.’

He unwrapped the tissue paper to see a blue sweater with the letters NYU on it. He smiled, he assumed that’s where you went. It was sweet that you took the time to get him something, even if it was a by the way thing. Not a lot of people would send something to a person they had been talking to via letters and halfway across the country.

February 12th.

2 days before Valentine's Day, your least favourite holiday of the year. You weren't looking forward to watching all your friends going on with their boyfriends and girlfriends. The mail had arrived while you were out, you picked it up and headed in. There were two envelopes with your name on it, a plain white one and a red one. The red envelope was more squared than rectangular, you assumed it was a card- both had the same sender name.

‘Hey y/n!

Thank you for the sweater, it was nice of you to think of me and get me something. I didn’t know we were doing gifts or I would have sent you something as well and yes, I do celebrate Christmas.

My job as ‘mr. mixologist’ was going well until I quit. It just didn’t feel like the right fit for me you know ? I'm going to see what else is out there for me.

Sorry to hear about your boyfriend, he seems like a douche. Who would cheat on you ? You seem great I mean at least you are on paper (did you get my joke, it’s hard to tell)

Also, remember how I was thinking I might actually give that first responder thing a try? Imagine me as a firefighter, that’s pretty cool right ?

So I kinda did a thing and signed up and then I got in. I started two weeks ago and it was kicking my ass at first but I've gotten a hang of it and things are going pretty well. There's three other Evans in my class so everyone calls me Buck-I kind of like it.

The other envelope, hopefully you opened this one first, is a little something for you for valentines. Hope you like it.

Peace out,

Buck’

The red envelope was on your lap, you pulled the edges carefully not wanting to rip it. Inside was a plain white card with bright red letters that made you laugh. The cover read ‘I’m not sick of you yet!” Opening the card, a $20 fell onto your lap. There was a little message inside that went along with the cash.

‘Since we aren't together and can’t spend valentines together, there’s some cash to get yourself a box of chocolates and a teddy bear. Happy Valentines Day y/n

Love, Buck.’

You smile, this was the first time that Buck had signed with ‘love, buck’ it had always been ‘peace out, buck.’ You tucked the card into the drawer, one you didn’t use very often so you knew it’d be safe there.

*4 years later*

A few weeks had passed since Buck had last heard from y/n. His last letter to her was at the end of June, telling her all about the day he had spent at Hen and Karen’s. He always described every little detail so vividly that it made her feel like she was there with him- but it was now July, end of actually and moving into August.

4 years had blown like nothing.

It felt like just yesterday he got the first letter in the mail. 4 years and they still had no idea what each other looked like but they knew every intricate and intimate detail about each other, their lives and the people in it.

Y/n and Buck had grown rather close over the last few months- more than they already were. Y/n just went through a pretty shitty break up and Buck wasn't exactly big on relationships as of right now.

He had just gotten home from work, his keys set on the counter when he realized that he forgot to check his mail. Stepping back out, there was a woman in the hallway and boxes scattered across her, leading into the apartment down the hall.

She must be his new neighbour.

He wanted to go over and introduce himself but she was busy telling the movers where to set her couch so he decided that he would check the mail and then introduce himself when he returned so he did just that.

Except, she was still busy.

She leaned against the wall, watching the movers move what looked like a coffee table. She glanced up to see Buck walking by, she smiled and he returned the smile.

Buck reaches his apartment, the mail in hand and steps in. He sorts through the pile, bills, ads, coupons and no letter from y/n.

---

Your new apartment was a mess. You decided it was time for a change. You applied to a few hospitals after your break up and the one in LA hired you. So you dropped everything and moved- no family, no ties.

A fresh start.

It was a nice neighbourhood and the building was quiet. The neighbours you met were pleasant and welcoming. When you were having the furniture moved in, there was a blonde man who smiled at you and you assumed he lived in the unit down the hall because that’s where he stepped into.

It was almost 11pm when you finally sat down. You had been on your feet all day and just wanted to eat something. The box with the dishes was beside the couch, you pulled the tape off and opened it. There was an envelope sitting on top of the stack of plates.

Buck’s last letter to you.

You must have tossed it into the boxes while packing and you forgot to write him back. Tumbling through the boxes, you find a sheet of paper and a pen from your bag. Sitting on the floor, the paper resting on an unopened box, you begin writing.

‘Dear Buck,

I’m sorry I've taken so long to get back to you. I quit my job, and uprooted my entire life. The break up sucked major ass as you know, so I decided it was time for a change.

Guess where I decided to go ?

Did you guess yet?

No, not Canada, why would you guess Canada ?

LA!

Yeah, isn't that crazy that I ended up here of all places? Maybe we could get together one day (if you haven’t turned into a crazy serial killer that is.)

Anyways, that’s why I've taken so long to write. I was packing when I got your letter and I tossed it in a box and just found it again. Anyways, I hope you’ve been good, how have things been at the station ?

I promise I'll write again with more details soon, I just have to get settled in first.

Yours always, y/n.’

Folding the paper, you slipped into an envelope. The address being scribbled into the back of the envelope. You were about to seal it when the building number caught your eye.

It was the same number as the place you moved into. The same address, the building number, the same floor.

The unit number was the only difference.

There was no way you moved into the building that Buck lived in.

You knew the address felt familiar when you saw the listing but you didn’t think anything of it nor did it occur to you that you knew the address.

Stepping out of your apartment, looking at the number on the room and back down at the envelope in your hand. Buck’s apartment was down the hall.

Part of you just wanted to mail it and keep things as it was but another part of you wanted to meet him, to see what he was really like in person. So there you were walking down the hallway at a quarter past 11 in the dead of the night to meet a man you had been sending letters to for the last 4 years.

The end of the hallway, you stared at the black wooden door in front of you. Your brain weighing the options right now: he’s a sweetheart and welcoming and makes you feel comfortable or he’s a weird guy who’s been lying to you this whole time and you told him everything about you and now he’s going to kill you.

Before you could register what you were doing, you knocked on the door.

Glancing down at yourself, you were wearing a pair of old shorts and a t-shirt from high school that you found in a drawer while packing. Not an ideal outfit, maybe he’s sleeping and you can go home and change- the door opened, a man wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt stood there. He looked like he had just woken up.

“Sorry, did I wake you?”

“It's alright,” he yawned, his hand covering his mouth as he blinked away a few tears. “What can I do for you ?” he leaned against the door.

“Um, this is an odd question-” you shifted, glancing down at the envelope in your hand. “Are you Buck ?”

“I am, who are you ?”

“Y/n.”

You had never seen a man wake up that fast, he seemed surprised, confused and concerned all in one. “How- uh, are you- What ?” he mumbled.

“I found your letter in the box after I moved, I moved into the apartment down the hall” you point to your left, Buck sticks his head out of the doorway and looks at the door you were pointing to. You were the woman in the hallway that he saw earlier, he knew you looked familiar.

“I just wrote your letter and I noticed that the addresses were the same, just a different unit number so I decided to come check. Sorry if I bothered you, we can talk another day- it’s late and you probably have work” “Would you like to come in?” he opens the door a bit more, looking to you for an answer.

“Um, okay sure.” stepping in, you can’t help but glance around. The apartment was similar to yours, the layout was a bit different though. “Can I get you something to drink ? Coffee, water ? A beer ?” he rounded the kitchen counter, you took a seat on one of the chairs by the counter.

“Water’s fine, thanks”

He reached for a bottle from the fridge, sliding it over to you. You gave him a smile, he leaned against the counter and was now looking- studying you.

“I know we’ve talked to each other for 4 years but this is kinda strange” you chuckled awkwardly, Buck can't help but smile.

“Yeah, it is, isn't it? but can I ask why you moved to LA?”

“Well all of that was in the letter” you slide the envelope across the counter and he picks it up, opening it. Giving him a few moments to read, you watch his expression like you were hoping for some insight as to how he was feeling or what he was thinking. He let out a laugh, “how’d you know I'd guess Canada ?” you smiled at him, a small wave of relief washing over you for some reason. “Lucky guess I suppose”

“Do you-” “What are-” the sentences cutting each other off, the two of you awkwardly smiling at each other. “You first” looking at him, he hums.

“Do you have work tomorrow or are you busy ?” His eyes meet yours, you found yourself leaning forwards towards the counter- towards him. He made you feel comfortable, you’d go as far as to say safe, in a way you’ve never felt before.

“No, I don't start until the 21st. Why ?”

“I was thinking - if you're not busy and if you want to, of course. Maybe I could take you out for breakfast and I could show you around ? Or lunch or dinner ? Whatever works for you actually” he rambles, fiddling with his fingers to avoid eye contact.

A small laugh slips past your lips causing him to look up, his brows furrowed as he studies your face, looking for an answer.

“Breakfast sounds good, what time should I be ready for ?”

“Uh, is 10 okay ?” he asks, you nod. “I’ll be ready for 10 then.”

“Okay, I'll pick you up” he smiles.

“Buck, we live in the same building.”

“Oh right,” he chuckles, “well I'll be by yours at 10 then” the two of you smiling at each other.

“Okay.”

----

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am-molloy · 5 years

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20 Facts About Me: A.M. Molloy

Hello everyone! Welcome back (or to) my blog.

Today I thought I would share with you all 15 random facts that you may or may not know about me. These factoids may not have to with my writing life, but they’ll help you understand who I am as a person. So! Let’s take a dive into my life.

If you didn't know this already, I have a cat named Sorren. She is my soul-kitty and the love of my life. We’ve barely been apart the 11 years she’s been in my life. I wasn’t going to accept any job abroad unless I could bring her.

I love to travel. In fact, my first big travel was to a summer camp in China when I was 15, way back in 2004.

So far, I’ve been to (in order), China, America, Japan ( x3 ), Korea, (x3 ), Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Being Canadian, I’ve obviously been to Canada, though I haven’t travelled as much within my own country. I do plan on visiting more countries soon, but for now, I’m planning another return visit to Japan for my upcoming summer vacation.

I am a 2nd-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, although it’s been a few years since I practiced due to financial issues. I would love to practice again, especially as I live in Korea now, but now is not the right time for me. I still have all my equipment and remember most of my forms so perhaps someday!

Side note, back in the day when I did practice, I used to go to competitions and would usually win first or second place. Usually first for forms and second for sparing. I rarely got lower and if I did it was for sparing. Forms were my strong suit.

I used to be an animator. I went to an art school studying animation and graphics and working in my field after graduation. Though if I’m being honest, I was never the best at animation. Still, art was more my thing. So when I worked for Contendo, I eventually gravitated towards mostly audio work and eventually becoming their Senior Audio Editor. I still do art, but it’s now for fun rather work. And let’s be honest, the art I did for Contendo isn’t what you would have expected me to be doing. At Contendo we made training videos for oil and gas companies.

Below is my super old demo reel, and I have improved since 2009 But this is to just show you what I used to do. I was by far the best but I enjoyed doing it all the same.

Note: The video is from my old YouTube channel from college. I do not use that channel anymore. If you want to see more up to date videos and life in Korea, check out my actual YouTube channel: Canadian Abroad: A.M. Molloy.

I have a total of 11 tattoos! (So far). Below is a slideshow from my very first tattoo (the tribal dragon when I was 17) to my latest, number eleven done this year in Korea (Sorren).

I am fluent in English, French, Spanish and I can speak intermediate Japanese (taught myself) and beginner Korean (also teaching myself).

My dad is French (from Quebec) so I learned English and French growing up in my household. I majored in Spanish at university and spent a semester in Spain as an exchange student.

I used to do a lot of cosplay, but I haven’t done so in years. I haven’t cosplayed very much and I reused the same cosplay for many cons (and halloween costumes) but I still enjoyed doing it all the same. I can’t sew so I always had help making them. I still appreciate a good cosplay from other cosplayers.

I love photography, though I’m still learning. I’m far from good but I’m getting better every day. I mostly take iPhone photography shots because I don’t always lug around my Nikon D3200. Honestly, with a bit of practice, anyone can make iPhone pictures turn out great. Featured below are a few of my favourite shots taken with my iPhone 8.

I have a wall of all my shots but my favourite will always be of my best friend, Leila, holding the Polaroid picture I just took of her. The picture of her holding the picture (INCEPTION) was also another iPhone shot.

I made my own language/culture because reasons. Mostly RP though. The language is called Hikaran and is spoken by a race on the planet Spira. I go into full length on said language and people in a previous blog post, so please, go ahead and check it out!

Admittedly, I made most of this up during math class in high school. It’s safe to say I’m not very good at math.

Anyway, instead of going into full detail here (because it’s in the blog post), I’ll just leave this popular Hikaran saying here:

While on exchange to Spain back in the summer of 2016, I met and shook hands with the queen of Spain in what I call a happy accident. One day I was walking around my school and taking a stroll around town and I noticed a blocked road a crowd starting to form where there usually isn’t. So, naturally, I had to get up front to see what was going to happen. Turns out the queen of Spain was in town and she took time to shake hands with people and I got lucky enough to be one of them. Moral of the story: when you see a tent or a barricade and people starting to gather where there usually isn’t, get up front because awesome things are gonna happen. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture with her, but I do, however, have a picture of her. (Pictured above).

Back in high school, when it was time for graduation photos, we were told we could bring an item, like a soccer ball or baseball bat, if we wanted for our pictures. Being the cat-obsessed weird person that I am, I legit brought my cat, Marbles (AKA Mibs) in a duffle bag (it was open) to school for my picture. Needless to say, I was the talk of the school for bringing a cat haha. I lived super close to my school so I took my picture and brought her straight home. She hated going to school but was a good girl and took an amazing picture.

I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. Literally grew up with it. I was in the 6th grade reading the first three books because that’s all that was published at the time. When the first Harry Potter movie came out, I’ll never forget the experience. It was amazing and I loved every bit of it.

PS: I’m a proud Gryffindor. I also have many friends from all of the houses, but most of them are from Slytherin.

I grew with Pokemon. I was around when it was all first released and Pokemon Red was my first ever game I owned to go with the first ever consul I opened, Nintendo Colour. I buy every game, still collect cards, and I used to watch the anime. Pokemon will always have a special place in my heart.

My new all time favourite game is Life is Strange all other games in said franchise. THAT GAME IS MY LIFE, YO. I mean, if you noticed on fact number 5 that one of my tattoos is Life is Strange themed.

My favourite author is Rachel Vincent.

Literally, anything she writes is golden to me.

My favourite series of hers will always be the Soul Screamers series. I still can’t believe how she ended that series. Love it! I just get so invested in each world that she creates that I feel like I’m right there with the characters and I don’t know what to do with my life when I finish each book.

If you love reading, I highly recommend checking her out.

The origin of my author name: A.M. Molloy is basically the initials to my given name, Alex Molloy. However, in person, I prefer to be called Mina. Mina is my Korean name and to be honest, I was never fond of Alex. Since I live in Korea, everyone here calls me Mina. It makes me happy to hear people call me Mina. :3

My novel is in its third round of edits and beta reader stage. One of my beta readers created SOUTH’s very first meme! I’m so in love with it that I’m sharing it here.

So, my university had this mini ball pit kept in the student center. Once during a society meeting at my university, my friend and I decided to completely organize the ball pit into a rainbow. It literally took us forty-five mins straight but we did it! And then no one wanted to sit in the ball bit for like a week because they didn’t want to mess it up so we had to mess it up again so people would use it again.

During my second visit to Japan, I had the pleasure to meet a real sumo wrestler. It was an honour. I wish I could have seen an actual match but this was still awesome all the same.

I loved volunteering at my university for many things, but my favourite was being an NSO Leader. My last year at uni I had the privilege to be on the best team, Yellow Team, and had the most amazing crew. It was truly the best experience. I loved helping all the newcomers to UPEI and I would do it again in a heartbeat if I was still in school.

Well, you’ve made it this far! Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about me. For now, this concludes my new post, 20 facts about me.

Take care.

— Mina (A.M. Molloy)

#FAQ #Ramdom Facts #Author

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youdecode · 4 years

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17 Best Advice for New College Students | College tips & tricks for success

Starting a college can be overwhelming. It is a whole new world!

Interestingly I used to think that once one enters the 20s , a carefree life welcomes you ahead.

I literally used to write this in my daily diary when I was 10 . . . but after having gone through college!

I realized that life was not as I thought . . . clearly not.

If you are dubious and wondering what to expect then this blog post has got you covered with all the essentials.

College is fun but not all fun!

There are certain things which if known before time then it serves the best. Let’s dig in:

Also Here Are Some Related Massively-Transformative Resources You Will Ever Need.

How to Wake up Early & How to get up Early?

How to Manage Time Wisely?

How to create an Action Plan?

PS : Don’t forget to grab the freebie at the end of post, specially crafted for you !

1) First Semester Might Dump your expectations but . . .

The first year classes may seem all over the place.

But they will get better and major specific with time.

They will not be as engaging as you might have thought them to be.

So just know that engaging classes will come ahead. Don’t get disappointed.

#1 advice for new college students:

Just know that engaging classes will come ahead. Don’t get disappointed.

2) Planning early

Remember to plan ahead. But do not get engaged with excessive planning. Just plan once in the starting.

I am not talking about everyday to do lists. I am referring to the semester plan.

You will have an academic year plan in your hand so set semester goals from the starting.

Get the most efficient way of achieving your goals through a proven productive system.

This is the best guide you will ever need in your career.

#2 advice for new college students:

Get the most efficient way of achieving your goals through a proven productive system.

This is the best guide you will ever need in your career.

3) Waking up early

Remember that in college you will lack motivation because nobody will be shouting in your ears for waking you up.

Yes, you do not have your mom close by.

Your professors simply do not care if you show up or not . . . you might get lucky if you get an awesome roommate who can be your alarm but that is not a popular case!

I will highly suggest you to make a productive timetable.

Your productivity depends on your routine.

We all have 24 hours but you can make most of them by investing in this guide for a successful life ahead.

#3 advice for new college students:

I will highly suggest you to make a productive timetable.

Your productivity depends on your routine.

We all have 24 hours but you can make most of them by investing in this guide for a successful life ahead.

4) Studies & Fun run parallel

Get pro at time management since the start.

Remember that time management does not mean to dig yourself into the studies every day. It is the act of balancing out.

If you are spending a day out then you need to balance the time spent for fun while staying up in the library the next day!

If you really want to get pro at time management and boost your productivity to an insane level then learn from the experts a full proof way of succeeding in life.

#4 advice for new college students:

If you really want to get pro at time management and boost your productivity to an insane level then learn from the experts a full proof way of succeeding in life.

5) You can’t do it all so prioritize.

I remember that when my college was starting out I had so much on my to-do list. I wanted to visit every galaxy!

I had aimed to join several clubs, lead a radio station and maintain grades etc.

After an overwhelming freshman year I realized that I sucked at prioritizing!

I learnt the hard way and affected my grades initially but i do not want you to do that.

Get a complete blueprint to make an efficient to-do list that actually works for your benefits.

Again I will advise you to learn from the experts because the harsh reality is that you can’t do it all.

#5 advice for new college students:

Get a complete blueprint to make an efficient to-do list that actually works for your benefits.

Again I will advise you to learn from the experts because the harsh reality is that you can’t do it all.

6) You will not get any special treatment

Professors in college will fail to acknowledge you when it is about the special treatment.

Even if your scholarship will be on stake, they will care less.

Even if you are just failing by 0.5, professors will care less . . .

do not expect anything from them no matter how many warm smiles of appreciation they pass on your during the lectures!

#6 advice for new college students:

Do not expect anything from them no matter how many warm smiles of appreciation they pass on your during the lectures!

7) Who cares?

If you are too self conscious then you need to realize that no one truly cares.

Yes, the world does not revolve around you so you need to stop being hard on yourself.

By no one cares I mean that I stop being afraid of what others will think.

People would not judge you, your dressing or your grades.

Because honestly speaking, everyone gets caught up in their own shit that they hardly get time.

Nobody also cares about your future. Thus, you have to get independent and make your life.

#7 advice for new college students:

Drill into your head that Nobody cares about your future. Thus, you have to get independent and make your life.

8) Adulting is not what you just thought of

With adulting comes all new responsibilities like bills and other payments.

#8 advice for new college students:

Own every task from day 1 to avoid the hassle later.

9) It is okay to be perfectly imperfect

It is okay if you do not get perfect grades, perfect vision or perfect friends in the start.

#9 advice for new college students:

Know Things will take time.

10) Mission of making friends

I have been growing up by listening that one can only make true friends only at school.

Have you also heard that college is not an ideal place to find true friendship?

Or that people are only your friends there for selfish reasons?

If yes, then let me counter this very fact by sharing my own experience.

You can get great friends in university. It might just take more time. But you will.

I miss my seniors . . . i am cherishing some great relations AND you can too. Just be kind and helpful . . .

#10 advice for new college students:

Know It requires a bit of effort to prove your sincerity in college and nothing else!

11) Asking for help is alright

Take help whenever you need one .

Trust me you will not get answers staring at the dorm ceiling!

#11 advice for new college students:

Remember If re-reading or revising is not helping then do not shy away from sorting your concepts instantly, as piled up stuff would not lead you anywhere.

12) Real Learning starts outside

Me and my friend were joking around the other day and discussing the education we were receiving in college.

#12 advice for new college students:

Know that life is the best teacher . . . Remember you will not learn everything in college. You will have to find your ways.

13) Challenge and try out new things.

Doing the same things will yield the same results.

So try something new for growing up. The last thing you want to be is remaining stagnant.

#13 advice for new college students:

Go out of the way to try new things.

14) Will things go according to plan? No.

If I talk about myself then my long term goal was fixed but the short term goal kept swinging . . . these short ones will change so do not hesitate and they will change for the better.

#14 advice for new college students:

You will have a constantly changing plan. So be ready for it.

15) Don’t fret about your major

Major!!! This is the point of an extreme resonance!

If you have an undecided major then do not obsess over it.

Tapping my tale:

I had decided my major and studied computer science in the freshmen year but then switched to communication and design in the sophomore year!

Completely different school. So it’s okay to take time.

#15 advice for new college students:

Remember girl, you will figure out things gradually.

16) Approach your RA

I have forgotten the count I had eaten at the head of my RA for discrete mathematics.

I literally used to catch him near corridors and sit on stairs to solve problems.

I even did not care about his timings!

#16 advice for new college students:

So do not hesitate girl and stick till things are crystal clear.

17) Just get started girl

Stop planning and get things done.

I always talk about the behavior of our mind in this blog.

Whenever you need to get started with something new, your mind will show reluctance.

Why?

Because it will have to make new patterns and connections and it is afraid of that (the fear of procrastination) So know that any assignment, meeting or project is only hard until you start it.

#17 advice for new college students:

So stop planning and get things done.

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You need to become a high performer.

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You will find that all achievers had a super productive morning routine in common.

Prepare yourself for the productive routine.

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Because you deserve success in your career, and health in your lovely relationships.

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footiefanficwonderland · 7 years

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Babies Having Babies (Andre Silva OS)

AN: This one is for the lovely anon who requested an Andre Silva one shot involving pregnancy. I hope this has just enough cuteness and enough drama as you asked for, and I hope you like it. Please guys, share your thoughts, I can’t even tell you how much that means to me.<3 Enjoy! Lots of love xoxo PS: I apologize for not posting this sooner, work has just been crazy lately. Please don’t hate me. It was the morning of her big sister's wedding and Michelle was going through the house checking once again if everything was in order. Her sister has decided to have the wedding in their family home back in Marseille which was a great idea since the house had a huge backyard which could take all their family and friends. Michelle was particularly looking forward to seeing some of her friends and family members whom she hadn't seen since she left for college three years ago, and a lot of things have changed since then.

The house was fairly silent as Michelle roamed around. The only noise she could hear was coming from the outside where her mother and aunt were supervising the workers who were there to arrange the tables. Her sister was still fast asleep and Michelle was thankful for that considering that it was her big day, and she needed to get as much sleep as possible to be able to combat all the anxiety and excitement which was bound to follow her throughout the day.

As she entered the hallway, Michelle noticed that one of the decorations hanging from the wall has loosen up and was about to fall off, and just as she was about to stand on her tip toes and stretch to reach it, a male hand pinned the decoration in place. Michelle looked up only to see Mark, her sister’s soon-to-be brother in law standing in front of her.

“You really are trying to give poor Andre a heart attack, are you?" he teased. "I've seen how much he worries, please don't frighten the poor guy like that."

And just as Michele opened her mouth to respond, she felt a pair of familiar hands wrap around her from behind. As he leaned in and kissed her cheek, his gorgeous smell filling her lungs, she leaned back against his chest.

"Is my beautiful wife again not listening to what I've asked her at least a million times. Take. It. Easy." he said softly, emphasizing every word as he rested his hands on top of her big pregnant belly. As he lovingly caressed her belly, she could feel the baby immediately starting to move and kick; it was obvious that this little girl already loved her daddy so very much. But who could blame her when mommy herself was still over the moon about him.

"And I've told you just as many times, love,"-Michelle smiled sweetly turning to face him, "you worry too much."

“Of course I worry, you two are my whole world,” he answered sincerely.

As his phone began to ring, Mark excused himself from the couple, and Michelle turned to face Andre once again, “And that is why I love you, but I know what I‘m doing, so just trust me, okay?”

“I do trust you baby,” Andre reasoned, “but you are 34 weeks pregnant- the baby could come out any minute. You can’t keep jumping and running around like you used to before the baby.”

“But I feel fine,” she protested.

“I know you do,” he let out a worried sigh, “and baby, I’m so thankful you and the baby are both healthy and feeling great, but I just need to take it slowly, okay? Just until the baby comes. Please you can do it for me”

And then he looked at her with his puppy eyes and her heart melted and she just took his head in her hands and started kissing him, muttering “I promise” somewhere in between the kisses.

As he started kissing her deeper, she could feel the familiar tingling feeling between her legs. Damn, she couldn't wait to get this baby out so she could have proper sex with her husband.

Andre was the one to break the kiss, kissing her on the forehead. “Why don’t you go lay down for a bit,” he instructed more than asked.

“I'm not tired,” she smiled, “besides, there's just so much left to do”.

“And there are so many other people who can do that, you don't have to do everything you know?” Andre was starting to get annoyed.

Her self-defense mechanism was already on guard, but as she opened her mouth to defend herself, a female voice called "Andy!" and soon enough quick footsteps began getting closer.

It was her mother. "Oh Andy, sweetie, can you please help me out with something." she said breathing heavily, probably from all from all the rush she's been into all morning.

"Hey darling," she said kissing Michelle's cheek, “how are you feeling today?”

“I'm feeling great mom, why do you need Andre?”

“Oh the lady with the cake has called, said they had a business emergency- can you imagine- what kind of emergency can a pastry shop have?! Anyhow, all her drivers are away and she has no free car to deliver the cake,” she sighed in agony. “Andy, please, will you be a sweetheart and bring it. I'll give you the directions.”

“Of course,” Andre smiled, glad that he could help. He then turned to Michelle, “Baby, just get some rest, okay?”

Her mother laughed good-naturedly. “Oh, sweetie she doesn’t know how to do that. Let me tell you something about this one. When she was a child, there was no way to get her to nap during the day. Not even when she had a fever. Nope. She would just go outside and play with the rest of the kids on the street. I would literally have to drag her inside to give her the medicine. And she’d still get better sooner than the rest of the kids.”

Michelle raised her eyebrows at her mother, annoyed that she had to tell Andre stuff like that. “But she got it from me.” The older women admitted. “I was just the same as she is now. I couldn’t lie still throughout either of my pregnancies. You know, I was actually apple picking on my father’s farm when this one decided to come out. We barely made it to the hospital!” Andre couldn’t help but laugh at the story and neither could Michelle. “My point is, I know you worry, but she’ll do just fine. That’s just how she’s always been.”

Then she turned to her daughter handing her a small basket that she was carrying, “Darling, please pack these presents for the guests, would you?” the women smiled sweetly before winking at Andre, “That will keep her busy”. Then she took him under the arm and started leading him down the stairs, giggling and gesturing something vividly to him.

Michelle just shook her head as she could literally feel her heart smile. She couldn’t be happier that her mother has finally accepted Andre. The situation wasn’t always so pink and shiny between them. Not even close. And not just concerning her mother, but her whole family honestly. Michelle was always their pride and joy and they were all so very disappointed when, instead of choosing “so many top-class universities that France had to offer,” Michelle accepted a scholarship for studying architecture in an university in Portugal. Her family had dreams about her becoming a lawyer or a doctor, and they were highly disappointed when she chose architecture instead. But they knew how strong headed she was and eventually they just accepted her decision. And soon Michelle proved them that she made the right choice. Just in her first semester she won the opportunity to work as a student intern on one of the projects of the biggest architecture company in the country. And success after success seemed to follow. The other part, which her parents were not so happy about was that just after she had finished her first semester, Michelle met Andre.

If the day is to be judged by the morning, then these two should’ve known that their relationship was going to be a rocky one judging its beginning- they met while she was on a date with another man! After that they saw each other a couple more times, then Michelle went home during the winter holidays, not really believing she would see him again. But after she came back, only to find him waiting for her with flowers in front of her campus, the two became completely inseparable. It took them just a few short months to fall madly in love. After her last final exam for the year, Andre proposed as they sat in their bathing suits, eating ice cream and watching the sunset on the beach. There wasn’t anyone around to take cute pictures of them, nor was there anyone around to celebrate their engagement with. Their friends thought they’ve gone completely mad considering they were both barely 20, and so did his family. Her family on the other hand didn’t even want to hear any of that. Michelle wanted to take Andre to France with her during the summer to meet her family, but they didn’t even consider the possibility before rejecting it. Thankfully, his family was a bit more considerate and they slowly accepted their engagement, falling completely in love with Michelle as they got to know her.

They got married right before the beginning of her fall semester and moved into a small apartment which wasn’t the nicest but was all they could afford. Their wedding was small with just a couple of friends and a few of Andre’s family members. Michelle’s family was still absolutely furious at her, but she would forever be thankful to her sister and Antoine, her soon- to be- husband, who came for the wedding and actually gave them a chance. Soon after the wedding Andre started playing in FC Porto and Michelle started an internship in an architecture company with a symbolic salary. She was willing to work part time as a waitress or something, but Andre pressured her to pursue her dreams even if it meant that he wouldn’t have it easy. Slowly, Michelle’s family began to cool off and they started calling and visiting and slowly accepting their marriage.

Then, just a little before their first anniversary, Michelle peed on a stick in the toilet on the stadium while Andre was playing. Two very strong red-ish lines told her that she was pregnant, or at least that’s what the instruction said and she has read that about eleven times. She couldn’t even wait to get home to tell him the news but ran to him as soon as the game was over, and they laughed together as the whole team cheered them on. This time, both of their families went equally crazy going on and on about how they were still even too young to raise themselves let alone a baby, how irresponsible they’ve been, how immature, and the list goes on and on.

All Michelle and Andre did was laugh and enjoy this utter bliss they felt. However, asowevhOsjsjsnnbbasssssssm the baby was growing and with it Michelle, so seemed to grow their parent’s compassion and affection for the baby because they slowly started accepting their grandchild, and Andre as well.

Now- due in less than two weeks- Michelle lovingly stroked her belly and the baby that she’s grown to love more than words can describe, as she watched her mother and everyone in her family accept the man she loved with all her heart like he was one of their own.

xxx

The rest of the morning flew by in performing finishing touches, and it was almost noon when Michelle finally found some time to do her hair and make-up. Just as she was putting on her lipstick, Andre walked by in his suit. His eyes widened at the sight of her as he whispered in awe that she looked breathtaking, and Michelle couldn’t stop smiling either because he looked absolutely dashing in that suit.

He needed help with his tie, but Michelle wasn’t quite fond of the one he had chosen. As she turned to the drawers to look for a more suitable one, she felt a sharp pain run through her lower stomach.

“Baby,” she gasped in pain grabbing onto the table for support, unable to say anything else as the pain kept cutting through her like a knife. Andre was already by her side holding her.

He led her to the bed but when she screamed due to a new wave of pain that washed over her, he completely lost it. He didn’t even know what he was supposed to do, even though he himself has insisted that they go through this plan only a hundred times.

“Get the keys!” with the pain taking the best of her, Michelle screamed at him. Andre immediately started roaming through the drawers, completely taking the content out of them, as he frantically searched for the keys. Paranoid and unable to find them, he even asked Michelle if she had them before realizing they were in his pocket all along. “What is going on here?” Her mother questioned as she entered the room after hearing the loud noise. When she saw Michelle lying in bed, holding her belly, her face twisted in pain, she quickly ran to her side.

As she noticed that all the color has left Andre’s face as he kept fidgeting, unsure what to do to help his wife, the older women told them both in a soothing voice that they can do this, that they’ve prepared for this and that their baby girl is waiting for them at the end of this day. This seemed to calm Andre down, as now he was finally able to think straight again.

“But this is too early, why is she coming so early?” Michelle questioned frantically, realizing that her due date is not for another 10 days!

“That is perfectly normal, sweetie; hardly any baby is born on the due date,” her mother stroked her hair trying to calm her down. “The baby usually comes when she feels ready and looks like my granddaughter is pretty ready.”

Andre bent down kissing his wife’s forehead, “We can do this baby, we are ready,” he whispered as Michelle smiled at him thankfully.

She was already starting to mentally prepare herself for the delivery and for having to miss her sister’s wedding after all, when the pain all of a sudden just stopped, as abruptly as it has come.

It seemed to have been a false alarm but her mother waited around a little longer just to be sure. When nothing happened, she instructed her daughter to have some rest and this time, Michelle didn’t object. Andre laid down beside her, stroking her hair, as she rested her head on his chest.

“I’m so embarrassed,” she muttered, “Can’t believe I scared you all like that”

“Are you kidding me,” Andre laughed, ”I was a total mess! I think I would’ve lost my head had it only not been attached to my neck.”

They laughed wholeheartedly. “Seems like men really aren’t made for this” Michelle commented as Andre leaned down to kiss her lips.

“Not even close” he said sincerely, “but I promise to stay by your side through it all.” He kissed her again.

“Just don’t faint please,” Michelle only half- joked as she snuggled deeper in his arms.

xxx

The wedding has gone as planned and was absolutely mesmerizing. At times, as she watched her sister in the stunning wedding dress and her whole family there, supporting her, it made Michelle a bit sad that she couldn’t have experienced that on her own wedding day. But she would then glance at her husband’s hand holding her own and at her round belly, and she couldn’t feel more blessed to have come this far with the man who has completely stole her heart. And when her sister and her now officially husband kissed, she cried out of pure happiness.

The newly-weds have left near the end of the evening, right after they’ve cut the cake, having a flight for Sicily to catch. Guests have started to leave immediately after them, leaving only the closest family members to continue chatting and sharing stories in the spirit of the beautiful day that was past them. By midnight, all of them have already gone to bed, and Andre and Michelle were definitely the first ones to do so. However, while Andre fell asleep as soon as he hit the pillow, Michelle couldn’t fall asleep for the life of her. In between bathroom breaks which now seemed to be less than an hour apart, she kept tossing and turning, unable to sleep. This was nothing uncommon, as her life was practically like this during the whole third trimester. However, tonight it was accompanied with cramp like pain which seemed to come in waves since early evening. She didn’t want to say anything to Andre because she didn’t want to get him worried, but he was able to see that something was off since she wasn’t as chatty as she usually was nor did she want to dance as much as he knew she’d like to. But she just told him that she was exhausted and this seemed enough as he then took her to the garden seater, where they sat and rocked all evening long while he gently massaged her back with one hand and caressed her belly with another one. This seemed to help as the pain subsided. However, as the night went on it started to become stronger again. Michelle wasn’t worried; after what has happened today she simply thought that her body was slowly preparing for the experience of child birth. Nevertheless, she headed for the kitchen to have a glass of warm milk, afraid that she might wake Andre up with her tossing and turning.

“Can’t sleep?” she heard familiar voice say as she sat in the kitchen, sipping her milk. Once again, it was Mark. She gave him a small smile, shaking her head.

“Sounds familiar. When Camile was pregnant with our youngest one, I would find her like this every other night,” he said pouring himself a glass of water and taking the seat across the table.”

“But you don’t have a long way to go any more,” he smiled as he watched her stroke her belly gently.” “About ten more days,” she said gazing lovingly at her round belly.

“You feeling alright?” Mark questioned as he watched her flinch in pain for a split of a second.

“Yeah,” she smiled “it just feels like this young lady may decide to come out a bit sooner” she whispered.

They continued talking for a good half an hour, before Michelle decided to return to bed. She picked up the dishes that they’ve used and carried them to the sink to wash them. Suddenly an “oh-no” escaped her lips loud enough for Mark to hear.

“What? Did you cut yourself?” But as he stood up to check, he noticed a small pool of water on the floor.

“What the- where did this come from?” he asked in confusion, but awareness washed over him when he saw Michelle’s facial expression.

“Did your-?”

“I think you should wake Andre up,” she breathed. ”My water just broke.”

AN: Would you guys possibly maybe kinda want to read more about how these two met? I already have the whole story of that event laid out- and it’s super cute and funny tbh- I just need to know if you’d be interesting in reading that. Also, please tell me if my one shots are too long. I feel like they are too long and I wan to know if this bothers you. I personally love reading long long imagines/one shots/fan fictions, and I’m always like *want more*, and I quite enjoy both details and dialogues, which is why I write such long one shots. But please just tell me how you feel about this, I would really appreciate it. <3

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damester13 · 5 years

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Entry #11 - (Early Life pt. 5) 08/29/19

3rd Year of College. I personally think these were the times when I managed to have things to look forward to in life. I may have have been in a rocky situation with dealing with my academic journey and my future, I also may have ended up in a worse state after all of these, but I am truly grateful to have gone through these last 2 years, for better or for worse. I can't just be 100% happy all the time, I guess.

So... out of some personal frustrations at that time, I decided to apply for another org, UP Tomo-Kai. To basically define the org, it's geared towards Japanese culture, language, and its people. As for an actual reason for joining, I really just joined to meet new people, new friends. Of course, I do have interests in whatever Japanese, but it never crossed my mind to join an organization just for that. With all that said, this choice was extremely pivotal for me to experience many things in my college journey.

Firstly, the application was surprisingly enjoyable for me. Thankfully some of my co-applicants stepped up to lead, so I really felt at ease as we breeze through the process. I was ablw to perform much better than I expected. Added to that, my fellow co-apps were simply a bunch of awesome people in many ways. They were weirdos and I ended up becoming one as well. We worked hard and drank hard together. I even celebrated my birthday with some of them in a bar and slept over at someone's house. It was all fun. If I could relive all the moments of our time together, I would. I definitely would. Stay awesome, Kuwago.

The org itself was amazing too. Even if we weren't at our best shape due to internal issues, it never failed to make itself a home, to me at least. I value every work, event, and even simple talks we had together. As I've said earlier, the org was pivotal to my growth as a person because of every experience and encounter the org has lead me into. Words can't express how thankful I am for everything, but I will still say a simple "Thank you" to everyone of TK. May the org continue to make people like me feel the enjoyment of being part of the family.

The impact of me joining this org doesn't stop there. As I was applying for the org, I decided to hit the books and self-study Japanese which definitely was something I didn't expect to do. It wasn't required of us or anything, but it helped me in my goal of meeting new people and it was also fun as a hobby. Monthly, we visit a group of Japanese adults in Makati who teach us various things about Japan. They were my first enounter with the Japanese people. Every semester, there are Japanese exchange students who study in UP for some period of time. There are also Nihongo Partners who help teach the language in UP's Linguistics Dept. And finally, every 2nd sem, groups of Japanese students from certain uni's stay in UP for 2-4 weeks to brush up their English and/or learn about PH. In one of those group of students, I met one of the biggest encounters of my life.

Despite being nowhere near proficient with my Japanese speaking ability, I suddenly got close with one of the female student halfway through their 1 month stay in UP. I guess we just kinda got along easily. After some ups and downs and crazy stuff happened, she ended up becoming my girlfriend for quite some time. That's how my last year in college started.

4th year of College. She went here for a one week stay and flew back to Japan as my girlfriend. The journey towards that relationship was no easy ride, and so was our LDR. Regardless, it gave me hope and ambition. Our relationship didn't just distract me from the ugly state of my life. Instead, I tried to use it in order to motivate myself into something that can help me be better. I dreamed big dreams. I tried finding a direction that leads towards her. But as soon as I found it, I realized the long and excruciating road I have to pave in order to reach her. All those time I was conflicted whether I can still go for it or not given my state as a person. Of course the retarded guy that I am had to be extremely positive of all things, but my actions or my lack of thereof weren't reflective of that. Before I knew it, it was her who initiated to let things go between us. I was at the peak of my struggles with my life at that time and surely the breakup did make things worse. But deep inside me, I felt relief and freedom from the promises and ambitions that I was in no way capable of keeping. After the breakup, I actually tried to cling onto the hope that she gave me, but it didn't last long within me. I failed to take care of our relationship maybe because I was young. But I also failed to make myself a person deserving enough to be committed to despite the physical distance and language barrier. I can't blame her for not seeing anything ahead of our relationship.

After that, I only went to UP again once more for a exam in my Japanese class which was a day after the breakup, but not anymore for the rest of my exams. I also emailed my professors that I won't be able to meet the remaining requirements in their respective classes. I was nothing but a dissappointment. The next time I went to UP was to file for a LoA status.

Earlier that sem, I also dropped a very important major subject after breaking down at 3am of the deadline day. I was unable to come up with anything for my research in a research class of all things. To be honest, this struggle is expected to happen when you don't have a strong intent and motivation to pursue your course. The further I go through our curriculum, the harder it gets until I reach the point where I just can't overcome it anymore. Surely, anyone like my coursemates and professors could've helped me have it easier, but the lack of a driving force within me had no intention of pulling back its punches. If anything, the "helping" has to start in me.

I decided to be on a LoA status the following semester. I hid under the facade objective of getting a much-needed rest and trying to figure out where I should go from there. And well, see where I am right now. I ran away from every single thing I've had and found solitary confinement to be my sole source of comfort in the mess that I am in. Humans are intelligent because we're capable of learning. But we are also stupid for the exact opposite reason on certain instances of our lives.

I just never learn.

With all that said and done, this marks the end of my College journey. I did not really finish the journey, but at this point I think it's over for me.

PS: I entitled this entry series "Early Life", but that's pretty much my whole life as it is right now. Any future entries from here will likely be about my present and some bits of my past.

Also, I think I can write about the LoA period in another entry. It's the freshest memory I have after all. It would be a waste if I won't talk about the struggle I had during that alone time I've had.

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davidarc · 4 years

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!

(Sorry – not a TBR list for Spring/Fall.)

Yes, I know that this week’s topic was suppose to be our Spring/Fall 2020 TBR list, but when I noticed that today would be the 17th, and therefore St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it more appropriate to see if I have read 10 Irish authors. Remember, I grew up in Chicago, the city that dies the Chicago River green to celebrate this holiday! So how could I ignore it? What I found was that although I haven’t written reviews for all of them, I certainly have read all of these authors.

The Chocolate Lady’s Top Ten List of Irish Authors I’ve Read (in alphabetical order):

Cecelia Ahern – Ahern is is probably best known for her 2004 debut novel “PS I Love You” which was made into a major motion picture that starred Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. While romance and rom-coms aren’t usually my genre, I did jump on her popularity bandwagon with her third novel, “If You Could See Me Now.” I didn’t review it (I wasn’t doing much of that back in 2005), but from what I can remember, I can certainly understand the appeal, but I wasn’t overly impressed with the magical reality she included here. Still, I enjoyed the writing and I wouldn’t be surprised if I go back to reading other books of hers in the future.

Sebastian Barry – I didn’t know this Irish author until I met up with an internet friend while on one of my vacation trips to Ireland. He was absolutely adamant that I had to read Barry’s novel, “The Secret Scripture.” I took his advice, and if you take a look at my review, you’ll see that I’m very glad that I did! Unfortunately, I haven’t read more of his works, but I certainly would like to! I’ve noticed that many of his books all take place in the Irish town of Sligo, during different time periods.

Maeve Binchy – The first book of Binchy I read was “Circle of Friends” back in the early 1990s (which was made into a movie in 1995 starring the then, mostly unknown Minnie Driver), and I really enjoyed that book and her writing. That’s why I went back and read her 1985 novel “Echoes” (which was a TV mini-series that I never saw), which was also just lovely. Of course, I don’t have reviews of either of these books, but in the latter, there was a scene I’ll never forget, when Clare asks David if she can make him eggs for dinner and he asks for an omelet, and she doesn’t know how to make one. That scene sticks out in my head as a perfect example of showing and not telling! Unfortunately, Binchy passed away in 2012, but left us with many books of hers to read in the future.

Clare Boylan – This name is almost assuredly the least known of all the authors I’m noting here. I’ve only read one of her novels, “Emma Brown” which she based on Charlotte Brontë’s unfinished manuscript by the same name. As you’ll see from my review, Boylan took a twist with this book that I’m unsure Charlotte would have considered using herself. That said, it was a compelling book and there are pieces of it that I can remember quite vividly. Boylan passed away in 2006.

James Joyce – No list of Irish authors would be complete without including Joyce. I had to read “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” for college, but that didn’t put me off Joyce (as difficult as it was). I went on to read “The Dubliners” which included the short story “The Dead.” That story blew my mind, it was so amazing. We saw one movie they made in 1987 of that story, and although it was very good, of course the story was much better.

Frank McCourt – I wasn’t sure if I should include McCourt on this list, since he wrote non-fiction and not fiction. But I did read his debut memoir “Angela’s Ashes” which won him the Pulitzer Prize, and it really read like fiction to me. That’s an extraordinary talent, and while I have his subsequent book “‘Tis” on my shelf, I’m sorry to say that I’ve never gotten around to reading it. (We might also have the third book “Teacher Man” as well.) I actually read “Angela’s Ashes” after I saw the film they made of that book, and to tell the truth, they were equally as good!

Maggie O’Farrell – Okay, my regular readers already know that O’Farrell is one of my favorite authors, and I’m totally thrilled that her publisher has given me the ARC of her upcoming novel, “Hamnet” to read! Mind you, that didn’t stop me from ordering a print copy of it as well (which, apparently, is already winging its way to me as I write this)! She too wrote a (beautiful, heartbreaking, but yet still very hopeful) memoir, “I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death” that read like fiction, and which made it onto my “best of” list for 2018. So far, my favorite of her books is still the one I read first, “The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox.” But I’ve read EVERYTHING she’s written and I don’t intend to stop now!

Jonathan Swift – Here’s yet another classic for you all. To be honest, I actually only read his “Gulliver’s Travels” quite late in life, and after I’d seen many film versions of the book. That includes the 1939 animated version, which was televised in the early 60s, and was one of the first things aired in color on TV (I vividly remember having three friends come over to my house to watch it on our color TV). When I finally read the book (in the late 90s), one thing struck me. In the world where Gulliver finds is filled with an intelligent species of horses, these horses call humans “Yahoos” which is a word that Swift coined to mean “a crude, brutish or obscenely coarse person”. I’ve always wondered how that meaning morphed into a word that is an expression of happiness and elation. If anyone knows, please tell me!

Colm Tóibín – My husband was the one to turn me on to Tóibín’s books, but I’ve only read one of his novels, and that was “Nora Webster” which I enjoyed very much (with a couple of small caveats). I’m sure most people have read his most popular book “Brooklyn” and/or seen the film they made of it, but according to my husband, it isn’t a very good adaptation of the book (he saw it as an in-flight movie when traveling for work), and he won’t let me watch it! Maybe I should read the book, though. I really enjoyed his writing in Nora Webster, and appreciated his ability to write such a rich and well rounded female protagonist, that felt very realistic to me.

Oscar Wilde – Last but not least, the amazing poet, playwright, and novelist who was jailed and put to hard labor for the “crime” of being a homosexual! I have read ALL of his plays, and seen many productions of them – both on stage and on screen. Back in my High School days, I took theater classes, and through them performed both monologues and scenes from “The Importance of Being Ernest” and “Lady Windermere’s Fan”. Although I don’t often re-read novels, I have read Wilde’s plays over and over and over again! Aside from that, I also have a second-hand, leather bound copy of his novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” The inside cover of my edition (which looks much like the one in this picture) shows it was one of a Modern Library series of books published by Boni and Liveright, which from my Google searches show that my edition was probably published in about 1918 or 1919 (OMG, I have a book that’s about 100 years old on my shelf)!

Speaking of Ireland – I’ve been there three times. Once on my own, and twice with my husband. On our last visit, we were driving around along the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (looking at all the anti-Brexit signs), when we came across a sign pointing to the factor for Hazel Mountain Chocolates! Well, of course, being true to my moniker, we HAD to make a side trip and visit (as well as buy some of their bean-to-bar, boutique, hand made goods). Here’s a slideshow of our pictures from the visit!

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What Irish authors have you read and loved?

TCL’s Top Ten Tuesday for March 17, 2020. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Irish Authors! (With a bonus about some Irish chocolates from @HazelMountainCh!) Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to…

#best of #Book Tag Post #Commentary #Literary Musings #Memes #top ten tuesday

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torentialtribute · 5 years

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A tough Toxteth upbringing was the making of Nikita Parris… Now she’s an England star

If Nikita Parris remembers what she and Raheem Sterling

& # 39; Sorry but I can I don't remember a conversation from 10 years ago & # 39 ;, she says about the meeting, which came about because her brother knew Sterling

Some players from England are just happy to be at the World Cup and answer all the questions, because their game finally gets recognition. There is more an edge for Parris, 25. Perhaps there is always where you have traveled from where she once was.

<img id =" i-b00ec7c180937a32 "src =" https://dailym.ai/2G1UBof 06/07/22 / 14517648-0-image-a-21_1559943711794.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-b00ec7c180937a32" src = "https: //i.dailymail .co.uk / 1s / 2019/06/07/22 / 14517648-0-image-a-21_1559943711794.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" Parris competed with the boys since their old school was minimal provision for girls 'football had for girls' football "

[19459106]

& # 39; She did not break the windows, but only she knows how. & # 39;

The school that she first visited, St. Patrick & # 39; s Catholic Primary, had such & # 39; s minimal football provision for girls who put Parris in place played with the boys. & # 39; She was determined about football in a way that I was & # 39 ;, says her twin sister Kelsey, now teaching assistant at St. Patrick & # 39; s.

& # 39; A group of us played & # 39; shooties & # 39; on the Astro but that place was demolished. The boys accepted her, but she would continue, even if they didn't. Football was Kita & # 39; s way to make something of herself. Her determination: that was the difference between us.

Robbie Fowler attended the same school years earlier and is connected in the distance – & # 39; nephew of a nephew & # 39 ;, says her sister – but England No. 7 hesitates to dwell on the connection as if to push home the fact that there was no helping hand.

<img id = "i-103b09cdf3ff4e2f" src = "https://dailym.ai/2EYzZfX -25_1559944094006.jpg "height =" 435 "width =" 634 "alt =" Parris used football to make something of itself and is now a participant in the World Cup. "Of itself and is now a participant in the World Cup"

Parris used football to make something of herself and is now a participant in the World Cup

There was minimal help for girls at the time, she was the neighbor of the family, & # 39; Calvin & # 39 ;, who took her to boy games for the Toxteth Methodist Center and then to the Kingsley United team, where she briefly played on the same side as Kelsey, defensively.

Position: forward.

England caps: 33.

Goals: 12.

Club: Lyon.

Previous clubs: Man City (127 ap ps, 62 targets); Everton (51 apps, 17 goals)

Honors: Super League 2016; League Cup 2016, 2019; FWA footballer of the year 2019.

SheBelieves Cup: 2019;

soccer players is evident in the team of Phil Neville, with Toni Duggan, Alex Greenwood and Parris, all daughters of the city.

& # 39; She lives a few miles away and would take me to college at the Everton Academy & # 39 ;, Parris says. & # 39; I would not be here without her. & # 39;

That is why Parris, so seasoned Liverpool fan, that she and Kelsey once spent 10 minutes invoking the courage to ask Steven Gerrard for permission

She is now an accomplished young woman: graduated from John Moores University in Liverpool, speaking speaker and the newest player from Manchester City who signs for Lyon.

In St Patrick & # 39; s, where one of her autographed English jerseys is framed at reception and the

& # 39; She told them not to let anyone stop you being what you want to be & # 39 ;, professor Joanne Lewis remembers.

<img id = "i-8eea063f37e2e" src = "https://dailym.ai/2Z7X5Iu -26_1559944101096.jpg "height =" 443 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-8eea063f37e2e" src = "https://dailym.ai/2QRq9RK 22 / 14517724-0-image-a-26_1559944101096.jpg "height =" 443 "width =" 634 "alt =" The winger from England will probably appear against Scotland if the two sides meet on Sunday "The winger from England will probably play against Scotland when the two sides meet on Sunday.

The winger from England will probably appear against Scotland when the two sides meet on Sunday

& # 39; Medium-sized children get that message at home, but some of us do not. It may be quite loaded for some. There is no problem in the places where they come from. She understood the problems and trials . You could have heard a pin code fall that day. & # 39;

Her influence on girls' football in the small school was extraordinary. Under the guidance of gym teacher Jamie Sproule, St. Patrick & # 39; s, the girls' schools for district schools have won over the past three years and three have teams.

& # 39; No competitiveness to the detriment of others or by hitting others, but in itself & mrs. & # 39; To be better today than how you were yesterday. Football can sometimes be their savior.

Parris also launched the NP17 Academy at City of Liverpool College last July, helping to sponsor 14 girls aged 17-19 through a full-time qualification that

& # 39; Those outside of Toxteth and don't know much about it, just label it a disadvantaged area & # 39 ;, says Parris. & # 39; It's home for me. It has pushed me to become the strongest, best version of myself.

Her concealment of the team for England & # 39; s World Cup 2015 was a rare setback, although she was only 21 at the time. The conversation with then manager Mark Sampson, at the Starbucks cafe in St George & # 39; s Park, remains lively. Parris is already a source of inspiration for the next generation of young female football players. "

<img id =" i-ab90c2c6dbdd98e6 "src =" https://dailym.ai/2EYzZMZ a-23_1559944076438.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-ab90c2c6dbdd98e6" src = "https://dailym.ai/2EST3fq /22/14517718-0-image-a-23_1559944076438.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" Parris is already an inspiration for the next generation of young female footballers is already an inspiration for the next generation of young female footballers

She drank hot chocolate. I drank coffee. & I remember the moment because it finally determined me how I would go. would I tie myself up and make sure I made the next World Cup or the euro? I knew I would break through if I put everything in. & # 39;

Sampson was 10 days before that tournament in Canada involved in training and she spent a few weeks during the Ki Jake to England's games on laptop feeds on vacation with her mother and sisters in Egypt. & # 39; They would wake me up at 1:30 pm to watch them, & # 39; she says. & # 39; My mother was my alarm clock. & # 39;

Parris speaks with a head start about the competition that must take place. & # 39; We don't take this lightly, & # 39; she says. & # 39; We will go through good and bad times. That is what a tournament brings.

The mission is already accomplished in Toxteth, where Hasti Afzali tells, with wisdom beyond her nine years, how she & # 39; had no confidence & # 39; about playing soccer. to one of Parris' regular visits last year.

& # 39; She influenced me to play & # 39 ;, says Hasti. I don't know why Maybe because she didn't force me but asked me to try it. It was a friendly voice. Sometimes boys just say it's not something girls can do. They say: & # 39; stay at home and do other things & # 39 ;. When she came to talk to us, it helped us get better. It made us feel like we could play. "

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#A tough Toxteth upbringing was the making of Nikita Parris… Now she’s an England star"

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consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis · 5 years

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13 New Healthy Habits That Changed My Life in 2018

New blog post! Now that the New Year is almost here, New Years Resolutions are a common topic of conversation...and while I rarely make a strict resolution, I do love making small changes to my everyday routine that add up to a BIG impact. So I thought I’d join The Mighty’s #52SmallThings challenge and share 13 small healthy habits - in diet, exercise and just everyday life - that made my life a 1000% better this year.

Like always, I want to make it clear that I'm not a dietician, nutritionist or doctor. I'm just a girl with two chronic illnesses who likes sharing what lifestyle choices help me thrive, mentally and physically! So if you do want to make big changes in your life in 2019 (or even enact some of the bigger changes in diet, exercise, etc. that I mention in this post), I recommend talking to a medical professional first. But if you're looking for ideas of healthy New Years resolutions or small tweaks you can make in 2019 that could improve your whole life, keep reading to find inspiration in what habits worked for me!

1. Replacing half of my TV time with audiobooks.

My college roommates could attest to the fact that I used to be addicted to Netflix, Hulu and other streaming sites. I’m a natural multitasker, so I’d always have some show playing in the background as I blogged, did chores, cooked or surfed the web. And I still watch TV shows regularly (check out my list of awesome food-related documentaries on Netflix if you need new show recommendations!). However, I’d say I watch a quarter of what I used to...and that’s because I’ve started listening to audiobooks instead!

Not only does this let me read more books during the school year (when I rarely have time to physically “read” anything beyond my assigned books) but audiobooks have also been shown to improve critical listening, comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation - whether you're a student or an adult reader. Plus, listening to audiobooks could also save you money in the long run if you stop paying for cable or pay for just one streaming service. I get all of my audiobooks from the library using OverDrive, so I’d highly recommend seeing if your library offers the same OverDrive resource.

2. Finding teas that I actually love to drink.

I actually have my sister to thank for starting this healthy habit since her Christmas gift to me last year was a big bundle of gluten free, decaffeinated tea. Before her gift, I always wanted to like tea but never drank it regularly. This past year, though, Bigelow's Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea + Probiotics and Orange & Spice Tea have become my favorite way to warm up on a very cold day in Minnesota. Plus, I’ve found that drinking a warm cup of tea is a great way to practice self-care on days when my stomach or digestion is acting up. So whether you’re trying to stop drinking coffee and want to get your caffeine from tea instead or just want the health benefits that can come from certain types of tea, drinking more tea is an easy New Years resolution or small, healthy habit to try.

PS - that glass straw is from Foods Alive, for whom I serve as an ambassador, and it is super awesome!

3. Being LESS strict with my diet.

I know that especially around the New Years, people are usually trying to eat healthier and cut out a lot of the treats they’ve been enjoying during the holidays. But I’ve been taking a different approach in 2018 - and it’s been working so well, I don’t plan on changing it in 2019: I’ve been eating a little bit of anything and everything (that’s gluten free). Like I’ve written about before, I’ve experimented with a LOT of different diets since my celiac disease diagnosis. I’ve tried paleo. I’ve tried eating super clean with little to no processed foods. And for a lot of 2017 and 2018, I ate vegan. But in the latter half of last year, I continued loosening up on my diet. I ate meat when I felt like it and more ice cream in one semester than I probably ate in all 2017. I experimented with different gluten free foods, like hummus and freezer meals. And you know what? I’m happier. I’m at a healthier weight (more on that below). And it's been pretty freakin' delicious to eat ground turkey with my dinner or ice cream with my night snack.

This isn’t to say that you should go crazy on whatever foods (if any) you’ve been limiting lately. And obviously there are some foods that DON'T do well with people (like gluten for people with celiac disease), and it IS an act of self-care to avoid those triggers. However, I did want to share my experience to show that eating “perfectly” or eating a certain diet isn’t always better than just eating what your body craves and going with the flow.

4. Establishing a regular weight-lifting routine.

One of the other biggest reasons I think I gained some curves and muscle in 2018? I started lifting weights on a regular basis...and progressively lifting heavier. I’ve flirted with the weight room since junior year of college, but I always did more cardio than weight lifting. And I still do a good amount of cardio (this gal loves a stair stepper workout!), but leg injuries forced me to dive deeper into the realm of weight lifting, and I’m really glad they did! I’m certainly no pro at lifting weights and still don’t lift very heavy compared to many people, but I love how strong I feel now and getting to challenge myself by slowly racking up the weight.

Nowadays, it seems a LOT more socially acceptable for women to lift weights and use the weight room at gyms. However, it definitely can feel intimidating to walk into a weight room full of huge dudes who all seem to know exactly what they’re doing. Just know that getting to see and feel yourself getting stronger is so worth that initial discomfort or the days it takes you to figure out weight lifting equipment and proper form. Gaining some extra curves along the way has just been a bonus!

5. Listening to podcasts when I'm working out or doing chores.

This year also marked the start of my love for podcasts. While I listened to them every so often before, now I go through a handful of episodes each week, and it’s definitely given me some new topics to bring up in conversations. Plus, depending on the podcast I listen to, I often feel less alone about certain struggles I’m going through (like the general chaos of life in your 20s) and learn new skills related to mindfulness, meditation, gratitude, etc.

Of course, it is important to give yourself a break and not be listening to something every single minute of your day. But if you want to replace some of your TV with informative or entertaining podcasts, or just want to learn some new facts in your spare time, some of my fave podcasts right now are:

Trader Joe’s (Inside) - all about Trader Joe’s, as told from various employees on the inside

How I Built This - each episode features an interview with a new entrepreneur about how they succeeded at building their company or brand

Freakonomics Radio - in-depth conversations with various experts on interesting topics ranging from the obesity crisis to the connection between religion and happiness

Oprah’s Supersoul Conversations - it’s Oprah and she’s interviewing a bunch of crazy cool people about deep takeaways they’ve gotten from life

That's So Maven - I only just discovered that The Healthy Maven (an awesome blog) has its own, equally awesome podcast all about health, wellness and everyday life.

6. Saying "yes" to social events I initially felt on the fence about going to.

To be completely honest...I’m a homebody. 9/10 Friday nights, I’m chilling in my apartment with Netflix and homemade granola. But in 2018, I tried to say “yes” to more invitations, even if they were out of my comfort zone. And as a result, I... ...stayed up until 2 AM dancing at a club in downtown Minneapolis. ...went to a concert held by one of my professors and discovered that tipsy people really like my fuzzy black scarf.

...almost froze seeing Christmas lights in Mankato but also managed to see some real-live reindeer! ...am visiting a special someone in San Diego for part of my Christmas break. (And if you notice that I'm a bit quiet on the blog/social media next week, this visit is why!) I wouldn’t say that everything I said “yes” to in 2018 was a complete success. But I’m going to start 2019 with a heck of a lot of good memories that I wouldn’t have made if I’d said “no” to everything that was a little out of my comfort zone.

7. Saying "no" to things I felt like I SHOULD do...but actually didn't want or need.

At the same time, though, healthy living for me involves saying “no” to a good amount of social or work invitations. The truth is, grad school is exhausting...especially when you’re also working several jobs and have two chronic illnesses. So a lot of the time, I can’t do all the things I want to. I still feel guilty sometimes for not being a “good enough” MFA student since I miss so many department-related events. And a big part of me wishes I could live off of 4 or 6 hours of sleep like other college students and dedicate those extra hours to blogging more or doing more freelance work or spending more time with friends.

But my body doesn’t work like that. And if you have your own health struggles or just have the tendency to say “yes” to things out of obligation instead of actual enjoyment...maybe the best New Years resolution is saying “no” more. Staying in on a Saturday night if that’s what your mind or body needs. Making friends with people who understand when you need some alone time. And, at the most basic level, saying “yes” to your own needs BEFORE saying “yes” to anything else. Personally, I know that’s one “goal” I’m always going to be working on, including in 2019!

8. Starting each morning with a solo dance party.

This year of grad school, I’m teaching an 8 AM Intro to English Composition class. And I’m not gonna lie. Sometimes it’s hard to get myself out of bed, across campus and excited to teach that early in the morning. This last semester, though, I’ve started playing even just a few minutes of my favorite songs when I wake up, and I think it’s definitely helped make me a little more motivated to head off to class. Research even reports that listening to music that you like triggers the release of dopamine, or the “happy hormone” in the brain. So the next time you have an early morning you’re not looking forward to or just need a pick-me-up anytime in the day, groovin’ to some of your favorite tunes might help!

9. Foam rolling after every single workout.

I don’t really have much to say about this except do it. 2018 was the first year that I actually committed to foam rolling any time I do a leg workout, and it has seriously done wonders for my soreness and healing from my leg injuries.

10. Eating more plant-based protein...but not restricting myself from meat.

I already mentioned this a little bit earlier on in the post, but it was a big enough change to deserve its own bullet. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably noticed that over the past year and a half, I’ve been eating more hummus and beans than my old favorite of sweet potato salmon sliders. During that time, I love that I was able to slowly increase my stomach’s tolerance for legumes (by eating a verrrrry small amount of beans and then working up) and I’ve really enjoyed experimenting with new plant-based foods like pulled BBQ jackfruit or homemade hummus.

But over the last few months, I’ve added meat back into my diet. And you know what? I’ve found that’s what works best for me. Now I'm not saying that a vegan diet can't work for people or isn't a good idea. If you don't want to eat meat or eggs or dairy and that works for you, great! And I can honestly say that a vegan and gluten free diet can still be super delicious. But if 2018 taught me anything, it's that every body thrives on a different diet. And I just hope that anyone who wants to experiment with a new diet in 2019 or make a healthy eating New Year's resolution remembers that!

11. Sharing regular phone calls with old friends.

I was warned about how hard it would be to stay in contact with college friends after graduation, and that’s definitely true. Last year, though, I tried to make it more of a priority to catch up with old friends and it felt super rewarding. As anyone who’s ever been (or is presently) in their 20s knows, it’s a really weird time. People are doing everything from still living at home with their parents to getting married and having kids to starting their career to being in school like me. And during weeks when I feel really unsure about what the heck I was doing with life, it helps a lot to have someone to talk to who knows me but is now doing something totally different than I am.

12. Turning off push notifications for my social media apps.

I’m not gonna lie. I spend a loooot of time on my phone. But one step that did help in 2018 was turning off push notifications for social media apps. A 2015 study actually tested the effects of saying "no" to push notifications and found that people were more productive and less distracted in the first 24 hours. And when researchers checked in with study participants one year later, two-thirds had chosen to keep their notifications off, increasing their long-term chances of being less stress and more focused. Now, I wouldn’t say that muting notifications has turned me into a super productive superwoman. But I think it does help keep me from getting distracted by every Facebook comment or Instagram direct message when they happen - and, at the very least, no harm was done by turning my push notifications off!

13. Celebrating the moments when I walk by the mirror and think, "Dang girl, you're lookin' good!"

Body image with celiac disease is always a complicated topic, and I definitely haven't discovered the secret to self-love with chronic illness. BUT in 2018, I did get a lot better at celebrating the moments when I do feel at home in my body, no matter what surprises it throws my way. And here's the biggest thing about self-love and self-care I learned in 2018: it doesn't have to be complicated! It doesn't require fancy face masks or a morning ritual of staring at the mirror and saying everything you love about your body. It can be as simple as taking a selfie or taking an extra moment to smile in the mirror on days you're feeling really good.

If you want to step up your whole self-love and self-care routine, check out my posts (here and here) on some simple and quick self-love activities you can try. But don't forget to get the most out of the little moments, too, when you feel awesome and can celebrate that vibe!

My Biggest Goal for 2019

Even as I'm finishing up this post on Christmas Day, it blows my mind that 2018 is almost over. It was not a perfect year (is there even such a thing?!?) but it was a year full of growth and laughter and adventures and challenges and successes...and new healthy habits that I'm definitely going to keep up in the New Year! Like I said earlier in this post, I rarely make New Year's resolutions, and that isn't changing in 2019. But I do like picking a word to focus on...and in 2019, my word is going to be "open." Open to new opportunities, even if they scare me or aren't what I was planning or expecting. Open to changes in my routine, even if routine is what I'm most comfortable with.

And, of course, open to discovering more habits that will help me live a happy, healthy life! What's one healthy habit that's changed your life? Tell me in the comments! via Blogger http://bit.ly/2ERawqq

#Blogger #college #celiac #gluten free #coeliac #celiacs #paleo #primal #foodporn #foodart

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dangerouscrusadefire-blog · 6 years

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