Sunday, January 12, 2014

Live rather than exist.

Dear Angelina, GabiLee and everyone else,
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." – Oscar Wild
Looking back at my life I can say that I have only existed and haven't lived. I can say this because to live means to take every opportunity given to you as well as make a true impact on the world and those surrounding you. Although I believe that I have made an impact on some, I don't believe it was enough to consider myself living. I also have missed out on plenty of opportunities in the past that have taken away the living aspect of my life for now. However, recently I have gotten better at taking those opportunites because I would rather have a life of "Oh wells" than a life of "What if's."
To me, I think that everyone should make their goal in life to live rather than to exist. Serve the people around you, even if it is the smallest gesture. Sometimes it's the small things that make the biggest difference.
Take the risk of trying new things; food, activities, people ... Now I am not telling you, Angelina and Gabi, to go jump off a building or take the next plane to Africa to serve those in need over there but I am telling you to go out of your bubble and experience new things. For example, I am deathly afraid of heights but when I went to Las Vegas, I went up the Stratosphere and did Big Shot which takes you over 1,100 feet in the air. This was living because I would have never done that if it wasn't for Nic. But I am glad I did it because now I can say I have conqured my fears. I went out of what I was comfortable with and ended up enjoying it. I also climbed a mountain which I never dreamed of doing.
Be safe and have fun but make sure to live rather than exist because one day when you have grandchildren you will be thinking back on your life thinking "What if." So live you life and have "Oh wells" rather than "What ifs."
Live for the now,
Tia Bear <3

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Life Goes On

Dear Angelina, GabiLee and others,
Although the lesson I am about to tell you is a general lesson and isn't very specific, it is one that I think about every single day and that is that LIFE GOES ON.
Throughout life things will happen. Things that we planned for and things that popped up out of no where. These things can change your lifes path or it could keep it the same. But no matter what direction it sends you life continues to go on.
Some days in life will be good, some will be bad, some will make you want to curl up in a corner and cry until a miracle happens. But no matter what type of day it was there will always be a better one and there will always be people who love and care for you and are willing to be by your side. (And for you Angelina and GabiLee, that can be me! I will always be here for you no matter where life takes us.) If you have more than one bad day in a row just remember that once you've hit the bottom the only direction you can go is up.
Two sayings that have helped me get through my rough days are:
- Keep your head held high and your middle finger higher.
- Keep your chin up Princess, you don't want your tiara to fall.
Although these probably aren't the best sayings in the world they have made me laugh as well as brought a smile to my face.
No matter what type of day you have or what events have happened in your life, always remember that for every bad day there are two good ones waiting to happen.
In three words I can sum up the biggest lesson in life: IT GOES ON.
Stay positive!
With love,
Tia Bear <3
Side note: My nieces call me Tia Bear and since this is directed towards them that is how I am going to start signing each entry.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Why I'm doing this.

Dear readers,
My name is McKenna and I am a senior in high school. My life has been anything but normal. At the age of 13, I became an aunt to my first niece named Angelina Sophie. Three years later I became an aunt to my second niece named Lynn GabiLee. Throughout the past five years the girls and their parents have lived with us, lived away from us in the same state and in differnet states. But recently in the past year my parents have gained full power of attorney over both of the girls and they have moved in with us. Since then these girls have become my world. They always know how to make a bad day good again. They are a huge part of my life and I want to always be a huge part of theirs. That is why I am making this blog. It is called Letters to Angelina and GabiLee because this is where I am going to write to them, and whoever else feels like reading, life lessons that I have learned throughout the years as well as general things that I think they should know growing up. Although this is in hope of helping and guiding the girls as they grow, I hope it also helps others who take the time to read this.
Sometimes my entries may be a little personal and sometimes they may be vague but I will always make sure to get my message out clearly. Most of the time the intended lesson will be the name of the entry but I might spice it up every once and a while just for the fun of it. Another thing about this blog is that if there is some reason to bash or complain about someone I will be changing their name so that in case that person is well known no one will know it is really about them. This is for my safety and so I don't get in trouble by my parents or anyone else.
I probably wont write and entry every day but I will try to write one at least every other day and if not at least once a week. I feel that it might be easier to write life lessons once I get to college and experiance the real world but I will do my best for as many as I can until then. Sometimes the entries might be really long and sometimes they might be really short. It all depends on my mood that day as well as what the lesson is. But enough about the blog, I will tell you all a little bit more about me and why I think I am fit to write this blog.
In middle school I had my first serious relationship that lasted for a year and eight months; I will go into more detail in one of my later blogs because I learned some lessons from it. My freshman and sophomore year in high school I had an eating disorder and so did one of my best friends Michaela. Along with the eating disorder my sophomore year, I also had a cousin who was 18 days older than me named Hunter commit suicide the night before I left on my first overseas mission trip. This event was a major life changer for me because it opened my eyes to things I tuned out. At the end of my sophomore year I started dating a dude named Nic with whom I am still dating. We have been through almost everything together in the past year and a half but more details will come with him in multiple entries later on. Not only have these events made an impact on my life as well as many others that will come later but so have the activities and clubs that I am a part of. At my high school I have been on the yearbook staff ever since my second semester of my freshman year. This year I got the honor be the Editor in Chief but I wouldn't be where I am without the help and support of the rest of the Vision staff. I also take part in a club called REbeL which focuses on going against the norms of society of what "beautiful" is. We believe that everyone is beautiful no matter what shape, size, hight etc. that they are. Another activity that I participate in is Relay for Life which is fundraiser that happens once a year that raises money to help cancer research. This is huge in my life becasue my sister Maycee along with many other friends and family have had cancer and I have seen the impact of it and want to help find the cure. In the past years I have been on the Winter Guard team which is like the dance team but we toss flags, sabres and other items in the air. I am also a dancer and used to play soccer until a knee injury occured.
There is a lot more that I could tell you about me but I think this is enough to start with. You will learn a lot more throughout the entries.
I am so excited to start writing entires and I hope that what I write can be related to all readers.
Thanks for taking the time to read!
With love,
McKenna <3