Tips for life

Hey party people!  So, when I was little I was incredibly shy!  I remember going to a new school for first grade and not wanting to talk to anyone.  I remember barely talking to anyone at all at least until third grade.  Now that I'm in high school I've changed and learned a lot.  Now, I may not have had as much experience as some others, but I still have some advice to give.  These tips will be geared towards teens, but may be useful to college age kids and full-grown adults.  So here are some tips for life!

Be optimistic

If you’ve read my “NEW YEAR’S 2015!!!  Oops, I mean2016!” post you know that one of my new year’s resolutions is to be more optimistic.  I have noticed that looking for at least one good thing in every day is very helpful.  It’s easier to get through the day knowing that something good happened.  Besides, who wants to be around a Debby-downer all the time?

Forgive and forget as best you can

When I was younger I was picked on a lot.  I was always made fun of for being tall, being homeschooled and not liking a lot of modern media.  For a long time, I carried a grudge against my bullies.  I let my anger fester in my heart and let it turn into hatred.  It took me an entire 2 years to forgive them even though they didn’t apologize for their childish behavior.  But after I forgave them, it was a lot easier to live life.  I wasn’t thinking about how I would get revenge or how badly I would whale on them, but instead, I was thinking about the people whom I love and care about who love and care about me!

Be honest

"Honesty is the best policy," that’s what they always say.  Now I know you’re thinking that lying is okay in certain situations, but that is a big, fat lie.  Even if people don’t believe you, tell the truth, even if you’ll get in trouble, tell the truth, even when it may seem like you get in trouble for no reason, tell the truth.  Think about Joseph and his coat of many colors.  He always told the truth and did what was right, even though people didn't always agree with him.

Find a joy

I would say “find a hobby” but a hobby isn’t particularly always something you enjoy.  I mean you should find out what you truly enjoy!  Whether it be painting, running, reading, writing a blog, whatever, as long as you enjoy it and you’re not just doing what others are telling you to do.

Find others’ love language

A love language isn’t necessarily spoken or written words.  Sometimes it’s giving gifts, or spending quality time with someone, or giving hugs or other kinds of physical contact, etc.  Find out how your loved one’s show love to others so you can show them love in the way they understand best.  Maybe while you’re at it, find your love language?

Say thank you

Whether it be to your mom for driving you to school, or to your classmate for letting you copy their Spanish notes, or to your friend for listening to you rant, just say thank you.  A simple “thank you” can go a long way.  Let people know that you appreciate them and the things they do for you!

Learn the definition of love

If you’ve read the “My friends my mission” post, you know how I learned the definition of love.  But, you might not learn what love is the same way I will.  Maybe you’ll learn it when you start dating, or when you help others less fortunate than you, or when you come to Christ, really anything is possible when it comes to true love.  What I’m trying to say is that there is no step-by-step instruction sheet about “how to learn what true love is”.  You have to discover it for yourself.

Why I don't like reading

Hey there friends!  Now, before you read the title and get all mad, hear me out.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with reading!  It’s educational, relaxing and it exercises your imagination!  I’m actually reading the second novel in the “Guardians of Childhood” series and I quite enjoy it.  I read it out loud to my bro and we have a great time diving into the story!  But the kind of reading I don’t like is when you’re forced to read a book.  Like for school or something.  Why?  Well lemme tell ya...

Takes up too much time

I hate that I have to spent 2 hours+ reading something I don’t enjoy.  It’s boring and I’m never really invested in anything I’m reading.

Doesn't always spark my interest

a lot of the stories I’ve had to read were not that interesting to me.  Like "The Crucible" or "Robin Hood and His Band of Merry Men".

They don't get interesting for 1000 chapters

I don’t like it when, like, half the book is a long, winded intro.

Too much hype

"Hunger Games", "Divergent", "Harry Potter" and a bunch of other books are talked about so much that I lose the interest of reading.  It’s like the movie "Frozen".  It may be a good story but it just loses its appeal with THAT many people saying, “It’s so good!  You have to read/see it!  Trust me,”.  (Even though I have no reason to trust your choice in media).

Characters aren't always lovable

now most characters are lovable, but I don’t always connect on a personal level with them.  And it’s not just in books!  There are a ton of movies and tv shows that have terrible characters!

And before you start commenting and saying that I’m an uneducated moron or that I haven't given books a chance, let me say that it's my choice of whether or not to read something and you can’t force me to read when I don't want to.  I don’t mind if you like reading, just don’t badger me about not reading. Over and out!

<3 Ary

Ps.  Don't start recommending books to me because of this.  I will not read them.  If I want book recommendations I will ask for them

Pss. I am going to do a mini series soon called "Letters from Jack".  It will be told epistolary style and it will be about an angel sending letters to a girl who is having some severe trouble on earth.  I will publish it one letter (chapter) at a time.  Hope y'all will like it!

A letter to ALL bullies

Dear bullies of the world,

What is going through your mind as you’re belittling innocent children?  What makes you think that is a good decision?

“They deserve it!”

Well, give me one reason why they “deserve” it.

“They’re different!”

And you aren’t?  I’m sure he/she could mock you for the same reason.  And isn’t everyone in the world different?  If so, why aren’t you making fun of everyone?  (That includes you.)

“Well… they’re weak!”

So constantly undermining his/her thoughts, feelings, interests, intellect (which you are clearly lacking) and opinions is going to make them stronger?

“Well, uh, no… But what difference does it make?! They won’t fight back anyway!”

And that makes it right?  Maybe they don’t fight back because they know fighting is never the answer and they’re being polite and respectful towards you even though your ill behavior shows you don’t deserve that respect. Did you ever think of that?

“N-no… but I’m just being honest!”

Really?  Just because something is “honest” does that mean it should be said out loud?

“They say to always tell the truth, so, yes,”

Okay then, you are extremely childish and disrespectful and sickeningly foolish, as evident through your deplorable behavior.

“Hey!  That was very offensive!”

Hey, I’m just being honest.

“He- uh- oh…”

Yea, it hurts doesn’t it?  Why would you do that to someone else?

Bullies!  You are not “just being honest”, you are not “giving them the hard truth, they do not “deserve it”, just because they aren’t “fighting back” doesn’t mean they are weak!  So shut up for a few second and think about all the hurtful things you’ve said and done to these poor, innocent children.  After you have done that, go apologize to the people you have hurt.

-          Ary

Ephesians 4:29

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear,"

1 John 2:9

“The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now,”