I got to thinking about impressions. Making a first impression is imperative when it comes to just about everything: finding friends, job interviews, meeting the parents. But sometimes we sacrifice ourselves in order to impress others. We put up a front that is nothing short of fake. We tailor our opinions and ideas. We seek respect. But what we don’t seem to realize is that we are much more deserving of respect if we put ourselves out there first. While we shouldn’t press heavy topics right off the bat, we should always remember to be who we are. That will impress anyone; that takes courage, and will always earn respect.

I got to thinking about long distance relationships. Or LDRs, as Glamour has named these. I am about to embark upon a long distance relationship. I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know how sad or lonely or calm I’ll be. But I do know something: I know that people do this everyday. Why would it be different with us? We can conquer anything. We aren’t like everybody else. We can do anything. And at the end of the day, that is my relief. That’s what will get me through these next several months.

I got to thinking about being snubbed. I was snubbed recently. A girl I grew up with, one of the meanest girls I’ve ever known, didn’t acknowledge my presence on her special day. Let’s be clear: I was invited to this celebration by her mother, but it would’ve been nice to be acknowledged, to say thank you for attending. She also snubbed my parents. While I was rather certain this would happen, I wanted her to prove me wrong. I wanted her to show that she isn’t the meanest girl I know anymore. But she didn’t. And I cannot say I am surprised. Very disappointing. End of rant.

I got to thinking about traveling. I haven’t had the wonderful opportunity that of my peers to travel the world. I haven’t been to Europe or Asia or Australia. I haven’t seen the world outside of the United States and Canada. While my travels to these places have left nothing but fondness in my heart, I yearn to see more. I yearn to see the world. I don’t know how non-Westerners live; I would love to find out.

I got to thinking about trust. How do you know who to trust? Who is reliable? Who will be there for you no matter what? Do you follow your heart? Your head? Is your intuition always right? I think that trust shouldn’t be based on logic; trust shouldn’t be based on past events. Trust is about the now. And that certainly means you must trust your heart. You already know who to trust.

I got to thinking about being one thing. Are we defined by one thing? Is there an element to our personalities, our lives, that make us who we are? Or is there so much more to people than one thing? I’d like to believe that I am not just defined by the things I am good at: writing, being a human GPS and calendar. But somehow, we all get pigeon-holed in that one thing that makes us special. And sometimes that’s okay. This is where we thrive; this is where we belong. But I find it challenging and hopeful to not define myself, or anyone else, by one thing. We are so much more than that. We have stories to tell. And these stories are not simply about one thing.

I got to thinking about the American Dream. This dream, that our country has sought out for centuries, is a combination of ambition, love, and hope. The ambition comes from working so diligently that you become exhausted and questioning. The love comes from something deep within your soul that cannot be turned down even if you fought against it. The hope is the inkling of faith you carry around, knowing that someday, your American Dream will come true. For me, this is writing. The American Dream is becoming a famous novelist. My ambition, love, and hope will fuel this dream every day without fault.

I got to thinking about approval. Why do we seek each other’s approval? Do we want it? Or do we need it? I have become wise to the notion that approval isn’t always necessary. We can do everything possible to get others to approve; sometimes, it just doesn’t happen. Approval is about changing who you are to get someone to like you. And you shouldn’t have to do that. Be yourself. Then go from there. If you get approval, that’s wonderful. If not, move on.

I got to thinking about family dynamics. There are those families you’d love to watch from afar, just to see how they treat each other when no one else is watching. There are those families you’d love to combine with your own. And there are those families you’d rather run from faster than can be. I love watching family dynamics. There are no two families alike. I grew up in a structured, loving environment. I always thought that was how everyone lived. It wasn’t until recently that I realized there are different ways to grow a family. And there isn’t really a wrong way (even if I am biased, and believe the way I was brought up is the best). The only thing you have to get right, I’ve come to learn, is love. Family dynamics must create love.

“I think it happens to everyone as they grow up. You find out who you are and what you want, and then you realize that people you’ve know forever don’t see things the way you do. And so you keep the wonderful memories, but you find yourself moving on. It’s perfectly normal.” -Nicholas Sparks