Establish Independence

There is a very important period in your life that is very easy to mess up: the beginning of adulthood. The majority of people move out of their parent’s houses when they are between the ages of 18-20. It is a very exciting time. You get to make your own rules. You get to do whatever you want.

Some may disagree, but I think it’s very important to establish your independence during this time period. Now I don’t mean don’t do what your parents say. Your parents usually have your best intentions in mind. Listen to them. 

If I could go back in time, I wouldn't be giving you all of this advice! If I could be so lucky as to have you all learn two things from me they would be:
1) Don’t do what everybody else is doing because that’s what’s “cool”. I'll tell you what's really cool. Lots of money in your bank account. How does it get there? Hard work and dedication.
2) Don’t let a relationship control your life. If your significant other ever tells you they will break up with you if you do something, break up with them. Otherwise you'll probably end up coming back to read my posts about abuse.

Be you and be in control of your life. Don't even think about letting someone steal your pen.

{photo credit: www.quoteswave.com}

Medicine Heals the Body, Music Heals the Soul

Everyone has their own idea of what good music is. I’m not going to suggest that you listen to certain music. What I am going to suggest is to create a “feel good” playlist.

You know when you hear that song, the one that makes everything better and puts you in a good mood. Put together a playlist of all of the songs that do that for you. Whenever you feel sad, mad, lonely, anxiety or stressed simply listen to the playlist. Even if it doesn't help completely get you back to normal, it will help at least somewhat.

If you have trouble sleeping because of stress or anxiety I suggest you also create a "sleepy time" playlist. It may not help everyone, but if you are one who revolves around music, this is a simple solution. I have various classical songs on my own list. For this one I do not suggest upbeat songs as those can get your heart beating faster and that would be counter-productive.

So take the time and create your playlists. Use music to productively cope with the stresses of life. 

  

{photo credits: www.slideshare.net, www.pinterest.com} 

When Cancer Wins

We all hope to die from old age and natural causes, but we aren’t all this lucky. Everyone, at some point in their lifetime, will in some way or another be effected by cancer.

Watching a loved one lose a battle to cancer is one of the most difficult things to witness. The feeling of helplessness and watching them suffer and shrivel up into something you never imagined they could become is almost impossible to endure.

I have lost three of my loved ones to cancer. It’s my biggest and most feared enemy.

Watching a loved one suffer from cancer is worse than watching them die. It is almost peaceful when they die because you know they are no longer suffering. Then you feel guilty for feeling that way. It is a very confusing and difficult time for those who cared about them.

It is hard to remember their normal life before cancer when you just witnessed the most intense life struggle of all. It is important to try to focus on the good times you had with this person, and not dwell on their illness. The sick phase of their life is not how they want to be remembered.

Everyone deals with death and grieving differently. Grieving is perfectly natural and expected. If you find that after months of grieving you are still unable to return to activities in your life like you used to, you may need the help of a professional. 

Some will tell you it gets easier with time. I like to disagree. I say it doesn’t get easier, you just get more used to the void of them. 

Everyone has but one life to live. Your fate is your own. You can’t dwell on what happened to someone else for your eternity. Their life has reached its end on earth, not yours.

I wish you all peace throughout your grieving. More than that, I wish for a cure.