I Think A Lot...

I have a million thoughts going through my head right now, all racing a million miles per hour. But, for some reason it isn't making sense or clicking, there or with the keys. I think the best approach is to make a list.

1. People tend to flock with people who are similar to them
2. Why is your race what makes your similar?
3. I have been exposed to diversity more in the last 5 months than I have my entire life
4. Yellow Gatorade is my favorite kind of Gatorade
5. Respect is something that all people are willing to give, but the only person that control whether you are respected or not is yourself
6. "When I was a little girl I would skip ahead in the history books to the end and tell myself that by the time I'm 20 racism won't exist anymore, I am now 25." - A girl in a Ferguson discussion today at Michigan State University
7. Race and Religion intrigue and confuse me more than anything else
8. Sometimes the things people do just don't make sense, you don't have to overthink them to be ok with the situation, just let it go
9. Perception is a very powerful word
10. I am stressed about finals week
11. There is no 5, 10, 100, 6,000 step book or list to life
12. The only person who needs to accept every aspect of your life and embrace it is yourself
13. My father is one of the people who I continuously look to for thoughts on big ideas and world issues, and sometimes I think things and think that at that moment all I want to do is talk to him
14. Having deep discussions with people is something I live for, I love all peoples opinions on everything
15. I really enjoy Norah Jones Pandora Radio, just saying
16. Society puts on these color blind glasses and ignores the issues that we are currently facing and will face, the only time the glasses come off is when issues come up and we are forced to respond publicly instead of privately
17. I think an education is something that is what will advance our society in ways that are more important that technology, being educated on diversity, problem solving, communication, global issues, gender norm, etc. is so important
18. Don't come up to me and tell me how you BSed a class and studied the night before an exam when I'm working 5 times as hard, for real
19. The people who you consider your real friends are the ones who no matter what will accept you for who you are
20. I still really want to travel, somewhere far away and experience immersion into a complexly different culture
21. Social media of any and all kinds is a very powerful medium. People have the power to spread their thoughts, beliefs, values, opinions whenever and however they choose to. Today, news stories and  global issues of any and all kinds are spread like wild fire.
22. Sorry, that was an excessive list, with not even 2% of my current thoughts

Happy Thinking!

Quote of the Day: "Common sense is the most limited of all natural resources."

Song of the Day: Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

Why Your News Feed Isn't News

One thing that really bothers me is how our phones constantly consume so much of our attention. If we are bored listening to a lecture on the regulations of marketing, browse twitter. If we want to avoid someone sitting across from us on the bus, send a text to a friend. If we are avoiding writing a 5 page paper, check snapchat stories. Whatever it is you do on your phone don't forget that it is just a phone. And it's not going anywhere. The pictures on Facebook of your "friend" in Maine aren't going anywhere, oh and that subtweet, your life doesn't depend on over analyzing who it could be about. I read a statistic that the average person spends 5 hours a day on their phone. Thats shocking, because I believe its a lot more than that. I think the average college student spends more time on their phone in a day than they do sleeping. Think about all of that time. What could you do with even half of it? A quarter even. Live in the now, the present. Be inspired by what is going on around you. Sure, technology isn't a bad thing. Being able to communicate to people in every country of the world, face timing your family who is far away, or even writing a blog for anyone and everyone to see is far from a bad thing. But- there is a large difference between use and abuse. Next time you are about to reach for your phone, put it back in your pocket and think for half of a second if you really need to pick it up. If you can't think of a need, then leave it in your pocket. Who cares what Sally who goes to USC posted on Instagram. Who cares that Bill's Snapchat story is a bunch of selfies he took at the zoo. Living your life isn't updating your location of Facebook and tweeting a picture of you at every party you go to. Technology just scares me. It has the capability to exceed the capacity of the human mind. My professor today during a lecture said one day we will have 3D printers where when you do online shopping it will print out of your computer instead of waiting for a package. Whoa whoa whoa, let's back up. That eliminates the need for stores, the need for store workers, the need for the postal service, the need for postmen, the need for SOCIAL INTERACTION. You could never leave your home if you didn't want to. Ever. The irony behind this is you are on a piece of technology reading my blog right now. (Whoops) But- before you call me a hypocrite. Let this inspire you to live your life without "tweeter fever" and "snapchat nostalgia." Live the life that makes you happy, not what makes your followers happy. Who cares about "likes." How do you like your life? Who cares about the number of "friends." Someone once told me that you can only have time for 5 close friends. And it makes so much sense. If you have more than 5 you aren't putting enough time into other people, or yourself. 

I apologize if this blog was a rant, and extra super-duper long. But- I hope some of it forced you to think about the precious hours in the day. Also, apologize for the lack of blogging lately. I missed Thanksgiving, darn it! So, if you are still reading (thanks!) here's a short list of some of the things I am most thankful for. 

1. People. Having people in my life who encourage me to be who I am. They are the ones who stick beside me through every step, up and down. Thank you for being such an inspiration and motivation to me daily. The 5 people know who they are, I'm sure of it.

2. Endorphins. I am thankful that at a young age my parents always taught me the power of exercise. Working out makes me feel confident and energized. A 20 minute workout is so little of your day. 

3. Education. I am so blessed to go to a school where I thrive in this environment. I constantly see people doing things more than taking notes and taking tests. A girl today was in my class filming my professor for a video she is doing on passion. Thanks for inspiring me!

4. Failure. I am thankful that I have failed miserably and fail every single day. It's failure that motivates me to be better. It's the driving force behind my success. Without it I wouldn't have achieved half of the things that I have, and I wouldn't take pride in myself and my success. 

5. You. I am thankful for you, whoever you are. I write for not just myself, but for you. So many people have inspired me without even knowing it. I hope that throughout the course of this blog I can at least inspire one. That would mean the world.

Today's Quote: "There's power in looking silly, and not caring if you do." - Amy Poehler

Today's Song: Man of the Hour- Norah Jones