we're only human

Recently, I saw on Facebook that a girl I used to know in my childhood had a baby. Looking at the picture she posted of her and her son hit me with a huge wave of emotion. I can't really say why. It's not that she's the first person my age that I've known to have a kid - I can name at least 7 or 8 off the top of my head - nor is it that she's someone I knew especially well. In all honesty, we've never been anything more than Myspace or Facebook friends. I don't think I've even seen her in person since I was 12. From what I remember of her, she had a lot of friends. She was popular, outgoing, well-liked by the boys; something I recall being very jealous of when I was in middle school. She was also very tiny. She still is. It astonishes me that she was able to push out a baby. 

When I was in middle school, I used to put girls like her on a pedestal. I was insecure about basically everything, and she seemed to have it all. I had this constant overwhelming feeling that she was out there living this awesome life while I sat at home essentially watching her live it, through pictures and statuses that she posted. As I went through high school, I developed my sense of confidence and made new friends and started living my own life instead of watching other people's lives. I was happy. I was busy. I forgot about girls like her. Now, a junior in college, I'm living the fuck out of life and having an amazing time doing it. I'm in a great place. 

It just makes me inexplicably sad that here I am, completely and totally happy and healthy, and then there she is, poised to be burdened the rest of her life by one mistake. It's crazy. She was someone I aspired to be. It's such a radical change from the way I used to view her. I suppose, in a weird way, it's a mark of my own progress as a person. But it's not fair that someone like me gets to go on and be successful while someone like her has to overcome all these obstacles she probably never dreamed of ever having to deal with. I really feel for this girl. 

The caption that she has next to the gorgeous picture of her and her son is elegantly written:

"Sometimes in life, things get messed up. People over think, over analyze, and assume. It's human nature though. We aren't perfect and I'm learning that more and more each day. Everybody's beautiful, everybody's flawed, and everybody deserves second chances. I don't care what you did, how bad you did it or anything. Sometimes we just weren't ready to make it right the first time. We're only human, remember that."

Beautiful. Just hauntingly beautiful. The bare anguish and unbroken strength that she conveys in these few sentences gives me the chills. 

I wish her and her son the best. I really do. Good luck, Kaila.

Day 4.

Day 4: A picture of something you wish you could forget.

Honestly...I don't have any pictures of something I wish I could forget. Why would I take pictures of it? ha.

so this day is a fail...sorry.

Day 3.

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

AH so I couldn't decide what my favorite show is. So I put 2 shows :)

1. The Wonder Years. It's from the 80s about growing up in the late 60s-70s. So an old show. I like old shows. I think t.v. was much better back then. Now it's all crap shows like Jersey Shore, bleghh.

But anyway. I love the Wonder Years because I think it's a really well-done, poignant portrayal of what growing up feels like. Even though I didn't actually grow up in the 70s, I feel nostalgic watching it. Like I'm looking back on my own childhood. It's just fantastic.

2. Gilmore Girls. I absolutely love this show. The acting is okay, and the relationships are fairly drama-filled, but it's the dialogue that gets me. So funny and well-delivered.

My favorite element of the entire show, though, was the relationship between Jess and Rory. Once they finally got together, I didn't actually like them as a couple, but it was the tension leading up to it that was so....epic I guess. I LOVED the chase for Rory from Jess. ohmygosh. Like, you could see her slowly becoming intrigued by him and falling for him and he was SO in love with her. Ah. Simply adorable. looooooved it.

lost? find out more about what the 30 day challenge is here: http://yoplaityogurt.blogspot.com/2011/02/30-day-challenge.html

Day 2.

Clare and I at our finest.

Day 2 - A picture of you and the person you used to be close with.

One summer day, 6-year-old me decided to be a creep and prowl around my neighborhood, cutting through backyards and trespassing through gardens among my block. Well, I ended up in the backyard kitty-corner from mine because they had a really neat swing-set, and I loved swings.

So there I am, casually swinging on someone else's property, when a girl comes out of the house and sees me. Startled, I bolt out of their backyard and back into my own. Also startled, the girl gets her older brother and follows me into my backyard.

I'm sitting on my patio, panting with the adrenaline of becoming an unwanted, discovered intruder, when I see them standing there. They introduced themselves, and from then on, Clare and I were best friends.

We went to different elementary schools, so we were really only summer and weekend best friends, but it didn't matter. I used to go over to her house without telling my parents, completely uninvited; she did the same. Eventually, if our parents couldn't find us in the house, they assumed we were at each other's.

We'll always be close friends, no matter what. But nothing can replace the wild and imaginative adventures we shared in our youth :]

confused? check out what i'm doing here: http://yoplaityogurt.blogspot.com/2011/02/30-day-challenge.html

DAY 1.

Day 1 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

1. I competitively Irish danced for 11 years, and miss it every day.

2. Picnik completes my life...I'm a photography dork and subscribe to the premium version :p

3. Cherry chapstick is my fave. I used to like carmex, but now I think it tastes bad. and softlips doesn't work.

4. If I have to take two pills, I can only swallow the first one. The second one requires applesauce, the only way I can swallow pills. The first time I ever swallowed a pill, I was at a dance competition and basically got murdered and needed a pain pill, and someone's mother yelled at me. She scared me so much that I swallowed in fear, and....boom. it was gone :]

5. I get hit in the head a lot. So much so that I had to wear a helmet around the house when I was small. My mother was rather overprotective, to say the least.

6. My favorite city in the whole entire world is New York. Something about the city exudes magic...like anything could happen, whether it be randomly meeting the person you marry in the middle of Central Park, or going to a fabulous party and running into a celebrity, or just having the best time just...sitting on your front step watching people go by. I would looooooove to live there someday.

7. I love piano. To me, it's the prettiest sound imaginable.

8. Some people are lyrics people, but I'm a melody person. The reason I like music is not because of the words, but rather how it sounds...like the singers voice and the melodies and harmonies and meshing of instruments. Like, someone could be singing about their goldfish swimming in a tank, but if it's a pretty tune and it's sung well..hey. i like it :]

9. Swiss-Miss chocolate-vanilla-swirl pudding is the absolute best food in the universe. Hands down.

10. I have the worst eating habits. The other day, I told my mom I ate an apple and she was literally speechless. "An apple, honey? Like....a real apple? I'm so proud of you!" Ha, give me a cheeseburger over tofu any day.

11. I really like fashion. It's not the designer labels or expensive brands that attract me; I like putting clothes together and accessorizing. Like, a simple belt can make the difference between a lackluster dress and a kick-ass, slimming, going-out outfit. I also lovelovelove thrifting. Some people get freaked out about the fact that the clothes are used, but that's why they invented washing machines. :] There's nothing better than finding that peach cardigan you've been wanting for AGES. At the cheap price of $0.75. Ah. The best.

12. I like little kids. I love the pure, honest enthusiasm they have about the littlest things. And their curiosity. Kids just find joy in the simplest ways and never stop wondering and imagining and exploring. I think this world needs a bit of that joy and wonder, to be honest.

13. Some people cry when they get anxious; some people have panic attacks; I used to throw up. Like I would literally vomit at dance practice because I was so nervous. I also refused to eat.

14. I get distracted very easily. I sometimes wonder if I have ADD.

15. Last, but not least, I'm always excited to try new things. How else would we have fun?

:)

confused? check out all the numbers here: http://yoplaityogurt.blogspot.com/2011/02/30-day-challenge.html

30 DAY CHALLENGE.

So, people on facebook are doing this 30 day challenge, but I'd rather not clutter up people's newsfeeds. I like the idea though, so I'll post pictures here :]

Day 1 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
Day 2 - A picture of you and the person you used to be close with.
Day 3 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
Day 4 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
Day 5 - A picture of your favorite memory....
Day 6 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
Day 7 - A picture of your most treasured item.
Day 8 - A picture that makes you laugh.
Day 9 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with.
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Day 21 - A picture of your favorite night .
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
Day 25 - A picture of your favorite day.
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

facebook chat.

And this is why Matt Garman is my best friend.