There's a difference between happiness and craziness.

I am going to tell you about some things I have learned in the past year and a half when it comes to men.

When you go through a breakup, block them. It's not harsh.

In today's society you always see couples breaking up and getting back together. Social media always adds to relationship drama. When you break up with someone, it's hard to get away from them because you're still friends on Facebook, and you follow them on Twitter.  BLOCK THEM. I know this is harsh, but if it wasn't for my ex (that I dated for 2 years) blocking me on Facebook, I'm sure that it would have taken me longer than it did to get over him.  I wasn't constantly looking at his profile (come on ladies, we all do it).  It was the best meanest thing that he had ever done to me because it allowed me to not think about him everyday like I used to. I didn't see him in person, and I didn't see him on Facebook. Time apart from them is good.  Yes, it might get lonely, and it sucks, a lot. But before you get lonely and text them or creep, remember the bad times and the reason you broke up.  Here's one quote that I love to reference when I talk about this:

Ups and downs in a relationship are not daily.
No I am not saying that a relationship is never going to have ups and downs, but for the love of all that is good, that doesn't mean daily or weekly ups and downs. Some couples breakup and makeup all of the time like that's healthy. It's not. It's stress. Breaking up and getting back together only adds to the problems. Yes, we all have problems in relationships, but if you constantly are having them with your boo every day or every week, you might need to reevaluate your situation. If he keeps making the same mistakes, he's not going to change like he promises. I know that from personal experience. And you know what? No one should have to change for you. You shouldn't have to change for them. Crying every other day for three weeks is more than just not fun; it's mentally and physically exhausting. And not healthy.

The happiest you that you can be is yourself. Everything else falls into place after that.
This, ladies and gents, is the most important lesson I have learned.  At the current moment, despite my allergies, I still feel a swelling happiness inside me when I think about my life.  And it's all because I have been nothing but myself.  This applies to every part of your life, not just relationships.  I am not scared to admit that on a regular basis, I watch cat videos to laugh.  Watching commercials is more fun to me than actually watching a show, and looking at advertisements are better than reading the magazines. That is me.  Not only do my friends know it, but my boyfriend does.

What I cannot stress enough to someone is the fact that the person you choose to be with needs to love every part of you all the time. All of your faults.  My boyfriend and I have been dating for about nine months, and we have gotten into maybe 3 arguments. Not fights, just arguments. We try to work things out instead of yelling about them. He has never tried to change me, and I would never try to change him.  That's how it should be. I am not saying that this is meant to be or I'm going to get married, but I am happy now, and that's all that matters. I feel like I am in a wonderful healthy relationship, and that is because we communicate, we accept each other, and we want each other to be happy.  I know that everyone deserves this. Not the stupid, breakup, makeup, crying, fighting, "but we love each other so much" crap that I see so much of.

Flashback at 1:13 in the morning

For some reason, I was just thinking about my younger years today, and I am going to admit to you some things I've realized now that I didn't know back then.

In elementary school, making up dances to Hilary Duff songs was considered "cool".
Yes, I'll admit the songs that my friends and I made up dances to. It is the following list:

• Come Clean - Hilary Duff
• Space Jam - Space Jam Soundtrack
• Why Not - Hilary Duff
• One, Two Step - Ciara
• Independent Women - Destiny's Child

Ugh. I even performed one of these dances publicly for the 4th grade talent show. Needless to say, I have burned all of the evidence. 

Wearing a hooded sweatshirt tied around your waist was NOT cool. Ever.

But Rachel, I brought it to school to wear in case I got cold.  No, just no. I personally really only wore it tied around my waist because sometimes my pants slid down and anyone behind me could see my grandma undies.  It happened only once, and I had been terrified since. I didn't know what the meaning of a "belt" was. I was a LOSER. But remember, only I can make fun of myself. 

When a boy says hello to you, it does not mean that they have a crush on you. 

Yes, I did not learn how to talk to the opposite sex until my sophomore year in high school. Before that, I couldn't even hold a conversation with them without my ears turning the color of a tomato.  I was that girl.  I'm so glad that I grew out of that phase.  

I skipped recess every day to go help out the office. Um what? You NEVER skip recess. Or a nap. 

I'm not really sure if I have to explain this one.  These days I really value my nap and play time these days and I'm kicking my old self in the butt for not taking advantage of that time. 

And finally, the most embarrassing, pretending to be a mermaid in a pool is not/has not/will ever be cool/appropriate. 

Yes, Hannah, my neighbor and I used to pretend we were sparkly colorful mermaids in our 3 ft. pool.   And we also had names such as: Sparkle, Crystal, Melanie, and Snowflake.  I don't even know how Snowflake pertains to mermaid folk.  They live in the water. Snowflakes are not possible. 

One Week Left.

Alright people. Let's just take a moment of silence right now to note that I only have one week left of Freshman year.  You know, that thing that I've been enrolled in since August? It's over in a week.

Where has the time gone?

Here are some things I've realized:

1. My grades are not where I want them to be.
I am rather disappointed in myself about that. I've gotten all As and all Bs this semester, but that's only if I do good on finals.  I don't have any borderline grades either so that's good.  It's those History150 and Astronomy101 grades that brought down my GPA from last semester.  I hate those grades with a burning passion.  But on the bright side, those are my bad subjects and I basically just had to get them over with.  So in one week I won't have to deal with Math, History, or Science in college EVER AGAIN. Take a moment to imagine me doing the happy dance:

2. I'm ready for the end of school, but I don't want to move back home. 

Now let's get this straight. I love my family to death.  I have never thought they have been overbearing. But there is a big difference in not having a curfew living on your own, and not having a curfew in your parent's home.  Because sure, I can come home at 4a.m. during the summer if I want to, but my parents are aware of it and ask where I was and what I was doing. They don't know what time I get home during school. Just because I'm saying this does not make me a bad kid.  I just have a problem with being told what I should do and having my independence slightly taken away. 

3. I miss having my own room.

It doesn't matter who the heck I could be living with.  The freedom to lie in your bed butt naked without the fear of someone walking in is a magical thing. Don't take it for granted.  I just miss being completely alone. Just laying in my bed, door closed, knowing I won't be interrupted. No, I am not saying I am a hermit. Believe me, when I had mono and was stuck in a bed alone for two whole weeks I almost went crazy. Well. Crazier. But I miss my own room and my bathroom connected to my room. I just can't wait to have that again. 

4. I miss my best friends, but I will miss my college best friends.

I can't wait to see Brian and Liz again.  But I'm going to miss the crap out of Danielle and Chrissy.  I mean, we all say "Oh yeah man I'm going to visit you so much over the summer." But it rarely happens.  So I've already mentally prepared myself to never see them. Sad, but realistic.  

5. I can't wait for my summer job. 

This summer I'm the assistant manager of the Munster Pool.  I couldn't be more excited.  That pool has been the highlight of my summer for the past three years.  When I think of summer or smell sunscreen, that's the first thing that comes to mind.  And I'm excited to work with my sister, and take Brenden there when he comes to visit.  I just can't wait.  AND I get to wear a polo! With the word MANAGER on the back! Woohoo!

6. Spotify Premium is the best thing that's happened since sliced bread. But really. 

Invest in it.  $9.99 a month really isn't that bad for unlimited music.  I get it on my phone and my laptop and I can hook my phone up to my car radio and get it there. It's unlimited with no commercials. And you can sync your music to your phone so you can listen to it offline. Because let's be honest, everyone hates when they are listening to streaming music and it skips. I haven't had that experience with Spotify unless the song wasn't synced to my phone. You can also search all of Spotify's music from your phone, and they have a lot of freaking music. So just get it. Now.