Sincerely, Amanda

Children are kind of like drones you program to carry on your ideals. While parents might want to...

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:45:14 -0400

Children are kind of like drones you program to carry on your ideals. While parents might want to believe they encourage independent thought among their spawn, we all know that is not true. Your parents have ideals they hold dear, visions of the future, moral inclinations, and discoveries about life. They instill these into you from day one, hoping their ideals will carry on, but also that these posits will help guide you successfully. I sometimes think of all the things I would program my someday children to hold dear. What would I tell them about religion and death, or things less daunting like how to have good manners or what happens if they accidentally clog someone else’s toilet. There are things my parents taught me as a child that I hold dear to this day. Things I never realized had made such an impact on the person I am. These are them.

When I was a little kid, my mother told me that hate was a bad word. I was forbidden from saying it. Instead I was required to say, it’s not my favorite. Whether it be about a food item, a person, a store, anything. Hate was unacceptable.

My father, on the other hand, did not develop his ideal until later on. When he realized he had screwed quite a bit up in not viewing the world this way. If he ever asked my brother and I what we wanted to be when we grew up, there was no other acceptable answer than happy. And while this is not a unique notion, I am glad he taught it to me. There is nothing more important than living a life that makes you happy. Money, fame, esteem, none of this matters if you are left miserable in the end. Seek what makes you happy.

What notions have your parents or loved ones instilled in you?

Photo

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:06:12 -0400

Firsts

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:07:07 -0400

I’m getting as many tally firsts in as I can before the semester ends. In the past two weeks I have gone to Food Truck Thursday, tried Filipino food, got Krishna lunch, tried boba at What? Cafe, and went to Luna’s Pizza. What next?

It’s funny how I am always sad to leave Tallahassee at the end of each school year, though I’m also ready to go home for a bit. It really is a home of sorts. Can’t wait for next year! Finishing up my major, possibly getting a policy/community organizing related internship, graduating, & more.

But first things first- Prague! Things are looking up. Fifteen days and counting ‘til I’m home bound.

left-nut: Broken by witherings on Flickr.

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:28:20 -0400

left-nut:

Broken by witherings on Flickr.

Photo

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:45:42 -0400

A pet is not the same thing as a stuffed animal. Thought I’d clarify for anyone who...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:21:16 -0400

A pet is not the same thing as a stuffed animal. Thought I’d clarify for anyone who didn’t already know this -.-

Photo

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:45:29 -0400

brendonbrandon: magnoliazolia: our world is kind of awful No. Our world is great. For every one...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:21:02 -0400

brendonbrandon:

magnoliazolia:

our world is kind of awful

No. Our world is great. For every one person that plants a bomb, you have hundreds more running a marathon. For every one person that makes a joke about the dead and dying, you have thousands more donating blood, offering prayers, and volunteering their time. Things like this are the fault of single individuals who make violent, loud statements. We just have to make sure that the statements of the good are louder.

Daughter's Plea

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:40:39 -0400

Shouts that bring shivers
Make my arms shake
Hearing through speakers:
Impassioned joy turns to
Hurt

You sounded so happy-
What you have to look forward to-
You deserve more.
When will it end?

Don’t be controlled.
You are
Grand, beautiful,
Full of potential
Don’t doubt yourself

You deserve to be happy.

aw shit get it wednesday HA! I almost forgot to reblog this...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:45:26 -0400

aw shit get it wednesday

HA! I almost forgot to reblog this today

Every Wednesday from now on.

Its wednesday yo

All in a day's work

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:28:30 -0400

As many of you may know, I work in the housing department at my university. As many high school students are currently on their spring break, we had some stragglers come into the office today.

There was a boy and his mother who came in twenty minutes til close in an absolute panic. This was due to someone in financial services telling them they had to sign up for housing today. I set them up on the computer so they could sign up, but the son could not remember his password. He was very frustrated, claimed that he “gave up,” complained about the keyboard, and nearly threw his phone at the wall. Of course all of these things were easily solvable and by the end, they were all set. One of the women in my office said something along the lines of “good luck in college if you get that easily stressed out.” To which I say, for real.

Here’s the kicker. Earlier in the day, a boy came in who was physically handicapped, in a wheelchair, and who had subpar communication skills. This boy came in with his mother and grandmother. They were trying to navigate what was best for him housing wise, to transfer all his documentation, to find him in dorm care from a nurse, and many other services. Yet, they were positive and hopeful. This boy had real problems without such simple solutions and he had an incredible smile on his face. He was just excited to have the opportunity to finally be away from home and gain some independence (something which I am sure will be difficult). Anyways, it was definitely a reality check.

In addition to this, I have really started becoming interested in working with persons with special needs (physical and cognitive). This was just another encouraging factor from the universe. I realized that no one was directing any of the information to him, but instead to his mother and grandmother. Realizing that as he was accepted into college, he probably thoroughly understood, I decided to start directing the answers to him. I wanted him to feel autonomous, worthy, and independent. The smile on his face and his nodding head made me feel like that was a great decision.

All I want in life is a cozy, clean, and bright kitchen. Then,...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:56:26 -0500

All I want in life is a cozy, clean, and bright kitchen. Then, everything else will fall into place.

Photo

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:45:11 -0500

"Young men need to be socialized in such a way that rape is as unthinkable to them as cannibalism."

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:26:41 -0500

“Young men need to be socialized in such a way that rape is as unthinkable to them as cannibalism.”

- Mary Pipher, Clinical Psychologist and Author, Reviving Ophelia (via sunshine-machine)

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Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:26:19 -0500

Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes (click through)

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:28:38 -0500

Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes (click through)

So, guys, I made a blog. It's about ethical eating. AKA my vegucation.

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:56:00 -0500

So, guys, I made a blog. It's about ethical eating. AKA my vegucation.

mylittleworldapart: new girl | Tumblr on We Heart It -...

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:49:32 -0500

mylittleworldapart:

new girl | Tumblr on We Heart It - http://weheartit.com/entry/50839672/via/mell_prettylove

YES

He has my heart forever!

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:15:56 -0500

He has my heart forever!

Just fabulous.

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:29:37 -0500

Just fabulous.