A Little Reminder

There is someone out there who will listen.

There is someone out there who will come to you when you reach out.

There is someone who will remember your birthday and show up to say "Happy Birthday!"

There is someone who will tell you how attractive they find you and mean it.

There is someone that can brighten up your day with a smile.

There is someone who will sing to you with the worse voice possible just to let you know they care.

There is someone out there who loves you.

But it goes the other way too.

You need to there to listen.

You need to be there when someone reaches out.

You need to be there on someone's birthday to let them know they matter.

You need to be there to tell someone who is beautiful.

You need to be that smile to shine the light in someone's darkest day.

You need to sing your lungs out to show you care.

You need to tell them you love them.

Just like how you want to belong, you need to let someone else feel like they do too.

Don't just say it.

Show it.

Shay

Rain Mood Destroyers

Rainy days are perfect for comfy clothes, a cup of something warm, and curling up in a blanket with a book (preferably a comic book). The sound of raindrops hitting the ground at a fast pace is so soothing. It's a natural lullaby. After the rain falls it smells so clean and fresh. It is so nice! Even better, the day after is usually greener and everything seems replenished.

Rain is great. It is FANTASTIC when you see it like that.

However, there is a dark side to the rain. This is the reason I find myself inside. There are terrifying creatures that lurk. They burst through the ground desperate for air, but ready to destroy. They populate the concrete to such a great extent that when you walk, it is like every step could set off a bomb. So you keep your head down in fear that you might accidentally set one off. As you carefully take each tiptoe step, you notice that some other poor soul has set off one of those bombs. They look disfigured, but they continue to fight for breath. You wish they wouldn't.

"JUST DIE!!" you scream in your head, as you continue your journey to a place of safety. Sometimes, those are not insight for a while. You keep pushing forward with a couple gasps in between each step because you think you might have touched one.

But then, your brain wanders for a moment and unthinkable happened (because you weren't THINKING ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE WALKING!!). You step on one.

You step on a worm. You feel the squish of its body and it surges through your body. You shutter and perhaps you let a tear fall. You are ready to give up, but for all you know you just killed the queen. The army of worms are getting ready to attack. What do you do now?!

So you run. YOU RUN AND YOU STEP ON MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

Finally, you are home. YOU MADE IT. You kick off your shoes - literally. You want nothing to do with them.

You're safe...

Until next time it rains.

In Midst The Crisis

One of the greatest pieces of advice I have ever received was to look for the good and beauty in every day, in every person, in everything.

So, when I heard someone mention that we should try and look for the good, especially in trying times, I was taken a little off guard. They mentioned that it can be really difficult to do that. I played with that thought in my mind all day. 

For me, it was difficult to understand how someone could not see the good in difficult times. I never understood how people could be in a tough spot, and instead of looking for relief, they would look for more unnecessary weight to pile on. I could never understand why someone would want to add MORE to their heavy burdens. Makes me sad to see that happen.

I have see sadness plague a soul due to their lack of friends, yet there are so many around them wiping away the tears through kind deeds, messages, visits, and the simple compliments. I heard people scream with frustration with their family situation, but fail to recognize all the great times they were able to experience with them. 

You have so much! Look around you. To my friends here at BYU-I, struggling or not, I am telling you to take a moment and stop. Look at where you are. Look at how amazing this place is and look at all the remarkable beauty. You won't regret it. 

We were created to be happy and to laugh with our arms around those we love. What a shame it would be if we overlooked the good. 

SO take some time and enjoy the life around you. 

If you can't seem to see anything beautiful around you or about you, look harder. Look deeper. 

You will find it. 

Best of luck on that quest to find the beauty! 

Stay gold,

Shay

If I Can't Keep You, Nobody Can.

Today I was jamming to Lights' Little Machines album and I came across the lyrics

"If I can't keep you, nobody can" 

When I first heard this lyric I thought "Lights, bruh, you crazy" and I mean it's a pretty creepy line. However, I discovered a different meaning to it today. 

Here is my thought process on it. It's fairly simple. 

"If I can't keep you, nobody can" does not necessarily mean that the "you" being referred to is going to murdered or whatever horror movie scene came to your mind.

How I saw it was that the person saying this phrase worked, compromised, and sacrificed all for the other. Meaning, they literally did everything they could to keep the other satisfied, happy, and healthy. Essentially, the person saying the phrase is carrying everything on their back. 

When the other person decides to leave, they realize that no one will ever be able to keep that person. That person will just move on to the next one, and the next and the next.

So, that's what I feel is the other meaning behind that phrase.

Shay

Sometimes I Guess.

I guess there are second chances that cannot be given.

I guess that you can't always depend on those you thought you could.

I guess you can't expect someone you fought for to show up with flowers and an apology or even to say the words "please stay"

Sometimes you fight for things you think that will return the favour. Sometimes you're right.

Most times I am wrong.

It's okay though, because there are more days to come.

Sometimes it gets hard and sometimes it feels like there is too much to carry on your own. I know what that feels like.

Sometimes you want to give up, and you know what? Sometimes it is okay to give up on something that never showed you results. Sometimes you need to let it go a move on.

Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye -- especially to those you don't want to turn around on ... those you love.

But you have to.

Sometimes... I guess that is harder than curling up in a ball and crying. You know that cry where one hand is over your mouth, and the other on your stomach -- Trying to be quiet so you don't worry anyone else.

It's okay to cry.

Sometimes, you have to become the superhero for yourself.
Life pushes hard, but be sure to push harder.

Shay