Alphabet

I don't have a single idea for an insightful blog post tonight, and I apologize. I've been so busy with visiting friends in my hometown before I returned to school that I just... didn't come up with a good idea. Wow, this is lame.

To make up for it, I'm gonna do something I've been saving for a time like this. I'm going to list a word and a fact about myself for every letter of the alphabet. It figures that this is another "get to know the blogger" post, but hey, it's something.

a -astrology

I've been interested in astrology since I was about thirteen years old, but only recently have I really looked into more than just sun signs and compatibility. I think I'd enjoy being an astrologer if I could actually make a career out of it.

b - books

I learned how to read when I was two years old, and I've loved it ever since! I'm slowly rebuilding my collection of books, but so far, it consists of some of my favorites: The Fault in Our Stars (John Green), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky), Warm Bodies (Isaac Marion), and Paper Towns (John Green).

c - cat ("I was going to put coffee, but that was too obvious," she says as she uses something equally as obvious)

My favorite animal has been a cat for as long as I can remember! I've owned several cats over the years ever since my mom learned that I wasn't allergic to them. People say I'm very catlike, and I've also had this habit of making cat noises since I was very young. Luckily, the only ones that know this are my close friends.

d - dreamer

I've always had huge dreams of being happy and successful in life. I'm willing to do almost whatever it takes to make it in the world. I guess that's why a few people have mistaken me for Slytherin. That, and I daydream a lot, which can lead to me not paying attention in class or conversations. Oops.

e - eat

I adore all sorts of food, and there's not much I won't try. I've even eaten a spoonful of hot sauce on a dare.

f - favorite

I have a lot of favorite things: oversized sweaters, hole-in-the-wall cafés, books and movies that make me think, anything space-themed, thunderstorms, nooks and crannies that I can hide in, and people who notice the smallest things like I do... just to name a few.

g - goals

First and foremost, my main goal is to do my best to glorify God in all that I do and be able to enjoy the fruits of a Christian life. I also want to succeed in college and make sure I have a good chance of getting into grad school, should that be in the cards for me. Lastly, I'd like to maintain at least most of the friendships I've made thus far because, well, I don't think I've been this happy before they came into my life.

 h - hair

I've done so much with my hair over the past couple of years. From cutting it all off in my sophomore year of high school and not looking back... to dyeing it all sorts of colors over time (blonde, brown, auburn, red, black, even green)... to shaving the side of my head a few months ago, I'd like to say my head has become my canvas, so to speak.

i - introversion

Despite my many friends, I am not the biggest people person around. I would much rather spend my time alone or in small groups because large crowds of people exhaust and overwhelm me. I'm not proud to admit that I actually score anywhere from 90-100% introversion every time I take an MBTI test...

j - junk

I tend to pile all sorts of things on my desk and shelves and in my drawers. When I go through those piles months later, I try to remember why I even have some of the things that I do and get nostalgic when I do remember.

k - kiss

I can't think of anything else for this letter, so let me just say that I just think kisses are so sweet. Not just in the romantic sense, either – platonic kisses on the cheek or forehead are also great ways of showing you care. Oh, and I also think that Eskimo kisses are the most adorable things in the world.

l - life

I've always been grateful for being alive. Sometimes, the life I have been given can be too much for me, and I've wished that it could be easier, but I have never once wished I didn't have it at all. After all, if I weren't here now, I wouldn't have been able to say I've begun to find the light at the end of the tunnel!

m - morning

I'm typically not a morning person. After the alarm goes off, another five or ten minutes pass before I'm willing to get out of bed. Even then, it takes me a good couple of hours and a cup of coffee before I'm fully alert.

n - nickname

Because of my last name, I've gained many nicknames over the years. I used to find it embarrassing and impersonal, but I'm used to people calling me "Pops" or "Papa" now. I've also realized that if a teacher calls me by some variation of my last name, they usually like me more than teachers that don't.

o - observant

I notice little things about people – their mannerisms, certain words or phrases they use, and other odd quirks that they have. I archive these things and piece people together with them in my head like jigsaw puzzles. Pretty neat stuff.

p - piercings

I'm a huge fan of body modification, and I prefer piercings above everything else. Sadly, I don't have many myself – just my nose and ears, and my ears are stretched. Still, I want at least two more.

q - quote

For the past few years, I've lived by this line from a song quote by my favorite band, All Time Low: "They can take all of me, but they won't ever take what I still believe." I adhere to a set of internal values and beliefs that are quite difficult to shake me from, and I won't do anything that goes against those values. The funny thing is that this line can apply to my life both before and after God came into it because, well, faith in God is above all else, and nobody can take that from me.

r - rain

My favorite weather condition would probably have to be rain – not hot and muggy rain, and not bone-chilling cold rain, but cool rain that you usually find in March in Mississippi. I don't like walking in it, but I love listening to it and watching it fall from inside while I watch a movie or read a book. There's something about a rainy day that relaxes me like nothing else.

s - sleep

I mentioned I was quite catlike; this can be seen in my sleeping habits. I don't sleep very much at night, but I love sleeping during the day, and I will sleep for many hours at a time if I get the chance. It's also normal to find me taking naps in all sorts of places because I'm not picky about where I sleep.

t - tattoos

You can correctly assume that since I love hair dye and piercings that I love tattoos as well. They're much more permanent, but you can paint pretty much your entire life story on your skin with them. I actually just got my first tattoo the other day, believe it or not, when I stayed with Christian. I couldn't be happier with it!

Over the past few years of my life, I've gone through some difficult times. Too much was changing too quickly, and I couldn't turn to anyone because people changed, too, and at the time, I didn't believe in God. In short, I needed a constant, and I found solace in the only thing I knew would stay with me, no matter what – music. This tattoo is my tribute to my love and gratitude to the songs and artists that got me through those tough times because without music... I'm not sure what would have happened. In short, music saves lives... including mine.



u - ukulele

I've wanted to learn how to play the ukulele since I was fourteen or fifteen years old. Sadly, I've yet to find anyone to teach me, so when I get the chance, I'm going to invest in one and teach myself. That way, I can serenade someone with acoustic indie songs and win their heart or something.

v - voice

I've loved to sing for as long as I can remember, and believe it or not, people have told me I have a decent voice. I used to only sing in the car or something until I joined my high school's choir and participated junior and senior year. This past semester, I was a part of Belhaven's concert choir, although I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I also took voice lessons and performed in front of a crowd for the first time!

w - water

I'm not a particularly strong swimmer, but I still very much enjoy it. The only way you'll find me outside during the summer is if I'm in the pool! There's just something about being surrounded by water and being able to move so much more languidly in it that excites me. I always liked doing handstands and flips in the water because I could never do them on land.

x - x-rays

This is such a lame choice, but I seriously don't know of anything else for this letter. I've gotten a few x-rays for a variety of things: my teeth (dentist appointments), my wrist (when I had a ganglion cyst in it junior year), and my back (when I started going to the chiropractor for adjustments).

y - "yip"

My friend Nathan suggested this one, and I figured it was a good idea. Plus, I'm not sure what other words to use anymore. When anyone or anything really startles me, I make this loud, staccato shrieking noise that has been likened to yipping. People laugh at me, and some have called it cute, and still others try to intentionally startle me, and I find it really embarrassing because I don't like being startled so easily.

z - zen

Despite my jumpiness, I'm actually a calm and collected person in most situations. I work well under pressure, and when my friends are stressing out, I try to keep them calm. I also try not to worry about very much because not a lot is worth my worry and stress, since it's all taken care of in the end.

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I hope you all enjoyed! I promise I'll try to come up with a better post next week. For now, though, I need to sleep before I head back to campus to start my second semester of college! *jumps for joy* Good night and a happy belated New Year to all!

- Sara