2015 in Review

2015 was an interesting year for me. I can't say it was the worst, but it definitely wasn't the best either. Let's go over (in kind of chronological order) what happened this year...

In 2015...

• A relationship that was really important to me ended. What a great start off to the year, right?
• I sent in my university applications and received some early acceptances. This gave me a great boost to my non-existent self-esteem at the time.
• I got a promotion in Air Cadets to the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd Class
• Graduated from Air Cadets, something that I had been a part of since I was 12.
• Graduated from high school. Thank god, that place was a nightmare.
• Moved into my dorm. This was my first time living away from my family, an interesting and fun experience.
• Started university. Realized I wasn't understanding anything in chemistry, freaked out... BUT, eventually it got better, and now, everything is fine. (yay)
• Felt happy. For the first time, I actually felt happy for long periods of time as an individual. As stressful university is, I actually like it! 

I think those are the biggest events of this year... It wasn't the best year, but it was a year of change, and change is almost always hard. 

2015 started bad, but is going to end well. My only hope for 2016 is that it starts well, and ends well. I know that bad things are inevitable, so I know that the new year won't be full of 100% happy things, but I only hope that I approach the bad situations with a good outlook.

Happy new year, guys!

Almost New Year!

I can't believe 2015 is almost over! Feels like the year's barely started, and now its over. Feels like these years just get shorter and shorter, eh?

I feel like many people make many new year's resolutions; at the start of the year, they're super motivated and stick to all of them. But, as the months pass, one by one, the resolutions are forgotten. It's a vicious cycle that gets repeated year after year.

If we concentrate all of our motivation of being a better person towards a few resolutions instead of many, we might actually make it to the end of the year. This year, I've come up with just two resolutions for myself, and I think everyone else should have at least these two on their list, too.

1. Try to see the best in every situation

Often, its pointless to jump to the worst situation. This is something I do a lot, and its draining. And, (obviously) everything is okay in the end, I mean, we made it this far and we're still alive, right? Instead of freaking out, and jumping to the worst conclusions, try to stay calm, and know that everything will be okay in the end.

2. Spend sensitively

By this, I mean to save money, and only buy things you really need. I know that many people say "Money shouldn't matter," and they're right, but, as a poor uni student, I can say that it really does. And I really need to conserve in that aspect.

Care to share some of your resolutions in the comments below?

--J

Christmas Adventures

A few days ago, I went to the Toronto Christmas Market. I mostly went there to see all the festive scenes and admire the Christmas trees and to obnoxiously sing Christmas carols; I already knew everything would be hella expensive (sorry, I'm a broke uni student here lol). Here are a compilation of pictures I took.

The sky was so beautifully clear.

The fairy lights are so amazing!

When I saw that ladybug at a nearby park, I just HAD to go for a ride haha

Loving that cobblestone aesthetic

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how ever green thy branches...

Is it just me, or do these stores look so beautiful? (especially the pastels)

That sunset tho!!

Fairy lights galore!

Goodbye 2015....

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, guys!!

--J

Beauty and Time

Hey guys!

I got the idea for today's post a few weeks ago, actually (I never had the chance to write it, or post it, simply because FINALS) But anyways...

After a particular shower on a particular day, I was putting on what I thought was the world's softest bathrobe, when suddenly, I realized, the bathrobe wasn't soft anymore. When I had first felt it, it was like heaven at my fingertips, but now, a year later, it just feels normal. I mean, it's still soft, it's just not THE SOFTEST THING I'VE EVER FELT anymore; I had gotten used to its texture. And that got me thinking.

So many people lose the ability to see the beauty in the city/town they live in, and the people that they're most often associated with. How often do locals stop and stare in awe of the beauty of their city? When we see the same thing every single day, it starts to lose its lustre. Is getting used to something, being desensitized, just another fact of life or should we strive to see the continuous beauty in everything?

Maybe it's important to have the skill of being able to see the beauty in something old. After all, it's the little things in life that matter the most. The next time you're walking to work, or on the bus, look around; what kinds of things have you overlooked everyday? Perhaps there's a beautiful pot of flowers around the block of your favourite coffee shop, or maybe the cashier at your local drugstore has the most beautiful smile. Just stop, and look around you. There's so much beauty in everything, and it's a shame that we let ourselves get used to it.

If you let yourself get used to the things around you, what about you, yourself? You have to see and live with yourself every single day. Maybe that's why so many people can't see the beauty in themselves. They've gotten so used to that face staring back at them in the mirror every morning that they can't see how breathtaking they are.

So maybe it IS important to have the skill of being able to see the continuous beauty of things. Don't get used to it, guys. Once in a while, it's a good idea to look at the world with new eyes, and appreciate what it has to offer.



Man, I feel like this post was all over the place, I hope you guys got the gist of this, haha, I'm half asleep as I type this.

Thanks for reading!

--J

Rant||An Unpopular Opinion on Marks and Grades

Hello, everyone!

I can already tell you right off the bat that there will be no lovely eye-drawing images for this post (sorry!), this is purely a rant.

If I were to say "Grades shouldn't matter" in a high school, or even worse, a university/college setting, I would probably get death glares and a suggestion to seek mental help. But it's true, grades shouldn't matter.

The objective shouldn't be to get a 4.0 or a 90% average, or whatever it is you're aiming for. Because, that way, every time you fall short in the semester (and trust me, it will happen), all you'll feel is crap, and you'll be mad at yourself.

I think, the way to approach being successful in school is to not worry about the grades, and instead, tell yourself, "I'm here to learn, and I'm here to do it to the best of my ability." I think these two ways of thinking will eventually get you back to the same results, except the latter will contain less stress.

While aiming for that 4.0, doing your best should be something you're already doing. Except, sometimes, "your best" isn't at the numerical value that you're aiming for. Doing your best forces a mindset where you are always striving to improve yourself, where on the other hand, trying to hit a 85% or 90% does not. Once you get that percent average that you wanted, you've put yourself in a position where you can say, "I'm good enough." With the other method, you're constantly asking yourself, "Can I do better?"

To me, the most important part about school is getting something out of it. What's the point of getting a good mark if you've just hitched a ride with someone else, and you yourself are still very confused on the topic?

If you continuously strive to hit a new "best," the grades will eventually come along. At least, that's what I found to work.

Anyone have different opinions? Comment down below.



Thanks for reading!

Jackie