I want to start out by formally introducing myself; my name is Alexis Morris and i'm a freshmen at University of Kentucky! I'll be studying accounting and finance this upcoming semester! I'm actually packing up as I write this article. You could say I'm incredibly nervous. I haven't been away from my little town in who knows how long. Though it's not far away, it feels like a whole new world because of how many people are coming from out of state, and around the world. Which I'm slowly experiencing in my UK group chats, mainly my sorority recruitment chat of over 250 girls. Which is really why I got this idea.

This is No. 1 in a series of, who knows how many. Don't let the title fool you, I have no secrets to living a truly happy life. I don't know how to stop your stress, or help you get perfect grades. But this series is more of what I realize make my life better, more peaceful.

So what is on my mind this week? Basically I've noticed that something that makes my life SO much more easy than some of the people in my life, understanding. I know when you hear understanding it leaves a sour taste. Or it does for me anyway. When I hear understanding all that runs through my head is "no one understands me!" "why don't you understand?" But that's not what I mean. I'm talking about understanding when things don't go your way. Understanding why people react the way they do, and appropriately reacting to them. Understanding the different views on life people have. Understanding has always been something I thought i REALLY understood, ironic right? I didn't understand, understanding. Hard to believe that someone can't grasp something we see as so "every day." But really think about it. How many times a day do you listen and/or see people in CRAZY intense arguments that seem to never come to an end because one person is right, and the other is "wrong." That's when understanding comes in. Now I'm not saying to not question everything, or just agree with what everyone says. Just to understand where they're coming from. Not everyone has your same background. Not every experience you've shared with someone has been "experienced" the same. How we were raised, the environment we were put in shapes us, and our minds.

So how does this connect back to my sorority recruitment group chat? Because let me tell you, the girls in that group have opinions. They're strong minded, strong willed, and out spoken. ALL OF THEM. And in other times, when people of that nature come together, they butt heads. Don't get me wrong sometimes they do, but they understand each other. Not one time has our chat become hostile because everyone in it is willing to listen, to understand what everyone means. They listen to their stories, and their experiences. They listen to how they feel. It made me think of all the times people have stressed over things they don't understand. I've watched this in everyone I know, my boyfriend, my family, my friends. I watch as they tear their head apart trying to figure out why things didn't go the right way, or why people think the way they do. It makes me thankful. Thankful that even though they're all caught up in their heads, they taught me to not sweat the small stuff. To listen to the voices around me. But never, ever lose my voice, my individual thought.

Does this make sense? I guess really what I'm saying is, listen. Not just in one ear and out the other, really take it in and analyze. Really UNDERSTAND why someone has said something, why they did something. Is it because where they grew up? Because of a trauma they experienced? Because of who their parents are? Did this happen because something out of your control? Understand. Relax. Breathe. Peace.

Like I said, there really is no way for me to tell you how to make your life 100% stress free. But taking time to fully understand the situation will help. Taking time to just breathe. Don't let the small things you don't understand consume your life. There is much more to life you could be putting that energy towards.