8 Ways to Feel Good About Yourself

Everybody has those days or weeks where nothing seems to be going your way. You are upset, sad, anxious, and confused. School is overwhelming, you and your friend are in a fight, and your coach is constantly yelling at you. I know I have days like this all the time. Lately they have been happening more often then not. Feeling down about yourself is the worst feeling in the world. I have started to come up with somethings that seem to help me when I am in a DARK AND TWISTY PLACE (Grey's Anatomy reference). I figured I would share them with you!

1. Organize
      That might seem like a chore that your parents make you do; but I find it very relaxing. Make a playlist on Spotify and jam out to some good music and organize your desk, the one covered in old tests and textbooks and maybe some laundry (or is that just me... idk). Clean out your closet. Go through all your clothes; doing so will give you a sense of a fresh start and you will feel a lot better. Just decluttering can make you feel so much better. I personally make time at least once a week to clean up my room.
2. Workout or stretch
      I haven't been a fan of either of these for the longest time, but sometimes a good run, or a deep stretch, or maybe a full on work out can lift your spirits. I know stretching is always relaxing for me. I like to listen to soft music and just stretch. It may seem silly but after a long day it's nice!
3. Write
      Highschool is hard, not gonna lie. Classes are overwhelming, people are annoying, and everything is stressful. I find that writing had been my saving grace. Sometimes talking to people helps, but more often then not I think writing helps me more. I journal, blog (obviously), and sometimes if I have a lot I need to say, I will write a letter. Not a letter to send, just a letter to bury away after you pour out your feelings. You feel so much better; to let everything you have been holding inside, out.
4. Read
      Picking up a book when you are stressed out is always a good idea. You get lost in the story and everything seems to fade away. I don't have anything more to say about that  accept the you need to READ, get of netflix for an hour and read.
5. Keep a happy jar or a journal
     I have both. By a happy jar, I mean a jar (like a mason jar or an old glass pizza sauce jar) that is filled with little slips of paper. Every night write down one good thing about your day or one good thing that happened (DATE THEM), and put it in the jar. Whenever you are sad, read one or two of those notes and think about all the good things. A journal is another thing. You can read this blog post about journaling. She is a great friend of mine. I journal in the same way she does!

6. Make a bucket list // or goals
     Sometimes when nothing seems to be going your way and you just want to quit (a sport you play, and activity you take part in ect.) I find that it is helpful to find your bearings and create a list of goals. This helps me when I am stressed out about field hockey, I create a list of goals (field hockey wise). I find that this helps me because I just focus on those goals (both big and small) and tune the rest out. If something is getting you down (for me it would be FH) and you set some small goals for yourself, it is so rewarding when you accomplish them. It is the same with a bucket list, brainstorm a bunch of things you want to do before you die (both big and small); these goals will give you a sense of purpose and show you all the amazing things you will be able to do.
8.  Color
     I love to color, go to the store and pick out a coloring book. It could be one that you colored when you were a kid, or one of the fancy adult coloring books with detailed designs. Turn on some music and color. It will help to relieve stress and relax the mind.

I hope these ideas help you. I know that when I get into my DARK AND TWISTY PLACE  and these things seem to help me. Talking to your PERSON (another Greys reference I'm sorry.. JK I am not) helps too, but sometimes you need to talk ME TIME and figure out your own ways to make yourself happy because your person might not always be there. Remember to stay smiling, it will all be ok.

Passion // Field Hockey

Passion; noun. Any powerful or compelling emotion of feeling as love or hate.

Growing up, and going through life I think it is important for everyone to have a passion. To have something that they can do that makes them totally forget whatever is going on in their life. To have something, that takes them to another place. Something that clears their head. Something that they get so involved in that nothing else seems to matter.

I know this is super cliche, but none the less it's the truth.

For the past 5 is years, I have been playing field hockey. It has become my passion; something I live for. Field Hockey is a part of me; and it has been for the past 5 is years and hopefully it will be for the rest of my life.

I have learned a lot of important lessons through my field hockey experiences. As a student athlete, I have learned about balance and how to manage my time. Being apart of a team has thought me a lot as well. Such as how to compromise, how to contribute to a group, how to better work with people who might not be your "cup of tea", as well as communication, dedication, and most of all teamwork. I have been on teams with a ton of very dedicated players and teams that were full of people that played for fun, and each has taught me something different. I have learned about
 the player I am and the player I strive to become. I think it is important to be on a team and to be able to work with other people and learn all the lessons being on a team can teach you. I have learned how to deal with a lot of difficult people (I'm gonna leave it at that...). I have learned to deal with people that want to bring you down; how to keep your head up when everything seems to go wrong.

I have also met some of my best (and lifelong) friends. (to those of you that are reading this and you know who you are I love you long time).

Playing field hockey has taught me a lot about myself. It has taught me about who I am as a person and how I react to certain things. I have discovered things about myself I didn't know about. I have pushed myself when I thought I couldn't go further. I have proved people wrong. So many times I have wanted to quit, but my love for the sport has kept me going. When I feel like I just can't take it anymore, I think about all the steps I have taken and all the work I have put in to get where I am today.

I want to thank everyone that has got me where I am today; those who supported me, and those who didn't. Each of you has helped to shape the person I have become.

I know that was a lot of writing and a lot to read but I hope you got something out of that; whether it was that you join a team sport, or that maybe what you are doing isn't really your passion, or that something you just want to give up on might be your passion and although you might be at then end of your rope that quitting isn't really what you want to do.

Favorites // Summer Photos

I know it has been so long since I have posted a post (lol). I have been so busy getting ready for school and enjoying the end my summer, and now that school has started I am even more busy.

Summer is over. Bittersweet I know. I love the summer because it is low-key and I get to be at the beach. But I love fall;  the weather, field hockey season, my birthday (16 eek), the fashion, and HALLOWEEEEEEN!!

I couldn't decide what I wanted this post to be about, but I think I want to capture/ summarize my summer with a few of my favorite pictures, so here they are:

Nantucket // August 2015

I have been going to Nantucket my entire life, and it is my favorite place on earth. My family owns two houses on the island. I arrived on the island a few days ago. I am so happy to be here. There are so many fun amazing things to do on the island, from surfing to shopping, to driving on Great Point.

Great Point

Surfing at Cisco

Over the years I have developed my own things that I love about the island that are separate from the craziness of the summer crowds. I love surfing, and all the good surfing beaches are always swarmed with people here for only a week or so. The things that My family and I do to keep out of the crowds include going to the "secret" insider beaches that are typically empty with maybe 5 or 6 other people, as well as riding our bikes around the island instead of driving.

I love watching the sunset from the beach at the end of our road, it's one of the prettiest sunsets I have seen.

Other Nantucket pictures :)

S'mores in the fire pit 

My pup at my favorite beach, MADAKET BEACH

GoPro // Summer Camp

A few weeks ago I went to an Amazing specialty camp down in the Cape! We surfed all morning and went on amazing adventures all around the cape in the afternoon. I had such a great time with such a great group of people. There were two trips at base camp that week; surfing and sailing. I had so much fun! After surfing, we would go on adventures like walking around in Provincetown or going to a flee market in Wellfleet or swimming in the lake at the boys camp!!!! I have been going to sleep away camp for years! I would recommend it to anyone. It is always so fun to go to camp and be who you are with a bunch of amazing people! Now for some pictures!!!

BASE CAMP!!!! Both trips stayed at base camp!!

At Base camp, we did many things, but one of the most memorable was dressing up for BURNING MAN (an event we did with the boys camp when you literally just burn stuff).

Adventures!!

We surfed at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet MA, it was a gorgeous beach.

These pictures are snapshots from the GoPro videos one of the instructors took!!

PMC // My Ride

All my life, I have been inspired by people who ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge. This year I decided to ride, so on August 2nd I got on my bike and rode 50 miles in the name of cancer. Before this, I had to raise some money, so I posted about my ride on Facebook and emailed everyone I knew in efforts to try and raise as much money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (100% of the funds raised by the PMC go to Dana Farber). Thanks to so many incredible people I was able to raise nearly $2,000 to help find a cure for cancer.

The Race was absolutely an amazing must-do (or see) event. Before the start, they had all the cancer survivors raise their hands. It was absolutely beautiful how many survivors there were!!! The route I took was Babson College to Patriots Place and Back to Babson. My school had assembled a team and we all had matching shirts! The ride itself wasn't too bad, the first 25 miles went by so quickly! Although, the was back proved to be a challenge. The route back was mostly uphill! I have to admit that the last hour (10/15 miles) was the worst part.

5:28 am- Coffee stop because I run on Dunks

6:02 am- Bike is prepped and ready for a ride

6:30 am- Pre-race pictures with Mama :)

6:55 am- Race line-up

12:05 pm- FINISH after 50 miles of Biking for the cure

My amazing & supportive family and I after I almost passed out post-race