Your "Purpose" In Life || Insightful Saturday

Heyooo!!!! How is everyone? It's been a rough few days for me. Between roommate squabbles and work work work, I am SUPER grateful to be able to just sit down for these few minutes and talk to you all. You know when you don't express yourself properly for a while and you start to feel like you'll explode? That's where I am right now, so thank you all so much for sticking with me through my mini rants. I love you guys.  This post today is about "purpose", whatever that truly means. I feel like modern society is becoming accustomed to this routine that everyone's purpose is to go through school, go to college, get a good, stable job, and save money to pay for your children to do the same thing. While that is a very safe route, I have found that it is becoming increasingly difficult for all of us with artistic souls to find solace in that situation. I personally have bounced around back and forth between jobs, majors and living situations because, to put it lightly, I get bored easily! It is so hard for me to stick to one thing, as I want my life to be a constant whirlwind of new and exciting experiences. Luckily, blogging has fallen into my lap, and I now have a way to document how I feel about all of these experiences, and maybe one day I'll find a way to narrow them all down until I have one career.  But for now, I am a wanderess, and I think I am okay with that. :)

"Brooklynn, how can blogging be your "purpose"? You're not even contributing to society. You really think that is better than being a CEO???" Wooow, thank you so much everyone I have ever met ever, that is a great question. Yes, I do think that blogging is a better opportunity for myself than being a CEO. But, get this... ....everyone is different! Blogging is a better option, FOR ME. I'm not sure what percentage of my readers are higher ups in major companies, but if you are, that's lovely! My point is that there is merit in whichever career you choose, because even if it isn't directly benefiting someone you know, you are always inspiring someone. (Of course there are exceptions to this. No, I do not think prostitution or drug dealing are acceptable career choices, I just think everyone can do anything they set their mind to. Please keep those exceptions out of my comments, lol.)

Take this photo, for example, as a visual representation of the differences between someone who chooses a life of logic vs. a life of creativity. Both are beautiful. Both are necessary. Both create amazing things. They are just different. But, in my opinion, there are three very important things to remember when trying to discover your "purpose", no matter what path you choose: 1. You were given an array of skills and talents that no one else has. No one else can do anything exactly the same as you. So its okay if your purpose isn't to be a doctor or lawyer, because what's really important is that you use your special talents to build a life that you love. (for example, I am good at talking. My family has joked about it for yeaaaars. BUT here I am, doing just that, and loving it.) 2. You don't need validation from others that your dreams and goals are important. Does it make you happy? Does it give you the life you want? Go for it.  3. It is okay to change your mind. It is okay to live your life one way and then decide that something else will make you feel happy and fulfilled. You can live the life you want, even if it takes time. It is okay to discover yourself through your passions! No matter what anyone says. You may be wondering what inspired me to write this, and it is simply that I have recently been trying to change my mindset. I feel as if I have been spending my entire life apologizing for who I am because it is an inconvenience to others, and I don't want to be that way anymore. I want to be who I am and if others don't like that, then maybe they don't need to be around me anymore. It is okay to like who you are, even if that isn't the person others want you to be. Your purpose will find you.

What is your passion? Love, light, and choosing happiness,

Internet Friends || Stuff&Things

Heyo!!! How is everyone? Hope you are all swell :) I'm feeling very good today. Yesterday was a bit of a blech day, but watching a few Sprinkle of Glitter pamper videos fixed me right up! Today I am going to talk about what is probably my favorite topic so far: INTERNET FRIENDSHIP! Yeeeeee!!!  "Brooklynn, why are you so ridiculously excited about internet friends? Aren't those just rando's that you've never met who could be lying about their identity? Are you possibly talking to 90 year old creepers on twitter?????" 

As social media platforms become more and more popular, it becomes easier to make friends via the internet. In my opinion, this is an amazing chance for people around the globe to connect with one another in a way that those who lived hundreds of years before us could've never imagined. But, of course, like anything that seems to good to be true...there are those who use this as an opportunity to lie to others about who they are and that can become very dangerous. So, a quick disclaimer before I delve into the lovely world of internet friendship: be careful who you speak to on the internet, and be careful about who you become whilst twittering and instagramming away. 

I'll explain. While on the internet, it becomes so easy for us to change whatever we would like about ourselves. It becomes an escape of complex passwords and usernames that no one in our everyday lives could ever figure out, so it can be tempting to change little things about ourselves. I cannot stress enough: Let your internet presence be a wholehearted representation of yourself. If you are interested in making friends via the internet, this will be the easiest way to eventually transfer those web friendships to face-to-face ones. Now, this doesn't mean put all of your personal information online, but you can be honest about your personality.

literally me ^^^

Okay, now the fun part! I'm going to tell you a bit about some of my internet friends! If you read my post about Homecoming, you've seen a few pics of some of my internet friends. I have quite a few, but I've only met a handful in person. One of my best friends, Kristina, you'll be hearing a lot about within the next few months, as I recap my summer festivities with you all. I met Kristina on Twitter, and after randomly following each other one day, we got to talking via DM! (Remember this post where I mentioned voting for 5SOS to win an EMA? She was doing the same) We instantly clicked, and have been texting away ever since.  We met for the first time in August, and it was lovely. I miss her lots.

Kristina and I at the bean, we are v v cute. 

I am also currently in a group chat we like to call "5SOS Baes" (yes, we are that cool) and we had the opportunity to meet at a concert a few months ago! We have been friends for almost a year now, and let me tell you: meeting 7 of your most amazing friends all at one time is a very fun, overwhelming feeling! It was a big mesh of crazy hugging and crying and jumping for joy, and I know I have these ladies for life. Here are some photos of that experience! *heart eye emoji*

                            Our cute hands being cute                                    left to right: jess, em, ady, me, lau, meghan, abby, mags 

I'm so sorry for this

Okay, okay, I'm done now haha. But seriously, if you are perusing your favorite blog or see something funny on Twitter, say something! You never know the amazing people you'll meet, it really can change your life. And, if you are a little shy, I'd love to be your friend! Speak up! :)

Alsooooo, my friend Jess (she is to the far left of the first crazy group selfie) is a YouTuber herself! Check out her channel here! 

Crazy friends and a million crazier selfies,

HATERS GONNA HATE || Stuff&Things

Heyoo!!

To start off, Happy National Cat Day! (it had to be said) I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely, chilly day. I am! It is a bit colder than it has been where I live, but I am wearing my Halloween socks so really it all evens out, doesn't it? Today I have decided to chat with you all about something with actual substance! I really enjoy blogging about topics that millions of people have millions of different opinions on, (controversy!) so lets talk about internet hate.

I am very fortunate in that I haven't had to encounter "haters" on social media yet, but I'm sure I will at some point because they are everywhere. I do, however, follow the usual amount of celebrities on Twitter and Instagram and see the flood of anonymous hate they receive on a daily basis. (Fully expect Taylor Swift references, because she knows a thing or two about what it's like to have haters.)

I don't really know what the point of it is, in all honesty. What does one get from sitting behind a computer and saying horrible things to someone? "I don't like [insert celebrity name here] so I am going to tell them they are ugly....OH I GOT THEM SO GOOOOOD!" I imagine that this is what anons who send hate are thinking, but I'm not really sure what the satisfaction in any of that is.

The real issue, aside from the fact that some people don't have anything better to do than to act horrible to people they've never met, is that internet hate really affects the self- esteem and mental health of many people in a very negative way. Many times when people start sending hate, they start receiving hate as well, and in turn feel bad about themselves. It is so easy for everything to spiral out of control, and then everyone is just feeling inadequate. When we are kids, we are taught how to be kind to people. (Though I am well aware that not everyone takes that knowledge to heart.) Its unfortunate that face to face kindness doesn't apply when we get in front of a screen, but it should. If you are receiving hate from people on the internet, do not fret. Some people get lost along the way, and we can only help them get back on the kindness path by ignoring their attempts at feeling powerful. You are imperfectly perfect, and that person has no idea of the beautiful thoughts that are being manifested inside of your mind, so don't let them feel as if they do! You may not be in control of what people say, but you are in control of how you respond. Hold your head up high, smile, love yourself, and turn your face from those who don't understand you. They don't need to.

But, if your heart is hurting from anonymous hate you are receiving, it is definitely okay to talk to someone. It's not always so easy loving ourselves, but it is a beautiful epiphany when we realize it is possible. If you'd like to talk to someone online about how you are feeling, take a visit to www.imalive.org. Or if you'd just like to feel calmer, head on over to The Quiet Place.

And just remember, always be kind and care about others.

Kitties, Shaking It Off, and Kindess,

-Brooklynn.