A WHITE-ISH CHRISTMAS AND A BOWLING PARTY FOR JESUS

Since when do we have thunderstorms in Minnesota on Christmas? Last Sunday, I walked through the streets of Madison in -8 degrees (with a -21 degrees windchill). And for Christmas, we get rain? I don't understand. I blame everyone who sang Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on repeat for weeks. 

I won't even wish for snow... 

WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE. I'm not saying that I want it to be as cold as last weekend--that was horrible. But it is not supposed to rain on Christmas. 

As I slid through ice-coated streets of Minnie in the morning, I couldn't help but picture my car wedged in a snowbank. I could barely brake. And even though I knew it was coming, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it would actually rain on Christmas. Who would have thought I should have brought my umbrella and rain boots back from school? It's December!

While we technically had a white Christmas, something about a downpour in the middle of Christmas lunch just didn't seem right. I want pretty flurries and the streets to be lightly dusted with a powdered-sugar-like coating. Is that too much to ask for?

I think the thunder and lightening later in the night is what really put me over the edge. We really had to have a thunderstorm on Christmas? I would have gladly taken a snowstorm over this.

When I was little, my grandma used to tell me that we had thunderstorms when God was bowling with the angels, so I wouldn't be scared of them. It became fun. I imagined a bowling ball going down a lane in Heaven every time it thundered. So, if it had to rain today, at least maybe we can imagine Jesus chose to go bowling for his birthday this year?

Despite the rain, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2nd day of Hanukkah.

WHAT I WISH I COULD TELL MY GRANDMA ON HER BIRTHDAY

Today is my Grandma's birthday. Or at least, it was. They say with time it gets easier, but no amount of time can bring back my Grandma. No amount of time can change the fact that every day I miss her more and more. All it does is put more strain on my memory, threatening all I have left of her. I know that she wouldn't want us to dwell on what we cannot change, and so instead, I want to focus on the light that she brought and continues to bring to me. And so on her birthday, I can't stop thinking of what I want her to know.

Grandma Barb,

Not a day passes that I don't think about you. I know you're watching. Through my good times, through my heart aches, through my failures and triumphs, I can feel you with me. You taught me to believe in God, and I haven't always had the most conventional beliefs about religion, but I can feel your love and His love with me every day. Some days I want nothing more than a Grandma hug and reminder that everything is going to be okay. And most days I still don't truly believe that I can't do that anymore.

A few nights ago, I stumbled upon some old really poor-quality videos that I took of Sydney on my phone when she was a baby. In both of them, I heard your voice and I heard your laugh. And it was one of the happiest and saddest moments that I have had in a long time. It felt so good to hear your voice again, especially when I didn't think I had any record of it.

Every time someone brings up Joel Stave, I think of you and how much you liked him. Can you believe he went on to play for the Vikings? Everyone always rags on him for not being a very good football player, but I think you mostly liked him for his cute blonde-hair-blue-eyes-look anyway, right?

PS: Sorry, Grandma. This picture was pulled from an article called "The Utterly Replaceable Quarterback"

This semester has challenged me in ways that I never saw coming. And there were so many times, I pulled out my phone ready to dial your number, because I needed to tell you everything. I needed your advice. I needed you to know how much I valued your opinion and how much of a role you played in who I am today. You always made a bad day better. 

Recently, I have met some incredible people--people that I couldn't help but wonder if there was a purpose for meeting them. That's what you would have told me after all, isn't it? And now more than ever, I truly believe that. I think that there are certain people that we meet just when we need them most. They might not know it, but they can have a profound impact on our lives. I've never felt more convinced to go after what I want in life. Not just career-wise, but in life in general. 

It's been a messy and confusing time in my life. I have never been so certain, and at the same time so uncertain, about what I want in life. And I know you would tell me that's okay--that I don't need to have it all figured out this minute. 

I can't help but think back to my freshman year of college, when I first told you that I had planned out a class schedule to become an engineer, and you told me that you would support me, but that you thought I was making a mistake. You told me that you had always been able to see the spark writing had given me. And I want you to know, that I think you were right. There's nothing that has given me more happiness, and I think it's all because of you. Some of the times we spent chatting about books are some of my fondest memories.

On your birthday, I want you to know how much I wish I could call you to wish you a happy birthday. As you always told me, thinking of you lots.

Happy birthday, Grandma.
Love,
Your Honey Girl

FALLING ON MY FACE AND GETTING BACK UP

Sometimes you have to take risks. You have to risk falling flat on your face and totally failing. And sometimes you literally fall right on your face.

I can speak from experience. Yesterday, I left yoga with a swollen, bloody lip, because I quite literally fell on my face while extending myself a little too far. The worst part was that it was during a pose that I had done so many times without much trouble. I don't know what happened. Maybe my concentration was off, maybe I was going too fast, and maybe I was just having an off-day.

But regardless, I now know exactly how it feels to fall flat on your face. As I started to taste blood, I immediately pictured the worst. What if I chipped a tooth?! I felt around my mouth with my tongue checking that all my teeth were still in place. I actually got up and left the yoga studio for a minute to make sure that everything was still there.

Here is what I was supposed to be doing:

Here is what happened: 

Here is how I felt: 

Moral of the story? So, I fell. But I picked myself up, recomposed myself and made sure that no one saw what had just happened. Sure, it hurt. I left with a cut up lip and bruised ego. But I will recover and so will my ego.

And next time that I step in that yoga studio, I am going to rock that crow pose.

So, the when you're having a bad day and everything seems to be going wrong, remember that everything is going to be okay. If you fall (literally or figuratively), pick yourself back up. Next time, you are going to be stronger, and you will remember what went wrong, so that you can do it differently the second time around.

You are stronger than you think. We all have off-days where everything seems to be going wrong and just gets a bit overwhelming. But there are better days ahead. Sometimes it takes literally falling on your face to remember that it could be worse. I could have severely chipped my front teeth. I could have left with a bloody or broken nose. I could have given up.

Some of the best advice I have ever gotten is to not take life too seriously. Instead of sulking in my failure, I laughed about it. I cleaned myself up and recognized that I could do better and I will do better.

If anything, imagine me falling on my face in the middle of a crowded yoga studio and maybe you'll get a little chuckle out of it.

PODCASTS YOU SHOULD BE LISTENING TO

Whether you're looking for something to listen to on your walk to class or commute to work, you need to check out these podcasts. Close iTunes and Spotify. And open up your Podcasts app. Before I found these podcasts, I spent most of my time listening to music. And I still spend a great deal of my time doing so. But in the last year, I have stumbled upon some truly great podcasts, and I realized that there is a lot of value in listening to these, too. 

For those of you who can pause the Hamilton soundtrack long enough to listen to something else, here are some podcasts you need to subscribe to. 

1. TED Radio Hour with Guy Raz

If you enjoy watching TED talks, this is the perfect podcast for you. My favorite radio host, Guy Raz, compiles portions of TED talks that all have a common theme each week. Guy interviews the speakers and adds in bits from their talks to, as TED puts it, share ideas worth spreading. 

2. How I Built This with Guy Raz

If you liked Guy Raz on TED Radio Hour, you have to check out How I Built This. Tune in to hear the stories behind the creation of businesses like Instagram, Spanx, Cliff Bars, and more. You wouldn't believe the amazing journeys these people went on to make their products successful. 

3. This Week in Tech (TWIT) with Leo Laporte

I came across TWIT because of a class that inspired me to stay up-to-date on the latest news in technology. Leo Laporte and guests will give you their two cents on the latest products and announcements in technology. With episodes that are around two hours or more, TWIT is definitely something you can put on in the background and pay attention to the parts that interest you most. 

4. Serial with Sarah Koenig

If you missed the hype over Serial last year, you should definitely still check this one out. Sarah Koenig digs deeper into the case of Adnan Syed, accused of murdering his high-school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. 

The NPR website gives a more thorough description here. 

With these podcasts, I've turned a walk to class into a time to continue learning outside the classroom. I have been inspired by moving TED speakers. I have been motivated by persistent creators. I have been intrigued about the latest developments in technology. And I have been curious about what really happened to Hae Min Lee in Baltimore in 1999. 

Give these great shows a listen!

WHO WANTS TO TAKE ME TO NICKELODEON RESORTS?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a pineapple under the sea? Now, you might be able to get a little taste of what it's like. 

Karisma Hotels presents the Pineapple Villa in Punta Cana: 

Beyond these gorgeous Spongebob-inspired rooms, "private butlers take care of your family's every need." You read that right: private butlers, people. 

You can learn more and book your stay here. The villa can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children or 2 adults and 4 children (sounds perfect, right Dad? Mom? Wealthy family in search of a new 21-year-old daughter?) with 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

If you need me, I'll be out by the infinity pool. 

P.S. Dad, if you're reading this, is it ever too late to help your 21-year-old daughter live out her childhood dreams? I don't think so...

THAT TIME WE MET JAMES LAFFERTY

In high school my friend Grace introduced me to the show One Tree Hill. It seemed okay at first, but once I sat down and really got into it, I was hooked. It has been one of my favorite shows ever since. The Scott brothers are my favorite, and many of my friends share the same sentiments. My roommate, Alex, started the series earlier in the summer, and a bunch of us have been re-watching the series with her when ever she has it on.

Lucas Scott and Nathan Scott are played by Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty...aka our long-time crushes. The premise is that they are half-brothers who are enemies when the series begins, but....well, I won't spoil for you. It's on Netflix, and I highly recommend it.

Chad Michael Murray (left), James Lafferty (right)

I mean, look at these two.

So, flashback to parents weekend of my freshman year when I see this:

Sconsin'

A photo posted by James Lafferty (@thisisjameslafferty) on Sep 21, 2013 at 1:53pm PDT

That's right, folks. James Lafferty went to a badgers game. A BADGERS GAME THAT I WAS ALSO ATTENDING.

Smell no evil.

A photo posted by James Lafferty (@thisisjameslafferty) on Sep 21, 2013 at 4:46pm PDT

Here's James casually sitting outside of State Street Brats, a few measly blocks from my freshman dorm.  Photos of girls snapping pictures with him began surfacing, and my friends and I burned with envy. James Lafferty was at our school, and we had no idea how to find him.

Now, flash forward to my senior year, when James posts this video:

I'm not a superstitious man, but it's hard not to interpret this marching band playing 'Tequila' as I'm checking into my hotel as a good omen for the weekend ahead. #GoBadgers

A video posted by James Lafferty (@thisisjameslafferty) on Sep 15, 2016 at 4:35pm PDT

My friends and I were now determined to find him. All we wanted was one photo with our favorite Scott brother.

Madison, you're pretty.

A photo posted by James Lafferty (@thisisjameslafferty) on Sep 17, 2016 at 4:50pm PDT

After seeing this, my roommate Kenzie and I got ready and decided to scope out the terrace--you know, just in case he might still be there. When we got there we did a quick lap, and we were immediately disappointed, but we still had hope. We waited for our friends, Amanda and Kat, and when they arrived we set out on the adventure of finding James Lafferty.

Amanda admitted she had been trying to find him for years, and now that we are old enough to get into bars, it finally seemed possible. We left the terrace and decided that even if we didn't find him, it would still be a fun scavenger hunt.

We thought this would be what we were doing all night. And then, it happened. He was at the SECOND bar we checked. We only had to check two bars, and there he was sitting watching a video off of some other guy's phone in State Street Brats. Who knew James would be so into Brats.

Since he wasn't surrounded by a giant posse or a line of girls, Amanda was skeptical at first and had to get a second look. But once we determined it was really him, we knew that we had to be those annoying fans or we would regret it forever. So sure enough, we went over to be those annoying fans, and we got the photo that all of us dreamed about--even though all of us wish it it was a more flattering picture of all of us.

And that's the story of the time we met James Lafferty. We stayed for a little bit and laughed a little at all the girls hanging around him once they realized he was here, too. And after we continued our night, knowing we had just peaked. How does it get much better than this, we thought. It was a night than none of us will forget (especially now that we have actual proof it happened).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY?

Ted Mosby once said, "But that's the funny thing about destiny: it happens whether you plan it or not. It turns out I was just too close to the puzzle to see the picture that was forming."

I've spent a lot of time thinking about whether or not I believe in destiny. Do we have a set path that we will end up following no matter what we choose? If so, does it really matter what we choose? Because if that was true, wouldn't everything just happen like it was supposed to anyway?

But if we are in charge of our own destiny, then we are also to blame when things don't turn out how we want them to.

I have spent my entire life wondering what my life will eventually be. I spend so much time trying to figure out what comes next that sometimes I forget that life is happening right now. Sometimes I actually have to take time to remind myself to live in the moment.

So, it got me thinking: what if I only had one more day? How would I spend it? Who would I spend it with?

If today was my last day, I would spend it with my best friends and my family. I would play hide-and-go-seek with my little sister as many times as she wanted. I would let everyone in my life know how much they really mean to me and how much they affect who I am every day.

If today was my last day, I wouldn't spend so much time on my phone, because nothing on Facebook is really ever that interesting. And yet, I find myself glued to my phone more than I care to admit.

If today was my last day, I would get better at texting people back and call my grandma. I'm sorry, Grandma. I really do mean to call more.

If today was my last day, I would eat the ice cream, because sometimes happiness is about more than your waistline.

If today was my last day, I would stop taking everything so seriously. Life is a funny thing, and I think we all need to relax a little and just enjoy it.

If today was my last day, I would spend time in my favorite place: the ocean. If I could live anywhere in the world it would be right off the beach.

If today was my last day, maybe I could stop being so afraid of the future.

I don't know if I believe in destiny. I like to believe life is more "choose your own adventure" than it is a set path. But maybe it is time we stop thinking in terms of what our lives will become in the future. I love Ted Mosby. How I Met Your Mother is and always will be one of my favorite shows. But while Ted spent his entire life waiting for his life to start, he sometimes lost sight of what was right in front of him.

The worries of the future can consume you. They can eat you apart. But don't let them. Happiness seems to be this elusive goal that we all search for, but it doesn't have to be something we strive to attain in the future. You don't have to wait. Whatever your "destiny" is (if you believe you have one), it is important to try to find happiness in the present, because you can never be certain of what the future holds.

And that's okay.

What would you do if today was your last day?

THE TIME I GOT A CUPCAKE FROM AN ATM

A few months ago, while visiting Nashville, we stumbled across one of the world's most glorious inventions: the cupcake ATM.

At one point in time, someone must have decided that cutting cake was too much. I am not sure how this came about. I like to imagine that they were frustrated with not being able to cut equal slices for everyone. The kids complained, and they thought, what if everyone just had their own individual-sized cakes? Then, no one would have to fight over the larger slice of cake. 

Whatever the thought process, this delight of a dessert got even better when someone decided to put them in a vending machine. The only thing better than getting fresh cash out of an ATM is getting cupcakes out of one.

We all peeked inside the store, which was just as cute inside as it was from the outside.

But ultimately, we decided why buy a cupcake inside a store when you could get one from a fancy ATM machine?

Of course, we had to document our excitement as we received our little bites of heaven. And they were so good! If you ever make it down to Nashville, I highly recommend stopping by Sprinkles for a cupcake.

SHE CALLED ME "HONEY GIRL"

It's gloomy in Madison today. The sun is hiding. It's much cooler than the last few 90 degree days we have experienced. But I find it fitting for the news I woke up to this morning. In March of my freshman year I found out that my Grandma Barb was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Ever since then, I was positive that she would recover. She had to. She was the strongest, kindest person I knew. She taught me to believe in God, so I had faith that she would make a full recovery. Some time my sophomore year she entered remission, and I was confident that she had beat it. A few short months later, the cancer came back with a vengeance. And it was here to stay. 

This morning I woke up to a notification from her Caring Bridge page saying that she had transitioned to her final stages of life. I knew last week when I came home that it was probably the last time I would see her, and it was one of the hardest days of my life. But she wouldn't want me to focus on the negativity. 

Right before we left I started crying, and she told me to find the humor in everything. She never stopped cracking jokes. So, instead of focusing on her illness, I'm writing this, because I want to share the impact that she had on my life. 

She played a big part in who I am today. Whatever I wanted to do, she made me feel like it was possible. When I told her freshman year that I was still considering pre-med, she urged me to follow my passions, because she knew that I wanted to be a writer more than anything else. She wanted me to be happy. 

She took care of us when my mom was working. I loved coming home from school and getting to talk with my grandma. It was the highlight of my day. She was always telling me about books she was reading and giving me books. I was always so impressed by how many books she could go through so quickly. And I wanted to be just like her. 

Grandma Barb and her father

She wanted us to be happy. She walked down the aisle to Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" when she married her current husband when I was a kid. I keep listening to it on repeat, because I can feel her energy just listening to it. Even in her dying days she was more concerned about everyone else than herself. She wanted everyone else to be happy. She apologized to my mom for the inconvenience she caused by falling and breaking her hip one day when they came over. Who does that?! She broke her hip! And she was more concerned with the distress it caused my mom and siblings. 

She impacted everyone she met. From her random acts of kindness to constantly making people smile, she touched everyone around her. She was someone you could never forget. My grandma is filled with a type of energy that is contagious. I liked to say she was spunky. Her style was amazing: She always had the most colorful clothing and beautiful earrings. How could you not be happy around her? She taught me to be kind to everyone that I met and to try to make someone else's day, because you never know what they are going through. 

She called me "Honey Girl." This is one of the things that I will miss the most. I will miss her hugs. I will miss her pep talks. And I will miss her calling me "Honey Girl." I don't know what it is about it, but it always made me feel comforted. Whenever I was upset, I was embraced with a "Honey Girl, it's going to be okay." And I really believed her. 

There is so much more that I am thinking and feeling, but I couldn't possibly express it all in one post. What I hope that you can take away from this is to always remember how much the people around you are impacting your life. Don't be regretful for lost time, but be thankful for the time you had with them. I am so grateful that I got to be her granddaughter, and while all I want is more time with her, I know that she will always be with me. 

Whether it's a smile to someone at Target or calling a loved one you haven't spoken to in a while, please pass along some joy today for Barbara Jean.

Though you will probably not get to see this, I am going to miss you more than you will ever know. I love you so much, Grandma. 

SUMMER GOALS 2016

Summer has begun. This is my last summer as a college student! While I'll still be busy working two jobs, this is my last summer break. So, I have plenty of ideas about what I want to do to make this the best summer yet.

1. The Summer of Healthy. 
My biggest goal for this summer to is to be healthy. In college, it can be difficult to stay healthy. You're busy, you're going out with friends, and your number one priority is often doing well in school. That means that sometimes you put your health on the back burner. I don't want that this summer. I want to focus on putting healthy foods in my body. I want to exercise more. And I want more sleep!

I'm calling this summer "the summer of healthy." My #1 goal this summer is to be healthy in every sense of the word. After the first 7 mile run that I've ran in a long time (maybe ever), I'm feeling pretty confident about reaching my goals in this beautiful city ☀️🌿 #clichepicnicpointpic

A photo posted by Taylor Shiff (@tay_shiff) on May 18, 2016 at 1:54pm PDT

2. Learn new skills. 
I've had a book about learning Java Script on my bookshelf for two years. TWO YEARS. This summer I am going to learn Java Script already.

3. See more good live music outdoors. 
For the past few years I have gone to Basilica Block Party with my best friends back home. It is two nights of live music on three stages in Minneapolis hosted by Cities97, and it is one of my favorite events each summer. This year the lineup for the night I want to go includes, Death Cab for Cutie, American Authors, X Ambassadors, Matt Hires and more. I need to get to this concert.

4. Spend as much time as possible on the Terrace. 
The Memorial Union Terrace at UW-Madison is my favorite part of campus. Although, there is still a little construction going on there, everyone is thrilled that it is back open for the summer. And it is looking better than ever. I can't wait to have some more great summer nights hanging out in our terrace chairs.

5. Get outside. 
Living in between three lakes makes getting outside easy. Being near those lakes never gets old. There are so many beautiful spots in Madison and I want to spend more time exploring new places around here.

I wish every moment could be like this one ☀️🌎

A photo posted by Taylor Shiff (@tay_shiff) on May 6, 2016 at 4:56pm PDT

6. Make time for friends. 
This is the last summer that all of the amazing friends I have made these last four years will be together. Some of my friends are studying abroad in the fall and some of us are graduating in December. It's hard to believe that this is the last time we will all truly be together before people start moving away and getting full time jobs.

Last summer in Madison was great, but I know that this one will be even better. I have a feeling it's about to be a summer I'll never forget.

What are your summer goals?

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS

When we are little, we are often confronted with the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We are encouraged to be creative. We are encouraged to be imaginative. We are encouraged to be daydreamers. 

But at some point, that all changes. Society wants you to be creative but in a scientific and analytical way. 

So, you've probably heard the saying "Don't quit your day job," right? It suggests that you should give up on your dreams, because you'll never make it anyway.

In Tori Kelly's song "Daydream" she says, "Don't quit your daydream." It is such a beautiful lyric, and I wish that more people felt this way.

Imagine. When you have dreams, you have to continually think of new ways to achieve your goals. No matter what your dreams are, it's likely that you spend time thinking about what it will be like when you achieve them. Dedicate time to actively imagining where you want to be and what you can do to get there.

[Related: How to Actively Pursue Your Passions]

Believe. You have to be your own biggest fan. Believe in yourself first, because people can tell whether or not you believe in yourself and that can make all the difference.

Determination. Sometimes your dreams will seem to big--even impossible. Don't let fear get in the way of the rest of your life. You shouldn't abandon your dreams because anyone tells you they are "unrealistic." But don't do something to prove anyone else wrong; do it to prove yourself right.

Love. At the end of the day, it comes down to finding something that you are passionate about. I have been told not to follow my passions. I have been told to do what will get me a job and what will make the most money. I have been told that I will never be financially secure in my industry. And to that I say, that scares me. It is terrifying every day questioning whether or not I will succeed. But then I go back to imaging what it would be like if it worked out. I go back to believing in myself and my abilities. I go back to being determined to making it happen, because I know it is what I want more than anything in this world. What I really want is to really mean it when I say, "I love what I do."

In school, we're told to pay attention. Stop daydreaming. Maybe there is a time and a place. But don't ever let anyone to tell you to give up on your daydream. You have the power to imagine what you want to do with your life, and you have the ability to make it happen.

KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS

My mom taught me manners. Sorry, Dad. The credit goes to Mom on this one. She raised me to write thank you notes for everything. She made sure I never forgot to say please and thank you. She is the reason growing up my friends' parents used to tell me that I was the politest one of their kid's friends. So, when I encounter people who don't have the same level of respect and politeness engrained in them, it throws me off.

My aunt always tells the story of when she took me to see The Wizard of Oz, and that day someone had been mean to me at pre-school. Apparently, she told told me that whoever was mean to me probably did it because they had low self-esteem. After seeing the play, I told her The Wicked Witch probably had low self-esteem, too. So what if someone is "mean" to you as an adult?

We all encounter people that test our patience. The demeaning coworker. The not-so-friendly friend. The customer that is rude for no reason. Growing up, my brother and I often did not see eye-to-eye. My parent's main advice was always: kill him with kindness. The theory is that it's pretty difficult to me rude to someone who is always nice to you. In practice, it isn't always easy. So, you need to be equipped for responding positively.

1. Breathe before you respond. 
Take a moment before you say anything. Your first instinct is to go on the defense, but that might make the matter worse. Inhale. Exhale. Use this time to think about what you want to say, so that you don't say something you could regret.

2. Lead by example. 
We all know the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. This is involves more than being nice. It means be inclusive, it means demonstrating your expectations and it means holding to your standards. Remember when in elementary school you felt bad after not getting invited to someone's birthday party? That never goes away. Sometimes you are going to feel left out. But that doesn't mean you should you do the same to the people who make you feel that way. When you're the bigger person, you do what others don't and you do it sincerely.

3. Do not act out of spite. 
Revenge is not the answer. Let's say you're frustrated because your roommate always leaves dishes in the sink. Leaving your own dishes in the sink won't "teach them a lesson." It will just make more dishes in the sink. And you will inevitably feel worse.

4. Learn to let it go. 
Acceptance is key. Life isn't always going to go your way. And if you spend all of your time being angry about that, you're only hurting yourself. You can't expect anybody to change just because you want them to. So, learning to let go what you cannot change about them will ultimately make you happier.

5. Laugh more. 
Don't take life so seriously. It's way too short, and you have to enjoy it. Unfortunately, we aren't going to like everyone we meet and not everyone we meet is going to like us. But that's okay! Next time someone makes you really mad, make a conscious effort to laugh about it. First of all, if they are trying to get under your skin, it will show them that it didn't work. Secondly, positive energy is contagious (and so is negative energy!). When you hold in your anger, you usually end up letting it out on the people you care about--who don't deserve it. Spread positivity instead.

People are going to try to get you down sometimes in life. Don't let them! You deserve happiness, and don't let anyone make you think otherwise.

FRIDAY FAVORITES

January has been an interesting month. I spent the beginning of it with friends and family from home, until I got the flu right before classes started. Luckily, I had a few days to enjoy back in Madison before classes started after I recovered. But as soon as the new semester began, life got hectic again. Last week I worked more than usual on top of getting hit with a ton of assignments quickly.

So now that I have a moment to myself, I decided to share some of my favorite discoveries from January. Here are a few of my favorites from January:

1. MY NEW RECORD PLAYER
I have been debating about getting a record player for years. While the technology may be a bit outdated, I have always wanted one. The last few weeks it has been on my mind a lot, and since realized I had been thinking about it so much and I had a gift card leftover from Christmas I finally decided to go for it.

2. HOODIE ALLEN'S "HAPPY CAMPER"
The whole album is only 32 minutes. So it is super easy to get through. I recommend listening to it all the way through the first time you listen to it.

3. ROSES
This is my new favorite song these days. It's by The Chainsmokers with ROZES. It has a dreaminess to it, yet when the beat picks up it is definitely a song you can dance to.


4. DOUG THE PUG
Following the Doug the Pug page on Facebook is one of the best decisions I made in January. It is guaranteed to make you smile.

5. BACON WRAPPED CHEESE CURDS
Does it get more American than that? I think not. I had these delightful bites of heaven a few weeks ago, and I will never look at regular cheese curds the same way.

Do you have any new favorites this week?

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM "HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER"

So far my winter vacation has consisted of a series of naps in between watching How I Met Your Mother and spending time with people back home. I spent a few days watching my little sister before she went back to kindergarten. I saw a few movies. And I took pictures with some of my best friends (like the one above). 

Now, after 5 and half seasons of HIMYM, I'm starting to feel ready to go back to school. I have finally had the time to workout, and boy is my body feeling it. My legs ache, my back is sore, and I have 11 weeks left of a workout program I agreed to do with my roommate. (We'll see how long that lasts.)

The thing is as soon as school starts, I'm going to regret wanting to go back. Everything gets busy so fast. I'm just running out of activities. I haven't felt much like writing these days. Lately I have held myself up to impossible standards of finding the perfect subject to pick up blogging again after my impromptu hiatus. But I am making myself come up with something, because you can only watch so much HIMYM before having an existential crisis about the state of your life. It's weird how much I can relate to that show when the main characters are in their thirties. 

On top of all that, every time I go on Facebook another person is headed off to study abroad. And it's a little bit difficult to watch, not only because some of them are my friends, but also because up until a few months ago I thought for sure I would be one of them. 

But I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and there is something else in store for me back here. For now, since I have watched so much How I Met Your Mother, here are a few lessons I have learned along the way: 

1. No matter how well a first date goes, saying "I love you" is NEVER appropriate. 

But somehow you can recover from it and keep this person in your life (if your name is Ted Mosby)? 

2. If someone is meant to be in your life, they will come into it (or come back into it) when they are supposed to. 

Letting go of someone you care about it always difficult. Ted and Robin have been all over the place, but there's no doubt that in some shape or form they are meant to be in each other's lives. 

3. Life goals can change. And maybe they should. 

Everyone in the group has gone through a series of life changes. Marshall dreamt of being an environmental lawyer, but the reality of living in New York and trying to raise a family with Lily meant settling for a corporate job to survive. 

4. Sometimes dating isn't about "finding the one", but more about figuring out what you want out of relationships with other people. 

Ted was determined to find the one. He was ready to start find the woman he was "supposed to be with", and start a family. But it took a lot longer than he expected. But all of the women along the way helped him grow and figure out what he really wanted out of a relationship. 

5. Growing up is hard. 

At twenty years old, it's really easy to think that by 30 I'll have it all figured out. But after 5 seasons of HIMYM, I've realized that growing up is an ongoing process, and no one actually has it all figured out.

6. The journey is just as important as the destination. 

Once Ted was complaining about how he wanted to find his wife and start his life now, but Robin reminded him that it was about the journey and not just having the life. He wanted to skip past all of the stuff in between and end up with his perfect family. But you have to keep in mind, that it doesn't end there. Your life doesn't start once you land your dream job or find your "soulmate." It's happening RIGHT NOW, and you have to be present in every part of the journey. 

7. Life doesn't follow your timeline.

This one goes hand in hand with the last point, but I thought it was worth making its own separate point. You can plan your life out as much as you want. You can set dates for when specific life events should happen. You can envision where you want to be in 5, 10, 15 years. But nothing ever happens according to plan, and nothing is wrong with you for not having the life you thought you would have by now. 

8. You are AWESOME. 

Barney Stinson may be one of the most overconfident, narcissistic playboys of all time. But he got one thing right: you are awesome, and you should believe that.