Return of the self-image post!

Well, this will be more focused on appreciating one's self. If you watch this little girl here, you'll see that it's important to be excited about yourself! I (like everyone) spend at least some of my time moping around, wishing for my life to be better... But, come on, how much time do we spend actually appreciating everything? That is something that all should consider. At camp in the summer, my counselors asked our "living group" to write down all of the things we appreciate in our lives. If, perhaps, turned into a daily ritual, I know that I would be a lot more content with what I've got. So, watch this little girl in the video on youtube. Let her be an example to us all! For she knows she's got it going on and, as she says, her "whole house is great." And she likes her whole house, her aunt(s), her dad(s), her mom(s), her Allison(s), and even her imagination (you'll have to watch the deleted scenes for that one). Appreciate life!

"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet."--Emily Dickinson

Lovely questions & well thought-out answers?

I couldn't resist this questionnaire.

1. What did you first want to be when you grew up?

Well, what I did not want to be was an astronaut. I'd nap alongside my daddy and tell him that I was too afraid for that career because I thought I'd fall off the moon.

2. Favorite childhood game?

I was extremely outdoorsy. My favorite childhood game was more like an array of different activities: climbing magnolia trees, learning to ride a bicycle, exploring the woods surrounding my neighborhood, and taking walks with my dad.

3. Most favorite birthday?

Oh gosh, my favorite birthday was probably when I was either three or four. My mom put together an extravaganza at a local playground, complete with pony rides, flower garlands, and all of my friends. It was superb.

4. Something you've always wanted to do and haven't done yet?

I have always wanted to visit Greece! And tonight while making dinner I discussed with my mom the proposition of taking a "senior" trip; she'll be a senior citizen and I'll have just completed my senior year of high school. The idea of going there is so exciting, and the country is certainly the most beautiful one I've ever seen (in pictures). Ah, I hope this happens!

5.Who was your first love?

My first love was Ash from Pokemon. I remember taking a bathroom break during one of the commercials on Saturday morning, and thinking about how I wanted him to be real so we could be together! My second love? Draco Malfoy--the only bad boy I've ever fallen for. And my first boyfriend was my "husband" in pre-k... Tommy and I were quite smitten with each other.

6.First musical idol?

Probably Play. I loved that swedish pop group!

7.Favorite gift?

My sweet little volvo. It's a tannish gold '95 960, recently named Jacques. Don't ask... 'twas a spur of the moment kind of thing.

8.If a theme song played for you everywhere you went, what would it be?

Oh la la, probably something from Amelie. I love Yann Tiersen and everything he writes! So I'd go with J'y Suis Jamais Alle! Or Mozart's Sonata K545, which I love and am currently learning.

9.Favorite city to visit?

My absolute favorite city to visit is Florence, Italy. Obviously, frequent trips there are impossible. But the three days I spent there during the summer before eighth grade were glorious. I loved the markets, opportunities for sightseeing, and the quaint cafes and gelaterias.

Spending freeze

I'm putting myself on a spending freeze! Over the past three or so weeks I've spent a lot of money on things that I don't necessarily need... While this isn't a huge issue, it's always good to be conscientious of what one is doing. So, from February 14th until March 14th I will not be buying any unnecessary items. Unless I am thrifting, eating food(preferably healthy & not by my lonesome), or I have found my prom dress. Yahee!

The quintessential self-image post

Body image, self image, self esteem--whatever you want to call it, most people struggle with it at one time or another in their lives. Stereotypically, women are pictured when one imagines someone with this sort of problem. And, despite being a psychological issue, it is obviously deeply rooted in physical and social interactions.

I am no exception to the aforementioned rule. When I had only one year left of elementary school, I began to notice differences between how I appeared and how my friend K did, and I've struggled ever since with similar comparisons.

But I digress. When I started high school, I became much more comfortable with: a) who I am and b) my own skin (figuratively, of course). My next-to-daily ensemble of yoga pants and a t-shirt has become a staple not only embraced by myself but by my peers as well. The carefree, yet lazy, ambience I easily exude is no longer questioned in the way it used to be, and discontinues its reputation as the subject of friends' jokes; mostly because I poke fun at myself.

The dependent clause most previously mentioned is key to self-acceptance, or as Maslow called it self-actualization. I would like to say that I reap the rewards of such a "key," but if I did I would be a liar. Half of my time is spent contemplating what I think of saying before I actually say it. I weigh the possible consequences a little bit too much and, therefore, am unable to live in the moment. And this returns to the reason why I wear yoga pants all the time. I seek comfort (as mentioned in the below post) in everything. But I also seek security. My yoga pants, t-shirts, and favorite black rain jacket/windbreaker are cute and (I hope) flattering enough to make me look remotely attractive.

Long story short? Presentation is everything. So is confidence. If you don't wear confidence along with any outfit, you won't go anywhere. Everyone has skeletons in their closets (or pudgy regions, for that matter). A final message--people who think size matters are wrong. You could have, erm, assets just as perfect as the next girl, but if you present yourself differently or inaccurately from the get-go it's (To Be Continued)...

It is very late. And I will edit this tomorrow so that I can continuer!

Things I find comforting & what I'm currently listening to

I'm currently listening to From the Morning by Nick Drake, Colder Weather by Zac Brown Band and Shostakovich's Waltz II.

Because I'm constantly going going going, it takes mostly simple things to comfort me. Some are peculiar but most aren't.

• Hearing a shower turn off.
• Seeing my own handwriting.
• Watching He's Just Not That Into You.
• Lying down in bed after hours of lacrosse.
• Drinking a glass of water without breathing in between gulps.
• Clipping my nails.

That's all I've got for now. I need some serious comfort at the moment...