You'll find me laughing.

People say that trials make or break us, and I full-heartedly agree. Sure, trials present stupid situations and life-changing decisions, but these are what I call "defining moments". How we respond and retaliate to adversity says a lot about our character, and who we are as a human being. It can make us or break us, and it's completely up to you. We are all unique, therefore our capacity for heartbreak and tribulation varies. For example, person A is going through a parent's divorce, and person B is battling severe illness. Person A couldn't even comprehend person B's trial, and same goes otherwise. Each trial is specific to a person's needs and potential, but each is meant to be a "defining moment". Defining moments range from all over the spectrum, and each person will continually face them throughout life. Just remember: each trial comes with a lesson, and the end product will be the most wonderful "you" possible. My defi...

Here is a simple, yet profound equation: Body + Spirit = Soul Now what the heck does that even mean? Obviously I'm going to answer my own question. To have your body and spirit in the same place, at the same time, is quite a remarkable thing. Because when this occurs, and ONLY when this occurs, is when your soul is completely present.  We live in a world where people spend more time looking down at their phones, than rather looking up and around. While our bodies may be in that place, our spirit is not. Our spirit is elsewhere; Such as your Instagram feed, a group convo, sending an email, etc. We say that humans are good multi-taskers, but this isn't exactly true. With the spirit being somewhere different than the body, there is no chance for the soul to live and interact. No chance for the soul to receive answers, revelation, or promptings. No chance to live in the moment and create a memory. My mom always tells me "be here". I never really...

I often feel God's love for me in the most unlikely of circumstances. Take today for example. My best friend was driving me home, so obviously we decided to detour and just take a drive. Singing, laughing, and screaming with her brought a feeling of joy that I'm actually quite familiar with. It's true love. Or in other words, Christ-like love.  In instances like these, the love just fills me up. I feel love for everything really: myself, the car, the radio DJ, the Earth, and of course, my best friend.  I never have to wonder if I'm loved because I witness God's love for me everyday. Whether it be a drive with my friend, my mom's mint brownies, or something as simple and beautiful as a sunset.  We are loved. All of us. Every single human. And if you haven't yet experienced that powerful sensation? As my beloved Shawn and Gus would say... "Wait for ittttttttttttttttt!"

So I'm trying to complete this last minute assignment for school right? It's called a "Vision Board" and I've procrastinated it for quite sometime now because it's just something you throw together over night. Anyways, we're expected to show our life goals and such on this poster board, and as I was gathering stuff, it hit me. My future (and frankly all of ours really) can be categorized in four, simple ways: 1. things to learn 2. things to live 3. things to dream 4. things to inspire ^^^ That is our future. Lessons to be taught, people to be loved, houses to buy, taxes to pay, places to go, the world to explore, the human race to uplift; it's all up to us. And I'm hoping I won't mess it up. 

*clinks champagne glass filled with apple cider* Lately I have been dwelling on the people I love and cherish in my life. Wait, no. Start again. *ahem* Sometimes I feel as if I take people for granted. Not use them, but more along the lines of just thinking their presence isn't a big deal. But it is. True friends are hard to find, and I'm probably the most luckiest person in the world to know and love as many wonderful people as I do. So here's to the people who make my day in our group convos. Here's to my family for making life exciting. Here's to the friend who gives me advice for everything. Here's to the time we chucked jello. Here's to my favorite cousin for quoting Fantastic Mr. Fox. Here's to everyone who drives me to places and makes me laugh till I cry. Here's to the time we made a music video. Here's to when we went to Texas for the heck of it. Here's to all the letters and notes given. Here's to surprise birthday lemo...

Humans are bombs. Not like, "the bomb.com", but an actual bomb. Obviously I'm speaking in non-literal terms, but still, you get the point. Bombs obliterate everything through one swift movement, and so can people. A word, an action, a thought; it can all be used for destruction. But who are the bombs? And why are we not smart enough to avoid them? The bombs are every single person in your life, including yourself. And we aren't smart enough to avoid them because, as the late Hannah Montana said, "nobody's perfect". Therefore, we are constantly being bombed, sometimes intentionally, and other times accidentally. What is "being bombed" though? It's being sworn at for sitting by the wrong kid on the bus. It's that one (fake) friend that tells you you're a brat. It's the #coolkids glaring at you as you walk by. *Continues to list multiple other semi-applicable examples.* But as much as all of these "attacks" s...

Ashley. Or Ash. Or even Sugar (some restrictions may apply). I'm an open book, or so I think. I'm the type of person who makes fun of cliche "white girl" stereotypes by following them and secretly loving it. I put more thought into an Instagram post than I should, and I base a lot of my thoughts off of social media. I'm the girl with the obnoxious laugh that is actually funnier than the joke. While I am not even close to being a dancer, I tend to find myself dancing in the mirror because it brings me immense happiness. I have a serious love for music, particularly piano. Like every other human, I dream of traveling the world. My most pressing issue in life right now is when I should take Drivers Ed. I love my friends and family, and I'm constantly thinking of their influence on me as a person. I don't mind being a third wheel. I take time to savor food. I have an obsession with conducting music. I freak out if I miss even just one hour of school. One of m...