Always...

Always give back

Always give back to the ones around you. Participate in charity events, help those in need,do your part for the community. We get so caught up in our everyday lives that we forget that there are other people around us who aren't as fortunate us to have a family, money,food,shelter, etc. But, what we can do to help those in need and ourselves is to stop from our very busy daily lives and go to a food bank and help give out food, or even just donate to a charity you see one the side of the street. Both options are equally as important. For me, growing up on Long Island has sheltered me from actually seeing the struggles my parents were put through to get me in the position of comfort I currently live in. They would tell my sister and I stories of how they worked multiple jobs to just pay rent for us. I didn't understand how privileged I was until I began volunteering for a organization that took us into communities right next-door to us that weren't living at the level of comfort as the people in my community do. This opened my eyes and I told myself that I would get off my high horse and help whoever I can whenever I can because honestly... who does it hurt?

Always laugh

Always laugh, means never let anything put you down. Always laugh at the little stuff. When I was young I use to take everything everyone said to heart. But what’s the point in doing that? It doesn’t make you a stronger person, nor does it help you character. Laughter has so many health benefits such as... It reduces stress hormones. It allies against heart disease. It helps you heal faster. It improves sleep. And the list goes on and on. I use to be really sensitive and high strung. Always worrying about what people thought of me and how I appeared. But, once it entered high school I stopped caring because what's the point? People will always have their opinions about you, that won’t change. You can't do much about it. So, just laugh about it. All the mean things they say, laugh at it. There's no point in dwelling over the past so why not embrace it. Laugh at all the mistakes,the jokes, the accidents. Laugh at it all.

It's always going to be fine

You've probably hear the famous Bob Marley quote "every little thing is going to be alright." And, if you wanna know something he's right. So what you get a 65 on a math test or that your boyfriend/girlfriend left you. It's water off a duck's back, life moves on. Our society is so consumed with being the #1. We are so focused on ratings and charts and being the trophy student,wife,or athlete we don't really get to enjoy ourselves. We all want to be the next billionaire, but why not just an average person. Why must we have such unrealistic expectations? The little things like for instance what phone we use or what house we have or even how we dress ourselves don'e define who we as individuals are. So don't worry if you won't be the next billionaire because in the end "every little thing is gonna be alright."

Stay True

Stay true to yourself means stay to true to who you are and your goals. Be proud of what you have accomplished and embrace your quirks. As a women in New York I am often times surrounded by these skinny minis who are ULTIMATE GOALS. They are the Instagram models you see and envy. But, honestly why? What high school has taught we is to just say whatever that comes my way. Don't let the little things bother you. The most attractive feature of a person is their confidence and staying "gold" to yourself. Just like how Johnny told Ponyboy in The OUtsiders, "Stay gold POnyboy." THis essentially means that everyone has their opinions and comments but it shouldn't affect how you look at yourself and how you treat yourself. Its cliche I know. BUT, there is a reason why so many people say " stay pure" and it's because it's true. Staying "gold" is something you owe yourself because if you don't what do you become? Another minion to society?

Always have a favorite quote

Always have a favorite quote, means find a quote that captures your spirit. It could be silly or it could be inspirational it doesn't matter. The purpose of having a quote is that it sticks to your heart and it is something to keep in your mind when you feel down or when it just isn't your day. My quote is “And if somebody else has it much worse, that doesn't change the fact that you have what you have. Good or bad.” - Perks of Being a Wallflower. This quote is my favorite because it reminds me that I am no different from anyone else and my problems are my problems no one else’s.

Always have a theme song

Always have a theme some, means always have a song that makes you feel good walking down the street. It could be Beethoven or it could be Kendrick Lamar doesn't matter. If you walk into a room with your theme song playing you feel like you can conquer the world. Mottos are supposed to be ideals that one lives by and having a theme song only enhances those ideals because it makes you feel good and feel like you can conquer the world. That’s the whole point of a theme song. It is something that when you hear play you feel strong, you feel invincible. The reason why I have a photo of neon lights saying “The Sound” is because that’s my current theme song. The song “Sound” by the 1975 is about freedom and capturing your spirit.

Always Adventure

Always Adventure, means never stop exploring outside your comfort zone. The idea of having a photo of Niagara Falls is that in order for me to take this photo I had to step outside my comfort zone and try thing thing new. The motto "always adventure" stems from when I went to live in Taiwan for six weeks by myself. Throughout my time there I kept telling myself "you're here to try new things, not to stick to your same routine you could follow at home." During that trip I kept repeating to myself "what’s the worst that can happen" and it led to some pretty crazy adventures like sleeping on mountain tops, to walking around different cities in the middle of the night. The idea of having a photo of Niagara Falls as a reference photo instead of having one of Taiwan is the fact that I was able to bring the motto “Always addventure” into a whole new purpose and a whole new place. In Taiwan the motto only applied when I had as much freedom as possible and had a surplus of opportunities to do new things. But, in Niagara Falls I was able to take that mentality and use it in my life at home. I was able to ask myself “why not.”