Merry Holidays and Blessed People

Now we all love the holidays.

We get endless tables of food, an abundance of presents and even the steady flow of money, more than likely. I thought about this though, and I feel like there are people that take all this for granted because "it's what we do for these days". I feel like the true meaning of these holidays is slipping away from us.

     Thanksgiving is awesome because there is. so. much. food. Like, food coma-the fat kid inside us loves it all-status. Christmas is great because we get so many new things and presents, and New Years brings us a lot of parties to go around!

But wait...

That's not what it's all about?! WHAT. 

     No! If this is your base thought for these holidays, you're doing it wrong! That endless amount of food you're eating was made from your family, home-made, and not bought from a store! Those presents that you're receiving, is exactly that! They're giving them because they love you and they care for you. Those parties that you're turning up provocatively at, is bringing everyone together to celebrate the past year and bring in the new year. This is what the holidays are about.

   

 These days are the most important of the year, because all the people you love the most, come together in one place. You get to spend time with those that were the best to you throughout the year(s), It gives you a fresh reminder what life is really about and what it would be like if they weren't there with you. The holidays bring the humble friendship & love that exists in your life to light, and personally, it's the best feeling that anyone could have.

     You get the chance to be able to give back to those people, and see the happiness on their faces, even with the fact that you got them something. That's the best part. It's not about what's in the box, but more of that you actually got them something in the first place. People just sitting together and sharing gifts with one another. Literally, the entire basis of this day is not only celebrating the the birthday of Jesus Christ (for those of religious likes), but to give to one another. Quite basically, to share the love. 

     Lets think about Thanksgiving for a second. the best part about that day, is when you sit at the table with everyone of your family, and maybe even some of your friends, surrounding you and enjoying that time together, whilst filling your faces together. Togetherness and peace is the essential basis for most people on this day besides the historical meaning for it. Breaking the name apart explains it all. "Thanks" and "Giving" - giving-thanks. being thankful, for those that you love, for those that love you, the opportunities you've had, the memories you'll never forget, and the experiences that will live on forever. 

     New years, New Years, New Years. Simply, the ending of the current year and the renew of the next. This to me, is the most refreshing holiday. For a lot of people, this is a fresh start and a new slate for them. Try again for something better, a retry if you will. I love this day because you end the adventure-filled year and start the brand new year, all with the people that have been through the same year with you. To me, that's a little mind-blowing, but yet reminiscent at the same time. Such a grand thought. 

This post is also for those I am thankful for, because that's what is most important to me - being thankful for everything you have and the how lucky you are for the people in your life.

There are more than several people that I am thankful for, but I will post a few here.

   

 My mother, Janet Tabor and her soon-to-be husband, Tracy. My mother is my best friend and has been there for me when I've needed help in life the most. She's been the best mother and provider I could ask for. She's helped me be successful and confident in everything I do in life, and that is the best thing I could ever ask for. I love her more than anything. Tracy may have only been here for a little while, but he has done a lot to show that he cares for my mother and our family. His kids are pretty cool too, we will definitely give the Brady Bunch a run for their money. We all have a lot of fun together, and we have a lot of laughs. The wedding will definitely be one to remember!

     Haley Groves, or Minnie. We have gotten so close this year, and I couldn't be happier about it. There were times when we laughed so hard we cried or to the point where we were sure we were going to get kicked out of class. We've been the best of study buddies this year and we got a lot done... and we also took a few fun breaks too. Hehe I don't know why we haven't been this good of friends until now, but I am certainly glad we became that way. It's been amazing having you in almost every one of my classes this year; hopefully next semester, we'll still be in two together. Thank you for being there for me throughout the year, I can't thank you enough. Thank you for being you. #FourHorseman

   Sam Weaver, or BamBam. Ever since I gave you your initiation gift, I knew we would be great friends and I definitely wasn't wrong. We like to be stupid together and be foolish, and it keeps me happy throughout the school season. We've also gotten a bit closer this past year, and I'm glad you were one of the people that I got close to. You're an amazing person, don't ever forget that. It was incredible getting to visit each other in Italy and Ireland in the summer, that was more than a dream come true. It still feels like a dream, but they were experiences we will never forget and will always be able to keep. Soon, we will be graduating too, so I can't wait to spend the remaining time to be crazy and fun together until then!

     Bianca Saab, or Bitch-Face Bianca (still laughing at that). I think everyone will agree with me, when I say you are truly one of a kind in this world. Nobody has the same thoughts as you, my dear. You get crazy when everybody needs to be crazy. You do your own thing and that is something nobody can ever take away from you. You are one of the most determined people I know and won't stand up to anybody's shit. that is something I'll always love and admire about you. I know whenever I need a laugh or a good time, I can #Always count on you to carry it out. 

   

 Michelle Cottrell, or Shelly. You are truly one of the greatest people I know. You have so much ambition and you are so confident with everything you do. Even though you pick on me (constantly), I know it's out of love. I'm glad that I've got to know you better this year than before. You are someone I can #Always count on for everything. I have so much fun with you when we hang out or when we went to our usual Mexican dinners with Katie. We're definitely a trifecta of awesomeness. It would be an understatement, to say that someone would be lucky to have you as a friend or as a significant other. Even though the trip down to Cedar Point is what brought us closer, I couldn't be happier that we have. My circle wouldn't be complete without you.

                                                        Katie Sypniewski, or Ginny (Still love that). Along with the trifecta, you help complete the trio that we are. You're one of my favorite people because you don't care what people have to say about you or anyone else. Not to say that you don't care about people, but you're confident with what you think, and that's something I love about you. I don't know if I'd be able to laugh as much as I did this year, if it wasn't for you. You've said some of the most ridiculous things, that I don't think I've ever laughed as hard, as when I heard them. If people don't have you as a friend, then they are truly missing on someone incredible. You are definitely one of the people I'm grateful for having in my inner circle; I don't even know what life was like beforehand. 

     Dani Godin, or Princess Carlos (I literally gave this a second-glance). I have known you for what seems like decades. We have had so many amazing experiences together. You have been there for me at every turn, and you are someone I've always been able to count on. You are truly one of my best friends and a one-of-a-kind person in my life. Life would not be the same if I didn't know you. Period. You are someone I've connected with on a whole different level than most others that I know. To say that you were an amazing person, would not even be fair to you. Your ambition is unlike any other, your will to be an incredible friend to people is on a whole different level in and of itself, and just the individual you are is beautiful. I am and will forever be thankful to have you in my life - anyone would be a fool not to want you by their side. You may pick on me sometimes (...or all the time...) but life wouldn't be normal without it, honestly. I would probably think something is wrong with you. We will #Always be there for each other, and never differently. Thank you for being everything that you have been to me.

     Sonia Da Silva. AHHHH!! SONIA!! I miss you so much. I just happen to have gotten lucky to have met you in Italy when you were travelling. From then on, we connected very quickly, and it was like we've known each other for years. To me, that's a sure sign that we were meant to meet. It's breathe-taking how deep we connected in that short of time. I love it more than anything, though. We stalked Kimye's wedding together, and met some more cool people there; we even got serenaded by the legend of legends - John Legend. I'm so ecstatic I got to visit you in Jersey after our European travels were done. That's what really topped it off for me. You are a wonderful person and probably one of the most free-spirited and happy people in my life. That may be why we get along so well. I can't wait to see you again soon! We can hang out and enjoy life! Be prepared for an adventure when we do! See you soon. 

These are definitely not even close to all of the people that I am very thankful for in my life. These people I couldn't be more happy to have them where they are in my life and in my circle. They are #Always there for me at every turn of my life and bring be never-ending happiness. Life wouldn't be life without them, put simply. These are the most beautiful people, in every way. I will forever love all of them  and there will never be a time when I won't be there for them. All the adventures, memories, experiences, laughs, & the amount of love make me who I am, and it's all because of them. I appreciate every single person in my life, and they make every day one worth living. Thank you for being you.

Gra, Dilseacht, Cairdeas

"Books! And Cleverness! There are more important things - Friendship and Bravery"

"It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"

"We've got both, light and dark inside of us; what matters is the part we choose to act on - that's who we truly are"

"Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect"

"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be"

"After all this time? #Always"

Never forget these people that surround you, 

for without them,

life is not as you know it.

Live free. Be kind.   

Stay loyal. Smile often.

#Always           

Why You Should Go Greek - and Why You'll Absolutely Fall In-Love With It

As Fraternity RUSH and Sorority Recruitment is about to start,

I've decided to give you my two cents on why people should join,

and why it has become my biggest source of happiness in my life,

whilst it being an enormous, ever-growing passion of mine.

"You can never understand Greek Life from the outside-in,

and you can never explain it from the inside-out"

     As far as Greek Life goes, I was probably one of the exceptions to it, because before I even entered college, I knew that I would be joining a Fraternity. I had seen all the stereotypical movies, have heard about them before, & of course had seen all the students wearing all sorts of different Greek Letters. Before I even thought about RUSHING, I was never big into stereotypes of people, so that wasn't one of the concepts that pushed me away from it, like I know a lot of people have. I saw it as gaining a lot of new friends, and having the most memorable times throughout my college years, whilst wasting away studying for my life. 

Boy, did I have a lot more coming to me than that...

     I came as a Freshman, to the University of Michigan-Flint, and as soon as the Welcome Back events started on campus, I was scoping out the Greek Life just as fast. I'm a person that highly believes and gets influenced by small world coincidences & events that seem like fate is trying to push you in one direction. For me, this was joining Kappa Sigma. Thus, I started the beginning of the most memorable, extraordinary, & blessed experience I could have ever asked for in college. 

     When you join Greek Life, you really don't know what to expect, or what kind of an experience you will have. Just like life though, Greek Life is exactly what you make it. If you put in the time and effort into what you just pledged into, ultimately joined, and the values that you now represent - you will sincerely be rewarded.

     When you enter this new world, you instantly gain friends that will be there for you; when you're down, when you need the littlest thing, or when you just want to hang out. These are the people that you will remember for the rest of your life. Not only will you have friends from your own chapter, but the rest of the different organizations, as well! Sometimes, I feel like people forget about the other Greek organizations we have so close around us, or think they are more of our enemies than our extended support system. As soon as you join the 'Greek Life', you automatically accumulate the largest and most phenomenal support system in the world - And I will #always argue that. 

     

Family

     Greek Life is the tightest-knit family you will ever possibly experience. It doesn't just stop at your school though, or even across the country - it's spread world-wide. In an instant, you will have people behind you in a time when we need each other the most. There have been several times when our Greek Life on my campus has all come together in just a few hours to support each other. When you experience something like that, there is nothing that is more powerful than that feeling of togetherness. In that moment, there is genuinely nothing that can come between us. That feeling is something we all will #always share and remember. One of the coolest concepts about most of Fraternities & Sororities, is the idea of "Families" built into the chapter. You may have heard the terms: 'Little', 'Big', 'Grand-Big', 'Grand-Little', and so on. For example, "Oh, that guy, Trevar? He's my Little" or "I hope I become a Grand-Big this Fall!". This idea is one that will bring you closer together with your brothers or your sisters, than what you already were. I, myself, so far have two Littles, and I love those two guys more than a lot of people. They may not be your biological family, but they are definitely closer to you than some of your other brothers/sisters. Your family line sticks together and forms a team, and along with the territory, will give each other special privileges over other people - "Oh, sorry, I don't have that book anymore because my Little gets first dibs on it". Regardless of your family tree line, or the organization you're in, Greek Life as a whole is one big, happy family, and that is something that will #always be a fact for each of us.

Bonds

     

     Along with being the happiest family, come along the bonds that you will forever earn and share. For me, this is one of the best things that someone could ever hope for in life. This is truly one of the things in my life that I am most grateful for and that makes me the happiest. This is one of those things that you can't physically touch, but something that you can undeniably see & feel. The bonds that you have with your fellow brothers/sisters is something like no other. These are the people that you will put as your top priority or people that you will defend. When you go through RUSH/Recruitment, you're going through the exact same process as what your older members did, and you're falling in-line with the chapter's tradition. You start out as a random stranger and over the course of a few weeks, build a bond that cements when your initiation day comes. It's truly an incredible emotion to gain new members to not only your chapter, but also to Greek Life in general. Wherever you go in the world, you will #always have an instant bond with another person that is wearing Letters, no matter if they are your Letters or not. When I studied abroad both last year and this year, whenever I saw a Greek , we instantly had a bond together, in the most random and foreign places of the world. You will have lifetime bonds with your chapter, your campus Greeks, and the Greek Family from around the world. It's #always the greatest feeling to immediately have something in common with a random stranger, and one that you're both passionate about.

Connections

     My biggest life motto and my favorite one is building connections with as many people as you can. To me, this is doing life right. Remember when I said if you put in the time and effort into Greek Life, you would sincerely be rewarded? Connections are what makes this delicate, but ambitious dream come true. You will be going in the right direction by meeting all of the members of your chapter, but if you go out of your way to meet the members of the other Greek organizations around you, various doors will open for you in life. Get to know as many staff members of your campus as possible, because they will surely help you build these important connections. My past three jobs have been because one of my Greek Life members has referred me to them, and I have always got an immediate job interview from them too. I'm great friends with the head of Financial Aid at my school, so if I need any favors or direct help, I personally email or go right to her for it. I can't even tell you how many Greek Leadership Conferences I've went to with the costs covered for 3-5 day weekends through getting involved. These conferences are massive social affairs where you can gain astronomical amounts of networking opportunities. People from highly valued organizations such as PhiredUp, or Presidents of Umbrella organizations, or people that could get you in the door to your future career, or even just gaining high quality friends from around the world that know how to do life right, just like you. Plus, these conferences make me the happiest human-being on the planet because it's just a conglomerate of hundreds to thousands of Greeks from around the country coming together (Remember those instant bonds?) to talk about values and to share stories with each other. This to me is the perfect life. Everyone has a story, and a Greek probably has a better one. 

     There are small connections that can just help you out in everyday life too. I got an expensive calculator for free because of the Tri Sigma's on my campus graciously gave it to me. Then there are also the ones that you can go through, just to get someones contact information or to flow through the 'Greek Grape Vine' smoothly. Having connections across the country and around the world, will have you flowing through life like a fish going down a stream.

Values

     No matter which Greek Organization you join, we all will have the same basic principles or values. That's one of the best factors about being Greek, is the values that you join into and represent. One of these being Community Service or Helping People. If someone just took a second and looked at any of the Greek Organizations, they would see how much they help out their student body, their local community, and national organizations. In fact, the Greek System is statistically the largest network of volunteers in the United States, donating over 10 million hours of volunteer service each year. Every year, I know just my fraternity (Kappa Sigma) gives hundreds of hours to volunteering at The Crim, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, the University itself, or to other organizations on campus. If one of the local businesses ever asks us for help, you bet we will #always give it to them, without a question. We have given countless hours to soup kitchens, food drives, clothing drives, and the like. 

     Most Fraternities or Sororities will have a national philanthropy they donate to every year. Kappa Sigma's is Military Hero's and Theta Phi Alpha's is Glenmary Home Missioners or The House That Theta Phi Alpha Built, while Phi Sigma Sigma's is the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, Theta Chi's is The USO and Tri Sigma's is The Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation or The Robbie Page Memorial. We are dedicated to fundraising money toward these monumental organizations that produce the greater good. Statistically, Greeks raise over $7,000,000 each year for organizations around the country. Even as we Greeks turn alumni/alumnae in our chapters, we give over 75% of all the money donated to universities.

     The overall good we do for the community is unparalleled to that of any other organization. Doing something like this, and knowing that we have this kind of overwhelming positive power - you really have no choice but to smile at something like that. The thought of thousands of people around the country helping out others in need is totally beautifying.

     One of the most important values we represent is Scholarship. Every Greek Organization I have come into contact with has a 'Scholarship Chair' of some sort. After all, that is the primary reason we are at school: to do well in our studies and to get an education - Greek Life just supremely aids that quest. We have all-night study sessions in the library, organization study get togethers, groups built within our chapters based on the major you are, and various members that will happily help you with any of your classes. I tell you what, nobody should have a problem with finding somebody that will be able to help you in your schooling. It's also pretty cool when hang out amongst each other and advance ourselves in something like that; just an overall good feeling. I should also mention that overall, Greeks have a higher GPA than normal students do collectively. We have multiple competitions amongst ourselves to have friendly, competitive competition to see who can get the highest grades. I can't tell you how many Greeks I know that are purely dedicated to doing well in their education, it's inspirational sometimes. It makes you just want to do better. Over 70% of all persons that are Greek graduate, while below 50% of non-Greeks will graduate, just to put that into perspective.

     One of the proudest values that a Greek can strive for is Leadership. It's not #always easy being a leader, but it is #always achievable. Being a leader means that you may need to be that person that stands up against the majority, or the person that lets their voice be known to defend their own values. The person that shows the right path when everyone wants to follow an unfavorable one. Striving to be a leader will help you become more mature as an individual, and help your mentality to develop as a responsible adult. You don't have to be a Greek to be a leader, I am aware of this, but being Greek will give you the necessary people and the resources directly to you to put you on the right track. There is a reason why we are known to be such an elite group of individuals in this world, and being a leader is an example of that. I will indefinitely and proudly embrace the fact that we are the highest quality of elite leaders. 76% of all Congressman and Senators belong to a Fraternity; Every U.S. president and Vice President, except two in each office, born since the first social Fraternity in 1825 have been members of a Fraternity; 63% of the President's Cabinet Members since 1900 have been Greek; Over 85% of the Student Leaders on some 730 campuses are involved in the Greek community; All of the Apollo 11 Astronauts were Greek; and the first female Senator and Astronaut were Greek. These are just a few statistics for Greeks! It's really unbelievable what Greeks become after they graduate from their respective colleges.

     Finally, the most sensational value is the Brotherhood or Sisterhood we Greeks share. I've already talked about this earlier, so I won't reiterate. Just for a second though, think about it... We have 4 or more years together with the pledge class we initiated with, the older members before us, the younger members after us, and the other Greeks from our fellow organizations; and in these 4 years, we come together to do numerous charity events, spend hundreds of community service hours together, spend spring breaks together, study abroad together, make those cliche summer memories, or even have multiple get togethers at Applebee's for their half-apps every Thursday together, like what my Greek Life did. All of this together, all of the hours, all of the different people we meet, all of the memories we made, and all of the bonds that we create - this is brotherhood, and this is sisterhood. Nobody can change that, and nobody can stop that. That is ours, and ours to keep for a lifetime. This is a feeling that nobody can ever forget in their lifetime, and it's one that I will personality treasure throughout my life.

Being a Better Individual

     Being a Greek certainly curves your life for the better, in the long run of things. All the positive memories and energy that is created throughout being a Greek individual, helps you become a better individual as a whole. The people you meet that become your lifelong friends, and the older members that become your mentors through life, help you stay on the right path and help you keep seeing the positive side of situations or in life, really. From personal experience, helping someone see the silver-lining on the edge of that destructive storm is one the most rewarding life experiences I could've realized. Helping our community, people in general, raising thousands of dollars for organizations, and giving thousands of hours of our time to helping a charity make someone elses' life better, will forever be the most inspirational and beautifying feeling one can have. Throughout your time, you really just gain a greater sense of pride and happiness for life - it's that surreal.

     No matter what Greek Organization you choose to be with,

as long you choose an organization that fits with yourself,

you will #always have the most amazing time of your life,

with even more amazing people.

You will forever have lifelong friends, experiences, 

& the strongest support system you could ever ask for.

"No matter the letter, we are all Greek together"

Life free. Be kind.   

Stay loyal. Smile often.

#Always           

Not Everyone is Going to Like You - Be Proud of What You Do

If a random visitor came to our world, 

it would probably be relatively easy to notice that people from all parts of the world,

 try their hardest to impress each other.

After-all, it's part of human nature to want to be liked and to be social.

     If anyone knows me, or has even read some of my posts from before, they know that my life motto is meeting people, building unlimited connections, & living to be happy with others. This is my deepest life motto and the one that means the most to me. I try to be the very definition of a 'Social Butterfly'. I sincerely believe that life is truly what you make it; with that said, thus, I believe that my life is at it's happiest point when I have those of things that you can't physically see or touch - the memories, bonds, and experiences.

     I love to make people happy, it doesn't matter how far out of my way I have to go. With that being said, you don't have to be a new-age genius to figure out I'm a 'people-pleaser'. Some say that being a 'people-pleaser' is bad because you're fishing for attention. I promise you, that's not my end goal, and that will never get you anywhere you wish to be. I'm sure that everyone has heard at one point or another, you can't please everyone in the world... But lets save that for later.

     Only a very select few people know this; but while it looks like I've been radiating this strong coat of confidence, or even that I'm put together most of the time - it wasn't until a few weeks ago that a revelation hit me to find and sport my true sense of confidence. I've #always been very nervous to do/say things around people in fear of them thinking I'm weird, or making the atmosphere awkward. As a result, I tended to hide my real thoughts on things or the wacky or whimsical tendencies I portrayed. Aloof to myself, I was subconsciously people-pleasing by hiding the authenticity that was me. Granted, it worked, but I wasn't genuinely confident and my anxiety at it's best was temperamental. It was really ironic for being a 'social butterfly'.

     Whilst I was in Italy, and walking the streets of Florence one evening, I was walking by myself, so naturally I had lots of time to think. This night, I had a revelation, a palpable change of sense. It hit me... if people don't like you for a trait or for something you like, that's not something you should be concerned about because that's just one less person you have to worry about. You shouldn't have to hide your silly, nerdy, or altruistic self because of someone else' opinion. The people that know that you love to watch all seven Harry Potter movies at once, or that you have a Deathly Hallows necklace from the movie; or getting excited when the seeds you planted start to grow; are who you should truly be worried about and be happy with. These people should be in your circle. These are the people that will watch all the movies with you and be silly with you about ridiculous things.    

 Yes, I love Harry Potter a whole lot. Yes, I love to grow plants and get excited when vegetables/fruit result. Yes, I absolutely love chemistry memes, and really just memes in general. Ask me anything about Nutrition or health and I'll tell you, and if I don't know the answer, I'll look it up. I couldn't go throughout the day without my bracelets, necklaces, and rings I wear, because they all have a special meaning to me about a person or specific memory. I have an addiction to Starbucks frappuccinos. I listen to all sorts of music, even if it is sung by the Spice Girls or T Swizzy; if it's catchy, more than likely, I will have it. I have an abnormal obsession for The Kappa Sigma Fraternity and for the University of Michigan. I am a freak for Social Media; I probably have an account on almost every social media site available. I easily have a different pair of aviators for every occasion. I should probably have my own VIP table at Applebee's by now because I go so much. ----- These things are a lot of who I am, and I'm damn proud to own every one of them.

     Nobody has to like you, and everyone probably won't like you. That doesn't mean that you should realize this and start being mean to the public. It just means that everyone is different from you, and some people will be exact opposites, and you just won't get along with them. That's fine, you just keep flowing on throughout life and be happy to meet the next person that comes along. There are an indefinite amount of people in this world for you to encounter, to be sad about one other person not liking who you are. You are who you are and who you are ever going to be. Nobody should ever influence you to be someone else. #Always have confidence in yourself and what you do.

Be proud of who you are 

and what you do - because that is you.

Live free. Be kind.   

Stay loyal. Smile often.

#Always           

Italia - The Land of Influential Wonders & Magical Dreams

Going abroad will allow you to reflect on life in general,
however Italy is so much more special to me than that.
P.S. - This post will be a little more than your casual 'Sunday read'.

     Everybody loves to see new places and to be able to travel, and it may even be someones dream to travel around the world. As much as I like to have done that to an extent; I'm perfectly happy to stay in Italia. It's very hard for me to put into words how much sentimental and emotional value Italy really possesses for me - specifically, Florence, Italy.

     I knew that after the month I spent there last year, it wouldn't be enough. It seemed to have gone by in a flash, and I was already yearning to go back before I had even left. When I returned to my beloved city, it was like, I was returning back home - like a piece of me had never left in the first place. As soon as my plane was turning, and I could see the city illuminated in the darkness of the night, both my lips and my heart were smiling in unison; my heart began to pulse through my chest, and my anxiety was on it's highest level. The three most common symptoms of 'Love' are dilated pupils, heightened blood pressure, and sweaty palms - I'm 120% sure I showed all of these. I was so happy to return to Firenze, after all this time.

     I was happy to return to the sights, the sounds, the language, and the culture. I #always tell people, there's something around every corner; rather it be an orchestra concert, a street performer, or someone playing beautiful music in one of the piazza's. You would never get bored of walking around because all of the buildings and local shops were so wonderous to look at. It's purely shop after shop of everything; because everything is so close together. Since it is like that, someone can walk 12 minutes and be in a 100 different places - it's the best thing in the entire world to have that ability. You easily start to have favorite things to just go and do. I would go and sit on the bridge every night, maybe with gelato, and embrace the beautiful city that was surrounding me; or go up to the Piazza De Michaelangelo and take in the entire view of the city and be in disbelief that this is the place of where you're at in the world, at that moment. Just walking along the Arno River was so peaceful and made you feel so content with life. 

     One day you might go spend it by visiting the open-air markets, including the infamous leather markets, or perhaps you'll be content with sitting in the Signoria, Santa Croce, or Duomo Piazza's - watching as all the people go by, enjoying their time here too. You could take a walk around random streets and get lost to find something new, or look at all the ancient statues and Greek or Roman monuments. Literally, there are an unlimited amount of things to do, just in this one city. While I was there, one of things I did most, was listen my iPod; because I didn't need wifi. Everywhere I walked, essentially everyday, I listened to it. There would be songs that I would be listening to that would suddenly click with me about the exact feelings that I felt for not only the city, but this time of my life. Rather Be by Clean Bandit and Heart Attack by Trey Songz, were the two songs that hit me most whilst being there. "We're a thousand miles from comfort, we have traveled land and sea, But as long as you are with me, there's no place I'd rather be, I would wait forever, exalted in the scene, as long as I am with you, my heart continues to beat".

     One of the happiest events in my life is meeting people, and especially, from all parts of the world. I can't express to anybody how amazing all of the people are that I've met. From North Carolina, to London, Germany, to Czech Republic, to Ireland - I've met people that I would never want to live a day without. Travelling is #always fun, but when you make those memories with other people, and when you meet them along the way, that's what makes it an unbelievable experience. I can whole-heartedly say, that if it weren't for all the people that I've met, my experience would have never been as good as what I had. From having Alec, not only as a fantastic roommate, but also a travelling buddy along the way; to Annie & Chez in London; or to all of the new people that I met while going to Prague, Germany, and ULTRA in Croatia. The days that we spent drinking beer out of these absolutely huge mug glasses in Germany, whilst frolicking around some of Munich on a crazy-feeling European bike, would have never been nearly as fun without them. We were essentially Munich's new biker gang that rolled into town over-night. How about when we were all in Prague, and we were waiting for the bus, talking about panini's, and this ludacrous-looking guy, accused of being conspiracy theorists, and said that we were going to rule the world. Literally, the most blinding and shocking moment of our lives. This guy literally came out of no where and started accusing  and cussing at us. There was a time when we were in London and we were so broke by the end of the last couple days, that we bought bread and peanut-butter and made that our breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Croatia was the time of our lives, when we went to the ULTRA Music Festival in Split. I wore my Italian flag like a cape during the festival and we partied with David Guetta, Amir Van Bureen, and artists like Freddy Le Grand. The atmosphere was to die for! Our nights consisted of fist-pumping, and dance moves you never knew you owned. Or when I was Cinque Terre with my best friends from back home, and we trekked 4 miles of beautiful Mediterranean-view cliffs. Going clubbing in Dublin and drinking pints of Guinness beer, or city touring & cave exploring of Killkenny and Glendalough. These kind of moments are the ones that you form the bonds that can never be forgotten in your lifetime. All of the people, all of the connections - this is one of the biggest reasons, why I love Firenze so much, because without coming here, I would have never met any of them.

     Just think, just for a second, if you would have made one different decision, your whole adventure, your whole experience, would have drastically been different. You would have met all different people, and had exactly different memories. That is just mind blowing to me. That's also the beauty of life - one decision, can mean the world.

     Speaking of amazing people, my internship had become my temporary family physically, and permanent family emotionally. I cannot thank these people enough for everything that they have provided me, and for all the warmth that they have given me. They welcomed in a complete and foreign stranger, and made me feel like it was #always meant for me to be there. From feeding me every time I was hungry, to joking with me on anything you could think of, to taking selfies in the kitchen, to aiding me in learning the traditions and culture of Italy. There truly isn't any other group of people I could have asked to work with and spend the rest of my days abroad. When I think about them, it takes everything inside of me not to ball my eyes out; I sincerely appreciate every single moment I spent with all these people. I will see them again, before we all know it.

     Florence has genuinely been the only place on Earth, where I have been in complete tranquility. It sounds completely cliche, but I truly mean it. All my life, I have walked with more than a steady pace, and there, I would calmly walk the streets without a single care in the world. I would go throughout the city, without saying a single word, and with a constant smile on my face. It's then, I realized, that I was truly happy.

     Do you believe in Fate? Destiny? Things that are meant to be, will be? All my life, I have believed in things like that. It's hard to deny it, when there are so many little signs that point to you, that it was meant to be. I, in complete confidence, believe that I was meant to come back here. There were just so many little things that happened to work out perfectly, that it's hard to ignore. Like, how I was very low on money and couldn't spend money on food for the last few weeks - also happened to be the exact time, when I switched to my last kitchen, where they ended up feeding me breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Coincidence? Or how I just happen to have enough money to go on the trips I wanted, without budgeting for the most part; Or how when I passed a Kebab place, the sign had on it "A...B" - which in my fraternity, the thing we all say to each other is "A to B". There were just so many little signs along the way like that, that it seriously started to make me wonder. After experiencing so many, you can't turn your cheek to it.

     For me at least, this city has a way of changing you. It could be that I am inlove with this city, or the fact that I was purely on my own for four months; but this experience made me be confident in who I am, what I like, and the things I do. I have never been fully confident within myself because of one thing I liked or one thing or another, but here I had a sort of revelation, that helped me gain the confidence I needed within myself, to be completely happy. In that moment, my personality matured, and since then, I've been in a constant state of holding my head up high.This place gives you the unmistaken ability to find out who you truly are, and being proud of it. Beyond that, I gained a new appreciation for the people I've missed back at home - My beloved friends, my Greek Family, my lovable dog, and most of all, my amazing mother. In my heart, I felt a spark re-lit with an abundance of gratitude and recognition. Being away from everything you took for granted, makes you acknowledge how much you truly miss and appreciate everything that you have, the opportunities that are given to you, & the people that love you.

   
This city has a certain, mysterious magic to it.
You can feel it, when you look over the sparkling waters of the Arno River at night.
There is truly something special about this place,
and there will forever be a place in my heart where I can #always find it.

It's not about the things you have;
but about the memories you earn, the insight you gain,
& the people you cherish.


"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs
and returns home to find it."

Life free. Be kind.   

Stay loyal. Smile often.

#Always