Striving for things in life

Have you ever wondered what it is that you strive for? What keeps you going? Why you work so hard?  

Well, to figure out what it is you strive for in life, make a list of all your life goals and ambitions. Kind of like a bucket list! Here are a few of mine....

-Graduate from High School.
-Go to BYU or another university in Utah.
-Get married
-Have a family
-Meet the band One Direction.
-Get a 4.0 on my report cards.
-Travel the world.
-Get my dream job.

Ok, these are most likely things you put on your list too! It's typical. Now, there are a couple things that I really want to do in life that I didn't put on my list because they are too personal, or I want to keep just to myself. Those are the best goals though. The ones that you set for yourself and tell no one about. You accomplish them by yourself!

Recently I had a talk with one of my best friends. She was a little upset because it was possible that she might get an  -A in one of her classes. She is a hard worker and I just love her to death. Now, I used to be a total straight A student, but I struggle a bit with math so it was hard for me to accept getting a +B in Algebra 2 this year. I was actually really upset about it. I had all A's in my other classes, just not in math. It drove me crazy!

So when my friend was explaining how she felt about an -A I guess you could say I got a little upset. I was angry that she was torn about getting an -A in a class and I would do anything to get that grade in math!

But, you have to understand that an -A might be the end of the world to her, and a huge accomplishment to someone else. It just depends on the circumstances.

Back to my story... So I started to speak without thinking and it kinda came out like this. "(Friends name), don't worry! It's not the end of the world. It was bound to happen sometime. Grades aren't the most important thing in life... if they were, I would be a failure. Don't you think there are other things to strive for out there other than just getting an A in a class!? If that is your priorities, than you really need to re-evaluate your life."

I was totally rude, I know! (And if my friend is reading this right now... I love you! Sorry for being a brat. You're amazing!)

Anyways... I think I kinda had a point there though. I think we need to learn what matters most in life. What is truly important. What is worth your stress, worry, and tears. What is worth thinking about 24/7. For each person, it will be different. For my friend is grades....

Personally, I strive for the little things in life...
-hearing my favorite song on the radio
-fuzzy socks
-colored jeans
-thunderstorms
-mint chocolate chip ice cream
-a new episode of "Psych"
-babysitting my cousins
-seeing someone's smile after they got their braces off
-someone brushing my hair
-sleeping in
-Dr. Pepper
-watching someone laugh so hard, their eyes water
-listening to my mom sing
-my dog jumping on me in the morning

Into the future... I look forward to:
-Standing with my class on graduation day
-Going to my first day of college
-Having the perfect man propose
-Getting married in the temple
-Planning my wedding
-Finding out that my husband and I are pregnant with our first baby
-Giving birth (As painful as it is, I feel blessed that I will have the opportunity to bring a baby into the world. It's a miracle!)
-Family nights with my own family
-Teaching my kids to tie their shoes

The list honestly goes on... and on... and on.... and on. "Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard 
Their shadows searching in the night" (Do you see what I did there? I started to quote "Don't stop believin'" By Journey. Sorry, I speak fluently in movie quotes and song lyrics. I can't turn it off. It gets annoying sometimes!!)

Anyways, I'm not saying that striving for good grades is stupid. It's awesome! I think what I'm trying to say is find out what you strive for everyday and what is most important to you. Write down things you want to accomplish in your life. Each persons goals and ambitions are different! My friends goals and destiny might be school. For me, personally, it all has to do with my future family. But, she and I are different! She might be a teacher or a college professor or an accountant! In that case... Grades, numbers, and percentages matter to her. Those are the things she strives for!

But always remember that family is and always will be the most important thing.

Amazing talk about what matters most!

cute song!

So basically, find what means the most to you. Set goals... achieve them... and don't let anyone tell you that they are stupid, worthless, or that you have no chance of completing them. You can achieve anything you set your mind to. Don't underestimate yourself!!

Love you guys!

-Tay

Education

Why is it important? This has been something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. I need to  figure out what I'm going to do to prepare for college! It's only about 2 years away. That's so close... Crazy, right?

College is expensive but totally worth it in the long run. It can save you so much heart ache and worry. Getting a good job will be less difficult and you will be able to use your resources to your advantage!

One video that really got me thinking about college is the one on youtube called "Why I hate school but love education."

here it is...

“Education is about inspiring ones mind not just filling their head”.  This quote is one of my favorites in the entire video. 

Why do I want to go to college?
-Make my parents proud
-increases chances of getting a job
-My life will be a lot less stressful
-opportunity to be successful
-FOR ME
-FOR MY FUTURE FAMILY
-FOR MY DAD

I have been brought up my entire life being told how important college is. It's something that will change my life forever... I can't live my life, not having a good education.

Education and school are two different things. I think school is meant to teach us the basics. The facts. The ideas. Once you have gone to school, you will gain an education. I believe that an education is being about to understand what you learned as well as forming your own opinion on things. You can have your own thoughts, you aren't a robot. You can learn and speak for yourself.

We need school in order to help us gain an education! Work hard in school every day, it will pay off. 

Peace out :)

-Tay

Family? More like best friends...

I haven't blogged in a while... Life has been crazy busy! Guys my advice to you is not procrastinate.. End of term is nearing and I have tons to do. It sucks, but whatever.

The one thing that keeps me going is knowing that summer gets closer every single day. This summer is gonna be the best of all Summers! I'm really excited.

My sister and I have been hanging more. She and I used to be really close, then for like a year... We just bugged each other. But we went shopping together the other day and it was so much fun! We also went and saw Safe Haven with my mom and loved it. We are total suckers for any Nicholas Sparks movie or book.

Lately we started running together. It's so fun! We laugh our heads off and create funny inside jokes while jogging. People look at us weird... But we don't care! Sometimes I think I should have my own TV show. We are THAT hilarious ;)

I think it has gotten to that point in my life where my sister and mom are more like my best friends. I love doing things with them and spending time with them, other than just family night! I really like the relationship I have with my mom. She gives me a lot of freedom... Sometimes I wonder about her judgment ;) Hahaha, just kidding! She's doing great.

She lets me make my own decisions and doesn't run my life for me. But, if she needs to step in, she does. She gives me advice and makes me laugh when I'm having a bad day. She listens to me and gives input or sometimes lets me figure it out for myself. Most of the time I know the difference between right and wrong, so my mom and I just get to have fun together instead of her having to hover over every little thing that I do and help me do it.

Maybe its just because I'm a teenager... But I honestly hate it when people tell me how to live or whats right or wrong. I know the difference between the two! It's kinda like the talk from Uchtdorf (One of my favorites. Holland is amazing too!) "Don't judge me because I sin differently than you. And if you do... stop it." It's that simple! Just worry about you and stop telling your friends how they need to live their life. It doesn't happen often to me, but when it does I want to punch them in the face. Ok, that's a little dramatic!! I don't want to do that, plus I don't think I could even if I tried... But I just want to live my life the way I want to and figure things out for myself. I want to learn from my mistakes!

I'm pretty much getting off subject here... back to my mom and sister..

Well, here are some pictures of us having all sorts of fun together. I'm so glad to have them as my best friends and relatives! 

Brittany "planking" at mcdonalds

She is pretty much so adorable.

I love her!

She leaned up against the car window

Ladies and gentlemen... She's my hero!!

Us three... Family pictures

2012

I love my family... SO MUCH!

I love my mom

Sisters 

People tell me that my mom and I look alike....

I guess we kinda do.

If we do, I'm so happy cause basically, My mom is beautiful!

Right before we went and saw "Safe Haven"

 I took this beauty to Walmart and we did a little bit of spring shopping!

Then we went to the traverse Mountain outlets and got a couple dresses.

It was so much fun!

After the movie, we loved it!

Sisters make ugly faces... together.

Brittany had her friend, Payton, sleep over. I consider her my little sister as well! I took them around the city and we had so much fun!

Don't worry, I didn't crash the car ;)

Just playing in the Mcdonalds Playland.

I love these girls so much!!

I don't mean to brag, but I love my amazing family! Sometimes, we fight.. But that's normal, right? I can't help to think about the future and realize that in about 5 years, I'll probably be engaged and My mom and sister will be helping my plan my wedding. Britt will be one of my bridesmaids and my mom will have the title "Mother of the bride." Maybe they both will be even more excited than I will be!

I just know that when we go shopping for the bridesmaid dresses or shoes or even the cake... We are constantly going to be making fun of all those bridal shows. We already do! I mean when we go shopping my mom is always like "Are you gonna say yes to jeans?" We will pretend to be those dysfunctional families that have problems that come out during the wedding planning and I'm gonna pretend to me a total "Bride-zilla" just to get the full wedding experience. It's gonna be hilarious!

My future children are gonna have the best Aunt in the whole world. She's so talented. I might have to have her come over every night and sing to my children, because I can't even stay on the same key. They are also gonna have the funniest most adorable grandma ever. She's gonna tell them about all the stupid stuff I did and they are gonna laugh their heads off. I have done a lot of stupid things, so basically... they are gonna have hundreds of stories to hear. How blessed am I!?

Ya know how they say that family is the friends you didn't/can't choose? Ya, well... If I could choose, I would choose them. They are amazing! I still love them, even when we fight over TOMS shoes. Did that happen today? Maybe... But never-the-less, I am so thankful to have the family that I do. 

Love your families and be thankful for what you have!

Love you

Peace out

-Tay