Wednesday Wisdom

One more week of classes and it's time for some turkey!! While taking a break from my studies, I wanted to share my weekly Wednesday Wisdom with you all. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week! Use those day dreams of Thanksgiving Dinner to get you through the rest of these frigid days at school or work.

Quote of the Week:

I came across this excerpt from one of Maya Angelou's famous quotes this past weekend and have not been able to stop thinking about it! To me, it makes so much sense and holds some great advice. As humans, we tend to let our struggles overwhelm us and in turn, we take our anger or frustration out on those around us. I know I for one have a hard time just taking a deep breath and stopping myself from copping an attitude towards my friends and family when I am in a bad mood. However, this quote helps to remind me that I mustn't become a frustration for other people simply because I myself am frustrated. So from now on, I am committing to attempt to acknowledge why I am frustrated and to remind myself that I should not exert those feelings onto those that do not deserve it.

2. Cathy Caputo's Favorite Quote:

"These two short lines from Gregory Alan Isakov’s song “San Francisco” have always stood out to me. When I listen to these lyrics I remember to live in the moment. It is so easy, yet so silly, to let schoolwork and other stresses control my thoughts and emotions when these things are really so much less important than they seem. This quote reminds me that life is not constricted by time. Rather, life is composed of beautiful moments that should be appreciated regardless of what the clock displays." (Cathy Caputo)

3. Dominic Belcaster's Favorite Quote:

"Sposarmi con la notte." (Marry the night.)

"This quote means more to me than anyone can expect, hence why I ended up getting a tattoo with the quote. It’s about taking all the pain, negativity, and darkness of your life and falling in love with it. Marrying the past and using it for the future. It’s also a title of a song that has pushed me through some of the most difficult times I’ve ever been faced with."

(Dominic Belcaster)

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week! Keep on working hard and pushing through the next week. The harder you work now, the more you will appreciate the break! XO

Thankful Thursday

We're in the "home stretch"!!! T-mins 3 hours until Friday! I hope this Thursday is treating you all well. For me, I like to relax for at least one hour every Thursday and take in all that has happened this week; I let go of the negativity and breathe in all the positive things that have happened this week. I attempt to ignore the stressors of the past week (although that is easier said than done) and remind myself of everything I have in my life.

1. New Friends

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate my old friends from back home so so much as well; however, I am especially thankful for the ones I have recently made in college. I knew the first month or two would be hard, but I definitely underestimated how difficult it would be to adapt to all of the changes occurring. There have been numerous times that my new friends have had to calm me down when I had a freak out over getting behind on my homework or stressing about making other friends. While we all have been going through individual difficulties in our new lives, we have all been there for each other each step of the way. I mostly appreciate the fact that each of my new friends is so unbelievably encouraging and understanding. Each of us has been through difficult experiences and I believe because of that, we understand each other on a deeper level. I am so thankful to have met such amazing people in such a short period of time. I look forward to spending the next four years with some of the best people I have ever met!

2. Pittsburgh

I sure don't say it enough, but I am extremely thankful for having grown up in Pittsburgh. As much as I complain about the place, it has a special place in my heart. Even though I couldn't wait to get away and finally live in a big city, I underestimated how much I would miss Pittsburgh. I'm so thankful I was able to grow up in a city filled with such nice and caring people. It was the perfect sized city to raise a family. Although I love the CTA in Chicago and public transportation during rush hours, I sure do miss being able to drive places and quickly at that. I think I miss the people more than the city itself, but Pittsburgh truly made a positive impact on my life and played a large role in helping me to become the woman I am today. A big thank you to the 412 for giving me a childhood worth remembering.

3. Psychology

Although I am biased on the subject because I am a Psychology major, I really do appreciate all the work and progress that has been made in the field over the years. Not only do I find the subject itself interesting, but I also find it quite extraordinary. What other field of study can you dig so deep into the human mind, body, and soul? I so love that I can study in depth why humans are the way they are and why they act the way they do. Can you imagine a world in which having a psychological disorder meant you were a witch or possessed by the devil? Oh wait - that did happen! Thanks to Psychology we are now able to diagnose and treat many different types of disorders and illnesses. Although it is still a young science, Psychology is truly making its way to the top. I am unbelievably grateful for the progress made involving mental illnesses and disorders. Having fought mental illness myself, I am thankful that Psychology has been able to create ways of coping and types of treatment for those affected by these diseases. Without the help of therapy, I would not be where I am today or the woman I am so proud of today. Psychology has changed my life in more ways than one and I am forever thankful.

PS - So sorry I have been behind in my posts! I'll be sure to update you all with what I do over the weekend! I hope you enjoy yourself the next few days! Don't forget to take some time to contemplate the good in your life and to exhale all of the bad!

XO