If You Are From Maine, These Things Matter
As I spent my entire childhood growing up here, Maine will always have a soft spot in my heart.
I arrived home from college on May 10th and I have already visited some of my favorite places while home. It seems that this happens whenever I come home from college. As I am often away for a while when I leave home, I always try to visit as many of my favorite places as I can when I arrive back to Maine. Distance definitely brings you closer to the things that matter most, and college is one thing that has definitely taught me this.
Last Friday night I was exhausted as I arrived home from college late, so I didn't end up doing much. Although, the following Saturday I found myself doing a lot—probably when I should have been catching up on the sleep I missed this semester. After I woke up the following day, I drove to Portland, as you could probably guess. Portland is one of my favorite places in Maine, so I decided to grab some lunch at Boba, which is absolutely amazing by the way, and walk around for the rest of my time there. It's the little things that make me the happiest while home, so spending the day walking around Portland was all I needed.
When I think of home while away at college, I often think of the places that make me happiest that I need to re-visit when I return home. I could probably count these places with just my fingers as there are a few places that bring so much light and positivity whenever I visit them.
I am not going to list all of them, but one of these places is Old Orchard Beach. For some reason, OOB is always what comes to mind when I think of Maine, as whenever I am here I feel fully at peace. In the summer it is one of the biggest tourist spots in Maine. Whether it is extremely busy or I am one of few on the beach, I always enjoy my time here.
Maine has many beautiful places that I have begun to appreciate since entering college two years ago. Because I go to school hours away from home in New York, the distance has definitely brought me closer to the things I value most. If you are from Maine, I am sure you understand how much you really begin to miss it when you are away for a while. And if you're not from Maine, I would definitely suggest you visit.
30 Instagram Comments That Don't Revolve Around Your Friend's Body
Because "You look great! Have you lost weight?" isn't a real compliment.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where thinness and weight loss are equated with health and happiness. However, this assumption is false. Weight loss or gain tells us nothing about a person's health, happiness or the way they live their life. For example, the same person who is praised for their weight loss may be struggling with an eating disorder, terminal illness, poverty, depression or a plethora of other issues.
Assigning morality to weight - seeing thinness as "good" and fatness as "bad" - is a dangerous mentality. To many, comments about weight and appearance can be highly triggering and they shift the focus away from the things in life which are actually important. Luckily, I've provided you with an extensive list of things to comment on your friend's Instagram post (or Facebook, Twitter, etc.) that have nothing to do with their body or weight.
1. "You are glowing!"
2. "You look so happy :)"
3. "This is a great picture!"
4. "YOUR DOG IS ADORABLE"
5. "I'm so happy you're happy! I can't wait to meet your partner."
6. "This looks like fun! I hope you had a great time!"
7. "I miss you, let's reconnect soon!"
8. "I am so proud of you"
9. "You're inspirational!"
10. "I am so happy you exist"
11. "You have such a great sense of style!"
12. "I'm loving the confidence!"
13. "You have a beautiful soul"
14. "This is such a cool spot! We should go here together sometime"
15. "You are an incredible person"
16. "I am so glad I met you"
17. "I was just at this spot recently and I love it!"
18. "I'm looking forward to seeing you soon!"
19. "You rock"
20. "I love that shirt where did you get it?"
21. "Have a great trip!"
22. "This post made my day!"
23. "You are royalty!"
24. "Beyoncé would be proud"
25. "You two are my favs"
26. "I'm loving that color on you!"
27. "Your makeup looks amazing"
28. "This is so cute!"
29. "Your eyes look so lively"
30. "Come through with the self love!"
After scrolling through this list, I hope you'll find at least one comment that you can use to support, affirm and empower your friend without the potential harm that comes with commenting on their body. Because at the end of the day, worth and value do not come from physical appearance, but from so many other factors like compassion, kindness, humor, and drive. Weight is just about the least interesting thing about a person--you can be more creative than focusing on that. And if you truly cannot think of something to say that doesn't focus on the shrinking or expansion of your loved one's body, a simple double-tap will suffice.