Happiness.

"When you lose yourself, you find the key to paradise." ~ Knee Deep, Zac Brown Band

This phrase runs through my mind often. Sometimes, it really does take losing who you are and becoming lost to actually become happy. I know it probably sounds weird, but have you ever felt like everything that could be is against you? Have you ever felt that regardless of what you do, you'll never be good enough? Have you ever questioned everything you know, believe in, and then questioned why you're how you are? And then, maybe you decided to change because who you are on the outside is not who you want to be? You realized you were just living to please everyone else.

When you lose yourself, these are the kinds of thoughts that run through your mind. You reevaluate who you are and who've you been. You think of what you've always wanted to do, what you were always scared to do, and you know what? You go out and do it. You decide your happiness and your goals and dreams and wishes are just as important as anyone else's. You realize you have one life, no second chances to redo things in the past. The past is the past. You can't change it, but you can learn from it. You can learn to let it not repeat itself. 
Have you ever wanted to dye your hair, get a piercing, tell someone what's really on your mind, change your style, change your hair? What's stopping you? People's opinions? If that's it, well, then you better go do it. What people think of you should NOT matter and should not influence how you live YOUR life. If that's not what is stopping you, what is, fear? Well, good. In life, if you have no fear, if you're not challenging yourself, then what you're doing is not all that interesting. Every situation where you actually look fear in the face changes you. It challenges you to do the things you think you cannot do and proves to you that you can. 
This brings me to happiness.

Happiness is such a simple thing, but we make it so complicated. If you're like me, you tend to put other people before yourself. Yes, that isn't a bad thing, but if you're always putting other people before yourself, then when do you get to be happy? Who's putting you first?
Sometimes, you need to put yourself first. "Me" time is not a bad thing, as long as it's not all the time. When you take a step back and just reflect on what makes you happy and take into consideration your well-being and mental health, your life might just get a little better.
After losing myself (and it can be a long process), I decided to actually look at my life. I found what makes me happy and where. I found out that I love caring for others, but sometimes, I like to just forget everything and focus on myself. I found I'm happiest on the Cape. I'm happiest when laughing until I cry. I'm happiest when I'm on the beach lost in a book or just looking out at the horizon thinking. I'm happiest surrounded by the people I love the most. I'm happiest when I forget everything else going on in my life and just focus on that moment and live.

I challenge you to reflect on your life and to find your key to paradise.

I also hope you have a fantastic week! 

peace.love.happiness.

Time.

Like most college students, I lack two things: time and sleep.

It always seems like there are never enough hours in the day or days in a week for that matter. We get assigned all this homework, and we have tests to study for, projects need to be done, and you'll get things done that are due the following day. You want to take a break, but then you think ahead and realize how much more work you still have left to do. We did sign up for this, so why do we complain so much? Simple. We like to complain. How many of you have talked to people and listed what you had to do and then the person you're talking to, does the same? Then you try to outdo what they have to do and vice versa. 
Anyways, time. There is enough of it. The thing is, we are a generation of procrastination (I could be doing my Spanish homework right now, but I chose to blog). If we actually time managed and scheduled out what we had to do, would it be easier? Would we have more actual down time and not be kept up at night either doing work or thinking about everything we have to do?

I challenge whoever is reading this to actually try planning it out. See how much time you actually have. Don't procrastinate. That is definitely one of the most challenging things to do, especially when homework is online. 

That leads to sleep. 
How often do you hear someone say "I slept wonderfully last night, I got like ten hours of sleep"? I have not heard that once during the school week. Normally it sounds more like this "I didn't fall asleep until like two this morning and had to get up at like 7:30, ugh I'm so tired." 

Here's another challenge: go to sleep an hour earlier. Get everything you need ready for the morning, ready. That means pack your schoolbag, pick out your outfit, have an idea of what you're going to eat for breakfast, and don't forget your alarm. 
I know, work and meetings can make you stay up late, but if you try really hard, you can probably go to bed by midnight. If you're getting up at 7:30, that's almost a full eight hours. 
Unless you're like me, and a lot of you probably are..
I don't fall asleep in ten minutes like some people. I'll be laying in bed for a good hour to four hours before I actually fall asleep. Lately, it's been closer to the hour luckily. Try going to bed at the same time every night. It actually does help. Turn everything off and attempt to not think over every little thing that occurred throughout your life and what could happen in the future. Think of something happy and calming. 

Also, a side note. Much to most people's disbelief, we do actually have work as film majors. Ours is just generally more fun, but we chose this major just like you chose yours. You should love it if that's what you're planning on doing for the rest of your life.  (also, we still have other courses).

On that note, I should probably get back to my Spanish homework.

peace.love.happiness.

Let me introduce myself.

Welcome to my blog. 

Hello.

I'm a college student majoring in Film, Video, and Interactive Media in a small college in Connecticut called Quinnipiac University. I am your typical college student trying to make a name for herself in the world. 
My passion is directing for television, there is no better feeling than when you get half way through the show and realize "I can do this." It's a feeling that will never get old. 

Pretty much, this blog will track my daily life from classes to meetings to quotes (I love quotes and pictures). I'll put up some interesting things I've learned and maybe a few pointers here and there. Mainly, it's like an online diary that is open for everyone to read. No secrets. No hiding.

I hope if you come across this blog, that you read it and get something out of it, whether that be a smile, a laugh, inspiration, or just something to pass time. I believe in looking for the best in people and being optimistic. It makes life a little easier. 

A day without laughter is like a night without stars.

peace.love.happiness.