Hakuna Matata

Hakuna Matata..it means no worries.

Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching? I wish that I could have 100% positive outlook every single day of my life. However, I am human and I do not work that way. I have my good and bad days just like everyone else. Thinking posistive can not only bring up your personal morale, but the morale of others around you as well. A friend of mine has sparked the saying Hakuna Matata in me recently. Who could forget that phrase? My generation heard that phrase over and over again while watching Disney's, The Lion King. Wouldn't life be incredible? Timon, Pumba, and Simba singing about no worries for the rest of their days while frollickling around the beautiful lands they live in. Imagine if we could apply something as simple as Hakuna Matata in our everyday lives. Think about it, no worries, simply the positives. In our society, we have many things to quote on quote worry about. Adolescents especially worry way too much about things of little importance. For instance, how many girls do you hear talking about their belly or leg fat, face breaks outs, boys, clothing, and their own status quot? You hear boys express concern about body image as well: six pack abs, defined arms and back, white teeth, and facial hair to prove their manliness. Other issues are strong among adolescents in academic and competitive streaks too. Competition of scholarships for athletics, service, and academics are huge. In our society you must go to college to be successful. College is neither cheap or easy; rather expensive and challenging. I am the first to admit being guilty to falling into societal expectations. Striving to be a positive light, to be different; is socially unacceptable. I want to be different, but I also want to be accepted. This is a conflict, I must choose what I would like to be. "Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind," Dr. Sues. That being said, I shouldn't care about what others have to say or think of me because the ones who matter will encourage me to excel in everything I choose to do. Imagine if adolescents broke out of the status quot and chose to simply be the unique selves they were created to be. Wouldn't it be incredible if humans understood that they are completely different from anyone else? That I am unlike anyone else in the entire universe. I may have similar titles and similar interests as others, but me as a whole is unlike anything anyone has every seen before. I am me. I am more than just an athlete, student, daughter, lifeguard, sister, friend, or writer. I am Hillary. I am more than just a short brown hair, green-eyed girl. I am Hillary. I am more than a college student who has big dreams. I am Hillary. The greatest thing about me is that I am different. Hakuna Matata. I choose not to worry about my appearance any longer. I choose to be a good friend. I choose to live above the influence. I choose to be different. Now, I am still human and I will have my bad days; however, I will strive to no longer worry. I choose Hakuna Matata. I choose to embrace myself in every aspect of my being.

What will you choose?

Tattoos

I have recently been asked many questions about my tattoos and what they mean to me. Currently, I have two of them, one on my right foot and one on my left shoulder. The one on my foot was drawn by a beautiful girl named Polly. We were at a church camp and I had told her my testimony. Polly is an incredible artist. Later that day she had been giving our girls tattoos in sharpie. She asked if I wanted one and what I wanted. I told her whatever she thought fit me. She drew the word beautiful on my foot. That word applies a lot to my life. I do not think that I am the most beautiful thing ever made believe me. I have had a struggle with my appearance and self esteem since I was little. It is an everyday reminder that I am beautiful. It goes further than that, I am reminded that no matter what life brings me I am blessed. Life is beautiful. My second tattoo is on my shoulder and it says faith is within me. I saw something like this online and loved it. I drew out my own design of it and had it done. My faith has pulled me out of the muck and comforted my brokenness when I've hit rock bottom. I say faith is within me because it comes from my soul. The dandelion represents the beauty of life. Dandelions are commonly passed over as ugly and weeds; it reminded me as to how I view life sometimes. When life looks dim and ugly remember that although a storm might be hovering; life is still beautiful. There are four birds going from little to big. These represent my four siblings. I have two older brothers and two younger sisters. The only thing that connects me and my siblings is our faith. It is within me just as it is within them.

New Day

It's been quite some time since I've been able to get on and write. School has started back up and is already kicking my butt. There is so much negativity around. I was recently asked what sense I would lose if I had to and why. I chose my hearing. I love to listen to people and hear the incredible sounds of nature around me, however; I would love to block all of the negative comments and snide remarks said to and around me every single day. Could you imagine how inspiring it would be to learn and communicate in new ways? Challenging of course, but also inspiring. I can only imagine how much happier I would be as well. Imagine. You hear nothing negative at all. Loss of hearing would be an incredibly hard challenge, but I think it would be worth it if I absolutely had to choose something. Living in a world with no negative sound...that my friends is inspirational.

Write about someone who inspires you

Someone who inspires me.

My papa inspires me. He is one of the most generous and hard working people I have ever come to encounter. He is one of those people, that no matter who you are; if you need help, he will help you. My papa raised to be a strong and respectful lady. It breaks his heart that so many men these days don't have respect for themselves let alone women. I have never met someone so passionate about Jesus and his family. I have the utmost respect for him and he is one of my heroes. Shoutout to you papa, I love you and am so thankful you are in my life!

Broken

A car pulls up and a man gets out.
She doesn't want to leave..

Her mom squeezes her tight,
then lets her go.

She gets in the car and watches her mother's image fade into the distance.

He drops her off,
"Who are these people? These strangers?"
He doesn't love her, he doesn't want her.









Hours go by and he's no where to be found.
"Where is he? Why doesn't he love me?" she wonders.

Hungry she looks, but just like him they won't let her eat.
"Maybe I really am fat...maybe I shouldn't eat."

She aches, but she can't cry.
Crying is against the rules.

As the oldest she must stay strong.
She's not alone, she's not the only one hurting, longing to be loved.

She must take care of the others, they have no one else.

He finally comes.
She trys to tell him,
she trys to say that her heart is breaking,
he laughs.

He is controlling,
you don't complain, you don't disobey, you don't talk back.

The lies and the pain confuse her.
"Why doesn't he love me?"
She has no one when she is with him.

The damage he has done to her will never fade away,
although you can't see them the scars remain.

Only God is there,
she tries to have faith.

She prays alone and silent,
she musn't be caught.

She wants to give up, let him win, and take her own life.

She wonders if she has a purpose..
She cries out to God...
God whispers "you are my child, you are have a purpose bigger than this."

Nothing is ever wrong on the outside,
she hides behind her smile.

Although you can't see them,
the bruises, the cuts, and scars state the memories.

She hides it all inside,
and covers the pain.

She prays to God,
please give me one last day.

God grants her wish,
and gives her many days.

Although she is broken,
those bruises, cuts, and scars are more than just memories.
They are battle scars, reminders of what she has overcome.

While alone she is broken,
with Jesus she is strong.
He has taught her to take her weaknesses
and turn them into strengths,
to take her fears and conquer them,
to take her dreams,
and turn them into reality.

Just because you are broken,
doesn't mean you are done.
If you are broken,
it is opportunity to be healed.

She doesn't hide behind her smile anymore,
because now when she smiles, she smiles for real.
She smiles because she has something to live for.

I have been set free

The blood has been paid
and the chains have been broken,
I am finally free of
the power held over me.

In those final days that darkness reigned,
I prayed for someone to rescue me,
Jesus answered my prayer,
and took my place for me.

With scarred hands and a hole in His side,
He reached out His hand and said "You are free."

I took His hand only to feel His gentle embrace,
I fell to my knees, thankful for grace.
As I wept in His arms, He comforted me.

He spoke with compassion as He exclaimed, "My child, you are free."
Undeserved of His love and mercy, I am.
His one request was to make disciples of Him.

I tell you a story of love.
Of one who took my place,
so that I could live.

My battle was fought,
my Jesus paid the price for me.

Darkness has no hold over me,
for the blood of the Lamb set me free.

Where I'm From

Day 2, part 2: Write a poem about where you are from.

I'm from the sweet smell
of the strong, roaring ocean,
From squishing my toes into the sand
and riding those waves to shore,

From hot mashed potatoes and gravy,
bacon sizzling in the season pan,
pumpkin pie served in a nice cool breeze,

From "Because I said so that's why,"
to "Beggars can't be choosers"

From the old oak tree house,
where many battles were fought,
A box of books filled with faded faces,
and reminisced memories,

From that old rope swing,
where I'd fly like wonder woman through the wind,

That old dog ran as fast as a lightening bolt
when our door bell would ring,














From the know-it-alls to the hand-me-downs,
Saturday garage sales and seven eleven slurpees,

Riding on a briefcase in my grandpa's old red chevy,
I was on top of the world.

I'm from the sweet smell of the strong, roaring ocean,
watching the sun set over the water that never ends.

Write About Someone You Miss

Write about someone you miss.

Nate Skogen was one of my best friends. He died a couple of years ago in a motorcycle accident. He was the funniest person I ever knew and I loved him to pieces. Last year on the day he died the sun finally showed through the stormy mess that engulfed our city. I couldn't help but wonder if he was letting us know that he is having the time of his life and by giving us sunshine showing us a little glimpse of heaven. He was the kid that everyone loved in high school. I miss his silly jokes and hilarious facial expressions. Most of all I miss the crazy adventures that we would have, the spontaneity. Although he is gone, I have great memories forever in my heart. Nate you are not forgotten and you will always have a special place in my heart. I can't wait to see you again in heaven! I can only imagine the amazing things you will teach me when I get up there! Love and miss you.

What's Your Favorite Color and Why?

I've decided to take on a writing challenge! I'm going to love this! I love having topics to write about! Day One: What is your favorite color and why?
Oh goodness! Anyone who knows me, knows I love bright green! It is so happy and vibrant! It brings out a bit of my craziness! This bright green is crazy and adventurous. I definitely have a side of me that loves having fun and doing crazy things! I love adventure, I believe you create the best stories from adventure. Green is my color, what's yours?

No Make-Up March

This no make-up challenge has most certainly been a challenge for me, but soon it will be coming to an end. I have gone to all my classes this month so far without a single trace of make-up. It has been a remarkable experience with how I first reacted to my own appearance and people reacted to it. Several people thought I was sick or emotionally distressed seeing me without make up. This made me laugh because the thought that make up has so much power over the women in our society seems outrageous. Ladies you don't need make up to be beautiful, but it can make you feel better when you have break outs or dressing up for a special occasion. The key is to not let something so foolish control the way you view yourself. If women and girls knew how beautiful they truely are, we would be an army. Here's my progress with no make up march so far. Here is my beauty without a trace of make up!

No Make-Up March Challenge!

A wonderful group of ladies has come together and decided that societies look on how a girl's appearance is everything is wrong and we've had enough! So we've decided to act! For the month of March we are asking for support and unity on this one! Currently our society encourages sex appeal and forces negative attitudes about our appearances. This needs to stop! Newsflash ladies, if you're not a size 2, guess what? It means your healthy and there is nothing wrong with loving food! You don't need to rat your hair to make you look 5 inches taller than you actually are and you most definitely DO NOT need to cake on make-up that you saw some celebrity wear on TV. Ladies it is time to wake up and look through God's perspective of you and not through our societies! Do you know how amazing it would be if we accepted ourselves the way we are and didn't let society tear us down? Girls if we saw ourselves through the eyes of God and saw our potential and true beauty we would be an army! So, here's the challenge. For the month of March I challenge you to wear no make-up. Now, I know that some of us are technically required to look nice at work and church and I understand that; so if you won't wear make-up for the whole month then pick a time and place everyday where people do see and interact with you where you do not wear a single trace of make-up. I've decided to get bold, I'm not going to wear make-up at all to school. Now, I'm a college student and let me tell you on campus looks are outrageously important to students. Ladies, even if you can only make it one whole week without wearing make-up that would be an incredible statement! I challenge all of you to the No Make-Up March challenge! It's time we stand up to society and find ourselves beautiful without all of the extra things added to us. This is an incredible opportunity for you to grow yourself, with your friends, and to be a positive influence on girls around you. Are you willing to take this challenge? If so, I'd love to hear about your progress and growth! Let's go get them ladies! No make-up doesn't mean no beauty, no make-up means true beauty revealed.

Have you thanked a soldier today?

Many things have sparked this inspiration. I'm a marine brat, meaning I'm the daughter of a marine. I have the outmost respect for any person who has decided to join the military and raise the stacks of them giving their own life for millions of people whom they don't know. I went and saw the movie, "Acts of Valor," it is based on a true story about a group of navy seals who became a family and gave it all to protect America and everyone in it. I am also a college student and today in one of my classes we watched clips that had greatly affected and influenced American lives. One of them was on 9/11 and it brought back a flood of emotions: anger, sorrow, pain, and hope. The media has a tendency to focus on dramatic situations that bring controversy and negativity, but on that tragic day the media brought Americans together as nation for the first time in years. If you know a veteran or a soldier please be grateful and thank them for their services. What many people don't take seriously is that there are soldiers fighting and giving their lives to protect America and everyone in it, in case you think otherwise that includes you. Soldiers give it all, they leave their families at home and fight for our families whom they don't even know. I think that is pretty awesome. To the many soldiers I know and love and to those I've never met, I appreciate you and am grateful for your service.

What's on your bucket list?

If you haven't started a bucket list, I encourage you to do it. It's not only fun, but also inspiring you can add anything you want. A bucket list should consist of all of your goals and dreams that you've already accomplished as well as the ones you plan to accomplish. The cool thing about a bucket list is it doesn't have a real ending. The things on my list are dreams/goals from my childhood and ones added along the way. Here is my bucket list.
I will add and update once I have accomplished or found some other crazy adventure I want to do!
1. Graduate high school-ACCOMPLISHED
2. Get a scholorsip to college-ACCOMPLISHED
3. Go skydiving
4. Go scuba diving and get over my fear of sharks
5. Feed a giraffe
6. Go whitewater kayaking
7. Go bungee jumping
8. Go to China to build an orphange
9. Graduate College
10. Be kissed in the rain
11. Get married
12. Have a family
13. Meet someone famous-ACCOMPLISHED
14. Find my true self
15. To combine nursing and ministry in a career
16. Record a song
17. Wrtie a book
18. Make a blog-ACCOMPLISHED
19. Make a difference in the world
20. To inspire someone to follow their dreams
21. To fall in love with God
22. Meet Ryan Reynolds
23.Travel the world
24. To be the best me I can be!
25. Kiss a sea lion
26. Become a massage therapist
27. Become a lifeguard-ACCOMPLISHED
28. Become a waitress-
29. Be a photography master
30. Help another person achieve their dream(s)
31. Get my concealed weapons license
32. Own and ride a motorcycle
33. Join the military
  

Everyday Miracle

Since I was little, my mom taught me to appreciate the everyday miracles that God performs in my life. Today I would like to talk about one. CJ is a precious baby boy who was life flighted to a children's hospital on monday night. He was diagnosed with a form of menigitis, for those of you who don't know the effects of menigitis; it mainly causes swelling of the brain which can cause brain damage. Along with that it can cause seizures and many other health issues. Doctors quickly put CJ on several medications to dull pain and to stabalize him. To any family this situation and traumatic and heartbreaking. The amazing thing about CJ's family is that instead of getting upset and angry about the situation they reached out and asked for prayer. Everyone who knows this family has been praying, but adding to that hundreds of people who don't know them have been and are continuing to pray for healing. CJ is currently doing much better, the doctors have reported no brain damage. Can I get a PRAISE JESUS! Our Messiah has once again come through and humbled us all at His majesty. CJ has a long road to recovery, but he is responding and getting better minute by minute. I encourage you to pray for CJ and his family right now. Join me and hundreds of others to pray for complete healing! This story touched my heart and inspired me to be like CJ's family. Meaning, instead of getting angry when something unexpected and hurtful has happened, rediscover my faith and put my trust in God because He is my rock.

Some people know what it's like to lose a person you love..
Others know what it feels like to be hurt by someone we love..
Some people understand persecution...
Others are the persecutors...
Most people turn and look the other way...
Brave people stand up to save the day..
Weak people hurt others and in the end, they are the ones who pay..
Strong people give everything with the expectance of nothing in return...
Normal people give little and expect nothing in return..
Mean people give nothing and expect everything...

I wrote this one night when I was overwhelmed with how rude and unconsiderate people can be, where did the old fashioned respect and polite attitudes go? What has society done to the treatment of human beings? Sometimes I have trouble seeing the good in people. Even when people are at their absolute worst try to be positive and find a different perspective. Remember no matter how rude a person may be, they are still a person themselves and probably have something going on in their lives that makes them so unpleasant to be around.

As Innocence Fades

As a child you have great innocence,
the world is simple and is filled with fairytales and happy endings,
As a child that innocence fills you with dreams,
dreams that become a fantasy,
As a child your innocence gives you silly fears,
fears of the boogey man and big scary monsters who hide in your closet,
As a child you have heroes,
your parents shield you from the rest of the world,
As a child you see with innocence,
you see the sugar coated world instead of the shameful and ugly truth,
As a child you begin to grow,
and things begin to change,
As a growing child,
you make friends and you lose some,
you laugh and you cry,
you fight and you love,
as you continue to grow your innocence fades,
As a child you turn into a teenager,
as a teenager you do things,
you make decisions both bad and good,
With those mistakes trust fades and barriers build,
friends leave and parents give up,
when nothing is left,
you must stay strong,
for you are not alone,
God is by your side,
all day long,
through the right and the wrong,
He will not fade like your innocence,
rather He is constant,
He will walk with you holding your hang,
He will wait in patience for you to return,
When nothing is left,
you must stay strong,
for you are not alone.
As a child becoming a teenager,
to a teenager becoming and adult,
where does that innocence go?