Getting To Know Yourself In This New Year

Getting To Know Yourself In This New Year

New year, new you
Wesley Ann Nelson
Wesley Ann Nelson Jan 12, 2017
3
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Well 2016 came and went, and the new year brings so much hope. The past couple of days I have been making lists of goals I want to accomplish, and things I learned in 2016. Reflecting back on the last year brings so many emotions. It has really made me start thinking about my life and who I want to be in 2017.

The past year gave me hours of clinical experience, new friendships, a breakup, many adventures, travels, new books to read, new Netflix binges, laughter, tears, hope, joy, enlightenment and love.

Reflecting on everything that happened is eye opening and inspiring. I learned so much and grew so much.

I feel like I am coming to know myself more. I am goofy and random, emotional and sometimes irrational (oops!). I am ambitious and independent. I am loving and affectionate. I am laughter. I am a smile. I am a hug. I am a shoulder to lean on. I am strong, fierce, full of fire. I am motivation. I am a voice in this world. And of all of these things that I am, I love myself more than I ever have. (Yes.. this is me practicing one my goals - "MORE SELF LOVE") And let me tell you something.. nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can take that away. No broken heart, no pessimistic friend, no harsh leader, no terrible boss, can take away your spark, your passion, your will to thrive. All of that is yours to control, to flourish, so don’t let that spark inside you die out.

Here’s some advice for 2017.. some things I’ve learned that may help you with your new year:

1. The Scorekeeper

Sometimes in life you will have a friend who is always a competitor. Everything with that person is always a chance to one up you. If you have a friend like that, you know how disheartening it can be to always be put down by someone who is supposed to be rooting for you. So here’s my advice: If you have a scorekeeper friend, ignore it. They mean well (most of the time) but come off a little aggressive. They’re rooting for you, just rooting for themselves more.. and that’s okay. That’s just how they are, and if they’re really your friend, you have to love them for that. Now if you are the scorekeeper friend, relax. Let’s root for each and watch each other grow. Let’s stand together rather than against each other.

2. The Relationship

If you are ringing in the New Year in an unhappy relationship, LET. IT. GO. You can forgive and forgive and forgive and forgive, but trust is SO hard to truly build back. And don’t lie to yourself about it either. Don’t pretend it’s okay when it’s not. Don’t pretend you’re happy when you’re not. A relationship is not worth your time if it is built on lies. If you ever have to say, “I don’t know,” about a relationship, it means no.. you’re just too scared of hurting that person’s feelings. Breakups are really hard especially when that person is your best friend, but trust me when I say that being in an emotional rollercoaster, wild ride of a relationship is more miserable than any breakup. Just let it go.

3. Forgiveness

So all of that brings me right into forgiveness. Maybe you’ve been the victim of a terrible act, but forgive. We’ve all heard that quote: “Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Y’all… that is so true. Just because you forgive, doesn’t mean you have to forget, but at least forgive for your own sake. And if you’re the perpetrator of this terrible act, forgive yourself. Carrying the weight of guilt is something you just cannot live with. It will suffocate you. So forgive and learn from the mistake and be better today than you were yesterday or the many days before.

4. Humanity + Love

This year I want to encourage you to love more. This is one of my main goals for 2017. We live in a scary world that needs God more than ever, so pray for others and love others. Show compassion and grace. We are one humanity so please, please keep the world in your constant prayers.

With all of that being said, I hope you all love yourself this year and learn more about yourself than you ever have. Happy 2017!!

Here are couple videos I have linked that I hope you’ll take a look at:

World Humanitarian Day 2016:

https://youtu.be/RjhPxI3lrJE?list=PLTQ6mrQoN85ehsj6_HpG4AiGca3Dig1h0

Following Heart:

https://youtu.be/JNb5b3hlZQ8?list=PLTQ6mrQoN85ehsj6_HpG4AiGca3Dig1h0

Wesley Ann Nelson
Wesley Ann Nelson Jan 12, 2017
At Arkansas State University

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To The Boy Who Will Love Me Next

If you can't understand these few things, leave before things get too involved
Danielle Stallins
Danielle Stallins Apr 27, 2016
26808
views

To the boy that will love me next, I need you to know and understand things about me and my past. The things I have been though not only have shaped the person I’ve become, but also sometimes controls my life. In the past I’ve been used, abused, and taken for granted, and I want something real this time. The guys before you were just boys; they didn’t know how to treat me until it was too late. They didn’t understand how to love me, until I broke my own heart. Before you truly decide to love me I want you to understand these things.

When I tell you something, please listen.

I’m my own person, I want to be loved a certain way. If I ask you to come over and watch movies with me please do it, if I ask for you to leave me alone for a few hours because it’s a girl’s night please do it. I don’t just say things to hear my own voice, I say things to you because it’s important to my life and the way I want to be loved. I’m not a needy person when it comes to being loved and cared for, but I do ask for you to do the small things that I am say.

Forgive my past.

My past is not a pretty brick road, it is a highway that has a bunch of potholes and cracks in it. I have a lot of baggage, and most of it you won’t understand. But don’t let my past decided whether you want to love me or not. My past has helped form who I am today, but it does not define who I am. My past experiences might try and make an appearance every once in a while, but I will not go back to that person I once was, I will not return to all that hurt I once went though. When I say those things, I’m telling the complete and honest truth. I relive my past every day, somethings haunt me and somethings are good reminds. But for you to love me, I need you to accept my past, present and future.

I’m just another bro to the other guys.

I have always hung out with boys, I don’t fit in with the girl groups. I have 10 close girlfriends, but the majority of my friends are guy, but don’t let this scare you. If I wanted to be with one of my guy friends I would already be with him, and if you haven’t noticed I don’t want them because I’m with you. I will not lose my friendships with all my guy friends to be able to stay with you. I will not cut off ties because you don’t like my guy friends. I have lost too many buddies because of my ex-boyfriends and I promised myself I wouldn’t do that again. If you don’t like how many guy friends I have you can leave now. Don’t bother trying to date me if you can accept the fact I’m just another bro.

I might be a badass, but I actually have a big heart.

To a lot of people I come off to be a very crazy and wild girl. I will agree I can be crazy and wild, but I’m more than that. I’m independent, caring, responsible, understanding, forgiving, and so such more type of woman. Many people think that I’m a badass because I don’t take any negatively from anyone. Just like we learned when we were younger, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.” Most people can’t do that in today’s world, so I stick up for myself and my friends. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me, or their option on how I live my life. The only thing I care about is being able to make myself happy. Even though I’m an independent woman, understand that I do have a big heart. Honesty when I truly care for someone I will do just about anything they ask, but don’t take advantage of this. Once you take advantage of this part of me, all respect will be lost for you.

I’m hard to love.

Sometimes I want to be cuddle and get attention, and sometimes I don’t want you to talk to me for a couple hours. Sometimes I want you to take me out for a nice meal, but sometimes I want a home cooked meal. Every day is different for me, sometimes I change my mind every hour. My mood swings are terrible on certain days, and on those days you should probably just ignore me. I’m not easy to love, so you’ll either be willing to find a way to love me, or you’ll walk out like so many others have.

I’m scared.

I’m scared to love someone again. I’ve been hurt, heartbroken, and beat to the ground in my past relationships. I want to believe you are different, I want to hope things will truly work out, but every relationship has always ended up the same way. I’m scared to trust someone, put my whole heart into them, just to be left and heartbroken again. I sick and tired of putting my whole body and soul into someone for them to just leave when it is convenient for them. If you want to love me, understand it won’t be easy for me to love you back.

When “I’m done.”

When I say “I’m done” I honestly don’t mean that I’m done. When I say that it means I need and want you to fight for me, show me why you want to be with me. I need you to prove that I’m worth it and there’s no one else but me. If I was truly done, I would just walk away, and not come back. So if I ever tell you, “I’m done,” tell me all the reasons why I’m truly not done.

For the boy who will love me next, the work is cut out for you, you just have to be willing to do it. I’m not like other girls, I am my own person, and I will need to be treated as such. For the boy that will love me next, don’t bother with me unless you really want to be with me. I don’t have time to waste on you if you aren’t going to try and make something out of us. To the boy who will love me next, the last thing I would like to say is good luck, I have faith in you.

Cover Image Credit: Danielle Balint
Danielle Stallins
Danielle Stallins Apr 27, 2016
At Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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Your Health Journey Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Perfection takes time.

Corrine Harding
Corrine Harding May 22, 2019
28
views

When you first start to do something, you have all of the motivation in the world to accomplish that goal set out in front of you, especially when it comes to being healthier. The problem is as you continue through this journey and food and laziness kick in, motivation slips. It's human, and it happens to everyone no matter how physically strong they are.

Trying to be healthier doesn't always mean losing weight. It can be so your knees don't ache as much, so you don't feel as out of breath climbing stairs, or any goal you have set for yourself. Being healthier is personal and different from person to person.

I will be the first to admit that there are plenty of changes I would love to make about myself. From my weight to my body type and many other things about myself inside and out. I am by no means the most confident person about how I look, but I have worked hard for the past year to be an overall healthier person.

Becoming healthier isn't about looking thinner or fitting into a specific size of clothes. It is about taking care of yourself from eating better to working out more. There comes a feeling of confidence in what your body can do if you put a little love in it.

Perfection takes time, and I know firsthand how frustrating trying to be healthier can be.

Pizza tastes so much better than salad. It is so easy to fall into a rhythm of something that seems never to change whether that is your weight or your mile time. Sadly, you can't build a city, or become healthier overnight.

We see people who are thinner, curvier, smarter, faster, and so much more than us. We all waste time comparing ourselves to people around us and on our timelines, but some of our biggest strengths are our individuality and the gift of getting back up after falling down.

All I can say is, please don't give up on your goal of being healthier because this is solely for you. We can have a great support system in the world and have everyone in our corner, but that isn't enough.

You need yourself. You need to know that if you don't entirely put yourself in this journey, then you won't fully succeed. Your commitment to bettering yourself can keep you going even if you want to give up.

Your motivation may not be at its peak level right now, and you may have every cell in your body screaming at you to quit. Don't do it. Prove to yourself that you can keep going no matter what. Not giving up will be worth it. The results and taking the hard way will make you a stronger person inside and out.

You can do this. You can do anything you want to accomplish if you just believe in yourself. You need to understand that becoming healthier takes endurance. There will be periods where you slow down and may not be going at your fastest pace. The difference is that you are not giving up and you are still trying and moving.

Don't treat becoming healthier as a sprint: short term and quick. That mentality will only leave you feeling deflated and defeated. It is a life-long marathon of pacing yourself and pushing yourself further than ever before.

Corrine Harding
Corrine Harding May 22, 2019
At University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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