My Teacher Told My Class the Other Day...

....that the people that discourage you the most can very well be your own family members. 

And I agree. 

I know that they're always there for me, and I'm thankful for that.

BUT I feel like sometimes they don't realize that I want them to be so proud of me in the things that I love to do. 

FOR EXAMPLE: I love this blog. 

And my mom remembered about it today and asked me about it. 

I showed some posts to her and she said she liked them, 

but 

she added this comment that "people might not like that you preach."

Excuse me?

I'm thankful for her constructive criticism but,

I don't preach. 

I encourage.

And not to sound like a baby, but it hurt that she would say that. 

Listen, 

I'm not trying to push my ideas on you.

I'm just trying to cheer up your days and give you strength and advice that I would want myself. 

And there's nothing preach-y about that. 

Five Things I Really Need to Stop Doing

To Be Mature Or Not To Be Mature...

Wait.

That is NOT the question. It's more along the lines of when to be mature, right?

This is complicated, I guess, because there are different levels of maturity. 

For example, you can be serious around some people, and silly around others.

Does it have to be always silliness or seriousness?

No, not in my opinion. 

That would be stupid. 

Who wants to be silly all the time? 
 "Crumpets, crumpets, crumpets. I like crumpets, Mum!"
That could get annoying.

AND who would want to be serious all the time?

"Pass the crumpets, Bobathon. And be quiet. You're disturbing the peace."
(I'm going in an English direction for some reason...)

BUT why I'm really bringing this up is my situation. 

SO I'm getting up there in the teen years and people kind of expect me to get more serious. 

But I like being silly. 

But I'm mostly silly with just my family and close friends so that's different. 

Let me give you a real-life example (wow!): 

So I'm talking to my mom about how my friend is coming over. 

Her name is Ariel. 

NATURALLY I told my mom she was a mermaid. 

Wouldn't you?

Anyways, I told her something along the lines of how she's on land for now and that's why we can hang out. 
(By the way, like I said earlier, I usually just talk like this to my family. 

And it's because I love making them laugh! It's not because I really believe in mermaids.

WOW. I really get side-tracked. 

ANYWAYS, 
my mom laughed (because her daughter is funny), but then she said I have to be "more mature". 

What. 

I told her that I AM mature. But she didn't believe me..

But I can be mature! 
Like with other people. 
Actually I get really shy and close myself up sometimes.

BUT I'm getting ahead of myself here!
 
Where WAS I?

Oh yeah. 

When should you be mature?

Personally, I think it's fine to be silly. YOU just need to know when's the right time and when is it a better time to be serious. And I don't see any problem about being silly around your family members cause, they can't get rid of ya!

Although maybe, JUST MAYBE, I need to stop referring my friends to mermaids...
 

I Want...

...to do something big in my life. 

I just have to figure out what that is...

100th POST, 1 YEAR

This is so exciting: This is my 100th blog post!

It's been one full year since my first blog post, "Inside a Beauty Salon."

One of the greatest things that I love from this blog is that I'm able to brighten people's day.

And that's the whole point. 

To inspire and to encourage people to KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

EVEN when it's tough. 

And God-willing, I'll keep this up for a long time, 

BECAUSE even helping just ONE person when reading my blog can CHANGE THE WORLD. 

Thanks for reading :)

Do Hard Things

I just finished this book called A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations: Do Hard Things. Long title, I know.

But it's great! 

AND really inspiring.

They also have a website! (Link below)

So DO hard things, DON'T give up, and read the book. 

...but maybe in a different order. 

http://therebelution.com/

There's Always Going to Be...

those people that put you down, either unintentionally or intentionally.

Well, what are you going to do about it?

"Have I not commanded you: Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified and do not be discouraged! For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Don't you dare give up or feel discouraged! 

YOU are better than that.

AND God is with you.

SO. Are you just going to give up because somebody doesn't think you're capable enough? Or are you going to prove them wrong?

Yes!

Say it with me: "I'm going to prove them wrong!"

That's what I thought.