Friday, March 29, 2013

A Penny For Your Thoughts

Hello all,

I know once again it has been a while since I've posted (I have been a tad busy with school and now two jobs) but I wanted to just share something that has been on my mind. Today I was just sitting at my boyfriend's house and realized something I honestly never have before one hundred percent thought. Here it goes:

"there comes a moment in your life when you just realize that you've achieved true happiness. not because everything is going your way, not because life at one point becomes perfect, but because you've learned to accept all the challenges God has given you and use them for the best" - OAJ

Truth. This is seriously exactly how I feel. Although I've been so blessed lately between getting a great job at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, finding out we would be welcoming a new family member doggy style into our lives in May, and acing my tests in nursing school lately, things aren't always as bright as they seem. I've been struggling with conflicting views of different people in my life and while all of these events have been amazing, stress is definitely still taking a toll on my life in other ways. But today it really just came to my mind that things don't have to be perfect. Families argue, people of authority make dumb decisions, and people who can be totally unimportant in your life can hurt you with snide comments more than they realize. I just realized that at this point in my life this was the first time I ever was honestly and totally one hundred percent happy with everything. Happy even though those other problems were still occurring. I truly hope that everyone can have this experience of great peace at some point in their lives. If you have, you know what I mean. If you don't really understand it you may not have had this moment yet. That is my thought for the day. Just thought I should share.

Xoxo,

Olivia<3

Friday, March 8, 2013

If My Life Had A Soundtrack

Hello all!

This week I thought I would start off by writing about an assignment I had in nursing school that I thought was really cool. Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if it had a soundtrack to go along with it? I was assigned to make a life soundtrack of ten songs that describes each time period in my life which is something I actually think of a lot. I actually already had a playlist on my iPhone full of songs that I thought described my life but never really broke it down into time periods, especially any times before high school. I decided to share what songs I picked for the assignment and I am curious to see if anyone else has ever thought about this.

The first song I picked was Belle from Beauty and the beast. This song totally describes my adolesence because number one Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie and number two I was always an avid reader growing up.




The next song I chose was Swim by Jack's Mannequin. Once I really listened to the words it reminds me a lot about my life but especially middle school. A lot was happening with my life in the time period from divorce to friendships being broken as I'm sure everyone experience in middle school. The chorus "I swim for brighter days despite the absence of sun" really made me think of my time back then and really my time at some points still today. 




The third song that I chose was Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years". This song definitely made me think of the relationship I have with Madison and how much we have grown together over the past five years. Madi was my first real love and was the first person who I really opened up to about everything in my life with my family and things that had happened with friends in the past. I love the whole mood of the song and how relaxed it is as well as the message it sends.



The fourth song that I chose would be 3oh!3's Starstrukk Remix featuring Katy Perry. This song is such a fun song to just let loose to and the words are hilarious. The beat is great and it's just a really fun song. I first started listening to 3oh!3 in high school because one of my guy best friends had been really into the music and I heard it a lot when I was with him so I started looking up all of their music and fell in love with it! It reminds me so much of the end of my junior year and beginning of my senior year of high school and brings back the great memories I had then. 



Another song that I think applies to anyone who has ever been in a relationship's life would be Mayday Parade's Miserable at Best. This song has so much meaning and literally gives me chills just about every time that I listen to it. The words are so powerful and you can just hear the emotion in Derek Sanders' voice. It is a piano song which makes it even more touching in my opinion. 



The sixth song that I thought fit my sound track well would be Fix You by Coldplay. I think everyone has had one of those moments where you feel like you "lose something you can't replace" and it is such a humbling moment. It makes you come to a point of realization and Coldplay's song describes that in such an amazing way.


The next song on my list is Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne. This song has so much meaning in so many ways and for my life it hit home when my mom got diagnosed with cancer. The summer before her diagnosis we got really into the show The Glee Project and after a person gets voted off they have to sing this song so we already loved the song. It wasn't until after her diagnosis that I really listened to the words of the song and it is very powerful to me. Boyce Avenue does a great acoustic version of the song as well but for me the original version is the best.


Another song that has to do with my mom's cancer diagnosis that hits home for me is Kelly Clarkson's Stronger. This song is amazing and not only for relationships but for life! It is so true what doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. It is an amazing concept and helped me get through my mom's sickness. 


My ninth song that I listed was Phillip Phillips' song Home. This song has a great melody and is really catchy. Whenever I hear the song “Home” by Phillip Phillips it reminds me of the atmosphere where I’m from. “The trouble it might drag you down, you get lost you can always be found, just know you’re not alone, cause I’m gonna make this place your home” is how the whole town makes you feel.


The last song on my list is one that I think just applies to life overall. Of course its Justin Bieber guys! Justin Bieber's Be Alright is such a great song with a great meaning. Yet another acoustic song that is a just a great reflection of how "through the sorrow and the fight" everything will be alright :)



That completes my list as of now! There are so many songs that I think apply to me but I had to narrow it down for sure. So I'd love to hear yours! Comment below or send me a message with some of the songs you have hear that make you say "wow this relates to me". Maybe I'm the only one who has really put some thought into this but I think it is an interesting topic. Let me know what you come up with!

<3,

Olivia :)