Friday, February 14, 2014

Letting Go

Well, if you have been reading Beautiful Heights for the past year, you probably know that I am OBSESSED with Disney. I love Disney movies, Disney music, Disney toys, Disney clothes, Disney Pinterest pins... you get the idea. :) So obviously my latest obsession is over the movie Frozen. I absolutely love this movie. I may or may not have a count down going until it comes on to DVD (it's a month and four days, just so you know).

Along with all the other Frozen fans, Elsa's song Let it Go has pretty much become my theme song--especially this week. On Tuesday, I had regional interviews for Sterling Scholar. I had been preparing since November for this interview. Needless to say, I was terrified. On the drive there, my mom turned on our Frozen CD and we belted along with Elsa. I went to my interview with a mix of Let it Go and primary songs running through my head, desperately fighting to stop my hands and voice from shaking. Afterwards, I felt like my interview was the best I could do, and all I could do was to wait for Thursday, when I would find out if I made it to State.

I didn't.

I can't even describe how disappointed I am. I have poured four months of my life into this endeavor, just to have it squashed and taken away. But I have to move on from the disappointment, the pain, and the frustration. I have to let it go.

So while I'm learning this life lesson that we all need to know, please enjoy the super talented Alex Boye's rendition of Let it Go, and remember that we all need to let things go in our life--pain, disappointment, anger, grudges, low self-esteem, etc. Good luck, and thanks for reading!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Thoughts

I've been thinking a lot lately about life the past few months. My senior year has been absolutely amazing and I have grown in ways I never thought possible, but that growth has come at a cost. My senior year has been almost completely opposite of what I planned for myself and for my friends. I have watched (and am still watching) my closest friends go through incredibly hard trials, and I am left to wonder "Why us? Why now?"

After thinking about this for several months, I think I've finally come to a conclusion. All the trials my friends and I have gone through--brain tumors, depression, concussions, severe illness, etc.--have made us stronger. We haven't just endured, we've lived. We've taken time to appreciate each other and our families. Our focus on what is really important has returned. And we've learned to never take a day or human being for granted.

There are days, weeks, months, and even years of hardship ahead for everyone here on earth. And even though I sometimes kick and moan and whine about my trials, they are the one teacher that has taught me to live.

So take the time to live--really live--today. Choose friends with positive attitudes and great senses of humor. Be grateful. Spend time with those who matter most before you give attention to those who don't. Cherish the little moments. Laugh. Sing. Dance. Read. Just live.

Why not now? Why not us?