Day 8..

Day 8: Fears: No spiders or horror films. What truly scares you that brings out human emotion? Why does it make you fearful? How would you confront your worst fear?

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Truthfully, I'm not even really scared of spiders, horror films, or anything like that..

I'm more scared of the real parts of life.

Overall, my biggest fear is to not truly live.

There are so many things I want to do in my life, see, and become.

Just like a lot of other people, I fear that I will never get to do those things.

I want to live my life as fully as possible..

I don't like living the same day twice, and I don't plan to.

I have made many many changes in this last year to better myself and the life I plan to live.

I eliminated a lot of negative and brought in a lot of positive.

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Ever since I was little, I knew God had a plan for me and my life.

As I am growing older, I still know that he has a plan...but understanding and figuring out what that plan is...

Well that's not easy.

Negative things are all around us..which makes it hard to escape.

These negative things have brought me so much anxiety..

I let it overcome my life and make me into a bitter person.

I let it carry me through my days with fear, desperation, and hopelessness.

...But i'm not letting it anymore.

I have made permanent changes in my life that I will never break.

I am moving forward with God by my side..

I will succeed.

I will do great things.

I will be the woman that I and God wants to be.

I will truly live the way God wants me to live.

*

To be honest, if it wasn't for God..I don't think I could face my fears..

I have made the choice to stand firm in what I believe and let God help me tackle my fears.

It's easy to get distracted, it's easy to stray away, and it's not always easy to make your way back.

When I am fearful, I try to turn to God as much as I can..

These are just a few verses that help me get through my day and night..they calm my fears and bring me peace...

"Fear not, for I am with you. I am your God, I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous hand" -Isaiah 41:10

"When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer" -Psalms 94:19

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today" -Matthew 6:34

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" -Philippians 4:6

Never forget to Thank God for all he has done..

<3 Shay

Day 7..

Day 7: Enchantment: What is your favorite fairy tale, story, fable, or myth? Who is your favorite character, and why? What elements of the story enchant your mind?

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I love anything that can enchant my mind, especially a fairy tale.
I've always loved to read stories and watch movies about fairy tales.
They bring me to a place that I have never been before..
They allow you to find a part of yourself that you may have once lost, or you have yet to find.
I love the magic I feel when I really get into a good fairy tale..
*

Let's get real..I cannot pick just one..
Actually, anything enchanting strikes my interest
We should always be searching for some sort of magic and enchantment in our lives..
Most of the time it's nothing outside of us, but within our beings.
Fairy tales remind me that it is okay to be different..
It's okay to stand out and stand up for what you believe in.
It is okay to follow your heart..
It's okay to be curious and go searching for what you thought you would never find..
*
You have to believe in yourself and in the magic that life holds.
I'm talking about finding the essence in all of the little things in life..
If you don't believe that there is good in people, then you will never find it.

<3 Shay

Day 6..

Day 6: Music: Pick three of your favorite songs. Write a paragraph about the feelings they bring to you. Do you feel contentment, peace, encouragement, or determination?

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1. Push: Matchbox 20
The lyrics in this song bring back a lot of emotions when I hear it. It reminds me of different ways I have felt before. Not just with a guy, but with people in general.
Never feeling good enough, but being pushed around to be so..
*
2. Broken: Lifehouse
This is such a powerful song in itself, without me putting a meaning behind it.
I have had a time in my life where I felt completely broken and totally un-fixable.
I felt hopeless and almost to the point where I wanted to give up.
I relate the part of the song where desperation speaks through, to my relationship with God.
As low as I was, I still knew in my heart that I needed to reach out to God for help.
Even though I was experiencing pain, it seemed to be a part of the healing process.
Even though I may doubt many things in my life and myself a lot, it's part of the process.
I'm damaged and just trying to mend the broken pieces.
This song reminds me of the darkest times of my life, but reminds me that no matter how dark my life was, God was still there for me.
Even though I still feel a little broken, I just have to remember that sometimes it takes awhile to find all the little pieces.
In all the times that I feel alone and lost my way..I know that I will never forget my way back.
I just have bigger mountains to climb..
*

3. The Road and the Radio: Kenny Chesney
I'm constantly searching for something that i'm missing..
I'm constantly trying to figure out who I am..
"Clarity and inspiration, happiness is a destination that's hard to find,..it may take some time..but in my mind there is something more"
The chorus of the song speaks my life more than any other song I have ever heard..
I believe one hundred percent that happiness is a destination..It doesn't just come easy.
Life is hard and it throws a lot of curve balls, it's not always easy to stay happy.
Personally I have been looking for true happiness for a long time..
I'm still not quite there, but i'm working on it.
I know in my mind that out there, one day..I will achieve my goals, follow my dreams, and reach true happiness..
"I'll get there leaning on some friends I know..the road and the radio"
In my life I have experienced a lot of loneliness.
I have had to rely on myself for many things in my life..
A lot of my problems, feelings, emotions, etc, have had to be pushed aside because I felt like I was left alone..
I have relied on the "road and the radio" to get me through a lot of things.
When people ask me why music is so important to me...it's because it became my friend when no one else was there.
 It spoke for me when I had no words.
 It guided me and helped me make some of the biggest decisions I have ever made.
When I need a friend, someone to talk with, or just someone to listen..I want to get into a car and drive.
Some of the best times I have spent with friends have been just driving. talking, and listening to music..
"Happiness is a destination"
That's the destination I am on, but sometimes it's just hard to find.

<3 Shay

Day 5..

Day 5: Memories: What are some of your most cherished memories? Did these events create a significant impact on your life today?

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Of course there are so many memories that I could mention about friends, family, or just experiences I have had..

But some of my most cherished memories are the memories I have from some of my college years with my friends..

I would have to say my sophomore year was the best year I had while in school..

I lived with two of my best friends and let me tell you what...we had a dang good time.

We spent every single day being so ridiculously stupid and laughing CONSTANTLY.

We became so close this year and learned so much about each other..

Aside from just being silly all the time, we spent a lot of our time really getting to know each other.

We spent so much time talking about our lives, our hopes, dreams, plans for the future, sharing experiences we've all been through, and lots of crying..

We learned so much about ourselves and each other..and we learned a lot about life and how important it is to have God in it with us.

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I remember doing so many stupid/funny things with these two girls..it would take me hours to explain them all :)

We had this one week where it was like a major prank war..

We did so many things to each other and just laughed the whole way through.

We did some things we probably shouldn't have done...but learned along the way.

I have never been as happy as I was when I was with them.

Lately, I have forgotten what it's like to laugh like that..

The time I spent with those girls has really changed my life.

It was during those fun, amazing times...how I learned what it truly means to feel alive.

*

I wouldn't trade that year or the time spent with those girls for anything..

They mean so much to me, along with many other people...

but most definitely hold a special place in my heart..

Those girls are now my family..

<3 Shay

Day 4..

Day 4: Possessions: What is your most prized possession? Why do you value it? How did you come across it?

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I don't really have just one thing that I prize the most..

I have a couple of things that mean a lot to me and I hope never to lose: my dad's handkerchief and a ring given to me by my parents.

My dad, as some may already know..passed away in 2006.

It was a very hard time for my family and I.

I'm not one to keep a lot of possessions for keepsake, but this I have had since the day he passed.

I don't ever plan to get rid of it..

Every time I see it, it reminds me of the great man that I lost..

It makes me miss him, but yet reminds me of my love for him and his for me.

*

The ring I got from my parents one year for Christmas..

It is called a daughter's ring. 

I think I got it in 2004 maybe? I'm pretty sure I was 12 or 13 years old.

It has my birthstone in the middle with my parents birthstones on each side.

It's a beautiful ring..

I love it and always keep it put away.

I value my ring because I know the meaning behind it.

My parents always have done so much for me and tried to provide for me in the best way possible.

I couldn't ask for better parents..

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Other items that I value very much, are photos of my family and friends..

I love to flip through picture books and remind myself of all the amazing memories we've had.

Word of advice: Always take lots of pictures!

Pictures give you the ability to captivate a memory in the stillness of a moment..

You can only regret the ones that you didn't take..

<3 Shay

Day 3..

Day 3: History: What stories do you know about your ancestors? What traits do you admire in them? What do you want future generations to remember about you? What do you want to be known for?

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To be honest, I really don't know much about my ancestors.

I would absolutely love to know more, I just haven't had that opportunity..

I do know that I am mostly Irish and Native American.

My personality probably shows more Native American than Irish, but who knows.

I haven't done a lot of research so I can't really say where all my traits are from..

I'm a very go with the flow kinda gal..

I can be stubborn..just depends on the situation..

I'm kind of OCD when it comes to my stuff, where it goes, and how I clean

I like having a routine and I don't like things to be out of place..it gives me stability

I love socializing; spending time among family, friends, and meeting new people..

I love anything and everything in nature..

I love all animals..

Beer: love the smell, hate the taste. (I guess I'm not good at being Irish haha)

I am very in touch with the spiritual side of life..

I totally believe in Meditation and I think it is essential in everyday life..

I'm not saying every day you have to kumbaya next to a fire, but just to meditate in your own different ways.

Sometimes being silent and just listening to the earth, the water, or just looking at the stars can bring so much more peace to your soul..It can calm your mind and help you choose the right path..

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Biggest advice for future generations to remember..

Be yourself..don't let anyone ever take that away from you.

I spent a lot of time in my life being who others wanted or expected me to be.

I spent so much time comparing myself to others and not being who I am...that's a big waste of time.

It's so important to voice your opinion and be true to who you are.

Everyone deserves to live a life of harmony and inner peace..

Do what makes YOU happy, not others.

Always put God first..

No matter who comes in or out of your life, no matter how hard life gets, and no matter how far you may feel from God...seek him.

He's never too far away..he's just waiting for you to seek him.

Always try to love others.

Everyone is fighting a battle that we may not know about.

Consider that when you want to hurt another person; physically, emotionally, or verbally.

*

Life is hard, but don't let that stop you from living it and following your heart.

Sometimes the right path to choose isn't always the easiest..

"Listen with your heart..you will understand"

                                                    -Grandmother Willow

<3 Shay

Day 2..

Day 2: Happiness:What is your own secret for happiness? How did you get there? If you had to sum everything up, what would be your one word to describe how to be truly happy?

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I am not completely sure if I have my own secret for happiness.

Over the years I have developed ways to bring happiness to myself.

I have observed so many others, read many words, and sought out a lot of advice for the sake of my own happiness.

I have definitely learned that happiness doesn't always come so easy.

I'm not saying it's always hard, because there are many little things that contribute to obtaining pure happiness, but sometimes being stuck in an unhappy rut can be hard to get out of.

Not many people may know, but like many others I too have suffered from harsh unhappiness in a very dark part of my life..

Happiness is a habit, and at that time the only habit I had was to think negatively.

I let anxiety, sadness, and pain steal my happiness..

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I generally have always been seen as a happy person, but that was not always the case. 

I have definitely came a long way from the darkest part of my life, but if I was to say that I was 100% happy and satisfied in my life...well I would most certainly not be telling the truth.

I am happy, but there is still a lot of work to do.

And I'm okay with that..It's part of life and part of being human.

True happiness only occurs in moments..It's not just something you find and then get to keep in little safe box forever.

You have to strive for it and seek it daily.

*

Don't let negative things or people enter your mind or your life and take over..it's not worth it (trust me)

I think the simple things in life bring the most happiness..

I would say the most simple thing you can do...alone or with thousands of other people...is Laugh.

Laughter brings joy to your spirit and can lift you up out of your toughest times.

I love laughing..it makes me feel so alive and in the moment.

Laugh when no one is around.

Laugh when you are sad.

Laugh when you are happy.

Laugh at YOURSELF! (this is my fav, haha)

Laugh at other people..well with them would be nicer :)

Laughter is the best medicine..and guess what??? It's free..and so are you.

So laugh whenever YOU feel like it..

<3 Shay