▼▽ i n t e r i o r s u p e r i o r △▲

▼▽ i n t e r i o r  s u p e r i o r △▲

Potted plants and stamped trees bring nature inside. (via

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Nature prints and geometric fabrics have a charming contrast. (via

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Fur textures and minimal tones create variety in a room. (via

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Natural tones, plants, and natural light can make a space feel inviting. (via

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Leaving walls natural gives a comfortable nostalgia to a space. (

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Wood textures and a small palette can add layers to a space. (via

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Wooden furnishings and white walls can make folk prints pop. (via

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Succulents and wood furnishings liven up a space. (via

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Floral and vintage prints and paintings add hints of nature to a kitchen or sunroom. (via

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Dark walls and cascading vines cause an unexpected vibrancy to a small space. (via

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♡♡♡♡

▼▽ i n t e r i o r s u p e r i o r △▲

▼▽ i n t e r i o r  s u p e r i o r △▲

By using inventive and simple means, you can add unique geometries to an otherwise normal floor. (via d

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Raw wood furnishings and floors create continuity of space. (via

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All-wood floors and furnishings allow all other textures to be appear more vibrant. (via

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Concrete floors and plain wooden walls have a brute elegance. (via

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 Clean lines and a mostly neutral color scheme create a relaxing living area. (via

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Using different shades of a neutral tones causes a space to seem clean and inviting. (via

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A singular color can make a pronounced impression upon entering a space. (via

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Sophisticated simplicity is quite evident in this minimal kitchen.  (via

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 A simple palette and soft textures make for an alluring and inviting kitchen. (via

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A simple bright white wall can be visually elegant. (via

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♡♡♡♡

t h e l o c a l e: Barista Parlor

the locale:  Barista Parlor  (Nashville, TN

Should you decide to take a trip out to

Nashville, Tenn.

, you'll find more than country music and vintage heaven. You'll also find amazing coffee.

Barista Parlor

is a great example of how well-intentioned design and professional brewing meld together to create a marketable (and delicious) product and inviting coffee-drinking atmosphere. The environment is hip-yet-classic, laidback-yet-bustling-- it is an environment of contradictions, but nonetheless impressive.

The baristas operate with a variety of brewing methods, ensuring you have the perfect hand-crafted drink. They use Slayer espresso, which is rich and bright in flavor. Some of the coffees they have generally includes a list of those such as: Stumptown, Sightglass, Coava, Counter Culture, Intelligentsia, Verve, etc, with menus dedicated to informing you of the variety of flavors and brewing methods inherent in each. They also have fresh-made baked goods and a wide selection of artisan chocolates (Mast Brothers, Olive + Sinclair, Askinosie, etc) and often have special events, like brunch or breakfast (with amazing biscuits and sandwiches!) The end result is several local and artisan goods that you can't find at most coffee shops, which creates a memorable treat for visitor and local alike. 

The design of the building itself is probably my favorite aspect of it. Not only do they have great products, but the artistry and care in selecting the interior (and exterior) designs and furnishings is impressive, to say the least. Even the bathrooms are cool in their own way. The interior boasts several sitting areas, as well as bar seating for those flying solo. And if you're craving the great outdoors, they've got you covered, too: a built-on patio makes for great, comfortable seating to take in the view of the stage/parking lot. It stays pretty busy, admittedly, but most folks seem to be just passing through, so there's usually seating available even on the weekends. 

The location is interesting because it is almost entirely hidden from view from the street. It has that hole-in-the-wall appeal that makes it magical. You turn the corner and it is a hip, happening place full of people from all over. It's one of those places that is so memorable and unique that you won't soon forget it. Their whiskey caramel alone is worth the road trip.

xo,

D+T

whiskey caramel!!!

barista parlor

519B Gallatin Ave.

Nashville, TN 37206

(615) 712-9766

M-F 7:00am-8:00pm 

S-S 8:00am-8:00pm 

l e t ' s p a r t y: born on the 4th of july

l e t ' s  p a r t y

Whether you were born on the 4th of July or are gearing up to celebrate Independence Day in style-- I've got you covered! Red, white, and blue can be demonstrated in several unique ways, whether by going with natural fruits and veggies or making colorful garlands. My fondest memories are of visiting relatives in Iowa and watching the fireworks. We had a large family, but my grandmother always managed to put on quite the spread, complete with fun activities for the kids. What are some of your favorite must-have foods and decorations for the 4th?

Pinwheels! So fun and simple! (

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 You could use a variety of materials to make creative signage. (

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Sparkler cupcakes are a blast!  (Make sure to supervise the kids, parental units!)(

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Interpreting red, white, + blue with natural foods and tones. (

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How cute is this? great source for printables and ideas. (

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Non-traditional foods for those with gourmet palates. (

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These are beautiful and very festive. (

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Yum! A little work but they look fun and delicious. (

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Jones Soda is a genius idea for these! (

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Chalkboard signage can be creative and simple. (

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🐼♥️,

Maddie

DAILY DRIFTER: quanta

DAILY DRIFTER///

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, but today we are focusing on the tiny universes that exist inside our own. Sometimes the eye is the opening to someone's inner world. Sometimes the world wraps itself around us and beckons to us in all dimensions. And oftentimes even a picture can capture an artificial world or a fleeting thought that would be lost to the wind. Today we go to the cosmos and back in search of what is. 

xoxo,

Ally

"Jade" by

berit alits 

"Untitled" by

posidonia...

"Untitled" by

maria kazvan

"London/Taxicab" by

marco capp

"Untitled" by

marina kochetyga

"StandingHereTillTheEndOfTime" by

sebastian stadtkind

"Máscaras Experimentais" by

mattheus mo

ta

"hola invierno" by

roco perna

"transcending" by

jessica lia 

"Untitled" by

tang jiaqi

DAILY DRIFTER: blue jeans on fire

DAILY DRIFTER///

Blue jeans, bonfires, long nights, rock 'n' roll. We are always pushing the envelope by going above and beyond those who came before us. We are the dreamers, the doers, and the radicals. These are the people that burn the bridges and start the fires, all while looking radiant and innovative. Today we pay tribute to those timeless folks without whom the world would be a boring place to live.

xoxo,

Ally

"Untitled" by

gloria marigo 

"Savanna Singers" by

adrian velazco

"Coastin'" by

devin blaskovich

"*" by

andrea addante

"Untitled" by

christopher mongeau 

"still from my music video" by

annique johnson

"90/365" by

m

aría hernández 

"Defending Our Brave Martian Explorers" by

kenneth barton

"karahindiba" by

maggy van eijk

"love box" by

vadim zhavoronkov

"Untitled" by

nathalie weiswasser

i n t e r i o r superior

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DAILY DRIFTER: waiting for the summer

DAILY DRIFTER///

We celebrated the summer solstice last night by bonfire, under douglas firs out on the coast. It's just finally warm enough to feel summer's powerful spell draping us with its warm embrace. The wait is finally over. What are some of your big plans for Summer (if you're not still waiting for it)?

xoxo,

Ally

"Ocean blue take me away" by

miguel soll

"carthasy live @ rosemount hotel" by

isadora j. 

"Lisa & Sasha" by

anna laznya 

"

わたしが生きている世界はまるで球体です。" by

matsuki narishige 

"Lilya" by

sergey filimonov

"Adriana" by

lux lisbon 

"boiling." by

zoë lapin 

"Untitled" by

antonella moltini

"Untitled" by

sacha bertrand

"Compact Team" by naomi of

purplewoods

the L O O K: improbable skyline

My classmate Daniel and I recently did a Cormac McCarthy-inspired architecture short film about Knoxville, TN. We will be featuring an in-depth article about visiting Knoxville, TN on the blog next month, but in the meantime this is a sneak peek of the city! -Taylor

baby love: dress up

When I was a kid, every day was Halloween. I was a hodgepodge of fashion from many eras with some handmade hand-me-downs to boot. These days, children's fashion has become far more advanced-- it is childlike yet sophisticated, simple yet complex, and strikingly modern yet classic. For this week's "baby love," I chose to pay homage to the new form of "dress up."

🐼♥️,

Maddie

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DAILY DRIFTER: some things last a long time

DAILY DRIFTER///

Historically, the photograph has been an interesting phenomenon. It is able to capture the very essence of people's souls and provides the ability to stop time just briefly. When time stops, we see a moment in the frame that conveys so much thought, meaning, and depth. Even in the digital era, the camera somehow captures the vitality of the soul. In this selection, we will see time stand still and how the subject of the portrait inhabits the frame, all the while reaching far outside the frame into our very hearts. 

xoxo,

Ally

"Introvert #2" by

daniel müller

"Crimson and bare as I stand II" by

RapidHeartMovement

"new shoes" by

lux lisbon

"Untitled" by

emily savill

"

№4" by

anna laznya

"Idea of Florida as a Midwestern kid meets reality" by

MFragelFotos

"khaleesi, mother of dragons" by

joseph rustia 

"Thibaut" by  

Ousseynou Cissé 

"The Others- Demo Portrait" by

jill justus

"fall" by

roco perna 

"Untitled" by

nicoletta branco

"Untitled" by

GORSAD.KIEV

"Untitled" by

sara carpentieri 

"+" by

luke davis

s t a t u t e s of i n s p i r a t i o n

s t a t u t e s   of  i n s p i r a t i o n

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p a t t e r n f i l e s: por 16 juin

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xoxo,
Ally

life in the pursuit of fashion: evolution of street style

statutes of inspiration

Street Style has been around for a long, long time, but the photograph itself has had a relatively short lifespan thus far. The evolution of street style is absolutely incredible and when you look at it visually, it is amazing how many styles came full-circle since the dawning of the 1900's. Today we're saluting the models and amateurs alike that bravely took their style to the streets:

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DAILY DRIFTER: field notes

DAILY DRIFTER///

Whether we're traipsing through far-off vistas or simply walking down a country road, wife open spaces and blankets of clouds can bring us down the earth. Even if civilization is closer than we would like, there is very much beauty left untamed in the wilderness. The following selections focus on this spirit of movement and the quiet stillness of being within the belly of the natural world. 

                                                                           xoxo,

                                                                             Ally

"2/52" by

carolina conte

"Untitled" by

judy-chen

"White Rabbit" by

silvia  o.

"Jardins de Laribal" by

edwina jaupi 

"devaneio cristalino" by

tuane eggers 

"stratification" by

alexandra moskow

"Untitled" by

david paton

"Untitled" by

em bernatzky 

"Kiev. Ukraine. June 2014" by

nazar gonchar

"Untitled" by

andrea di cesare 

"

わたしが生きている世界はまるで球体です。" by

matsuki narishige

"Untitled" by

Søren bΛp†iŞm

"Untitled" by

ksusha smyr

"elrika's mother" by

maria dragan

Pinterest Roundup: arrows

Pinterest

R O U N D U P

I don't know about you guys, but I love arrows. I love the idea of direction and the heritage that comes along with them. Here's my top picks this week for arrow-themed objects for you, the home, or just for fun. 

🐼♥️,

Maddie

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DAILY DRIFTER: the dreamers

///DAILY DRIFTER

                           Lady Dreamers-- here's looking at you. With style, flair, elegance, and originality, you gals take        the world by storm. You don't just make the world a better place, either-- you OWN it. You empower others simply by being brave and stylish. So this post goes out to all of you amazing dames out there inspire us just by being your awesome selves. 

                                                                                 xoxo,

                                                                                  Ally

"Untitled" by

federica rinaldi

"

わたしが生きている世界はまるで球体です。" by

matsuki narishige

"your love was weak" by

akuma aizawa

"Untitled" by

stephen palke 

"+" by

cristian dorme

"Untitled" by

GORSAD.KIEV

"Untitled" by

shing hei lui

"Rose with a cat" by

emily savill

"Untitled" by

liv coffey

"tremble and obey (a)" by

< rs > snaps

"Exp. Scream 002" by Naomi of

Purplewoods

"Untitled" by

adriana cruz

"Life- La Femme" by

claudio capanna

"02700016" by

gleb tibo

Ear to the Ground: Blouse

B L O U S E

Blouse is an alternative group from Portland, OR that seems to run the gamut with sound. Their original sound was more driven by 80's-style synths and hazy, dreamy vocals which were a throwback to New Wave. The newer albums focus on a more solid rock vibe that is both rich and complex. Charlie Hilton's songwriting just continuously gets better with time, although keeps much of the subject of love and loss in focus. As the band has birthed another album, it has also shown inherent evolution and quality. Although I still adore their New Wave roots and always will, I have to admit their latest album is insanely amazing. I was fortunate enough to see them live a while back and

this

song sold me. :

It will probably sell you, too.

To hear more of this band or buy their albums, click

here

. You can also click

here

to follow them on Facebook for tour updates and so on.

-Denver

DAILY DRIFTER: lived in bars

\\\DAILY DRIFTER

"We've lived in bars

                                                      And danced on the tables

                                                  Hotels, trains and ships that sail

                                                          We swim with sharks

                                               And fly with aeroplanes in the air"

-

Chan Marshall (Cat Power)

             I spent a lot of time in bars when I turned twenty-one. Sometimes we went to clubs that were loud and busy. At other times we went to quiet places, back alleys, or corner bars down the street where everyone knew our names. Yet, often, "bars" can be the things keeping us safe or holding us back. Today we're going to evaluate the realities of being contained and what freedom means to us all. 

                                                                        xoxo,

                                                                           Ally

"Las Buenas Noches" by

postcards from inside

"Untitled" by

c

làudia aragon

"29" by

janira salice

"Untitled" by

alex dietrich

"Untitled" by

andrea lamedica 

"Untitled" by

tiziana guano

"New Belgrade" by

dejan golic

"vincent" by

terry magson

"The Diver" by

kyle gerhardt

"Untitled" by

michel nguie

"

Mélancolie.

" by

davide de tomasi

"Untitled" by

olivia bayly

"Untitled" by

ChihHsien Chen

"Repulsion" by

lucy marti

"many minds only one roof" by

alberto mugoni

▵▼Future Primitive▼▵: 12 Ways You're Doing It Wrong

I was washing the dishes the other day, and my husband made a loud grunting noise. I looked over at him and he scowled.

“What?” I looked at him then back at the dishwasher, then back at him.
“You’re doing it wrong.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The dishes. You’re not loading them right.”
Of course, I was livid. Of course I was loading them right. I have only been doing dishes since I was a kid, practically.

“Okay, big shot. If you think you’re so smart, show me how to do it properly.”

And he did. And guess what? He had a pretty good point. I wasn't washing them wrong per say, but there was a much better method to do them that I hadn't figured out quite yet on my own. 


So, I guess it is my turn to tell you, dear reader, that you’re doing it wrong. Only it’s not about the dishes (although you may be doing those wrong, too.) It’s about life. I hate the break it to you, but that's the way it crumbles, cookie-wise. 


I used to think that I had all of the answers to everything. I would pretend to folks that I was humble, but in reality I totally thought I knew everything about everything and I wanted you to know it. I would argue things into the ground it if meant winning the argument. In truth, I don’t even think I listened to the other party—I just blasted them into submission.

I’m here to tell you that I don’t have all the answers. But I have learned a lot of things that might be helpful after years of “doing them wrong” and yes, often doing them wrong over and over again. 

1. Relationships                                                                                                                                               My opinion of relationships was once probably really one-sided. I expected to be doted upon and that I would meet a man and live happily ever after, never fighting or complaining or having to have the “hygiene” talk with them. Therefore, every relationship already had near-impossible expectations placed upon it. I never made any room for the “work” aspect of relationships, but it makes perfect sense from the perspective of the value of working hard to achieve any goal. If you’re constantly playing it safe, your relationship will lack depth and evolution. And the whole point in a relationship is for the individuals to grow (together) into better people, not to stagnate in the pool for fear of rocking the boat (or to pummel each other into submission.) Real relationships stand the test of time, and sometimes that means you have to row a while before reaching the shore.  And sometimes it's a huge ocean to cross and not just a little pond. It’s hard work—as hard as working a job or raising kids, but at the end of the day, it’s worth it  because the benefits far outweigh the risks. Relationships fail when we stop trying to understand one another and stop working together. So if you're stuck in the middle of the ocean, grab an oar and start paddling.                                                                                                                                                                           
2. Fighting
    I hate to break it to you, but most of us don’t fight fair. We may think we fight fair, but the human condition unfortunately means that we typically will reach a point where we hit the fight-or-flight instinct. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone that has complete control over their emotions (except maybe sociopaths, which is just weird and creepy) and when you look at scientifically how we operate, it is very hard to not kick into that competitive gear when we’re in the middle of an emotionally-charged situation. There are two ways to combat this. The first is to really listen to what the other person is saying, and respectfully state your opinion. And I’m not talking about using “I” statements and sugarcoating things, but really trying to focus on what is being said and to articulate it with compassion and kindness. Not saying you should treat them with kid gloves, but if your kid broke a vase by accident, would you yell at them or be more worried about them stepping in the glass? Because typically the issue is way more minor than destroying the relationship. The second way to handle it is to not sweat the small stuff. If someone left their dirty socks outside of the hamper, it isn’t WWIII. Pick ‘em up, put ‘em in the basket, and move on with your life. Don't take it so darn personally, because they probably really did just forget and weren't trying to attempt some mutiny on your love. 
3. Living
   I don’t know about you, but I struggle with maintaining my own identity. In a world where I am constantly trying to live up to expectations of my hubby, my kids, family, friends, etc., it is easy to lose sight of my personal goals and dreams. If you put all other relationships aside for just a moment, who are you? Are you the same person you used to be? Have you grown or have you backtracked? Sometimes we lose ourselves in other people, especially if we naturally like to nurture. But we also need to nurture ourselves. If you don’t have a hobby right now, get one. Even if it is five minutes a day, carve out some personal space for yourself to grow. Go for a walk, read a good book, or take a class about a subject you’re dying to know more about. Otherwise, dissatisfaction will creep in, with complacency soon to follow. These things are poison and can wreak havoc on your relationships and your self-esteem. If you're not really living, what are you doing? ▿
4. Dying
   There is such a thing as being overly morbid. The usual reaction to death is to either steer as far away from it in your mind as possible, or to embrace it so fully that people look at you weird. Some people are more comfortable with death than others, but constantly scrutinizing every choice you make as being potentially fatal is not really living—it’s dying. Yes, in reality we’re all going to die someday and that is a given, but obsessing over the inevitable takes up so much valuable lifetime that we could spend in much more productive ways. That being said, doing things that intentionally shorten your lifespan (smoking, drinking, meth, eating stuff that is bad for you in excess, shooting bottle rockets at each other, etc) isn’t the way to go either. Moderation is key. It’s okay to wonder what happens after death, but if you begin sliding into depression, make sure to get some help getting out of it. 
5. Family
   I was once under the belief that blood relatives were supposed to love each other because…well…you’re relatives. But what I found is that sometimes your family may not love you, often for reasons you have no control over. And sometimes you can have just as strong of a bond with friends. I had family members that most would consider “toxic” so it was a choice I eventually made, after years of being hurt by them, to break contact. I have had to do this with family and friends at times in my life. As much as it sucks, you have to make an executive decision about your own happiness. And that may seem selfish, but sometimes “trimming the social fat” is good for the soul. Because you don’t need people dragging you down in a world that’s already filled with people and things trying to drive a wedge between you and your happiness. The world is full of a bunch of haters, even the folks you care about. It doesn’t mean that they deserve your love or devotion, and you’re not a bad guy for wanting to protect yourself from further hurt. As far as the good family members and friends--- nurture those plants, baby! A solid relationship is built on watering it regularly, making sure it has plenty of sun, and letting it flourish. Someday you might just have a beautiful garden, but it's up to you to make it happen. 
6. Forgiveness
   Forgiveness is probably one of the most obvious things folks do wrong. I was never really very good at it, and it is still a work in progress sometimes. Even when people would apologize to me, I still would bring up whatever incident caused the rift years later, and in full scathing regalia and mocking tonal range. Perhaps I didn’t have the maturity to accept that people make mistakes, until, lo and behold, I began making them myself. It’s very humbling to say you’re sorry to someone you’ve wronged. And often it takes more than an apology to smooth things over—sometimes you have to eat crow for a while to help rebuild the trust. And yes, sometimes people don’t actually mean they’re sorry—they just want the conflict to be over with or their guilt to be assailed. But at some point, if they have passed all the tests or eaten enough crow, you need to forgive them and move on. And if you can’t forgive them and continue harboring hate and ill will towards them, perhaps you need to reevaluate your capacity to forgive. Even if they never say they’re sorry, you have to be the bigger person and forgive them anyway, for your own piece of mind. It doesn’t mean you won’t forget what happened or change how you feel about that person, but if you approach issues with compassion and empathy rather than hate and ignorance, it can resolve most misunderstandings you encounter. Always have the strength and bravery to admit when you’re wrong, even if it is a hard pill to swallow.  If nothing else, it shows sincerity, and the openness to compromise and acceptance is the best way to repair any situation that has gone awry. 
7. Kids
   Germs are not all bad. Some germs are your friends. You can’t protect your kids from everything (although you’ll try, believe me, you’ll try.) Sometimes you just have to let them fend for themselves a bit. I know that’s the complete opposite of what every child-rearing book teaches you, but I would bet your grandma would wholeheartedly agree. Our country was built on people making mistakes and doing dumb things. If you can teach your children the consequences of actions and the value of making good choices, they may slip up a time or two, but they should typically learn by experience not to do them again. By allowing them the free will to grow to some extent, they will become much more mature and responsible as they grow older. Coddling kids is good when they are young and NEED that type of affection (in fact, it'll probably keep them from growing up to be serial killers), but like all good mama birds, you have to teach them to fly eventually, even if they fall flat on their butts the first time or two. And don’t ever squash their imaginations or their creativity. You have to let their freak flags fly, even if it results in an unavoidable explanation to your relatives on why they chose to wear the most insane clothing ever to the big family Christmas dinner (my mom's excuse was that it was the 80's, by the way.) Never try to fit them into whatever stereotype you think they should be, because oftentimes they will not only grow to resent you but suffer poor self-confidence in the process. Let them be who they are, and love them for that. 
8. Work                                                                                                                                                            You probably knew this subject was coming, and yes, you’re probably doing it wrong. Working is not just about work, no matter what you’ve been told. Yes, it takes hard work and dedication to be successful, but you should choose to work smarter and not harder (unless you’re one of the lucky few that enjoys HARD work.) This could mean choosing to get a degree in something (I got mine later in life, so, no excuses, grandpa!), learning a new trade or skill, or conducting research and learning about the industry you’re in. The point is to find something you’re excited about and try to excel in it to the best of your ability. If what you’re interested in isn’t an ideal career choice, find something LIKE what you want to do, or do something mundane that pays okay that will afford you the time for the things you actually enjoy doing. It’s a sad reality of the world, but an adequate amount of money can alleviate some of the stress you are under. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you’re NOT living to your full potential. If you want to settle, that’s fine, but most people have dreams or lofty goals in mind. Even if it is something like going to the moon, don’t let your current situation hold you back from excelling in something. Life changes at the drop of a hat, and luck has a funny way of finding folks that are open to it, so don’t be afraid of change. In my husband’s case, he decided to go back to get his Bachelor’s degree after taking a hiatus from school. It was hard financially, and we had to struggle a bit, but the payoff is that he LOVES his job and actually likes going to work every day. The number one killer of marriages tends to be depression (with #2 being finances), so if you’re miserable about your job, it won’t just hurt you but everyone around you. If you’re not happy with your movie, change your scene.  If you’re still stumped with what to do, think about getting involved in civic activities or groups. The power of helping people (and animals) can be an amazing experience and you will feel value in yourself at making a difference. The only person holding you back is….well--  You. So get out there and follow your dreams. 
9. Regrets                                                                                                                                                         We all have things we wish we would have done differently in our lives, I’m sure. I’ve read that on their deathbeds, most people regret the following three things: 1) That they didn’t do what they wanted to do, but rather what was expected of them, 2) That they didn’t show the people they cared about that they loved and appreciated them enough until it was too late, and 3) That they spent too much of their lives being afraid and not experiencing enough. Some pretty heavy regrets to have, huh? So, rather than have regrets, take this opportunity to look at your regrets you already have. If you died today, what would you regret? If they are things you can change now, go for it. Call that friend up you haven’t talked to in years and tell them that you miss them. Save up and go on that vacation to the Bahamas that you always wanted. Write that novel you always thought you could, and then try to get it published. The key is to accomplish this without expectation and hope for the best.  If there are things you cannot change, learn from them. Don’t burn bridges that can’t be built again. Combat hate with love. Focus on being the best person you can be and live your life making every second count for something. Whether we have one life to live or many lives, this is the only life we have in this body here and now, so we have to make the best of it. Embody good things and you will accomplish anything you set your mind to. 
10. Comparison                                                                                                                                                   If you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, you’re doing it wrong. Because when you were born, you were comprised of a unique set of chromosomes and particulate matter. You’re parents gave you most of their attributes (both good and bad, am-I-right?) and somehow that became the person you see in the mirror today. This also happened to everyone else. This does not mean you’re not special or unique, but simply that we all come into the world with our own strengths and weaknesses. We all come in the same way and it is up to us to become the people we want to be. Constantly belittling or criticizing yourself for not being rich, or pretty/handsome, or having things other people have does absolutely nothing for you other than making you feel like a loser. And the sad part is that those other people probably see you and think,”I wish I was laid back and happy like that guy” or “I wish I could pull off that fashion as well as she does.” Because that is the nature of being human socially. We constantly compare and catalogue things in our minds, and typically want things we can’t or don’t have until we have them. But the grass isn’t always greener, and even if you had everything you wanted, I would be willing to bet that you still wouldn’t feel satisfied with yourself. Because peace comes from within, and no matter how many expensive shoes you own or how much money you have in the bank, it doesn’t reflect who you are inside, nor fill the emptiness you feel. So instead of comparing yourself to the masses, begin looking at how these differences make us unique. Cultivate your own personality and prospects and others tend to follow suite. Being comfortable in your own skin is the most attractive quality of all, and that’s something no one can take away from you unless you let them.
11. Responsibility                                                                                                                                       Probably just about the most adult thing you can do is accept responsibility for your actions, behavior, and your happiness. And it's probably one of the most difficult things to do because it involves a lot of self-awareness, which takes loads of experience to really ferment properly. It's one of those valuable assets that a lot of people talk about doing but few people actually do. I hear people all of the time say things like, "Well, it's not MY fault he/she did that..." That being said, you're really only responsible for YOUR actions, not the actions of others, which makes it a bit easier. People may try to guilt trip or manipulate you into taking the blame for stuff you didn't do, but typically you know what you've done and what you haven't. And if you have done something you shouldn't have and feel lousy about it, see  #6. 
12. Judging                                                                                                                                                          In a perfect world, we would all get along and ride unicorns into rainbows and not have jobs or credit card debt. But it's not a perfect world, and we're all a bunch of jerks. I would venture to say 99.99999% of us are guilty of this. That's right-- "judging." The worst of them all, really. Social media has really made it worse, because not only can we judge people, but we can judge them openly with little fear of repercussions for our wickedness. We wonder why so many kids are committing suicide after being bullied, yet we perpetuate a culture that lacks acceptance and is hypercritical of appearance or action. We disassociate the person with the image and in some messed-up way think they have no feelings or heart. Did anyone here NOT have an experience where someone put you down in high school? If so, you probably still remember how horrible you felt, and you probably cried in the bathroom, and someone probably saw you and made fun of you for crying. But even so, we judge people every day. We judge celebrities for the dress they wore to the Oscars, we judge people we see at the grocery store for being fat or too skinny, we judge people in broadcasting, we judge our peers....we judge, we judge, we judge. We think it's okay because we think they judge us, too, but what if they don't? What if we're just a bunch of judgmental, jealous jerks who put other people down just to make us feel better about ourselves? So stop judging so much, folks. Not only will possibly save a life, but you'll be well on your way to becoming the best person you can be!

Like I said, I don’t have all of the answers (nor should I.) But I think these are all valid things to think about and explore. What are some things you guys feel like you’re doing wrong right now? Or, a better question, what are some things you think you’re doing right? How are you winning at life? That may be the best place to start from, after all.



🐼♥️,

Maddie